Virtual Journey: The Waterways of Holland and Belgium
Wish you could be in Holland and Belgium in the spring? We’ll take you there through our curated virtual journey featuring interesting, engaging, and fun highlights from our popular river cruise - Waterways of Holland and Belgium.
For the Art Lover
Rijksmuseum
Experience the Rijksmuseum virtually by browsing over 700,000 high-resolution images in their collection, watch videos of curators talk about their favorite works of art, and even take a virtual guided tour of the Gallery of Honour, home of Rembrandt’s "The Night Watch", "The Jewish Bride," Vermeer’s "The Milkmaid," and more.
Mauritshuis Museum
Are you a lover of Vermeer? Mauritshuis Museum's "Meet Vermeer" project in partnership with Google Arts and Culture is the first virtual museum to show all of Johannes Vermeer’s paintings so you can experience them from the comfort of home. You can also enjoy mini-lectures from curators on the collection!
For Outdoor Enthusiasts
Experience our popular river cruise Waterways of Holland and Belgium through the lens of our Smithsonian Journeys staff representative who accompanied one of our departures in 2019. She returned with engaging stories about the cruise, fascinating and helpful conversations with Smithsonian Journeys travelers, and ideas for the future. She also returned with some wonderful photos that truly reflect the experience… from canals, architecture, and gardens to fun times, chocolate, and pannekoek (traditional Dutch pancakes). View Photo Gallery →
Keukenhof Gardens
Enjoy the beautiful Keukenhof Gardens on this video tour with a personal guide showing the amazing varieties of tulips and other flowers you will find in this world famous garden.
Bruges
Experience Bruge in 60 seconds! This short video will whet your appetite so be sure to climb atop the Belfry and visit the Groeningemuseum and other iconic sites on the 360° virtual tour of the city located on the Visit Bruges website.
Floriade Expo
Learn about the world horicultural exhibition that comes to the Netherlands only once a decade. The 2022 theme, "Growing Green Cities," celebrates creative approaches to sustainability and livability in our world's growing cities.
Dive Deep into the Culture
All About Windmills
Explore an 18th-century windmill with a modern day Dutch miller and learn why this technological advancement helped support Dutch life and agriculture.
History of Belgian Brewing
Learn about the historic Brewery de Halve Maan, featured on our river cruise, where an expert guide will explain the process of brewing the famous Belgian beer.
Why The Netherlands Isn't Flooding Anymore
Learn about the world's largest flood protection project, the Delta Works, consisting of a series of massive dams conceived and built after the destructive North Sea flood of February 1953.
Belgian Chocolate
Dark and white chocolate, honey, butter, and cream are the most important ingredients that go into making the fillings or ganache for these chocolates. But that's not the whole story. Learn all about Belgian chocolate in this video.
Delft Blue
Discover the craftmanship of Royal Delft, established in the 17th century, and learn about the history, development, and production of Delft Blue porcelain vases.
Meet our Smithsonian Journeys Expert
Valerie Hedquist
Experience the Waterways of Holland and Belgium through the eyes of a Smithsonian Journeys Expert. Art historian Valerie Hedquist has been teaching and writing for nearly 30 years. Read her insights from a previous departure in a blog post. She will also be leading a select departure of this tour in 2022.
Reading List
Get away from it all with these engaging reads about Holland and Belgium. See the full reading list here.
Why the Dutch Are Different
Bottoms Up in Belgium
A Worldly Art
The Embarrassment of Riches
Inspired? Join us on our Waterways of Holland and Belgium River Cruise!
