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Bites, Brews, Views of Belgium and Canals of Holland

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 Trip Length
15 Days
 Trip Starts
Amsterdam
 Trip Finishes
Amsterdam
15 Day Bites, Brews, Views of Belgium and Canals of Holland Itinerary (Avalon)
Countries Explored: Holland, Belgium
Cruise Line
Avalon
Ship
Passengers
128
Crew
37
Launched
2015
Cruise Code
WHHB

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Avalon's 15 Day Bites, Brews, Views of Belgium and Canals of Holland. Begin your cruise in Amsterdam. With special culinary highlights throughout your cruise, you’ll sample local specialties with onboard beer tastings and beer-and-food pairings. Cruise on the Rhine River to visit Arnhem—home of WWII memorials and monuments with a local tasting at Doorwerth Castle. Choose a visit to Arnhem’s WWII Airborne Museum or a bike ride in the forests of Hoge Veluwe National Park. In Maastricht, tour the old cobblestoned university town and enjoy a culinary experience....read more />
On to Belgium for a sightseeing tour of medieval Namur including a local brewery visit and free time to browse its ancient architecture, charming cafes, and bookshops. In Liège, see the ancient quarters of the “Fiery City” as well as its romantic streets, steps, and tiny alleyways including a waffle tasting. Next, you’ll explore the city of Antwerp—birthplace of the master painter Peter Paul Rubens. Stroll its cobbled lanes amid 16th-century guildhall houses and the cathedral’s stunning altarpiece paintings by the famous artist. Guided sightseeing includes a visit to a local brewery. In Brussels, you’ll find landmark buildings and a collection of cafes and shops on your guided tour followed by a chocolate workshop. Visit “The Diamond of Flanders”, Ghent and join a local expert for a canal boat followed by a brewery visit. Explore more of the Flanders area with tours in Bossuit—see the Flanders Fields Museum and moving battlefield memorials and memorabilia.

In Middelburg, explore its grand history in the Dutch East India Company. Tour the Veere Delta Works to see the world’s largest flood-protection system. Continue your cruise through Kinderdijk—where windmills built in 1740 for water management helped the iconic structures become a symbol of Holland. Marvel at the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam and join a culinary experience at Markthal. See the quintessential Dutch towns of Zaandam and Haarlem with their signature flower farms, windmills, waterways, and North Sea trading. Join a visit to Zaanse Schans Your cruise through Holland and Belgium returns to Amsterdam for a guided canal cruise through the iconic city.

Itinerary

Welcome to Holland. Your Avalon Waterways suite ship is ready for boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 2 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. You may take a guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NIJMEGEN (D)

WWII: fe, WWII Valor, and Famous Mills

Active: Join a Biking Tour on the Hoge Veluwe National Park and admire its diversity of scenery, from dense forests to sand dune, OR: Discovery - Join a Guided Sightseeing to discover Arnhem-a key WWII operations site and home to impressive historical monuments and memorials-then visit a medieval castle for a regional herb and vegetable product tasting, OR: Classic - Join a guided tour of the Airborne Museum of Hartenstein commemorating the 1944 WWII Battle of Arnhem. You may join a guided Optional Excursion to the Windmill of Thorn or an optional Cooking Workshop.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAASTRICHT (B/L/D)

Dutch History, School Spirit and an Architectural Feast

Enjoy an early morning sailing to Maastricht.

Active: Maastricht's charm awaits, get physical via Nordic walking with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: Discover this vibrant university town with its lovely cathedrals, old houses, historical buildings, and impressively cobblestoned town centre. Your Sightseeing will be followed by a culinary experience where you will learn more about local traditions.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NAMUR (B/L/D)

Ancient Architecture and Charming Cafes

Active: Explore Namur's countryside by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: Join a guided sightseeing tour of the picturesque old-town, fortress citadel, and medieval architecture followed by a brewery visit where you will have the chance to taste the world-famous Belgian beers.

Take free time to stroll along Namur's cobblestone lanes and visit its charming cafes and bookshops. This evening, enjoy an onboard food and beer pairing dinner hosted by a Beer Expert.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NAMUR (B/L/D)

Historic Wonders and Wonderful Waffles

Discovery: Join a guided sightseeing tour of the "Fiery City" of Liege with its beautiful ancient quarters, peculiar alleys, and romantic streets. And take the chance to sample the authentic sweet Liege Waffles.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP (B/L/D)

A Rubenesque Cathedral in Artful Antwerp

Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

Active: Explore Antwerp by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: Take a guided tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You'll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens. Your sightseeing will end at a brewery where you will learn something more about Belgian beers.

Enjoy cocktail or coffee aboard your ship as you sail to Brussels this afternoon. Later, enjoy dinner and live entertainment.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS (B/L/D)

Ancient Landmarks and New Haunts

Active: See Brussel's Aquaculture farm on bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: See the major highlights of Brussels and join a do-it-yourself chocolate workshop for a fun and interactive experience, OR:

Classic: Join a guided tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings and discover the many local bars, cafes and shops of the Lower Town Streets.

The afternoon is free to explore Brussels at your pace

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS (B/L/D)

Filling Fare and Fabled Beer

Spend a day at leisure to sample Brussels hearty cuisine and famous beer. Enjoy dinner on board as you sail for Ghent this evening.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT (B/L/D)

Medieval Masterpieces and Flemish Finery

Visit the Adventure centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.

Active: Explore a different side of Ghent by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: Enjoy a canal boat that will take you through the town of Ghent to one of the very special breweries where you will find how to brew the local Gruut beer.

