UNIWORLD
10 Days | Tulips & Windmills
Northbound

ANTWERP TO AMSTERDAM

Day 1 | Antwerp, Belgium. Arrive at Brussels Airport where you’ll be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2 | Antwerp. Spend a full day in the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp. You'll be guided to the Cathedral of our Lady, which houses four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, who was born in Antwerp. You'll visit Market Square, where you'll see the Brabo Fountain. Those who believe that all that glitters is not gold can take an afternoon shuttle to Diamondland, Antwerp's largest diamond shop. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Gala)

Day 3 | Ghent (Bruges or Ghent). Visit Bruges, one of the best-preserved Medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy its intimate cobblestone streets and bucolic public gardens. The Belfry Tower (Belfort) located in Market Square features a stunning octagonal tower and the lovely music of a carillon. Then see the town from aboard a canal boat and discover why Bruges is often called the “Venice of the North.” Or visit Ghent, one of the oldest cities in Belgium, with a history dating back to the Stone Age. The beautifully restored Medieval city center is made for strolling or biking. Its museums house works by artists from Hieronymus Bosch to Joseph Beuys. The Saint Bavo Cathedral holds the Ghent Altarpiece, one of the world’s historical art treasures, painted by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the 1400s. A canal cruise gives you close-up view of the impressive 14th- and 15th-century textile warehouses that line the canals. (BB, D)

Day 4 | Veere, Holland. Enjoy a morning visit to the engineering marvel known as the Delta Works, where you’ll learn about the Netherlands’ 2,000-year history of fighting back the sea. Learn how technology has evolved in that time. Then spend the early afternoon in charming Veere, today a popular artists’ retreat, before cruising the picturesque Zeeland area. (BB, L, D)

Day 5 | Rotterdam, Kinderdijk. Awaken in Rotterdam and cruise through its harbor, the world’s third largest. Enjoy leisure time while in Rotterdam. Then sail to Kinderdijk, where you’ll discover 19 astonishingly well-preserved, UNESCO World Heritage-designated windmills dating back to the 1500s. Your guide will provide a detailed explanation of why windmills are so important to this region. They are also an iconic emblem of the Netherlands; at one point, there were more than 10,000 in the country. Were it not for the mighty windmill, this region would have surrendered to water a long time ago. (BB, L, D) Note: If docking in Kinderdijk is not possible, the excursion will be arranged by motorcoach from Rotterdam.

Day 6 | Nijmegen (Groesbeek or Venlo, Floriade). Awaken in Nijmegen, considered the oldest city in the Netherlands. From here, you can choose to head to the Liberation Museum situated in nearby Groesbeek. During your guided visit, get a firsthand account of WWII by experiencing the occupation, celebrating the liberation, and witnessing the rebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe after the war. Or take an excursion to Floriade in Venlo for a full day of music, art, and cultural events celebrating the botanical world. This International Horticultural Expo is held just once every 10 years in the Netherlands, where it covers over 160 acres, with themes exploring green energy, healing, and innovation. Venlo is the perfect setting for a multi-sensory celebration of the natural world, as it was named Europe’s “Greenest City” just a few years ago. (BB, L*, D)

Day 7 | Hoorn. Enkhuizen. Enjoy a walking tour through Hoorn, where you’ll uncover a rich seafaring history, evident in the town’s old harbor and admiralty buildings. Your guide will point out and explain the markings on Medieval buildings noting the former inhabitants’ trades. Your next port of call is Enkhuizen, a lively trading center since the 17th century, where you will visit the fascinating Zuiderzee outdoor museum, a reconstructed village from before the Ljsselmeer Dam was built in 1932 that gives you a vivid idea of life in a Dutch fishing village. (BB, L, D)

Day 8 | Zaanse Schans. Amsterdam. Spend all day at the Keukenhof Gardens, one of the most impressive public gardens in the world, with more than seven million bulbs planted on a 70-acre site. Or split your day between the Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans, an exquisitely crafted open-air museum where you can observe life as it used to be lived. Authentic windmills, houses, and shops, were relocated to this picturesque area, creating a typical 17th- to 18th- century village where you can watch the cobbler carve out a wooden shoe or the cheesemaker press a round of Gouda. (BB, L, D)

Day 9 | Amsterdam. Spend a full day in the Netherlands’ largest city, Amsterdam, which boasts history, art, architecture, bridges, canals, cobblestone streets, museums, bicycles, and narrow alleys. See Amsterdam’s unique appeal from a different perspective while touring aboard a canal boat. Then, choose to visit one of the most prestigious museums in the world—the Rijksmuseum—which offers the world’s largest collection of Dutch and Flemish art and artifacts, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Kitchen Maid . Or visit the Van Gogh Museum—home to the largest collection of his paintings in the world, along with the works of other 19th-century painters. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 10 | Amsterdam. Disembark the ship and tranfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

NORTHBOUND ITINERARY 10 DAYS | ANTWERP TO AMSTERDAM Click HERE to view 10-day SOUTHBOUND itinerary.