Holland & Belgium's Tulips

DAYS 1-2: WELCOME TO AMSTERDAM!

Following your included overnight flight, arrive in Amsterdam and visit the Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory. Then head to the charming town of ’s-Hertogenbosch (also known as Den Bosch) for a guided walking tour and group Welcome Dinner. Meals In-flight, D

DAY 3: CASTLE HEESWIJK, DEN BOSCH

This morning, take a guided tour of Castle Heeswijk, a restored 11th- century fortress. Later, enjoy visiting the Gardens in Demen with layouts carefully devised according to color and floral variety, or a beautiful canal trip through the waterways of Den Bosch. Then enjoy free time before tonight’s group dinner. B, D

DAY 4: KEUKENHOF

Your day begins with Keukenhof, considered the most beautiful garden in the world. Here, more than seven million tulips and other regional flowers fill 80 acres with color and fragrance. Later, you will board the MS Amadeus Aurea for a Welcome Dinner followed by entertainment from a “shanty choir” of Dutch sailors. B, D

DAY 5: SITES OF AMSTERDAM

In Amsterdam, enjoy a city tour to see the Royal Palace, Museum Quarter, and enjoy a traditional canal cruise to see a portion of the village’s 90 islands and 400 bridges. This afternoon, enjoy free time on your own; perhaps you’ll visit one of Amsterdam’s world- renowned museums or spend time relaxing on board the ship before dinner. B, L, D

Option—Amsterdam Bike Tour Amsterdam on a relaxed E-Bike ride* through scenic waterland. After a short ferry crossing, cycle along quiet dikes and canals, past windmills, green meadows, and charming villages. Enjoy wide views of waterways and the distant Wadden Sea as you take in the beauty of this unique Dutch landscape. Price $250 per person

*Approximately 14 miles over 3 hours on mostly flat, well-maintained paths, suitable for guests with a basic level of fitness.

DAY 6: ARNHEM, OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

Today drive through Arnhem, known for World War II’s “Operation Market Garden.” The actions here became the basis of the historical movie, A Bridge Too Far. You’ll continue to the Open-Air Museum, containing more than 80 historic houses, farmhouses, and mills, showing how the Dutch people lived from 1700 to 1970. B, L, D

DAY 7: MIDDELBURG

Today it’s off to Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland. The powerful abbey, the Late Gothic town hall, and the old warehouses let you relive this past. When walking through the dreamy streets, you wouldn’t believe that the entire city center was largely destroyed during the Second World War. The city was rebuilt in the same style and today, visitors can still feel what life must have been like during the 16th century. B, L, D

DAY 8: GHENT

Visit the Belgian city of Ghent, full of rich history and impressive medieval buildings. Your walking exploration will include the fortress “Gravensteen,” built in the 12th century by the Count of Flanders after he returned from his crusades. Walk through Ghent’s charming city center and behold its belfry, a historic bell tower, and much more. This afternoon, enjoy time in Ghent on your own. B, L, D

Option—Tour Bruges Enjoy a tour to the Flemish jewel of Bruges. The historic marketplace is cradled by the river Reie and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saunter along the maze of cobbled alleys and romantic canals. Price $125 per person

DAY 9: FAMOUS BELGIAN CITIES

Today stroll through the historic city center of Antwerp and visit the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe (Tower of Our Lady) Cathedral—the largest Gothic church in Belgium. After lunch, choose between an optional tour of Brussels or some additional time to explore Antwerp on your own. B, L, D

Option—Tour Brussels Discover Brussels, the capital of Belgium, beginning in the leafy Laeken district with landmarks such as Heysel Stadium, the Church of Notre Dame of Laeken, and the iconic Atomium. Continue past Cinquantenaire Park and into the city center to see the Royal Palace, the city park, the Palace of Justice, and one of Europe’s oldest shopping markets. Price $100 per person

DAY 10: DELFT

Spend the day in Delft, one of the oldest Dutch cities. Delft reflects its past as a flourishing Golden Age trade hub. Though a 16th-century fire and a 17th-century armory explosion destroyed much of the city, its historic center and canals remain beautifully preserved. After Amsterdam, Delft is the Netherlands’ most popular tourist destination. B, L, D

Option—Kinderdijk Holland is renowned for its traditional windmills, with the largest concentration at Kinderdijk. This UNESCO-listed site features 19 well-preserved windmills dating to around 1740. During your visit, step inside one of the historic mills to learn how they once managed water levels and how modern technology has transformed their role. Price $150 per person

DAY 11: VAARWEL!

After breakfast, disembark the MS Amadeus Aurea for your included flight home. B, Meals In-flight

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Nights 2-3: Golden Tulip Hotel Central, Den Bosch, Netherlands
Nights 4-10: 5-Star MS Amadeus Aurea

Departure Cities:

• St. Louis
• Kansas City
• Springfield, MO

Depart: April 10, 2027
Return: April 20, 2027

Cruise Ship Layout:

Price Per Person: See Chart Below

Passport Required.

Price per person includes roundtrip airfare from STL/MCI/SGF. Please call for other gateway cities.

Packing Tips
Pack comfortable walking shoes with good traction for cobblestones, brick streets and wet pavement. Bring removable layers, a waterproof jacket and a compact umbrella for cool, changeable spring weather. A slightly dressier outfit may also be useful for evening dinners aboard the ship.

The Netherlands and Belgium use Type C and Type E electrical outlets with 230-volt power. Guests should bring a European plug adapter and confirm that personal appliances are dual voltage before use.

