Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium (Illumination)
Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium (Illumination)
$5987
Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium (Illumination)
8 Days
Visiting: Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation), Middelburg, Ghent, Belgium, Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Holland, Amsterdam (Disembarkation)
Tour operator:
Tour Overview
There’s no better way to spring into action and catapult into culture than on an Avalon Active & Discovery cruise to the Netherlands and Belgium. Belgian chocolate workshop, classic paintings, and even graffiti walls glow brighter when you experience them in the most interactive ways. Discover the graceful ways of Holland on an Active & Discovery cruise. The way the wind moves the grasses beneath the stalwart windmills of the “Low Countries;” how the city cobblestones buzz with the ubiquitous bicycles and lively cafes and canals in Amsterdam; or the narrow houses evoking a time gone by. The visions of Holland come to life as you float past unforgettable scenes, pedal past incomparable views, and unleash your inner artist with a graffiti workshop. On an Active & Discovery cruise, our varied selection of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions from Amsterdam to Brussels and back lets you experience Holland and Belgium in the ways that move you most. Move.Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:•Soak in castle and farmland views on a walk through the woods and dunes of Domburg. •Pedal past polders, dykes, and quaint centuries-old villages through the Dutch countryside.•Take an architectural bike tour through Rotterdam to see the design highlights of Europe’s largest seaport.And be moved.Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:•Visit a century-old oyster farm in Middleburg and savor the catch of the day.•Paint the town red, green or whatever color you choose on an interactive tour of Ghent’s Graffiti Street.•Discover your inner artist at a Delft tile pottery workshop in Rotterdam or a painting class in Amsterdam. Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the waterways of Holland and Belgium.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam,Holland (Embarkation)
Location: Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation)
Meals Included: Dinner
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION) How Suite It Is! Welcome Aboard Your Avalon Suite Ship®.Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year.Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MIDDELBURG(D)
Day 2: Middelburg
Location: Middelburg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a Guided Visit to a family-owned Oyster Farm, active in the cultivation of crustaceans and shellfish in the Netherlands since 1906. A taste of oysters and lobster, accompanied by a glass of wine is the perfect ending to this beautiful experience, OR:
Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the 15th-century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading.
MIDDELBURG A Castle Moat, an Oyster Farm and Dutch Sea TradeJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Take a Guided Walk through woods and dunes; see Castle Westhove and farmlands of the beautiful North-Sea area, OR:DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Visit to a family-owned Oyster Farm, active in the cultivation of crustaceans and shellfish in the Netherlands since 1906. A taste of oysters and lobster, accompanied by a glass of wine is the perfect ending to this beautiful experience, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour through the winding cobblestones and canals of Middelburg. See the 15th-century Gothic Town Hall and learn about its important role in the spice trade and Dutch East India trading. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GHENT(B,L,D)
Day 3: Ghent,Belgium
Location: Ghent, Belgium
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Join a Guided Tour of Graffiti Street, where artists create striking spray-can art to their heart’s content. And do not miss the chance to become an artist yourself, creating your street art, OR:
Explore Ghent—“The Diamond of Flanders”— with a Guided Sightseeing Tour of this showcase of medieval Flemish wealth. You’ll visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral—with its remarkable Flemish artwork.
GHENT, BELGIUM Flemish Artwork and Street ArtistsACTIVE Explore the outskirts of the city and the lesser-known sights on a Guided Bike Tour, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour of Graffiti Street, where artists create striking spray-can art to their heart’s content. And do not miss the chance to become an artist yourself, creating your street art, OR:CLASSIC Explore Ghent—“The Diamond of Flanders”— with a Guided Sightseeing Tour of this showcase of medieval Flemish wealth. You’ll visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral—with its remarkable Flemish artwork.Alternatively, you may choose to join a full-day Guided Optional Excursion of Bruges to explore its canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. You’ll see its crisscrossed canals, the 13th-century belfry of Market Square, and charming patrician houses. You won’t miss the opportunity to explore Ghent since this Optional Excursion ends with an orientation walk of the "Diamond of Flanders." EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRUSSELS(B,L,D)
Day 4: Brussels
Location: Brussels
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Join a Belgian chocolate-making Workshop to learn how to create your own delicious candies. Enjoy a cup of the finest hot chocolate, while crafting traditional confections of pralines and mendiant from scratch, OR:
Join a Guided Tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings, discover the many local bars, cafés, and shops of the Lower Town Streets, and visit the Atomium.
BRUSSELS Ancient Streets, and Chocolate Sweet ACTIVE Take a Bike Tour to explore the beauty near Brussels, including the Belgian town of Laken, home to the Royal family estates, exotic pavilions from the world expo, and beautiful parks and lanes, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Belgian chocolate-making Workshop to learn how to create your own delicious candies. Enjoy a cup of the finest hot chocolate, while crafting traditional confections of pralines and mendiant from scratch, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings, discover the many local bars, cafés, and shops of the Lower Town Streets, and visit the Atomium. The afternoon is free to explore Brussels —considered home to the European Union--and admire its magnificent palaces and cathedrals. Alternatively, enjoy one of the Optional Excursions on offer.Later enjoy live entertainment onboard. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP(B,L,D)
Day 5: Antwerp
Location: Antwerp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*Not available on departures 507 & 903 as closed on Mondays.
Join a Guided Tour of the Red Star Line Museum. Follow the footsteps of the emigrants, become acquainted with the Red Star Line passengers and accompany them on their trip from their native village via Antwerp to the new world*, OR:
Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You’ll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens.
