Holland & Belgium

Disembark your ship in Antwerp and travel with your Viking Tour Director to Ghent. There, see the towering belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; canals lined with medieval guild houses; and the massive Gravensteen, the 12th-century home of the Counts of Flanders. Admire the famous van Eyck brothers’ altarpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, during a visit to St. Bavo’s Cathedral. After lunch and time for independent exploration, continue to Bruges and check in to your hotel. (L)

Enjoy free time in Bruges this morning, then head south to the World War I battlefields around Ypres, immortalized as Flanders Fields in Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem. Visit the Flanders Fields American Cemetery and Memorial, the Flanders Fields Museum and the rebuilt town of Ypres, home of the Menin Gate. After dinner, you will observe the buglers of the Last Post Association sound the “Last Post” under the gate’s arches. Afterward, you will return to Bruges. (B, D)

After breakfast, take a guided walk through Bruges’s historic city center—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass the homes of prominent former residents and see the Béguinage and its gardens. Visit the Church of Our Lady, admiring Michelangelo’s marble Madonna and Child, and view the medieval Gruuthuse palace and gardens. Then, cruise along the picturesque canals, lined with gabled houses and floral-decorated bridges. Afterward, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B)

Check out of your hotel, then transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Disembark your ship and transfer to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure to explore the city’s quaint neighborhoods and delightful cafés. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Brussels so you can make the most of your visit.

Take a guided tour of the city's landmarks, including the historic Old Town, passing through the Grand Place, a cobblestone market square surrounded by the 15th-century City Hall and many elaborately designed guild houses. View the famous Manneken Pis statue and the impressive Royal Gallery of St. Hubert. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own at one of Brussels’s elegant restaurants, then experience the city’s nightlife, perhaps with a live concert at the Music Village jazz club. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. (B)

Welcome to Amsterdam. Transfer from the airport to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure to explore Amsterdam’s charming neighborhoods and sample some treats. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Amsterdam so you can make the most of your visit.

After breakfast, embark on a walking tour through the charming streets of Amsterdam. Your afternoon and evening are free to enjoy Amsterdam’s wonderful restaurants and many attractions; explore the city’s art or historic museums; or take a stroll along the picturesque canals. This evening, dine in a local restaurant—Amsterdam offers many establishments in the “grand café” style and is also known for excellent Indonesian cuisine—and enjoy the city’s lively nightlife. (B)

Today, you have additional time for touring or shopping. Later this afternoon, transfer to your ship to begin your river cruise. (Dinner is served on board your ship as part of your cruise itinerary.) (B)

Arrive in Amsterdam, where you will be met by your Viking Host and transfer to The Hague. After check-in, the remainder of your day is free to explore this intriguing city’s mix of modern and historic architecture at your leisure. Your Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in The Hague so you can make the most of your visit.

After breakfast, explore the historic landmarks of The Hague during a guided walk. View the Binnenhof, the seat of the Dutch government with buildings dating to the 13th century. See the Mauritshuis, home to some of the world’s most famous paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including masterpieces such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Stroll by the Noordeinde Palace, one of the king’s three royal palaces, then return to your hotel, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

This morning, set out to further explore The Hague on your own. This afternoon, check out of your hotel and transfer to Amsterdam, stopping for photos outside the famous Peace Palace en route to joining your awaiting ship. (B)