Alternatively, you may choose to join a full-day guided Optional Excursion of Bruges to explore its canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. You'll see its crisscrossed canals, the 13th-century belfry of Market Square, and charming patrician houses.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BOSSUIT (B/L/D)

Battlefield Remembrances in Flanders

Discovery: Visit the In Flanders' Field Museum in Ypres- learn about the story of the invasion of Belgium, the first months of the mobilization, the four years trench war in the Westhoek, the end of the war, and the permanent remembrance ever since. After your visit, enjoy lunch at the museum's cafe.

Discovery: Following the museum, visit battlefields, cemeteries, memorials and private collections.

Discovery: Experience the Last Post Ceremony, taking place nightly under the arches of the Menin Gate. Enjoy some free time for dinner before the Ceremony starts.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG (B/L/D)

A Spicy History in Middelburg's Dutch Harbor Town

Active: Explore Vlissingen by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Classic: Join a guided walking tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the15th century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading. Enjoy lunch on board while cruising to Veere.

VEERE: The Delta Works Stand Strong as a Technical Marvel

Active: Bike your way to the beach from Veere with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: Join a guided tour of the Delta Works, the largest flood-protection system in the world, and a miracle of modern technology.

Discovery: Later, enjoy a Beer & Cheese Tasting on board as you prepare to sail to Kinderdijk.

OVERNIGHT SAILING IN KINDERDIJK: DERDIJK (B/L/D)

Harnessing the Wind 300 Years

Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

Active: See the windmills of Kinderdijk by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Classic: Join a guided tour of Kinderdijk where 19 windmills were built in 1740 as flood prevention and water management. You'll hear about the windmill's vital role in the Netherland's history and why it became a national symbol of Holland.

Enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.

Active: Experience Rotterdam by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

Discovery: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Rotterdam featuring innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge. and follow your local expert through a culinary experience at the Markthal.

This evening, enjoy an onboard food and beer pairing dinner hosted by a Beer Expert. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ZAANDAM (B/L/D)

Windmills, Waterways, and Waving Fields of Flowers

Classic: Join a Guided Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.

Cruise to Haarlem this afternoon while enjoying lunch on board.

HAARLEM: Tulips and North Sea Trading Ports

Active: Enjoy an easy bike ride to the beach with your Adventure Host, OR:

Classic: Visit Haarlem, a major flower bulbs growing district outside of Amsterdam. Explore the former North Sea trading port with its medieval features, gabled houses, and leafy courtyards.

Enjoy dinner on board your ship this evening as you sail to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)

Canals of Colorful Amsterdam

Active: Join a Biking Tour through the Dutch countryside past polders, dykes, and quaint centuries-old villages, OR:

Classic: Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age"-

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (B/L/D)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Life Onboard

Avalon Tranquility II
Avalon Tranquility II

Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Avalon's award-winning Suite Ships.

Our Vision. Your View.
Our Vision. Your View.

With the only Open-Air Balconies in river cruising, experience Europe with a view like no other in a Panorama Suite. Read more

Exclusive Meets Inclusive
Exclusive Meets Inclusive

Avalon features all the right inclusions which compliment your luxurious river cruise experience. Read more

Avalon Choice
Avalon Choice

Personalise your cruise to make it your own with Avalon Choice. Select whichever included excursions interest you the most. Read more

Active & Discovery
Active & Discovery

Avalon's Active & Discovery river cruises offer activities for travellers with varying interests & for all energy and fitness levels. Read more

From View to Table
From View to Table

Savour regional cuisine and familiar favourites using the freshest local ingredients throughout your river cruise. Read more

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Cabins

Deluxe Stateroom (Cat. E & D)

  • Deluxe Stateroom (172 sq ft)
  • Twin Windows
  • Comfort Collection Bed with Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, woolen blankets & European style duvets
  • Private bathroom featuring full shower, hairdryer & premium L'Occitane bath amentities
  • Spacious three-door closets and easy under-bed luggage storage
  • Flatscreen satellite with movie channel
  • In-room safe, writing Desk/Vanity & direct-dial telephone
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access
  • Individual thermostat
  • Bathrobes & slippers

Panorama Suite (Cat. B, A & P)

  • Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window measuring 11'- 50% larger than industry standard (200 sq ft)
  • Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window opens to transform the living space into a large Open-Air-Balcony
  • Open-Air-Balcony with spacious sitting area
  • Comfort Collection Bed with Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, woolen blankets & European style duvets
  • Private bathroom featuring full shower, hairdryer & premium L'Occitane bath amentities
  • Spacious three-door closets and easy under-bed luggage storage
  • Flatscreen satellite with movie channel
  • In-room safe, writing Desk/Vanity & direct-dial telephone
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access
  • Individual thermostat
  • Bathrobes & slippers

Royal Suite

  • Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window measuring 11'- 50% larger than industry standard (300 sq ft)
  • Wall-to-wall Panoramic Window opens to transform the living space into a large Open-Air-Balcony
  • Open-Air-Balcony with spacious sitting area
  • Comfort Collection Bed with Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, woolen blankets & European style duvets
  • Private bathroom featuring full shower, hairdryer & premium L'Occitane bath amentities
  • Spacious three-door closets and easy under-bed luggage storage
  • Flatscreen satellite with movie channel
  • In-room safe, writing Desk/Vanity & direct-dial telephone
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access
  • Individual thermostat
  • Bathrobes & slippers

Brochure

River Cruises

Avalon River Cruises (2023-24)

Embark with Avalon on your choice of over 70 cruises on 10 rivers through 24 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, and Egypt. Discover the European continent on its legendary rivers from the North Sea to the Black Sea. From the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea, discover timeless tradition and beauty on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Rhône, and...more Saône—to name a few.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Avalon. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Avalon. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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