DEN HAAG(“The Hague” in English) is not only the third-largest city
in the Netherlands, it is also known as the political capital of the region. There’s history here and a lot of it, chronicled in an old castle, an elegant shopping arcade, and museums, old and new, filled with Flemish paintings – and Rembrandts. Not to be outdone, Mother Nature flaunts her talents on nearby coastal beaches lined with gently rolling, uncommonly scenic, sand dunes.
View world-famous art by the Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
historic and the contemporary, from its medieval core and 17th-century canals to the bustling shops, cafés and rich cultural life of a 21st-century European metropolis. Open only until May, Keukenhof Gardens in nearby Lisse blooms with millions of tulips from hundreds of varieties, narcissi, daffodils, hyacinths, bluebells, crocuses, lilies, amaryllis, and many others every spring. Cruise departures through May will have an opportunity to visit the gardens; other departures will continue on to Haarlem via the scenic flower route through Holland’s bulb country. A true Yellow Roads experience, drive past impeccably manicured villages, yards and gardens bursting with colorful flowers from May through October. Spend the morning in Haarlem, home to one of Holland’s premier art museums. Free time enables you to explore this quaint town as you wish; Amsterdam’s little sister city in history and charm, this is where Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Pieter Saenredam painted many of their famous portraits, landscapes, and church interiors. Spend the afternoon in Amsterdam and join us tonight for our farewell dinner. Meals BLD
9. AMSTERDAM CANAL CRUISE / RIJKSMUSEUM Early morning risers may want to take the opportunity to see the colorful sights and sounds of the Aaslmeer Flower Auction (closed weekends). The largest of its kind in the world, more than 20 million flowers and plants are auctioned here each weekday. The day continues with a guided city orientation tour of Amsterdam including a private canal cruise through Amsterdam’s network of centuries-old waterways and a visit to see works by the Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum, one of the world’s most beloved museums. World-famous art housed here includes Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, as well as paintings by the Old Dutch Masters Jan Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen. There are more than 400 17th-century masterpieces on display in the museum, along with a wealth of antique Delftware and silver. Meals BLD
10. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark ship at 8:30 AM. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is included. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in. For additional hotel nights in Amsterdam (or Brussels), inquire at time of booking. Meals B
Den Haag 54
Delftware, in various distinctive incarnations from tin-glazed tiles to plates, bowls and vases to door portals and lintels, has been produced in Delft since the 17th century
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