Marjorie

Amsterdam to Bruges

May 14, 2006

Sunday  Amsterdam / Haarlem
Transfer from your hotel in Amsterdam to the Marjorie or Marjorie II, both moored nearby. After a drink to welcome us on board, our first cruise brings us to Haarlem. Here we can visit the Frans Hals Museum and its collection of Old Masters. Other highlights include St. Bavo's Cathedral on the main square where both Handel and Mozart played the magnificent Muller organ.

Monday  Haarlem / Delft
This morning marks a cruising highlight: a walk through the glorious Keukenhof Gardens, Holland's best-known gardens park, with more than 70 acres filled with over 6 million flowering bulbs. We stroll through breathtaking waves of colour on this unforgettable half -day excursion. Back on board, we cruise through beautiful landscapes to Delft.

Tuesday  Delft  / Dordrecht
Delft is a fascinating town, full of small canals and humpbacked bridges and best explored by bike or on foot. Many beautiful buildings illustrate the city's historic connection with the Dutch East India Company. The birthplace of Jan Vermeer, Delft is also famous for its tableware, and we visit a factory to learn how this world-famous porcelain is made. Then, back on the barge, we cruise through Rotterdam, the largest port in the World, en route to Dordrecht.

Wednesday  Dordrecht  /  Antwerp
We make an early morning departure to Antwerp, where the three "must-see" sights are baroque painter Pieter Paul Rubens' house, the Plantin-Moretus house, a printing plant and shop in service between 1555 and 1876, and of course Belgium's largest Gothic cathedral. This evening you should go to the "Grote Markt" to drink one of the more than 100 kinds of Belgian Beers.

Thursday  Antwerp  /  Ghent
Today we need to cruise on the Schelde River to Gent. This river has a tide difference of more than 20 feet and a strong current. A first and lasting impression of Ghent is of its marvellous medieval structures whose sturdy stone facades reflect well in canal waters. We visit the Castle of the Counts. This magnificent, almost unrivalled example of a feudal fortress of the Counts of Flounders has a massive medieval shape that rises from the reflective waters of its moat, it was built about 1180.

Friday  Ghent / Bruges
Today's cruise is to our final mooring, Bruges. Many consider it the best-preserved medieval city in Europe or a "museum town". It's best to start our visit on a small boat to explore the city, and continue on one of Bruges' most memorable spots the Begijnhof, where Benedictine nuns stroll in traditional black-robe and white head-cloth. The Memling museum and Old Sint-Janshospitaal, founded in 1118, is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe. The day ends with this evening's Farewell Dinner.

Satday  Bruges
After breakfast, disembark to your hotel or airport.