Patagonian Explorer
15-16 days
|
Starting at: $12,682
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Discovering Vietnam
15 days
|
Starting at: $6,197
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos
19 days
|
Starting at: $9,097
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Splendors of Australia and New Zealand
22 days
|
Starting at: $12,384
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Cruising the Arabian Coast
9 days
|
Starting at: $7,515
(Departed, returns Jan 24, 2025)
Jan 16 - 24, 2025
Ancient Egypt and the Nile
14 days
|
Starting at: $7,097
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Timeless India: Rajasthan, Varanasi, and the Taj Mahal
17 days
|
Starting at: $7,287
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Around the World by Private Jet: A Classic Journey
22-25 days
|
Starting at: $150,000
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,800
Jan 30 - Feb 7, 2025
Feb 28 - Mar 8, 2026
Northern Lights Over Finland: Helsinki and Lapland
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,390
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Splendors of Morocco
14 days
|
Starting at: $7,379
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Costa Rica Treetops and Trails: An Active Journey
8 days
|
Starting at: $3,899
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Antarctica: The White Continent
12 days
|
Starting at: $14,360
Feb 18 - Mar 1, 2025
Jan 8 - 19, 2026
Machu Picchu and the Galápagos
16 days
|
Starting at: $9,795
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Journey Through New Zealand
16 days
|
Starting at: $9,574
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Legendary Peru: Andean Culture and Inca Treasures
11 days
|
Starting at: $5,887
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Highlights of Italy
16 days
|
Starting at: $6,474
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Treasures of Southern Spain and Portugal
15 days
|
Starting at: $6,374
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Treasures of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana
16-17 days
|
Starting at: $10,790
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
The Silk Road: A Journey to Central Asia
17 days
|
Starting at: $8,995
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Italy's Amalfi Coast: A One-Week Stay in Vietri sul Mare
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,490
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Walking and Hiking Inca Trails: An Active Journey to Peru
9 days
|
Starting at: $3,999
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Living in Spain: A Three-Week Stay in Andalusia
23 days
|
Starting at: $6,990
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Living in Italy: A Three-Week Stay in Florence
23 days
|
Starting at: $6,990
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Living in France: A Three-Week Stay in Provence
23 days
|
Starting at: $7,290
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Eternal Japan
13 days
|
Starting at: $8,884
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Southern Italy and Sicily
15 days
|
Starting at: $7,174
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Prehistoric Mysteries of England and Ireland
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,995
Multiple departures in 2025
Legendary Turkey and the Turquoise Coast
15 days
|
Starting at: $6,892
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Nepal and Bhutan: An Active Journey
16 days
|
Starting at: $7,799
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Walking in Portugal: An Active Journey along the Coast, the Camino, and the Douro Valley
10 days
|
Starting at: $4,999
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Prehistoric Caves of France and Spain
10 days
|
Starting at: $7,795
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Japan by Trail: An Active Journey featuring the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail
11 days
|
Starting at: $7,299
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
A Stay in Holland: An Art History Journey from Vermeer to Van Gogh
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,490
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Across Northern Spain and Portugal: Lisbon to Barcelona
17 days
|
Starting at: $7,174
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Cruising the Aegean: Turkey and the Greek Isles
8 days
|
Starting at: $6,130
Apr 15 - 22, 2025
Jun 25 - Jul 2, 2026
Northern Italy: The Lake District, Tuscany, and the Dolomites
15 days
|
Starting at: $6,774
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Tuscany and Cinque Terre: An Active Journey
10 days
|
Starting at: $5,299
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Walking the Camino de Santiago: An Active Journey to Spain
11 days
|
Starting at: $4,999
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Cruising Southern Spain and Portugal
8-9 days
|
Starting at: $5,680
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Classical Greece
14 days
|
Starting at: $7,892
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Italy's Apulia: A One-Week Stay in Polignano a Mare
9 days
|
Starting at: $4,790
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Living in Portugal: A Stay in Lisbon
19 days
|
Starting at: $7,890
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Spain's Andalusia: A One-Week Stay in Antequera
9 days
|
Starting at: $4,590
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Pearls of Croatia and Slovenia
15 days
|
Starting at: $7,484