Hotel Note
The four-star Golden Tulip Hotel Central overlooks Den Bosch’s medieval Market Square and has been family-operated for more than a century. Its central location places cafés, shops and historic streets just outside the hotel, making it especially convenient for exploring during free time.

The five-star MS Amadeus Aurea allows guests to unpack once while sailing directly between historic Dutch and Belgian cities. Its smaller size provides a more intimate experience than a large ocean cruise and allows the ship to dock close to many city centers. The sun deck offers an especially scenic vantage point while cruising through canals, waterways and countryside. All AMADEUS ships have an elevator that operates between the Mozart, Strauss and Haydn decks. The sun deck is not accessible by elevator.

Wi-Fi is available aboard the ship and the price is fully covered. We will travel in rural river landscapes, meaning the Wi-Fi connection at times can be limited.

All cabins and suites are equipped with high-quality care products, such as soap, shampoo, body lotion, and shower gel. You will also find a hair dryer, sewing set, shower cap, and nail file in your cabin. Laundry is available onboard for a small fee.

Breakfast and lunch are lavish meals, with evenings featuring chef’s specialties and regional dishes. In addition, a light breakfast and lunch is offered in the Panorama-Bar. There is always a vegetarian option for all meals on board.

Notes on Highlights
The tour visits Keukenhof during the heart of the Netherlands’ traditional tulip season. Flowers are generally at their best around mid-April, although exact bloom stages depend on spring temperatures and weather. Keukenhof deliberately plants early-, mid- and late-flowering varieties so that colorful displays continue throughout its short season.

Keukenhof’s wide, paved paths make its extensive gardens relatively easy to explore, although guests should expect several hours of walking and standing. Manual wheelchairs may be reserved through the garden, subject to availability.

River cruising is especially well suited to this region because canals and waterways reach directly into cities and countryside that helped shape Dutch and Belgian history. Guests can experience several destinations without repeatedly packing, changing hotels or navigating train stations.

Many Dutch windmills were not built to grind grain, they formed part of an elaborate water-management system that drained low-lying land and protected communities from flooding. The windmills at Kinderdijk demonstrate centuries of Dutch engineering developed to make life below sea level possible.

The Golden Age city centers of Amsterdam, Delft, Middelburg, Ghent and Antwerp are best appreciated from street and water level. Their canals, narrow façades and compact medieval streets reveal details that are often missed when simply traveling between major landmarks.

Walking Distance
To fully enjoy your vacation, you should be in good physical health and understand there are times when a good deal of walking is involved on tour. Those who have difficulty walking may not want to take this trip or should discuss their personal situation with their doctor before deciding. You should be able to walk at a steady pace for a mile at a time for a daily total of three to four miles per day and be able to manage steps to board/de-board the motorcoach several times a day. In addition, many US and European airports require lengthy walks to get from ticketing counters to your departure gate.

We are finding that larger European cities are closing their historic districts to motor traffic. This, of course, adds to the amount of walking involved when visiting a city (sometimes on uneven and/or cobblestone walkways). In addition, you should know that you may be required to exit the motorcoach at each stop because local law often does not allow travelers to remain on the motorcoach while it is parked for a scheduled stop.

Average Temps
The Netherlands – high of 57°, low of 41°
Belgium – high of 57°, low of 42°

Currency
Euro

Time Zone
GMT+1 (5 hours ahead of New York)

Identification
Valid passport required for travel.

Other General Information
Tour Communications: You will receive three key communications leading up to your tour:

• Get Ready: Your email confirmation and initial tour information, sent after you register.
• Get Set: An email with additional tour details, sent approximately two months before departure.
• Go: Your final trip documents, mailed via USPS approximately three to four weeks before departure. This packet will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags, and final departure information.

Travel Protection: Travel Protection is optional but highly recommended and may be purchased until the day before departure. Sunrise Tours offers plans through battleface. Additional information will be included with your Get Ready email and can also be found HERE.

Inclusions: Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes:

• A professional Sunrise Tour Director
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Local step-on guides, including gratuities
• International tour guide gratuities when specified for the individual tour
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation with an onboard restroom
• Admission to activities and events as indicated
• Airfare from designated airports
• Transportation to and from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*
• Luggage handling at hotels when available

Gratuities: We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver is $6 to $10 per person, per day of the tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers also appreciate gratuities for excellent service, with a suggested amount of $5 per person. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or distribute gratuity envelopes.

Refreshments: We are happy to provide refreshments on most motorcoach travel days. We also recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated throughout your tour.

Pickup Points: If fewer than four travelers request a particular pickup point, we may ask those guests to select another available pickup location. Travelers are also welcome to join a tour from a city that is not listed as a departure point. Please contact our friendly reservations team to discuss available arrangements. For departure cities not listed, airfare is typically $100 more than the published fare for domestic tours and $200 more for international tours.

TSA PreCheck and Airline Rewards Numbers: TSA PreCheck, Known Traveler Numbers, and airline rewards numbers must be provided to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure. Numbers received after this deadline may not be applied to your reservation.

Airline Seating: Preferred seating may not be available with group airfare. In some cases, seats are not assigned until travelers arrive at the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy-class seat but does not include advance seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available for an additional cost.

Motorcoach Capacity and Seating: To provide one of the most comfortable motorcoach experiences in the industry, Sunrise Tours generally limits motorcoaches to 80% capacity. This allows for a maximum of 44 passengers on a motorcoach designed to accommodate 55. Sunrise Tours reserves the right to amend this practice. Your Tour Director will rotate motorcoach seating each day of the tour. Payment of a single-occupancy fare does not guarantee two motorcoach seats, and you may be seated beside another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.