Cruising the Dutch Waterways

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Central Station directly to your riverboat. After settling into your floating hotel for a memorable weeklong voyage, attend a discovery briefing prior to a welcome reception, onboard entertainment, and a toast by the captain and his officers. Enjoy a leisurely dinner in the Compass Rose as your cruise begins. Stay Seven Nights: aboard your luxurious Tauck river ship (D)

Your riverboat arrives in Kampen this morning for a choice of sightseeing in The Netherlands' northern province of Friesland. One excursion takes you to the Lake District, known for its horses and picturesque villages along the IJsselmeer, for stops in various villages and a private visit to a local horse farm, before returning to Kampen, where you'll rejoin your riverboat and spend the afternoon cruising to Enkhuizen.

Or embark on a full-day excursion that explores the importance of water to Dutch culture, including a tour of the Wouda Steam Pumping Station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest facility of its kind in the world; and a trip through the region's small villages en route to the famous Enclosing Dike at the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a private visit to the site's center and a relaxed local dinner before catching up with the riverboat in Enkhuizen. (B/L/D)

This morning, your riverboat is docked in Enkhuizen, considered one of the Netherlands' prettiest towns, laced with canals and historic buildings. It's here where you will enjoy an exclusive, early-morning opening of the open-air Zuiderzee Museum. Dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage and maritime history from the old Zuiderzee region, this renowned institution paints a portrait of everyday life in a Zuiderzee (south sea) fishing village between the 1880s and the 1930s.

Following your time at the museum and lunch, take part in a Schooner Sail on the IJsselemeer aboard a historic century-old sailboat, where you'll be part of the team preparing the ship to sail – perhaps holding the ropes, pulling up the sails or working through the navigation; no sailing experience or special strength is necessary, just a willingness to be an active part of a sailing team! This evening, enjoy dinner aboard the riverboat as the ship sails from Enkhuizen to Arnhem. (B/L/D)

Call on historic Arnhem today for a choice of three distinct afternoon experiences. One is a guided tour of the acclaimed Kröller-Müller Museum in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, home to works by artists as wide-ranging as Seurat, Picasso and Mondrian – and to one of the world's largest collections of paintings by Dutch Post-Impressionist Vincent van Gogh, including his Café Terrace in Arles; the museum's expansive sculpture garden displays pieces by masters including Rodin, Dubuffet, Moore and Oldenburg.

Another choice is a guided bicycle excursion along the bike paths of De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Holland's largest nature preserve, winding past its scenic forests, drifting sand dunes and grassy plains. Or discover Arnhem's history-making battlegrounds and their significant role in World War II – when the town's strategic road bridge over the Lower Rhine became the target of a massive Allied airborne assault – with a visit to the Airborne Museum Hartenstein in nearby Oosterbeek, chronicling the Battle of Arnhem. Back onboard, enjoy a lecture by your Tauck Director prior to cocktails and the chef's signature dinner tonight. (B/L/D)

Arrive this morning in Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands and a centuries-old seaport that's among the largest and busiest in the world. After most of its historic center was obliterated during World War II, the city rose from the ashes to become the thriving commercial and transportation center it is today; renowned for its cutting-edge architecture and vibrant cultural life, 21st-century Rotterdam has been called the "Gateway to Europe." You can explore Rotterdam's stunning 21st-century Markthal (Markethall) and its contemporary culinary culture on your choice of food-focused walking or bicycling tours today.

After lunch, travel overland to Den Haag (The Hague) for a guided tour of this city known internationally as the Dutch seat of government, home to the royal family and renowned for its embassies, mansions, boulevards and parks.

You'll also enjoy a Tauck Exclusive evening at the Mauritshuis, a museum set in a 17th-century mansion displaying some of the most famous paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, open after hours for Tauck guests only. Meet a museum official; view masterpieces by Rembrandt, Holbein the Younger and Vermeer (including his iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring); and enjoy dinner with live music performed by students from the Royal Conservatory of the Hague. (B/L/D)

Spend a full day in Delft on a choice of excursions. Enjoy a guided city tour along canal-lined streets rich with remnants of its medieval and Golden Age heritage, followed by free time. Alternatively, visit The Royal Delft pottery factory where generations of craftsmen have been making Delft Blue pottery by hand since 1653; experience a painting workshop with master tile painters that includes high tea. Return to the riverboat this afternoon and enjoy a performance by a musical trio following dinner onboard ship. (B/L/D)

Your day in amazing Amsterdam begins with a choice of a guided tour of the city's matchless Rijksmuseum, filled with great works by the Dutch Masters like Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's The Milkmaid, and an included lunch at the museum's RIJKS® restaurant, awarded a Michelin star in 2016; or travel outside the city for a bicycle excursion through lovely coastal landscapes, stopping at a cheese farm, where you'll gain insights on cheesemaking and enjoy lunch before heading back to Amsterdam.

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. Celebrate your memorable cruise with tonight's farewell reception and toast in the riverboat's panoramic lounge, followed by dinner in the Compass Rose. (B/L/D)

Tour ends: Amsterdam. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station is included; all guests must disembark the riverboat by 9:00 AM. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport. (B)