Holland & Belgium

Experience the charming city of Hoorn during a walking tour and enjoy a performance by local entertainers. Known for its seafaring and maritime heritage, Hoorn is the birthplace of Dutch mariner Willem Corneliszoon Schouten, the first to round South America’s Cape Horn; and Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the founder of Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies. At the height of the city’s prominence, the streets of Hoorn were alive with the bustle of trade and the excitement of exploration. You will see some of the town’s many historic buildings, like its colorful Westfries Museum and the magnificent Waag, the blue-stone public weighhouse dating to 1609. After admiring old merchant houses, cheese warehouses and the charming harbor, you will enjoy a spirited musical performance. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to meet the performers before returning to your ship.

Pedal along dikes, admiring the scenery through quiet villages and past flower fields. Join your local guide on a meandering e-bike tour that introduces you to the best the region of Western Friesland has to offer. Meet your guide at the pier, then don your helmet and after a short safety briefing, hop up on your e-bike. Pedal with ease as you travel along a dike, and witness how the land on the inside of the dike is considerably lower than the water level on the outside. After passing through small towns and past a stately windmill, you will enter the flower-growing farms of North Holland. Learn about the economic importance of Holland’s fresh-cut flower industry, then set out for a ride through the streets of Hoorn, past its main square and remnants of the old fortifications. Return to your ship feeling energized and invigorated.

Tiptoe through the tulips during an in-depth visit to the bulb fields and greenhouses of a Dutch farm. These beautiful flowers have been a passion for the Dutch since the country’s Golden Age; frenzied interest in their trade caused the disastrous “tulip mania” of 1636–1637. Embark on a scenic drive to a working farm, where upon arrival, you will enjoy a guided tour of the facilities. Depending on the season, take a stroll to view the greenhouses and fields filled with colorful blooms. Learn about the field-rotation process for growing tulips and other crops, and how surrounding the fields with flowers and herbs attracts bees and insects, which increases biodiversity. Then, take a stroll through the large greenhouses, where your guide will offer insight into how tulips are grown and cared for. Afterward, you will board your motor coach and return to your awaiting ship.