Off the riverboat, try another style of cruising in Amsterdam aboard a lunch cruise on the canals; make a touching visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery; and discover the secrets of crafting Belgian chocolate in Antwerp.
5. NIJMEGEN / MAAS RIVER CRUISING
Explore one of Holland’s oldest cities when you disembark ship in Nijmegen this morning. Ancient ruins and intact buildings document its storied past – from the 8th-century Valkhof, once the stronghold of Charlemagne, to the 14th-century church of Sint-Stevenskerk and the well-preserved Grote Markt. See artifacts from Roman coins to Nijmegen guild objects at the Museum Het Valkhof. Your riverboat meanders along the scenic Maas River as you enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening aboard ship. Meals BLD
6. VISIT HISTORIC MAASTRICHT
Rivaling Nijmegen as one of oldest towns in the Netherlands, Maastricht is said to contain more than 1,400 historic buildings and monuments. A walking tour of Old Town won’t take you to all of them, but it does include the ancient ruins of medieval fortifications and Helpoort, a steep-roofed gateway built in 1229. On Vrijthof Square, the town’s central lime-tree-shaded square, visit the 16th-century Spanish Government House and the 1,000-year-old, Gothic-style Sint-Servaasbasiliek (Basilica of Saint Servatius). You’ll have the afternoon to yourself in Maastricht; the town is multicultural, with some great cuisine! Meals BLD
7. MARGRATEN / ALBERT CANAL
Drive to Margraten for a poignant visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery, the only World War II cemetery in the country. Lunch today is a Tauck Exclusive – a memorable interactive culinary experience at 17th-century Château Neercanne, the sole terraced castle in the Netherlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll don a chef’s hat, visit the kitchen and enjoy an extraordinary meal served in the castle’s Roman grottoes. Rejoin your riverboat for a cruise along the entire length of the Albert Canal to Antwerp, one of the great cultural capitals of Europe. A Belgian-style dinner on board tonight serves as the perfect introduction for your exploration of Belgium. The ship arrives in Antwerp near midnight; an important Gallo-Roman port in the 2nd century, today this city bustles with medieval treasures and modern-day life. Meals BLD
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8. DISCOVER ANTWERP
Antwerp is a walking city, easily explored on foot. Meet your local guide right on the dock for an orientation tour of the city. Sightseeing includes the majestic Centraal Station, built at the turn of the 20th century, the opera house and Grote Markt, and the fanciful town hall. Visit Antwerp’s historic Jewish quarter – one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities – and the Rubenshuis, the reconstructed Renaissance-Baroque home of 17th-century Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens; go inside to see some of his original works. See how fine Belgian chocolate is made on a tasting visit to a chocolatier who specializes in handmade confections. Your day ends with a farewell reception and Captain’s dinner aboard the riverboat. Meals BLD
9. DISEMBARK SHIP / BRUGES / BRUSSELS
After disembarking ship this morning, it’s off to Bruges in the heart of Belgium’s Flanders region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bruges is renowned for its extraordinary medieval Gothic architecture and its reputation as the birthplace of Flemish painting. This remarkably preserved city enjoyed its “golden age” between the 12th and 15th centuries when it was a wealthy and vital port linking Flanders with the lucrative Mediterranean Sea trade, and it still enchants today with a graceful fairy-tale ambiance that includes flower-rimmed canals, cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and ancient arched bridges. Arrive in the capital city of Brussels where your accommodations at the Hotel Amigo are superbly located near one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe, and are within walking distance of several historic sites. Enjoy dinner at a popular local restaurant tonight. Meals BD
10. JOURNEY HOME
Tour ends: Brussels, Belgium. Fly home anytime; a transfer from the Hotel Amigo to Brussels Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
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