Grand River Voyage I – Highlights of the Low Countries

Accompanied flight from London Heathrow to Amsterdam or rail from St. Pancras to Brussels and road transfer to Amsterdam.

No visit to The Netherlands in spring would be complete without a visit to Keukenhof Gardens to experience the gorgeous views of blooming Dutch tulips and other flowers for which The Netherlands is renowned. The world-famous gardens at Keukenhof encompass over 70 acres of gardens and parkland. Here, we admire the spectacular displays of over seven million bulbs in bloom and over 80 different varieties of trees set amongst shimmering lakes and beautiful water gardens.

The gardens and pavilions show a fantastic collection of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises, lilies and many other flowers. You will be overwhelmed by a spectacle of colours and perfumes.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, with its 19 historic windmills, plays host to our visit this morning. Boasting the largest concentration of windmills in the world, and dating back to the 1740’s, the windmills are kept in operating condition, forming an iconic Dutch scene. The windmills of Kinderdijk were built to keep the low-lying lands of the Alblasserwaard dry and here, we discover how the Dutch have been using water to their benefit for over 1000 years.

After lunch, we embark on a walking tour of Schoonhoven, with its preserved medieval parts and
delightful canals. Schoonhoven is renowned for its silver tradition and has been home to Gold and Silversmiths since the Middle Ages. We have the opportunity to discover more of this traditional art at the Dutch Silver Museum.

Known as Manhattan on the Meuse, due to its impressive skyline, Rotterdam has a fantastic reputation for architecture. The city centre was largely rebuilt after World War II and the buildings, skyscrapers and bridges have been designed with a daring, forward-thinking approach. The Erasmus Bridge (referred to locally as ‘The Swan’), the towering Euromast and the modern skyscrapers along the Wilhelminakade pier are particularly striking examples of the distinctive architectural style.

The afternoon is spent cruising over the border into Belgium on passage to Ghent

This morning we travel to the romantic Castle Loppem, built in 1856 by Baron Charles
van Caloen and his wife Countess Savina de Gourcy Serainchamps. The architecure and interiors are preserved in their original state and the castle is home to a rich art collection.

The Countess Isabelle van Caloen, current owner of Castle Loppem, will be in residence to welcome our group personally, followed by a private tour of the castle and grounds and an exlcusive Champagne reception.

Onwards to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bruges, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, where we board a canal boat to discover why Bruges is often called ‘the Venice of the North’. Our picturesque city tour of the historic centre bypasses charming medieval step roofed houses and imposing churches reflected in the still waters of the canals, as well as the main market square with its 83 metre high 13th century belfry.

We conclude our tour by sampling the traditional chocolate craft of Bruges, considered to be the best in the world.

After breakfast the beautifully restored medieval centre of Ghent, one of the oldest cities in Belgium with a history dating back to the Stone Age, awaits. The old city is a picturesque array of alleyways rimmed by quaint steeple-roofed buildings running along pretty canals. Our tour takes in St. Bavo’s Cathedral, which houses an impressive number of art treasures including a major work by Rubens and the world-famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck around 1432.

We depart from Bruges at lunchtime and spend our final afternoon sailing the Belgian waterways bound for Antwerp.

Antwerp – Rubens House.

Spending the day in Antwerp, Belgium’s largest port and second largest city, we explore the diamond capital of the world. A guided tour of the city centre introduces us to its medieval heart allowing us to admire the Renaissance Town Hall, the Market Square, Brabo Fountain and the unique Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady which houses four works by Peter Paul Rubens.

A wealthy Antwerp entrepreneur built the Palais op de Meir in 1745. Today the palace is home to only one of two chocolatiers mentioned in the Michelin Guide, Dominique Persone of the Chocolate Line.

We enjoy a tasting of his quality, artisan chocolate in an authentic empire setting, whilst visiting the ‘chocolate kitchen’ where we can watch the chocolatiers at work.

After lunch, we enjoy free time in the city before entering the printing office and house of the Plantin Moretus family. The original residence and workshop of this influential publishing dynasty offers you a unique historical experience to discover in the history of books, the art of printing and the story of a family’s entrepreneurial flair. The oldest printing presses in the world can be found here, and this is the only museum in the world to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our private, out-of-hours tour will discover the magic of the museum and we will experience how, long before our digital age, words and images were spread around the world, ahead of our exclusive reception of canapés and sparkling wine.

Historic Brussels, capital of Belgium, principal seat of the Belgian Royal Family, and capital of the European Union, is full of hidden architectural treasures. Art deco facades and regal 19th century mansions contrast with the city’s medieval core, where the Grand Place is considered one of the world’s most beautiful squares.

Belgium is the fatherland of quality beer brewing, creating a huge variety of different styles. With such a rich history, Belgium is a must for any true beer lover wanting to sample the delights of regional craft ales.

Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in The Netherlands, as you will discover when strolling through the historic inner city. Until the second half of the 19th century, Maastricht was a fortified city. Churches, city walls, monumental merchant houses and big squares merge seemlessly. A wide variety of architectural styles range from Roman excavations to the modern designs.

Just outside Maastricht, various vineyards grace the slopes of the Limburg hills. The vineyards of Maastricht are some of the oldest in The Netherlands, initially planted back in Roman times. Hoeve Nekum has been home to the Bollen family since 1934 and the first vines
were planted on their farmlands in 1988. We sample the prize-winning wines produced from the lime-rich soil which gives a fresh and fruity style with a distinct mineral taste.

Learn how Vincent van Gogh lived and worked and what inspired him during his first years as a painter at the Van Gogh Village of Nuenen. At 30 years of age, in 1883, Vincent van Gogh moved back in with his parents in Nuenen and stayed there for two years. During this period, he focused entirely on his art, and created over one quarter of his total works. He was inspired by the beautiful landscape and the simple life of people living near Nuenen and recorded both on his canvases.

We spend the afternoon relaxing on board as we sail the scenic Dutch waterways to Schoonhoven.

Learn how Vincent van Gogh lived and worked and what inspired him during his first years as a painter at the Van Gogh Village of Nuenen. At 30 years of age, in 1883, Vincent van Gogh moved back in with his parents in Nuenen and stayed there for two years. During this period, he focused entirely on his art, and created over one quarter of his total works. He was inspired by the beautiful landscape and the simple life of people living near Nuenen and recorded both on his canvases.

We spend the afternoon relaxing on board as we sail the scenic Dutch waterways to Schoonhoven.

Gouda cheese is famous throughout the world and is now one of The Netherlands’ biggest exports, despite its humble origins from this picturesque city in the province of Zuid-Holland. Today, 60% of Dutch cheese is produced in the region surrounding the city of Gouda, also known as Cheese Valley. The Cheese and Craft Museum, located in the Gouda Weigh House, reveals local history, tells how the cheese is made and how the products have been weighed and traded for centuries.

Our walking tour of Gouda’s centuries-old historic centre features splendid monuments, such as the Sint Janskerk. This church, measuring 123 metres long, is the longest church in The Netherlands and is world-famous for its Gouda windows. Another must-see is the old City Hall, a beautiful monument dating back to 1450.

Transfer to Amsterdam airport or Brussels Midi railway station for the return journey to the UK.