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Optional
Brussels Prelude
Wednesday,
April 15
NEW
YORK
Depart
New York on an overnight flight to Amsterdam.
Thursday,
April 16
AMSTERDAM
/ THE HAGUE
Arrive
this morning and transfer
to The Hague and the Hotel des Indes. A short introduction to this historic city, seat of the Dutch government and residence
of the Queen, includes the Parliament and royal structures. In the evening gather at the hotel for a welcome reception.
 Friday,
April 17
THE HAGUE
This
morning enjoy a visit to the Mauritshuis, a 17th-century mansion containing a superb
collection of Rembrandts, Vermeers and many other Dutch
Masters. Lunch is at leisure before driving to the Keukenhof Gardens (left), where over a million flowering bulbs provide a carpet of color for more than 70 acres of parkland. Enjoy a stroll through the gardens before returning to The Hague. Tonight enjoy a traditional riistafel supper.
Saturday,
April 18
THE HAGUE / M.V. HEIDELBERG
This morning discover the Panorama Mesdag, a huge circular canvas depicting Scheveningen, the fashionable seaside resort as it looked in the 1880s. Continue to the charming town of Haarlem for lunch. Visit the Frans Hals Museum, housing a collection of masterpieces. At teatime, board
the M.V. Heidelberg for our seven-night cruise. This
evening the captain invites us for a welcome
reception followed by dinner.
 Sunday,
April 19
ROTTERDAM / DELFT
Dock
this morning in Rotterdam. After an architectural tour of the city, largely rebuilt following World War II, visit
the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, showcasing works by Rembrandt,
Rubens and van Gogh. Alternatively, spend
the morning in the lovely town of Dordrecht and discover
the Windmills of Kinderdijk (left), nineteen perfectly aligned
windmills that comprise Holland's largest grouping. After
lunch, travel to Delft, birthplace of Vermeer. Tour the
Museum Lambert van Meerten with its priceless Dutch tiles and early
Delft pottery.
Monday,
April 20
MIDDELBURG / GHENT
Arrive
this morning in Zeeland, a region of dikes
and neatly kept farms that is mostly below high-tide sea
level. Visit Middelburg with its charming
houses and 15th-century town hall. Continue aboard M.V. Heidelberg on an afternoon  cruise to Ghent, Belgium. We will be welcomed at the magnificent Cathedral of St. Bavo for a private viewing of its 15th-century Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent Altarpiece) by the Van Eyck brothers.
Tuesday,
April 21
GHENT / BRUGES
Bruges (right), which we visit today, is a perfectly preserved
medieval gem laced with canals and gardens. Visit the Cathedral of Our Lady, with its celebrated Madonna by Michelangelo and view the collections at the Hans Memling Museum, housed in the Hospice of St. John. Enjoy lunch
at Duc de Bourgogne, overlooking the canals. Then visit
the Groeninge Museum and enjoy some leisure time to stroll this enchanting town. This evening there will be an
onboard concert of chamber
music performed by one of Europe's exciting new quartets.
Wednesday,
April 22
ANTWERP
This
morning visit the 17th-century Rubens House (left) and the cathedral,
which houses Rubens' justly famous Descent from the Cross.
Following lunch on board, the afternoon is at leisure to explore lively Antwerp. You may wish to visit the Plantin-Moretus House. This former residence
of a leading family of printers has an enchanting Renaissance garden.
 Thursday,
April 23
ARNHEM
Cruise
through the scenic countryside of central Holland en route
to Arnhem, remembered for the World War II battles fought
there. Drive into the Hoge Veluwe National Park, whose moors,
forests and open fields are often depicted in Van Gogh's
drawings and paintings (right). Arrive at the Kröller-Müller
Museum, a treasure house of modern art with a sculpture
park that art critic John Russell called "still the
best of its kind in the world." This evening we are
invited to the captain's farewell dinner.
Friday,
April 24
AMSTERDAM
Be
on deck this morning as we cruise into Amsterdam, past gabled
houses and mansions. Board a chartered canal boat for an architectural tour of the city. Then visit the State Treasury of Dutch paintings, the Rijksmuseum. The remainder
of the afternoon is at leisure to visit the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House (left) or stroll to the Singel, site of a colorful floating flower
market.
Saturday,
April 25
AMSTERDAM / NEW YORK
Disembark
this morning and transfer to
the airport for the flight to New York, arriving this afternoon.
Optional
Brussels Prelude
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Photo Credits: Vermeer/The Mauritshuis; Windmills/Roger Smith; Rubens House/Antwerp Tourism;
van Gogh/Kröller-Müller Museum; Rembrandt's Studio/Amsterdam Tourist Board
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