ANTWERP Bike Riding, Brave New Worlds, and Rubens’ ArtJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Enjoy a Bike Tour and discover centuries of history and a story around every corner. Don’t miss out the unique atmosphere of small neighborhoods and squares, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour of the Red Star Line Museum. Follow the footsteps of the emigrants, become acquainted with the Red Star Line passengers and accompany them on their trip from their native village via Antwerp to the new world*, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You’ll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens.This afternoon take time on your own to indulge in Antwerp’s signature Belgian waffles and crêpes—or explore this bike-friendly city from its old wharfs to its legendary diamond district. You might consider partaking one of the Optional Excursion available. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM(B,L,D)*Not available on departures 507 & 903 as closed on Mondays.
Day 6: Rotterdam,Holland
Location: Rotterdam, Holland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Attend a Pottery Workshop. In a characteristic painter’s room, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting a Delft tile, OR:
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam featuring unusual collection of cube houses innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge, and plenty of other fascinating sites.
ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND Avant-garde Architecture and Art LessonsACTIVE Take a unique Architecture Bike Tour to see the architectural highlights of Rotterdam. Do not miss the interesting Cube Houses, the popular Market Hall, the spectacular Erasmus Bridge, the vertical city ‘De Rotterdam,’ and the iconic Central Station. In the city center, admire how historic buildings lash cheerfully with hypermodern skyscrapers. OR:DISCOVERY Attend a Pottery Workshop. In a characteristic painter’s room, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting a Delft tile, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rotterdam featuring unusual collection of cube houses innovative architecture, including the marvelous Erasmus Bridge, and plenty of other fascinating sites.Before dinner, enjoy a cruise through Rotterdam harbor.In the evening, enjoy live entertainment on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM (B,L,D)
Day 7: Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR:
Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam.
AMSTERDAM Colorful Canals of Amsterdam ACTIVE Join a Guided Kayak Tour which provides a unique perspective of Amsterdam from the waters of its magnificent canals, OR: DISCOVERY Take a Tour to the Street Art Museum, see nearly 200 large-scale artworks featuring artists from around the world. Afterwards, attend a hands-on workshop with an instructor who will guide you in creating your own group mural to discover your inner artist, OR:DISCOVERY Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam.This afternoon, choose among the many Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)
Day 8: Amsterdam (Disembarkation)
Location: Amsterdam (Disembarkation)
Meals Included: Breakfast
AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Notes
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Accommodation
Amsterdam:Westcord Jakarta
Check out our Q&As
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Cuisine
All meals on board are prepared by accomplished chefs who prepare regional specialties as well as familiar favorites with only the freshest, local ingredients. Our Suite Ships® feature daily buffet-style breakfast and lunch with your choice of soups, main courses with starter, salad, or sandwich, and, of course, dessert. Complimentary room service is also available with Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the Mekong and Ganges, a mix of Western and local dishes is offered; in the Galápagos, you'll be able to taste some Ecuadorian specialties; and in the Amazon, you will be able to sample Peruvian specialties along with Western dishes.
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Cruise Director
A professional, experienced, English-speaking Cruise Director accompanies every departure. Naturalists are on board in the Amazon and Galápagos. Special Interest cruises typically include an expert specific to the cruise theme—from Wine Masters to History Experts.
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What about young travellers and children?
In our many years of cruising experience, we have found that children under the age of eight typically are too young to fully enjoy a cruise vacation. Because of this and for the safety and enjoyment of all passengers, we do not accept children under eight years of age. In addition, please note that there are no special arrangements or activities for children on our ships.
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What are single room supplements?
For single travellers who prefer the privacy of their own room and stateroom, single accommodation can, of course, be requested.
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Clothing & Dress Code
Your comfort is our first concern. Onboard and onshore dress codes are casual. Please bring comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing. Dinner attire is casual—open-neck shirts and slacks for men; slacks, skirts, or dresses for ladies. Coats and ties may be worn if preferred. The Welcome and Farewell Dinners in Europe are dressy, but not formal. On the Mekong, Ganges, Amazon, and Galápagos, dress attire, including coats and ties, is not recommended due to the warm, humid climate.
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When will I receive my digital travel documents?
Avalon will email you a set of travel documents, which includes a copy of your itinerary and, where applicable, information on your hotels and optional excursions. Electronic Travel documents, including applicable eTicket receipts, itineraries, and other information are sent approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure, provided full payment has been received.
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Where can I find the docking location for my cruise ship?
Avalon Waterways strives to bring you the best docking locations along Europe’s rivers. In many cities, this includes multiple docking sites. Docking positions at each port are assigned by local authorities, and may vary depending upon the number of ships in port on any given day. This can sometimes result in double-docking with more than one ship assigned to the same dock and the ships “rafted” together, temporarily obstructing some views from on board the ships. Exact docking locations will be available 24-72 hours prior to embarkation. Before your cruise’s docking location is available, you can download a map of all possible docking sites for your embarkation city at www.AvalonWaterwaysPorts.com. Once your ship’s docking assignment is available, you can download a map that shows only that specific location, including address.
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Are Avalon River Cruises Handicap Accessible?
Avalon Waterways makes reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled and mobility impaired travellers but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so. Because we cannot provide individual assistance to travellers in many situations, and most of our transportation services are not equipped with wheelchair ramps, we recommend that you view our terms and conditions for details or contact us to learn more.
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Internet Access
All Avalon ships in Europe have complimentary Wi-Fi available. On the Mekong and Ganges, complimentary Wi-Fi access is available in the Panorama Lounge. The signal is not always reliable, as you will be cruising through remote areas. To access the ship's Wi-Fi Internet network, you will be given a PIN number at reception to use on your laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Wi-Fi is not available in the Amazon or Galápagos.
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Onboard Language
The language on board is English. All staff, crew, and tour guides speak English. All announcements and commentary will be in English.
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1 Select your preferred date
Saturday - Saturday
Jul 25, 2026 - Aug 01, 2026Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Avalon Waterways requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of avalon waterways charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.