Canals, Windmills & Culinary Delights - The Netherlands & Belgium
14 Days • Departing April 21, 2027
Bicycles hum over cobblestones, canals reflect the warm evening light, and Dutch masters gaze out from gilded frames. In a small town nearby, the picturesque blades of a windmill turn slowly in the breeze.
Join us as we trace the very best of the Netherlands and Belgium, from Amsterdam’s canals to the cobbled lanes of Bruges to the grand squares of Brussels… with plenty of delicious cheese, chocolate and craft beer along the way.
Our journey starts in Amsterdam, with its storied canals and lively neighbourhoods. We’ll explore the quiet charms of Utrecht, Delft and The Hague – then see their counterpoint in Rotterdam’s bold modernism.
Then, it’s on to Belgium to see Ghent’s medieval streets and the storybook beauty of Bruges. The trip concludes in Brussels, home to grand squares, incredible museums and centuries of brewing tradition. Santé!
Centuries of History
Rijksmuseum: Wander galleries filled with masterworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals. Stand before Rembrandt’s monumental, The Night Watch, then lean in close to admire the quiet, luminous detail of Vermeer’s everyday scenes. With your local guide leading the way, the brilliance of the Dutch Golden Age comes vividly to life.
Canal cruise: Glide past centuries-old merchant houses on a relaxing trip through Amsterdam's iconic waterways. As the evening light softens, enjoy a delicious dinner on board while elegant gabled facades and arched bridges drift by.
Zaanse Schans: Step back into history in a charming spot with working windmills, historic homes and artisan workshops. Watch a craftsman shape a pair of traditional wooden clogs, then step inside a working windmill to see its great wooden gears turning, just as they have for generations.
Cheese & craft beer: Sample local cheeses at a working cheese farm, and raise a glass at a local brewery. See how traditional Dutch cheese is made, then taste your way from creamy young options to rich, crumbly aged varieties. Later, a brewery tour and tasting introduces you to Amsterdam’s thriving craft beer scene. Proost!
Charming Cities
Delft: Discover the delicate blue-and-white pottery that has made this lovely town famous. At the Royal Delft Museum, home to the last of the city’s 17th-century pottery factories, see how skilled artisans have hand-painted each piece for nearly 400 years, one brushstroke at a time.
The Hague: Take in Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and other masterworks at the Mauritshuis. Set in an elegant 17th-century mansion beside a tranquil pond, this intimate museum lets you stand face to face with one of the most beloved portraits ever painted.
Rotterdam: See a city that reinvented itself after WWII, with striking architecture and a lively waterfront. After its historic heart was lost in 1940, Rotterdam boldly chose to rebuild for the future. Today, it’s a showcase of daring design and a fascinating contrast to the centuries-old towns elsewhere on our journey.
Storybook Towns
Ghent: Wander past grand guild houses and along quiet waterways to Gravensteen Castle, a stronghold of Flemish history. Built in 1180 by the Count of Flanders, this moated fortress still looks every inch the medieval castle with sturdy turrets rising straight from the water.
Bruges: Lose yourself in the cobbled lanes and tranquil canals of one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Swans glide beneath arched stone bridges, lace shops and chocolatiers tempt you at every turn, and the whole UNESCO-listed old town feels like something out of a fairy tale.
Bruges Markt: Linger over coffee at a pretty café as horse-drawn carriages clatter past the square. Colourful step-gabled guild houses frame the square, while the medieval Belfry rises 83 metres above it all. Climb its 366 steps for a sweeping view over the rooftops, or simply sit back and listen as its bells ring out across the city.
Culinary Delights
Stroopwafel: This quintessential Dutch treat has two thin waffle layers pressed together with a warm caramel-syrup filling, sold fresh from market stalls. At Amsterdam’s bustling Albert Cuyp Market, follow the sweet scent of warm caramel to a stall where they’re made fresh before your eyes.
Brusselse wafel (Brussels waffle): Light and crisp with deep pockets, it’s perfect with a dusting of powdered sugar or a crown of fresh strawberries and cream. Join a waffle demonstration that reveals the secrets behind this famous treat, paired with a tasting of Belgium’s world-renowned chocolate.
Beer: From crisp pilsners to complex Trappist ales brewed by monks, Belgium's rich beer culture has over 1,500 varieties. It’s a tradition so treasured that UNESCO has recognized it as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Join us on our Canals, Windmills & Culinary Delights tour in Spring 2027! See the full itinerary here or call us at 1-800-268-3492.
