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Best of Holland & Belgium
- Taste of Christmas
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Best of Holland & Belgium – Taste of Christmas
Few parts of Europe wear Christmas quite like the Low Countries do. AmaWaterways‘ Best of Holland & Belgium – Taste of Christmas River Cruise is a roundtrip from Amsterdam along the Rhine and the Dutch and Belgian waterways, sailing through fairy-lit canals and snow-dusted castle grounds at De Haar near Utrecht, the windmills of Hellevoetsluis silhouetted against winter skies, the medieval Christmas markets of Ghent and Bruges, Brussels and its 12th-century Bouchout Castle, the warm glow of Antwerp’s chocolate shops and diamond quarter, and the UNESCO windmills of Kinderdijk catching the low December light near Dordrecht. Two countries, seven nights, and barely a day without a castle, a canal, mulled wine or something good to eat.
4.72
from
189 reviews
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Cruise Line: AmaWaterways -
Ship: AmaPrima + 3 more -
Duration: 6 Nights
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Departure: Nov - Dec
Best of Holland & Belgium – Taste of Christmas Prices
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Best of Holland & Belgium – Taste of Christmas Itinerary
A round trip from Amsterdam, with the Dutch delta and three Belgian cities filling the middle of the week. Here’s how the days unfold.
Day 1
Amsterdam
You board in Amsterdam, docked where the city’s riverside charm welcomes you for the evening.
Day 2
Amsterdam
A canal cruise through Amsterdam, followed by a trip to Utrecht. There, you can stroll the medieval streets, visit the Museum Speelklok with its collection of self-playing instruments, or explore De Haar Castle, complete with turrets and moats. Consider the Slot Zuylen visit, or cyclists can take the Slot Zuylen bike tour instead.
Day 3
Hellevoetsluis
A scenic morning cruise through the delta brings you to Hellevoetsluis, where cobblestone streets lead past the working De Hoop windmill and quaint wharf houses. The Delta Works Flood Museum tells the story of the Netherlands’ engineering response to the sea, or you can take a ride on a traditional Dutch flat-bottom boat. The more active option is a bike ride across the Haringvlietdam.
Day 4
Ghent
Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, can be explored on foot or by bike, or you can head to Bruges for a full day, including a visit to the Church of Our Lady. Back in Ghent, the moated Castle of the Counts is well worth the visit for its medieval collection.
Day 5
Brussels
Brussels brings the Atomium and the Far East Museums on a walking tour or a bike ride through Laeken Park. In the afternoon, Bouchout Castle, a 12th-century fortress, is the historical option, while a Belgian chocolate tasting is there for anyone who’d rather spend the afternoon eating their way through the city’s most famous export.
Day 6
Antwerp
Antwerp earns its nickname, the City of Diamonds, as the walking tour takes in Steen Castle, the Grote Markt and the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of Our Lady. A bike tour is the alternative, or you could go straight for the Belgian Beer Tour or the Flavors of Belgium tasting, which includes the city’s famous waffles. A second bike ride in the afternoon sees the Red Star Line Museum.
Day 7
Dordrecht
Dordrecht is Holland’s oldest city, and the walking tour explores its history, shaped significantly by a 15th-century flood. Alternatively, head to Rotterdam and Delfshaven, where the Pilgrim Fathers boarded the Speedwell before their voyage, or take an architectural bike tour of Rotterdam. The afternoon brings Kinderdijk, with its UNESCO-listed 18th-century windmills, on foot or by bike.
Day 8
Amsterdam
Disembark in Amsterdam.
BEST OF HOLLAND & BELGIUM – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS
Rhine River Cruise Deals
Amsterdam, Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp at Christmas. Browse our latest AmaWaterways sailings and find the departure that works for you.
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Best of Holland & Belgium – Taste of Christmas Review
Best of Holland & Belgium – Taste of Christmas FAQs
What is the Michelangelo sculpture in Bruges, and how rare is it to see his work outside Italy?
Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child is housed in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, included on the full-day Bruges excursion on day four. It is widely recognised as the only Michelangelo sculpture to have left Italy during his lifetime, having been sold to a Bruges merchant family in the early 16th century. Seeing an original Michelangelo outside Italy is genuinely unusual, which makes this stop worth prioritising if sculpture or Renaissance art interests you.
Is there anything particularly festive about being on the ship itself over the Christmas period?
The itinerary includes several December departures, including ones falling on or close to Christmas Day itself. While the specific shipboard decorations or festive programming are not explicitly detailed, sailing through the Netherlands and Belgium in late December naturally brings you past town squares, markets and waterfronts that are already dressed for the season, which adds a great deal of atmosphere to the trip regardless of what’s happening on board.
Who were the Pilgrim Fathers, and what is their connection to Delfshaven?
The Pilgrim Fathers were a group of English religious separatists who left for North America in 1620, eventually founding the Plymouth Colony. Before crossing the Atlantic, they sailed from Delfshaven, near Rotterdam, aboard a ship called the Speedwell, which later proved unfit for the ocean crossing and was abandoned in England in favour of the Mayflower. The day-seven excursion to Rotterdam and Delfshaven includes this history as part of the tour.
What is Bouchout Castle, and what does the visit involve?
Bouchout Castle is a 12th-century fortress in Brussels, offered as an afternoon excursion option on day five. It’s one of four options that day, alongside the Capital of Belgium walking tour, the Laeken bike tour and a Belgian chocolate tasting.
Will the Christmas markets actually be open during this cruise?
Most European Christmas markets, including those in the Netherlands and Belgium, typically run from late November through to late December, often closing just before or on Christmas Eve. Given that sailings on this itinerary run across that same window, markets in the destinations visited should generally be active, though exact opening and closing dates vary slightly each year and by location. It’s always worth checking closer to your departure date for the specific year you’re travelling.
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