Experience Holland and Belgium at the height of the spring bloom as you sail inland waterways between Antwerp and Amsterdam. Discover medieval trade centers, vibrant cities, and magnificent art and architecture; and encounter millions of blossoms at the incomparable Keukenhof Gardens.

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Starting at: $3,890 * Price includes special offer Make a Reservation Ask Us A Question or Call 855-330-1542

Some of the seven million tulips at Keukenhof

Keukenhof Gardens. Credit: Steve Greye

Dutch landscape of tulip fields

Traditional Dutch landscape of countryside, windmills, and bicycles

Typical canal in Amsterdam

Traditional canal houses in Amsterdam

Typical scene in Amsterdam

Charming Giethoorn

The Mauritshuis in The Hague

Gallery at the Mauritshuis. Credit: Netherlands Tourism Bureau

Tranquil canal in Gouda

Town square in Gouda

Traditional Dutch cheese

Main square in Delft

Traditional blue and white Delft porcelain

Storm Surge Barrier at the Delta Works, Zeeland

Evening scene along a canal in Bruges

Evocative canal in Bruges

Typical cafe scene in Antwerp

Grote Markt in Antwerp

Waterways of Holland and Belgium

A River Cruise from Amsterdam to Antwerp

10 days from $3,890

Request a Brochure

departure passengers

or Call 855-330-1542

Tour Details

TOUR BROCHURE

brochure

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

The tour "Waterways of Holland and Belgium" was a truly wonderful, joyous experience - the places visited were interesting and often awe-inspiring; the ship was a lovely "base" and the leaders all were marvelous - and, I might add, we had a thoroughly delightful group of fellow travelers!

- Becky R.

Would highly recommend this trip. Couldn't do enough to keep us happy, checked with us constantly to make sure that all was well, and could anything else be done, to make the trip more memorable.

- Patricia H.

JOURNEYS DISPATCHES

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Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

NH Hotel Leidseplein

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The 237 room NH Amsterdam Leidseplein is located in the cultural heart of Amsterdam within the city’s Museum Quarter. Many of Amsterdam’s cultural attractions are a short walk or taxi ride away. There are shops, cafés and restaurants just across the canal in front of the hotel. Guest rooms are spacious and have a warm interior design and hardwood flooring throughout. The newly refurbished Bar & Kitchen Copper serves locally sourced meals in a refined, casual atmosphere. There is a well-equipped fitness area on site.

Activity Level

Expectations: River and canal cruises dock alongside a pier or riverside embankment for boarding and disembarkation. Morning, afternoon, and full-day excursions will be taken at a moderate pace. There will be standing and walking for long periods of time during city tours, museum visits, and outdoor activities such as garden visits. Walking will at times be over difficult terrain (e.g. cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, absence of elevators); some longer walks to get to city centers where motor coaches are prohibited. The weather can be unpredictable with rain, wind and colder weather always possible. Choice of excursions with varying activity expectations offered on several of the days. Participants must navigate a gangway with a somewhat steep pitch (depending on water levels) to embark and disembark the ship at each stop.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit and comfortable with longer days of touring (both walking tours and motor coach time).

2025 Tour Extensions

Antwerp Pre-Tour Optional Extension 2025 — 3 Days, 2 Nights

(Extension date: April 21-24, 2025*) prior to our April 23-May 2, 2025 program

*date includes departure/overnight flight from the U.S.

Accommodations: Antwerp Hilton Old City Center is located in the heart of Antwerp, overlooking the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Old Town square. Shops, restaurants, and the Plantin-Moretus Museum are a short walk away. Antwerp Zoo and Antwerp Central Rail Station are a short drive. Guest rooms are spacious and comfortable with ample work space and full baths, Enjoy all-day dining and drinks in Blend 52 Kitchen & Lounge, 24-hour room service, fitness center access.

Days 1 and 2 - Depart the U.S./ Arrive in Brussels, Belgium/Antwerp

Depart on an overnight flight to Brussels. Upon arrival, transfer to Antwerp and check in at the Antwerp Hilton Old City Center. Hotel rooms may not be available until the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. A Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available at the Hospitality Desk for sightseeing suggestions, museums, shopping, and restaurant information.

