Holland & Belgium

A city of charming canals, elegant gabled houses, splendid museums and abundant bicycles, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is a delight to explore. Its patchwork of waterways forms about 90 islands connected by 1,500 bridges. The legacy of the Dutch Golden Age lives on in gilded manses and in the lush paintings of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters that adorn the Rijksmuseum, The Netherlands' grand repository of art and cultural history. Discovering Amsterdam is a pleasure best pursued on foot; visitors line the tranquil canals and linger over Dutch pancakes, or take a stroopwafel to go.

In Amsterdam, the bicycle is as much a cultural treasure as any museum. The city's flat terrain makes it ideal for getting around on two wheels. Bikes first pedaled onto the city's streets during the late 19th century; in the 1960s, the first bike-share program was invented here, founded by members of the anti-establishment Provo movement—short for “provocateur”—whose aim was to reduce air pollution created by cars. The program did not last, but the bicycle did, and cycle lanes were soon added to the street. Today, the city is home to hundreds of thousands of bikes.

Founded in 1300, Hoorn was named for its horn-shaped harbor along the Ijsselmeer, the artificial lake created by the construction of massive dams. Long before the dams, sailors had easy access to the North Sea from here, and this bolstered the success of the Dutch East India Company. A major trader with Asia and the most powerful company in the world, it made Hoorn one of its six home bases. The Dutch navigator Willem Corneliszoon Schouten was born in Hoorn; he is best known as the man who rounded the southern tip of South America in 1616 and named it “Cape Horn” for his birthplace. Brimming with history, the city's cobblestone streets and age-old cheese warehouses are a delight to explore.

Situated where the Lippe River flows into the Rhine, Wesel has long been an important trading center. The city reached its peak in the 15th century, when it was an influential member of the Hanseatic League, Northern Europe's dominant confederation of mercantile guilds. During its heyday, Wesel even rivaled Cologne as a major commercial presence. Throughout its history, it has been overseen by Spain, The Netherlands, France and Prussia. Peter Minuit, the founder of New Amsterdam—today's New York City—was born here. Today, the city recalls its glorious past in the Willibrord Cathedral, beautifully restored after Allied bombing, and the renovated structures of the stately Wesel Citadel.

Perched on the south bank of the Waal River, vibrant Nijmegen is home to one of The Netherlands' largest universities. Residents and students alike linger at sidewalk cafés and unique eateries and the city's many shops offer items that reflect Nijmegen's artistic sensibility. Nijmegen's lower city is home to the charming Velorama, a bicycle museum, while the larger Valkhof Museum chronicles the city's Roman and medieval past. Famously, Nijmegen was the site of a decisive three-day battle between Allied and German forces during World War II's Operation Market Garden.

Straddling the Meuse River, Maastricht is one of The Netherlands' oldest and most picturesque cities, boasting 1,677 Rijksmonumenten, or National Heritage Buildings. The narrow cobblestone streets and stunning churches of the car-free inner city evoke the rich medieval era, when the city held important places in the Carolingian and Holy Roman Empires. In the early 1990s, Maastricht took its place on the 20th-century world stage when the Maastricht Treaty was signed and the single European currency, the euro, was created here. Nearby, the American Military Cemetery in Margraten is the final resting place for more than 8,000 young men who fell during the march toward Germany after the D-Day Landings.

A cosmopolitan city, Antwerp is one of the world's major seaports. Its unique atmosphere comes from the contrasts between old and new, commerce and art. The Old Town and the expansive Grote Markt are filled with narrow, winding streets and medieval guild houses. The Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium's largest church, contains works by 17th-century painter Peter Paul Rubens; he lived in the city and is entombed in the Church of St. James. Antwerp is also renowned for diamonds and chocolate. Many diamond cutters can be found here alongside countless confectioners.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.