Cruise on the IJsselmeer, one of Holland's treasures (port-to-port cruise)

Imagine a town straight out of a fairytale with no pollution nor cars to be found: this is Giethoorn.

We’ll leave from Lemmer by coach to reach Giethoorn, a charming lakeside town.

Located inside the Weeribben-Wieden National Park–part of the Overijssel province, lovely canals intertwine among a lush flora and 17th-to-18th century thatched farmhouses built on peat islets connected to each other by more than 170 wooden bridges. This idyllic setting is best discovered on foot or by boat.

Our trip will take us on a one-hour boat ride along the canals for an original discovery of this typical village. You'll be enchanted by the beautiful scenery of this town by the water and the welcoming spirit that suffuses the air. Before heading back to Lemmer, you will have some free time to wander about the humpback bridges or small footbridges spanning the canals.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The town can only be visited on foot or by boat.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure by coach from Volendam or Enkhuizen for the town of Alkmaar.
We'll reach the city center on foot in the company of our guide. Alkmaar is a historical town with over 400 monuments. The Waag (weigh house building), dating from the 14th century, the Town Hall dating from the 16th century, the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (St Lawrence church) and a multitude of enclosed courtyards, noteworthy facades and canals all partake in the particular atmosphere of this city. However, Alkmaar is particularly known for its cheese. From the 1st Friday in April to the 1st Friday in September, the traditional cheese market is held every Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The traders sell their cheeses using a barter system. The cheese carriers' guild, which has existed for 400 years, transports the cheeses on wooden barrows, after weighing the batches at the weigh house. Inside this building, a guided visit to the Cheese Museum will teach you all about the various steps to making dairy products. You'll discover the beautifully ornate cheese presses and various other implements and tools used to make cheese and butter over the centuries. The first floor houses documentation illustrating how cheese is made today on the farms and dairy factories, as well as this industry's major influence on the Dutch economy.
After some free time, return to the ship for lunch.

PLEASE NOTE

• Wear sturdy shoes: the streets are cobbled.
• On Friday, the visit is to the cheese market instead of the museum.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

You'll leave on foot to head to the bike rental office. This guided bike tour will last about 2.5 hours, and you'll be able to explore and learn about all the must-see and out-of-the-way sites in Amsterdam. Enjoy some free time at the Flower Market or at the Albert Cuypmarkt.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Attention: children are under the responsibility of their parents and must be autonomous by bike.
• Classic bikes provided (no electric assistance)
• Helmets are provided on all our cycling tours.

Departure by coach to the Keukenhof Flower Park (1), accompanied by the ship's tour leader. Upon arrival, the tour leader will hand you an entrance ticket, and you will be free to stroll at your own pace through this 32-hectare park, winding between the flower beds. Let yourself be enchanted by the colors and scents of tulips, daffodils, jonquils, and other bulb flowers. Don’t miss the pavilion dedicated to orchids or the Japanese-inspired garden… At the back of the park, be sure to visit the windmill dating from 1892, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding tulip fields.

In the 15th century, the present-day Keukenhof estate was a hunting ground. Herbs were also cultivated there for the kitchens of Jacqueline of Bavaria’s castle, hence the name “Keukenhof” (kitchen garden).

Lunch included in one of the park’s restaurants.

Return to the ship by coach.

(1) Depending on the course of the cruise and navigation requirements, lunch may either be taken freely at Keukenhof Park (voucher included) or served on board the ship.

NOTES

• Only available upon advance reservation.
• Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Self-guided visit within the park.
• The park is only open from mid-March to mid-May 2026 (exact dates currently unknown). Subject to change by the Keukenhof Flower Park.
• The order of visits may be modified.
• Wheelchairs are available, but must be booked online through the Keukenhof website using the passenger’s credit card.

We'll leave by coach with our guide for Volendam, a charming village that has preserved its character for over six centuries thanks to the tough vitality of its fishermen. We'll then visit a cheese factory in the area to discover how the famous Gouda cheese is made. We'll enjoy tasting the different flavors and ages available of one of the most popular cheeses in the world. We'll then head for Zaanse Schans, an open air museum with wooden windmills, barns, and houses. Take a walk through the stunning buildings and the unique peat landscape or watch traditional clog making techniques. Don't miss the small but impressive clog museum that features one of the largest and most attractive collections of wooden shoes in the Netherlands: painted, carved, ice clogs with iron trimmings, horse clogs, and decorative clogs. Take advantage of some free time on this excursion to indulge in authentic Dutch traditions. We'll return to our ship in Amsterdam by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended: guided visit on foot at Volendam and Zaanse Schans.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Take a bike tour of Hoorn and its surroundings. Located on the banks of the Ijsselmeer, Hoorn was one of the important Dutch East India Company towns in 17th-century Holland. Hundreds of merchant ships left Hoorn to sail across the world and return loaded with merchandise, especially spices such as peppercorn, nutmeg, clove and mace. Our guide will explain the city's celebrated past in detail. The outskirts of Hoorn itself are dotted with biking and hiking paths that cross the superb polders, following the river dykes and passing by old villages and the ancient Westfriese Omringdijk—an almost 800-year-old dyke. The Beemster polder, the first in the Netherlands and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a masterpiece of creative planning and a superb example of the conflict the inhabitants have waged with water in this area. You'll get to see old windmills.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Attention: children are under the responsibility of their parents and must be autonomous by bike.
• Helmets are provided on all our cycling tours.

Departure for a tour of Amsterdam by riverboat. With your guide, we'll glide further into this "Venice of the North” along the renowned Amsterdam canals, providing an ideal vantage point on the city's wonderful architecture. Our tour will take us through the four large canals surrounding the center - the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Singel canals. The Singel river was transformed into a canal in the 14th century to become part of the city's defensive belt, while the other three were conceived at the beginning of the Golden Age as a means to expand the city. Construction started in 1560 and lasted for more than a hundred years. The historical center is now surrounded by those four canals, parallel to one another. Shaped in half-moons, they follow the sun rays making sure that each and every house gets direct sunlight at some point during the day. When looking at a city map, Amsterdam resembles a half-bicycle wheel. Enjoy some free time in the city. Return on board.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate.
• Depending on the docking location in the port of Amsterdam, the duration of the excursion may vary.