Antwerp Hilton Old City Center

Day 3 - Antwerp / Ghent

Breakfast will be served in the hotel. Travel by coach to Ghent for a guided walking tour. Explore this fascinating city of medieval towers, well-preserved guild houses, and Gothic churches. See the Friday Market, Patershol Quarter, Castle of the Counts, Town Hall and the Cathedral of St. Bevon, that houses Jan van Eyck’s famous altarpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Your Travel Director will be available at the Hospitality Desk for suggestions on sightseeing, shopping, and meal reservations. (B)

Antwerp Hilton Old City Center

Day 4 - Antwerp

Breakfast will be served in the hotel and the morning is free of planned activities. This afternoon, transfer to the Amadeus Cara to begin your cruise. (B)

---

Antwerp Post-Tour Optional Extension 2025 — 3 Days, 2 Nights

(Extension date: April 16-18, 2025) at the conclusion of our April 7-16, 2025 program.

(Extension date: April 24-26, 2025) at the conclusion of our April 15-24, 2025 program.

(Extension date: April 30-May 2, 2025) at the conclusion of our April 21-30, 2025 program.

Accommodations: Antwerp Hilton Old City Center is located in the heart of Antwerp, overlooking the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Old Town square. Shops, restaurants, and the Plantin-Moretus Museum are a short walk away. Antwerp Zoo and Antwerp Central Rail Station are a short drive. Guest rooms are spacious and comfortable with ample work space and full baths, Enjoy all-day dining and drinks in Blend 52 Kitchen & Lounge, 24-hour room service, fitness center access.

Days 1 - Depart the ship for a day in Ghent.

Disembark the ship and travel by motor coach to Ghent for a guided walking tour. Explore this fascinating historic city of medieval towers, well-preserved guild houses, and Gothic churches. See a bustling Street Market, Patershol Quarter, Castle of the Counts, Town Hall and the Cathedral of St. Bevon, that houses Jan van Eyck’s The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Return to Antwerp and check-in at the upscale Antwerp Hilton Old City Center Hotel conveniently located in the center of the city. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available at the Hospitality Desk for sightseeing suggestions, museum, shopping, and restaurant information. (B)

Antwerp Hilton Old City Center

Day 2-Antwerp

Breakfast will be served in the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available at the Hospitality Desk for suggestions on sightseeing, shopping, and meal reservations. (B)

Antwerp Hilton Old City Center

Day 3 – Antwerp, Brussels/Home

There’s an early morning departure from the hotel for Brussels International Airport and your transatlantic flight to the U.S. (B)

Special Air Rates/Services

FlexAir is designed to provide you with the flexibility and choice you need to personalize your air travel experience. Explore a wide range of flight options in consultation with our experienced travel professionals to select the flights, routing, class of service, and dates of travel that most fit your needs. Our partner tour operator has negotiated contracts with a wide variety of carriers that allow them to hold flight reservations and then issue your ticket close to departure without additional fees. This protects you from the need to purchase published-fare tickets, which must be ticketed within 24 hours of purchase. FlexAir reservations provide the flexibility to adjust reservations without penalty and to accommodate extensions and upgrades right up until ticketing time, usually around 60 days before departure. We look forward to providing you with more choice and the best possible itinerary for your air travel plans.

Program Includes:

Guaranteed transfers between the airport and your overseas accommodations on tour arrival and departure days. We will provide you with all of the details you need to guarantee your transfer.
Air schedule change and delay assistance. Book FlexAir to ensure assistance should schedule changes or delays impact your air travel plans.
Flight insurance worth up to $250,000, subject to policy terms, is automatically included.
Confirmed airline seat assignments at the time of booking (in most cases).

River Cruising

Guidance on water levels and itinerary modifications

Your ship is designed with state-of-the-art flexibility in navigating rivers. On rare occasions, river cruising is subject to challenges due to unannounced river lock maintenance and/or weather-related increases or decreases in river depth. Extreme conditions may render a portion of a river itinerary unnavigable.

Should your river cruise be affected:

You will receive a revised schedule outlining any changes prior to your departure either by regular mail or email.
Any additional transportation, hotel accommodations, meals or special events, as a result, changes to the published itinerary will not increase the price of your trip.
All ports of call and trip highlights contained in your original itinerary will be included in your revised schedule. Under these extreme circumstances, additional motor coach travel, ship changes and/or hotel nights may be required to ensure participants experience the trip safely and as advertised.

