White and blue pottery is traditional to Holland, and today, you will have the opportunity to visit the factory where famous Delft Blue is made and spend time in the beautiful city of Delft.

Begin with a scenic drive through the Dutch countryside to Delft, where you’ll visit the Delft Porceleyne Fles, manufacturer of the world-famous Delft Blue ceramics. While touring the factory you'll have a chance to observe the production process.

A short drive takes you to the city center for a short guided walk, followed by nearly 2 hours of free time for lunch on your own and independent exploration or shopping.

Then, your tour continues with a panoramic drive through The Hague where you will see the Dutch government buildings, the spectacular Peace Palace, where the International Court of Justice is situated, and numerous other interesting buildings and sights.

OVERVIEW

Walk through downtown Amsterdam to a popular cheese shop for a sampling that best showcases the city’s most characteristic cheeses. As you proceed through the atmospheric streets, the guide will elaborate on the capital’s history and how cheese-making has long been synonymous with Amsterdam. During the tasting that follows, you will be served five cheeses that demonstrate a wide range of characteristics such as flavor, texture and appearance. You will also hear about the different methods used to produce the various cheeses.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a selection of cheeses that demonstrate the great variety of Dutch cheeses.
• Hear enlightening commentary about how each cheese is made to achieve peak flavor.
• Learn how the layout of Amsterdam has evolved over time while walking downtown.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore landmarks from various centuries that show the architectural and cultural transformation of downtown Amsterdam and several neighboring areas. In the traditional residential area of Zaanse Schans, you will see windmills dating to the 17th century an architectural masterpiece designed by Pierre Cuypers, opened in 1885. The structure combines Gothic and Renaissance elements, representing a 19th-century revival of Dutch architecture in the national Rijkmuseum, you will gain a deeper understanding of how the culture has changed over time throughout the Netherlands. A self-portrait by Rembrandt at age 22 is just one of the Dutch masterpieces there. You will also learn about the Wereldmuseum, an ethnographic museum that tells a similar story of urban evolution but through moving human experiences. The wonders of contemporary life are brilliantly depicted in the Eye Film Museum, discover the story behind this masterpiece the area was primarily an industrial and port zone, selected as part of an effort to revitalize and transform this industrial area into a vibrant cultural space. This prominent structure is considered one of the masterpieces of the 21st century.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into the history of the windmill Town, perhaps the ultimate Dutch icon.
• Explore the exterior of the Rijksmuseum, a symbol of Dutch cultural heritage and national pride.
• Get a glimpse of Amsterdam’s vision for the future at the Eye Film Museum.
• Come away with a clear understanding of how Amsterdam’s urban landscape has evolved.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See the inner workings of a functioning windmill within an open-air museum that recreates a Dutch industrial community in the 1700s. In its heyday, the area around the neighborhood of Zaanse Schans boasted as many as 600 windmills and Het Jonge Schaap – which means The Young Sheep – is an exact replica of one that was demolished in 1942. It relies on wind power to operate the sawmill inside to rough-saw beams and planks. Other windmills were used for industrial purposes such as grinding grains and spices and making paint pigments, oils and paper. Windmills also drained low-lying land knowns as polders. During free time at the Zaanse Schans museum, you will see a number of other windmills and craftspeople practicing trades such as wooden-shoe carving and cheesemaking. Zaanse Schans was considered the first industrial area in Europe and few experiences rival walking through this replica Dutch Golden Age community.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the inside of a replica windmill from the 18th century.
• Come away with an understanding of how windmills grind grains and saw wood.
• Browse an open-air museum with other windmills and workshops for artisans.
• Get a feel for what daily life was like in Europe’s first industrial area.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours independently exploring Haarlem with no schedule to follow other than your own, which allows you the freedom to visit the attractions that sound most intriguing. You will be dropped off in the heart of Haarlem with easy access to most everything imaginable. If historical landmarks are of interest, head straight for Market Square, home to the 13th-century town hall and the Dutch Renaissance-style De Vleeshal – the only place fresh meat could be purchased for centuries as indicated by the sculpted ox heads on the front of the building. Nearby stands St. Bavo’s Church, an icon with one of the world’s largest and most famous organs. This rare musical instrument is gilded, decorated with statues and covers the entire west wall of the church. If you wish to dine while sightseeing, try a restaurant that specializes in Dutch dishes such as stamppot, a traditional comfort food made with sausage, kale and mashed potatoes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Haarlem on your own and focus on the attractions that sound most interesting.
• Enjoy the freedom of wandering about at your own pace with no schedule to follow.
• Be dropped off in the city center near the best shopping and dining.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the world of diamonds at the House of Gasson, followed by a canal cruise through a historical district where the diamond industry once flourished. While touring the Gasson factory, you will observe diamond polishers at work, turning rough diamonds into dazzling gemstones with optimal brilliance and sparkle. The guide will explain how the diamonds are sourced and how they are rated by considering the 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. You will also have the opportunity to browse the showroom. Everything from diamond necklaces to Montblanc accessories will be on display. As early as the 1600s, Jews that were excluded from the trade guilds cut and polished many of the diamonds in Amsterdam. This spirit is also known as Dutch gin as it is juniper-based like all gins.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch diamonds being polished in the prestigious House of Gasson diamond factory.
• Gain an understanding of how diamonds are sourced and refined to increase their value.
• Browse the selection of exquisite jewelry in the House of Gasson showroom.
• Cruise Amsterdam’s canals, many of which are within a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Sample several signature Dutch gins or jenevers while cruising.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise through a labyrinth of lakes in a lush, eco-friendly area of Holland known as the Green Heart. On the panoramic drive south, you will get a genuine feel for this low-lying naturally beautiful landscape. The cruise will begin in Warmond, a popular village for boating as it lies on the Kagerplassen lake system. While navigating the canals that connect the lakes, you will pass idyllic villages and numerous polder islands created from reclaimed land that may have been underwater at one time. Flood control is always top of mind in this part of Holland and windmills are often used to continually drain the polders. While stopping at the windmill, you will see firsthand how it has been operating day in and day out since 1676. It is thought to be the first windmill with a screw pump, a device that was used until 1989, when electric was installed to power the windmill.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through the countless canals that wind through the Kagerplassen lake system.
• Enjoy the scenery while snacking and sipping a jenever, a drink known as Dutch gin.
• Gain an understanding of how the land was originally drained, in part by windmills.
• Stop at a windmill that has been operating continuously since 1676.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Browse a museum in the village of Enkhuizen that focuses on the region’s maritime history and flooding, which has been controlled since a barrier dam was built in 1932. It is only fitting that you will transfer to the waterfront museum by boat once you reach Enkhuizen as canals crisscross this entire area. The exhibits begin outdoors with a collection of replica and original buildings such as a dike house, fish-smoking house and windmill. Inside the museum – which occupies several restored 17th-century seed warehouses – you will see traditional fishing boats and sailboats. You may also see exhibits of paintings, furniture and klederdract, the folk costumes of the Netherlands