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
France Through the Ages
15 days
|
Starting at: $7,297
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Southern France and the Italian Riviera by Sea
8-9 days
|
Starting at: $6,720
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
France and Spain's Basque Region: A One-Week Stay at the Parador de Hondarribia
9 days
|
Starting at: $4,990
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Normandy: A One-Week Stay in France
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,290
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Paris: The African American Experience
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,490
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Portrait of Portugal: Lisbon, Porto and a Douro River Cruise
12 days
|
Starting at: $6,285
Multiple departures in 2025
The Greek Isles: An Active Journey to Naxos, Santorini, and Crete
10 days
|
Starting at: $5,299
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Historic Cities of Central Europe
16 days
|
Starting at: $7,497
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides and the Irish Sea
9 days
|
Starting at: $7,070
May 4 - 12, 2025
May 7 - 15, 2026
Italy's Lake District: A One-Week Stay in Stresa
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,490
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon
11 days
|
Starting at: $6,295
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures in 2025
Irish Walks: An Active Journey from Dublin to Dingle
11 days
|
Starting at: $5,399
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Scotland's Treasures
12 days
|
Starting at: $7,696
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
The Emerald Isle: Ireland from East to West
13 days
|
Starting at: $7,992
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
A River Cruise through Burgundy and Provence
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,085
Multiple departures in 2025
Adventure in Iceland
11 days
|
Starting at: $8,192
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Gorillas of Rwanda: An Active Journey
8 days
|
Starting at: $9,499
May 23 - 30, 2025
Aug 8 - 15, 2025
Treasures of the Alps: Swiss Trains and Italy's Lake District
14 days
|
Starting at: $8,392
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords Voyage
8 days
|
Starting at: $7,110
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
D-Day: Retracing History from England to France
8 days
|
Starting at: $7,295
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
African Safari: A Wildlife Adventure
14 days
|
Starting at: $10,184
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Seascapes of the Canadian Maritimes
12 days
|
Starting at: $7,747
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Alaska's Natural Wonders: Denali to Kenai Fjords
11 days
|
Starting at: $8,797
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
England's Lake District: A One-Week Stay in Historic Cumbria
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,290
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Glaciers and Waterfalls: An Active Journey to Iceland
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,499
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Western Ireland: A One-Week Stay in County Clare
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,490
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
The Northern Rockies
11 days
|
Starting at: $7,691
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Tour du Mont Blanc: An Active Alpine Journey
10 days
|
Starting at: $5,999
Jun 18 - 27, 2025
Aug 27 - Sep 5, 2025
Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea
8 days
|
Starting at: $6,760
Jun 18 - 25, 2025
Jun 18 - 25, 2026
Scotland by Trail: An Active Journey to the Highlands and Islands
10 days
|
Starting at: $5,699
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Safari in Kenya and Tanzania
16 days
|
Starting at: $12,896
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean
8 days
|
Starting at: $6,150
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Cruising the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea
8 days
|
Starting at: $9,190
Aug 13 - 20, 2025
Aug 3 - 10, 2026
Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily
9 days
|
Starting at: $8,220
Aug 27 - Sep 4, 2025
Sep 6 - 14, 2026
London to Lisbon: Cruising Europe's Western Shores
10 days
|
Starting at: $6,780
Aug 30 - Sep 8, 2025
Sep 5 - 14, 2026
Smithsonian at the Toronto International Film Festival
6 days
|
Starting at: $5,790
Sep 3 - 8, 2025
A Voyage Along the Great Lakes
8-9 days
|
Starting at: $9,100
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Living in Austria: A Three-Week Stay in Vienna
23 days
|
Starting at: $8,490
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Fall Foliage on the St. Lawrence: Québec to the Canadian Maritimes
13-15 days
|
Starting at: $12,670
Oct 1 - 15, 2025
Sep 24 - Oct 6, 2026
Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca
8 days
|
Starting at: $5,840
Oct 3 - 10, 2025
Oct 10 - 17, 2026
Prague: A One-Week Stay in the Czech Republic
9 days
|
Starting at: $5,540
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Lisbon to the Canary Islands by Sea: Spain, Morocco, and the Atlantic Isles
14 days
|
Starting at: $9,280
Oct 26 - Nov 8, 2025
Oct 12 - 25, 2026
A Stay in Florence: An Art History Journey from Leonardo to Michelangelo
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,590
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Iceland in Winter: An Active Journey in Search of the Northern Lights
7 days
|
Starting at: $4,399