Ship

Amadeus Cara

Launching in 2022 and featuring a total of 72 spacious cabins and 10 Suites the Amadeus Cara offers superior luxury and even more modern conveniences than any other river ship currently plying the rivers of Europe . All accommodations aboard the Amadeus Cara provide comfortable bedding and seating areas, spacious bathrooms, “info-tainment systems,” flat screen televisions, telephone, safe, minibar and air conditioning which can be individually regulated. Suites feature a comfortable corner sofa, luxurious bathrooms and a walk-out exterior balcony. Mozart and Strauss Deck cabins feature a lowerable panoramic window which extends across the entire cabin front. Savor European specialties at breakfast and lunch. Dinner menus offer regional cuisine, and local wines complement both lunch and dinner. Meet fellow travelers in the comfortable Panorama Lounge or the Amadeus Club for refreshments and presentations. Shipboard amenities include a sun deck, fitness center and spa/massage services. Wi-Fi is provided and is complimentary.

Amadeus Queen

The Amadeus Queen was first launched in 2018 and includes not only generous public areas but also spacious cabins with 12 large suites featuring small walk-out balconies and reading corners plus 69 standard cabins. All cabins include spacious bathrooms, balconies (suites only) or panoramic open windows or fixed windows (lowest cabin category windows are fixed and cannot be opened), spacious wardrobe areas, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and an in-room safe. Gather for delicious meals with buffet breakfasts and lunches and four course dinners in the Panorama Restaurant, then meet new friends for refreshments in the spacious lounge. There is a wellness area with massage options and a hairdressing salon (additional fee) and a fitness room. There is also a small indoor pool for a quick dip and relaxing and a large sundeck topside. Wi-Fi is available complimentary in public areas but can be intermittent while the ship is in motion or in a region/area with limited signal.

Amadeus Riva

The Amadeus Riva launches in Spring 2023, and will offer guests a choice of 12 suites and 67 exterior cabins across four decks. Suites will feature walk-out balconies and other categories will include lowerable panoramic or smaller fixed windows depending on category chosen. Relax in generously designed public spaces while enjoying the passing scenery. Gather for elegant and delicious meals with buffet breakfasts and lunches and four course dinners in the Panorama Restaurant, then enjoy refreshments in the inviting lounge featuring a charming "Café Vienna" where you can order your choice of delicious coffees and refreshments. Step on to the River Terrace, located on the ship’s bow, which features unsurpassed views of the river. There is a wellness area with massage options and a hairdressing salon (additional fee) and a fitness room. Guest cabins feature walk-out balconies (suites only) or panoramic or fixed windows (all other categories), spacious wardrobe areas, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, ensuite bathroom with shower, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and an in-room safe. The Amadeus Riva will incorporate the very latest technologies in sustainable travel. The innovative ship’s engine not only enables highly efficient energy management but also significantly reduces CO2 emissions. Wi-Fi is available complimentary in public areas but can be intermittent while the ship is in motion or in a region/area with limited signal.

Amadeus Imperial

The stylish 82-cabin MS Amadeus Imperial, evocative of a grand European hotel, debuted in 2020 as the newest flagship in the innovative Amadeus fleet. Travelers can relax on the River Terrace, or gather in the Amadeus-Club or Panorama-Bar for entertainment. Savor European specialties at the restaurant’s breakfast and luncheon buffets. Dinner menus offer regional cuisine, and local wines complement both lunch and dinner. All guest rooms feature modern and spacious bathrooms, in-room safes, spacious wardrobe areas, flat screen televisions, telephone, safe, minibar and air conditioning which can be individually regulated. Shipboard amenities include a sun deck, fitness center and massage room. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Amadeus Cara

Amadeus Queen

Amadeus Riva

Amadeus Imperial

Testimonials

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

The tour "Waterways of Holland and Belgium" was a truly wonderful, joyous experience - the places visited were interesting and often awe-inspiring; the ship was a lovely "base" and the leaders all were marvelous - and, I might add, we had a thoroughly delightful group of fellow travelers!

- Becky R.

Would highly recommend this trip. Couldn't do enough to keep us happy, checked with us constantly to make sure that all was well, and could anything else be done, to make the trip more memorable.

- Patricia H.

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Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.