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a regional maritime and cultural museum with a guide and on your own.
• Walk through buildings from different time periods in the outdoor collection.
• See boats, artwork, furniture and costumes that are typical of the region.
• Come away with a remarkably in-depth understanding of North Holland.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Leave Ijmuiden behind and enjoy a drive through the beautiful countryside to the authentic Dutch village of Broek in Waterland. This charming village is well known for its classic wooden houses and farms. After a leisurely stroll through this fairy-like community, you'll continue your scenic drive to Beemster Polder, the oldest area of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. In 1999, this well-preserved and historic area was registered on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. The highlight of your time here will be the visit to an original 17th century windmill where you will learn how the Dutch have managed to successfully live below sea level.

A scenic drive through the lush lowlands will bring you to Amsterdam and the center of the city. You’ll have approximately 1.5-hours of free time for a quick lunch on your own and a little exploration.

Visit the Jewish Historical Museum which was founded more than 70 years ago, but only found its definite home in the Ashkenazi Synagogue Complex in 1987. The museum gives a perfect impression of Jewish life in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.

Enjoy a guided walk through the historic Jewish area of Amsterdam. See the Hollandsche Schouwburg theater which is now a monument in memory of the 104,000 Jews who did not return to Amsterdam after World War II. During the war, only Jewish artists were allowed to perform in the Schouwburg.

You will also visit the Portuguese Synagogue, which was built in 1675 by Elias Bouman for the three congregations of Portuguese Jews who had fled to the Low Lands from persecution in their homeland.

Your tour begins with a drive through the distinctive Dutch countryside from Ijmuiden to the village of Marken. Enjoy a guided walk through this quaint fishing hamlet on the shores of the former Zuider Zee, an area that dates back to the 13th century when monks constructed dikes for protection from the sea. The characteristic green and white clapboard houses of Marken have remained unchanged for centuries and, many of the local residents still wear colorful ancestral costumes, adding to the special atmosphere of this beautiful place. Continue on to Volendam, where a guided tour will introduce you to some of the town's special treasures, some dating back to the 14th century. You'll find narrow canals, quaint drawbridges; and a charming little harbor.

This tour is geared toward those who like to explore a destination at their own pace and discretion.

Leaving the pier by coach with your escort, you will travel approximately 1-hour to reach the center of Amsterdam. Upon arrival, you will disembark your coach and have nearly 6-hours to discover all the delights of Amsterdam. Although this is a non-guided tour, your escort will be at your disposal for 1-hour after arrival to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a city map for your convenience.

Spend your day in this exciting city doing exactly what you like, how you like. Meals and entrance fees to any attractions are not included and local currency will be required in many places; therefore, it is suggested that you exchange your money at a local currency exchange in Amsterdam upon arrival.

At the appointed time and location, you will re-join your coach for the return transfer to the pier. Those who fail to be on time for the return transfer will be responsible for making their own way back to the ship, at their own expense.