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
A Stay in New Orleans: History, Music, and Cuisine in the Big Easy
7 days
|
Starting at: $4,690
Multiple departures between 2025 & 2026
Madagascar and Seychelles: Natural Treasures of the Indian Ocean
11 days
|
Starting at: $12,100
Jan 7 - 17, 2026
Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America
8 days
|
Starting at: $6,420
Feb 19 - 26, 2026
Feb 26 - Mar 5, 2026
South Africa and Namibia by Sea: Around the Cape of Good Hope
11 days
|
Starting at: $7,660
Mar 19 - 29, 2026
Morocco’s Mountains and Dunes: An Active Journey
15 days
|
Starting at: $5,499
Multiple departures in 2026
Voyage to Indonesia: Dragons, Reefs, and the Spice Islands
13 days
|
Starting at: $10,910
May 1 - 13, 2026
Croatian Islands and Trails: An Active Journey to the Dalmatian Coast
11 days
|
Starting at: $5,499
Multiple departures in 2026
Highlights of Britain
14 days
|
Starting at: $8,271
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures in 2026
West Africa: A Cultural Journey to Ghana, Togo, and Benin
16 days
|
Starting at: $10,979
* Price includes airfare
Multiple departures in 2026
A Solar Eclipse at Sea: Voyage Across the Western Mediterranean
9 days
|
Starting at: $10,270
Aug 11 - 19, 2026
Celebrating American History & Cultural Heritage along the Atlantic Coast
15 days
Oct 6 - 20, 2026
Italy for Families: A Tailor-Made Journey to Rome, Florence, and Venice
10 days
|
Starting at: $8,795
Suggested Itinerary
Gorilla Trekking and the Masai Mara: A Tailor-Made Journey to Rwanda and Kenya
9 days
|
Starting at: $14,250
Suggested Itinerary
Treasures of Ancient Greece: A Tailor-Made Journey
11 days
|
Starting at: $8,255
Suggested Itinerary
Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies by Rail: A Tailor-Made Journey
12 days
|
Starting at: $5,535
Suggested Itinerary
Botswana: A Tailor-Made Journey to Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta
10 days
|
Starting at: $10,700
Suggested Itinerary
Peaks and Glaciers of Patagonia: A Tailor-Made Journey
11 days
|
Starting at: $8,370
Suggested Itinerary
Sailing the Galápagos: A Tailor-Made Journey by Yacht
10 days
|
Starting at: $7,980
Suggested Itinerary
Flavors of Italy and France: A Tailor-Made Culinary Experience
9 days
|
Starting at: $12,795
Suggested Itinerary
Culture, Art, and Cuisine of Italy: A Tailor-Made Journey
10 days
|
Starting at: $8,795
Suggested Itinerary
Capital Cities of Scandinavia: A Tailor-Made Journey
9 days
|
Starting at: $6,250
Suggested Itinerary
Classic Turkey: A Tailor-Made Journey to Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Turquoise Coast
11 days
|
Starting at: $7,370
Suggested Itinerary
South Korea Through the Ages: A Tailor-Made Journey
9 days
|
Starting at: $3,810
Suggested Itinerary
Art and Architecture of France: A Tailor-Made Journey
11 days
|
Starting at: $6,935
Suggested Itinerary
Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: A Tailor-Made Journey to Southeast Asia
14 days
|
Starting at: $6,760
Suggested Itinerary
Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast: A Tailor-Made Journey to Southern Italy
8 days
|
Starting at: $7,995
Suggested Itinerary
Easter Island and Atacama: A Tailor-Made Journey to Chile
11 days
|
Starting at: $7,500
Suggested Itinerary
Morocco's Imperial Cities and the Sahara : A Tailor-Made Journey
11 days
|
Starting at: $6,595
Suggested Itinerary
New Zealand North and South: A Tailor-Made Journey
17 days
|
Starting at: $9,995
Suggested Itinerary
Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley: A Tailor-Made Journey
8 days
|
Starting at: $7,500
Suggested Itinerary
Portugal's Historic Cities: A Tailor-Made Journey to Lisbon and Porto
7 days
|
Starting at: $5,950
Suggested Itinerary
South Africa and Victoria Falls: A Tailor-Made Journey
10 days
|
Starting at: $9,200
Suggested Itinerary
Madrid to Basque Country: A Tailor-Made Journey to Spain
10 days
|
Starting at: $11,449
Suggested Itinerary
Cliffs and Canyons of the American Southwest: A Tailor-Made Journey
9 days
|
Starting at: $4,290
Suggested Itinerary
London & Paris for Families: A Tailor-Made Journey
8 days
|
Starting at: $7,295
Suggested Itinerary
Discovering Hawai'i: A Tailor-Made Journey to Four Islands
12 days
|
Starting at: $8,995
Suggested Itinerary
Thailand's Enchanting Temples and Culinary Delights: A Tailor-Made Journey
12 days
|
Starting at: $5,335
Suggested Itinerary
Cairo and the Temples of the Nile: A Tailor-Made Journey to Egypt
10 days
|
Starting at: $7,945
Suggested Itinerary
Gems of Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast: A Tailor-Made Journey
10 days
|
Starting at: $8,895
Suggested Itinerary
Exploring Dutch Culture: A Tailor-Made Journey to the Netherlands
10 days
|
Starting at: $5,610
Suggested Itinerary
Literary England: A Tailor-Made Journey from London to the Lake District
9 days
|
Starting at: $11,745
Suggested Itinerary
Alaska: A Tailor-Made Journey featuring an Inside Passage Cruise
12 days
|
Starting at: $10,280
Suggested Itinerary
Scotland: A Tailor-Made Journey to Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands
9 days
|
Starting at: $9,899
Suggested Itinerary
Ireland: A Tailor-Made Journey into Traditional Irish Culture and Country Life
8 days
|
Starting at: $9,345
Suggested Itinerary
Athens and the Greek Isles: A Tailor-Made Journey
12 days
|
Starting at: $10,680
Suggested Itinerary
Portugal and Spain: A Tailor-Made Journey to Lisbon and Andalusia
12 days
|
Starting at: $12,449
Suggested Itinerary
Glaciers and Geysers of Iceland's Southern Coast: A Tailor-Made Journey
8 days
|
Starting at: $9,995
Suggested Itinerary