Classic River Cruise – Holland - Peregrine Travel Centre

Description

Famous for windmills, tulips, pottery and cheese, the Netherlands also boasts a vibrant artistic and cultural heritage. The stunning scenery welcomes visitors, with thriving cities including Haarlem and Delft to tell you more about the rich history of the area.
A cruise along the Netherlands’ canals is a great way to explore the area and get off of the beaten track. Our Amsterdam river cruises will take you to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, renowned museums such as Zaanse Schans, and some of the engineering feats of the people to beat the sea.
For passengers eager to see the most incredible sights in Amsterdam, you’ll want to book a Dutch barge cruise. Your cruise will take you to popular attractions such as the Royal Delft potteries and the Aalsmeer flower auction on our spring tulip cruise.
Holland Cruise Highlights
With three different Holland cruises to choose from and two luxury hotel barges to take you on a tour of the area, you are sure to have an unforgettable holiday. Why not check out our 5 favourite things to do in Holland or see what your itinerary might have in store for you.
The Panache classic Holland cruise is perfect for those seeking the authentic Holland experience. You’ll be met in Amsterdam with a champagne reception. A brief walk tour in Alkmaar starts Day 2 before you visit Zaanse Schans, giving you the chance to dive into Dutch history.
Visit the world famous Keukenhof Gardens and the popular Aalsmeer flower auction before taking a tour of Haarlem. Here you’ll find St. Bavo’s Cathedral, where both Mozart and Handel playing the Muller organ. You’ll cruise to Leiden and Delft to discover more history before being chauffeured back to Amsterdam to end your holiday.
The La Nouvelle Etoile classic cruise in Holland starts with a trip to St. Bavo’s Cathedral, before you get the chance to see the working windmills, clog makers, and more. Exploring Holland by barge will give you some unforgettable views, trips to quaint villages, and delicious food inspired by the local cuisine.
You’ll cross the Brasemmer Lakes to Oude Wetering and discover the stunning floral industry that Holland is so famous for. If you love tulips, you’ll find that there is no better way to see them then on a tulip season barge cruise of Holland.
Want a barge holiday with a difference? The La Nouvelle Etoile Holland to Belgium cruise will take you to more incredible destinations. Take a short cocktail cruise through Haarlem before visiting the Aalsmeer flower auction and the Keukenhof Gardens. Visit Delft, the town of pottery and painters, for the chance to visit the Royal Delft Pottery.
You’ll cross the border into Belgium to visit a beautiful Flemish city before ending up in Bruges, which is also known as the ‘Venice of the North’. This picturesque town is the perfect place to end your trip, and you’ll have had some incredible times with us.

Trip Name

Classic River Cruise – Holland

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Hotel Barge Length: 129 feet Passenger Capacity: 8 La Nouvelle Etoile has been designed to offer a very high level of comfort and convenience, to provide a blend of traditional elegance and modern-day facilities. The spacious, air conditioned saloon with its attractive cocktail bar, piano and elegant furnishings provides a truly sophisticated setting, while other amenities include an exercise room and a lift. Each of the four generous 200sq ft cabin suites is lavishly equipped and the en-suite bathrooms feature double hand-basins and oversized showers. On deck there is a large sun deck with comfortable loungers and a spa pool, as well as bicycles for you to pedal along the nearby towpath. This cruise on the luxurious La Nouvelle Etoile is a journey back in time through a picturesque landscape along two delightful canals, including France’s oldest, the Canal de Briare. She also cruises in Alsace, Champagne, Holland, Belgium, Picardy, Germany and Luxembourg in Spring and Autumn.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday, Day 1 Zaandam

Guests are met in Amsterdam and transferred to the hotel barge mooring in the centre of Haarlem where there will be a champagne welcome. Haarlem is quite a charming and cosmopolitan city full of historical beauty. St. Bavo’s Cathedral in the main square is where both Mozart and Handel played on its magnificent Muller organ. There’s time to relax as you cruise this afternoon to Zaandam before your first gourmet dinner on board.

Day 2 - Monday, Day 2 Zaandam to Ouderkerk

Enjoy breakfast and then take an excursion to the reconstructed historic village of Zaanse Schans with its working windmills, clog makers, cheese farm and mustard mill. Everything the Dutch are known for can be found in this quaint village. This afternoon cruise through the heart of Amsterdam where the small canals and architecture take you back to a previous century. Continue cruising along the Amstel River to Uithoorn where we will moor for the night. Dinner on board.

Day 3 - Tuesday, Day 3 Ouderkerk to Gouda

This morning we take a leisure cruise to Gouda, famous for its cheese, pipes and candles. After lunch, visit a local cheese farm and explore Gouda’s gorgeous architecture, excellent shopping and also the most beautiful stained glass windows in Holland. These remarkable windows in St. John’s church date back to the 15th century. Enjoy dinner on board.We enjoy an early morning cruise to the historic city of Haarlem, dating back to the 13th century. After lunch on board, this afternoon marks a highlight of the week with a visit to the world famous Keukenhof Gardens, known as the ‘Garden of Europe’. There are more than 100 acres filled with over 7 million flowering bulbs and we stroll through a breath-taking backdrop of colour on this unforgettable half-day excursion. Dinner ashore this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 4 - Wednesday, Day 4 Gouda to Delft

After breakfast this morning we cruise to Rotterdam, the world’s largest port, stopping at a vodka distillery en route, Ketel One is the oldest distillery in Holland still owned by the same family. We then continue to Delft. Delft is a beautiful town with many historic connections including being one of the starting chambers of the Dutch East India Company and the birthplace of artist Jan Vermeer. The day’s visit also includes a tour of a factory to learn how the world famous pottery is made. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around this delightful and historic Dutch city. Dinner on board.

Day 5 - Thursday, Day 5 Delft to Oude Wetering

Continuing our voyage, we cruise through the canals past Leiden, a charming University town. It is also where many of the Pilgrims lived before they ventured to the New World. Cross the Brasemmer Lakes to Oude Wetering. After lunch, spend the afternoon at the famous Keukenhof Gardens, a 70 acre showcase for the Dutch floral industry. From late March to mid-May, visitors are treated to an ever-changing display of spring flowers beginning with narcissus followed by hyacinths and tulips a few weeks later. Dinner on board.

Day 6 - Friday, Day 6 Oude Wetering to Haarlem

An early morning visit brings you to the worlds largest flower auction in Aalsmeer, where some 10 billion flowers are sold annually. Return to La Nouvelle for a cruise to Haarlem with an optional visit to the Cruquius Museum along the way. The Cruquius pumping station is a beautiful neo-Gothic building built in 1846. Visit the picturesque town of Haarlem and the Frans Hals Museum which has an internationally well-known collection of Old Masters and works representative of the Dutch Golden Age. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner on board.

Day 7 - Saturday, Day 7 Haarlem

After breakfast, disembark La Nouvelle Etoile and transfer back to Amsterdam.

Day 8 - Please Note:

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Travel from Alkmaar to Delft on the deluxe Panache 12-passenger hotel barge to discover the way of Dutch life and visit historical sites
Take the ultra-deluxe La Nouvelle Etoile 8-passenger barge through Holland in April and early May or visit Holland and Belgium in mid-May