NEW! Holland & Belgium at Christmas

See Antwerp’s dazzling historic quarter up close as you explore by foot. Join your guide for a short walk to the Cathedral of Our Lady, a vision of Gothic beauty, the largest church in Belgium and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of its spires stands 404 feet high. Continue to the historic Old Town along crooked streets to Grote Markt, where the incredible Renaissance Town Hall stands. With both Flemish and Italian influences, it too is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby, you will see the medieval Het Steen castle, built after the Viking incursions as the city’s first stone fortress. At tour’s end, you may spend time pondering the famous Brabo fountain statue, commemorating the legend of how Antwerp got its name.

Enjoy a sample of some of Belgium’s best-loved culinary creations during a walking tour of the city. Try a fragrant Belgian waffle, Belgium’s world-renowned sweet treat, before beginning your tour on foot through the historic center. At your next stop, it is time to sample a selection of Belgium’s finest beers during a tasting. At a traditional restaurant, sit down to savor a Flemish beef stew served with Belgian frites, or fries, before continuing your tasting tour at a renowned chocolatier to learn how Belgium’s love affair with chocolate began. Enjoy a glass of Elixir d’Anvers, an herbal liqueur, then cap your tour with speculoos—delicious spiced cookies—and discover the city’s famed Antwerpse Handjes, or Antwerp Hands, before biting into one. Your appetite sated, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Step back in time during a guided walking tour of one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. Bruges’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a cultural and artistic center and home to such important Flemish painters as van Eyck and Memling. Walk with your knowledgeable guide past the homes of prominent former residents. You will also visit the Béguinage and its gardens. Built during the 13th century, this complex was once home to followers of the Beguine religious movement and is currently a monastery for Benedictine sisters. Pass by the Church of Our Lady, whose 400-foot spire is one of the world’s tallest brick structures. Behind the church, see the Gruuthuse palace and gardens, once the medieval home of one of the wealthiest families in Bruges. Enjoy three hours of free time during the tour in which to have lunch on your own.

Immerse yourself in the rich Jewish heritage of Antwerp’s vibrant shtetl, a Yiddish term for village. Transfer to the Jewish Quarter. Located close to the magnificent Central Station, its narrow streets are home to diamond dealers, kosher restaurants, specialty bookstores and bakeries selling delicious cheesecakes. Here, stop at the home of a Jewish family and gain an unprecedented view into their daily lives as they welcome you into their home. After a guided viewing of their residence, enjoy an opportunity to talk with your hosts about their family’s history and more, over coffee or tea and a pastry. Afterward, pass Antwerp’s Holocaust Memorial, a monument in remembrance of those who perished during World War II. Continue to one of the city’s major synagogues, the Romi Goldmuntz, where you will learn about the community’s religion and history before returning to your ship.