15 nights · Netherlands North Holland · River cruise · Departs Amsterdam (Netherlands) · Visiting Arnhem, Nijmegen, Maastricht, Namur, Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Zeebrugge, Middelburg, Veere, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Haarlem · Aboard Avalon Waterways on the Avalon Imagery II
Image courtesy of Avalon Waterways ©
This river cruise sails the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt, departing Amsterdam.
| Cruise line | Avalon Waterways |
|---|---|
| Ship | Avalon Imagery II |
| Duration | 15 nights |
| Port calls | 14 |
| Departures | 2 sailings |
| From fare | $9,331 per person |
| Year built | 2016 |
| Guests | 130 |
| Cabins | 65 |
| Crew | 37 |
| Length | 110 m |
| Beam | 12 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Amsterdam pairs world-class museums with the everyday pleasure of canal-side life. Its Golden Age houses, narrow waterways and lively markets make the city rewarding well beyond its famous sights. Visit the Rijksmuseum for Dutch masters, then explore the canal belt on foot or by boat. Leave time for a neighbourhood café: in Amsterdam, the best discoveries often come between the landmarks.
Arnhem stands beside the Nederrijn, where river views meet a city shaped by trade and wartime history. The 1944 Battle of Arnhem became a pivotal episode of Operation Market Garden. At Airborne Museum Hartenstein in nearby Oosterbeek, exhibits tell the story of the battle. The Netherlands Open Air Museum brings Dutch history to life through historic buildings and demonstrations. Nearby, Kröller-Müller Museum pairs major Van Gogh holdings with a celebrated sculpture garden in Hoge Veluwe National Park.
Nijmegen is often called the Netherlands’ oldest city, with roots in a Roman settlement on the Waal. The river gives the historic centre an open feel, while cafés and independent shops keep it lively. Visit Valkhof Park for Roman remains and river views; nearby, the medieval Stevenskerk anchors the old town. Nijmegen’s bridges figured in Operation Market Garden in 1944, a defining episode of the Second World War. Come ashore to discover a compact city shaped by history and river.
Maastricht is the Netherlands at its most southern, shaped by Roman roots, medieval trade and a lively borderland setting. From the Meuse riverfront, enter a compact old town of cobbled lanes, handsome squares and inviting cafés. On the Vrijthof, Gothic St John stands beside the Romanesque Basilica of St Servatius. Browse the remarkable Dominicanen bookshop in a former church, or explore the limestone tunnels beneath nearby St Pietersberg.
Namur sits where the Sambre meets the Meuse, with its celebrated citadel rising above the river junction. Explore the old town and Saint-Aubain Cathedral, then take the cable car to the ramparts for views across Wallonia’s capital. The citadel’s tunnels and fortifications reveal centuries of strategic importance. Along the quays, cafés offer a welcome pause in this compact Belgian city.
Antwerp pairs a major working port with a rewarding historic center. At the Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens’s paintings share space with centuries of Gothic stonework. Nearby, the Grote Markt frames guild houses and the ornate City Hall, with cafés offering an easy pause between visits. The Museum aan de Stroom explores Antwerp’s history and its enduring relationship with the river. Make time for a meal; Antwerp’s food culture is as compelling as its maritime heritage.
Brussels rewards visitors who look beyond its reputation as Europe’s political capital. At the Grand-Place, gilded guildhalls frame one of the continent’s most beautiful squares. Nearby, the Magritte Museum reveals the Belgian surrealist’s wit, while Art Nouveau façades reward an unhurried walk. Make time for lunch: moules-frites, crisp Belgian fries, or a freshly made waffle. The city’s cafés and chocolate makers offer good reason to linger between sights.
Step ashore in Ghent and find a Flemish city that feels lived-in, not preserved for show. Canals frame guildhalls and Gothic towers, while cafés keep the historic centre in motion. At the Graslei, old warehouses line the Leie; nearby, St Bavo’s Cathedral holds the celebrated Ghent Altarpiece. Visit Gravensteen, a 12th-century castle, then explore the lanes on foot. Compact and rewarding, Ghent offers art, architecture and an easy taste of Belgian life.
Zeebrugge is Belgium’s North Sea gateway, but Bruges is the reason many travellers come ashore. The medieval city lies about 17 kilometres inland, its canals, brick gables and market square remarkably intact. The coast has its own appeal: stroll the broad beach, watch fishing boats return, or find seafood near the harbour. Choose your day well, and you can pair Bruges’ rich history with the Flemish coast’s open skies and sea air.
Step ashore in Ghent and find a Flemish city that feels lived-in, not preserved for show. Canals frame guildhalls and Gothic towers, while cafés keep the historic centre in motion. At the Graslei, old warehouses line the Leie; nearby, St Bavo’s Cathedral holds the celebrated Ghent Altarpiece. Visit Gravensteen, a 12th-century castle, then explore the lanes on foot. Compact and rewarding, Ghent offers art, architecture and an easy taste of Belgian life.
Middelburg is Zeeland’s compact, handsome capital, where medieval lanes and quiet canals meet a proud maritime past. The city grew wealthy through trade, and its role in the Dutch East India Company left an enduring mark. Begin at the Abbey, a historic complex still central to civic life. Climb the Lange Jan for views across red roofs and Zeeland’s flat, green countryside. On the market square, cafés and landmark façades invite a pause between museums, shops and canal-side walks.
Veere is a small Zeeland harbor town with a history larger than its streets suggest. Scottish merchants made it a thriving wool port in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Their legacy survives in the Scottish Houses lining the old harbor. Explore the cobbled lanes, the Gothic Grote Kerk and the ornate town hall. Then watch sailboats cross the Veerse Meer, the sheltered lake created by the Delta Works.
Kinderdijk is where the Dutch fight against water becomes unmistakably visible. Nineteen historic windmills stand among canals and green fields, built in the eighteenth century to drain the Alblasserwaard polder. Recognised by UNESCO, this working landscape rewards a slow walk beside the waterways. Selected mills open as museums, revealing how generations kept farmland dry. Arrive by waterbus from Rotterdam for a memorable approach, then explore at your own pace.
Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port, but its appeal extends well beyond the quays. Bold architecture rises beside the Maas, while the city’s maritime past remains close at hand. Cross the Erasmus Bridge for skyline views, explore the striking Markthal, or take a harbour cruise among working vessels. Rotterdam rewards curious visitors with modern design, excellent food, and a Dutch city that refuses to stand still.
Haarlem offers the pleasures of a Dutch city without Amsterdam’s crowds. Gabled houses, quiet canals and cobbled lanes set an inviting scene. At the Grote Markt, the soaring St Bavo’s Church presides over cafés and the weekly market. The Frans Hals Museum brings the city’s Golden Age to life, while the Teylers Museum is the Netherlands’ oldest museum. Allow time for a canal-side lunch and a glimpse of Haarlem’s hofjes, historic almshouse courtyards hidden behind unassuming doors.
Amsterdam pairs world-class museums with the everyday pleasure of canal-side life. Its Golden Age houses, narrow waterways and lively markets make the city rewarding well beyond its famous sights. Visit the Rijksmuseum for Dutch masters, then explore the canal belt on foot or by boat. Leave time for a neighbourhood café: in Amsterdam, the best discoveries often come between the landmarks.
Published August 31, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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