Flower Cruises in Dutch Spring

On board M/S Leonora, after arrival, the ship’s Cruise Manager will be welcomed in the Lounge, where safety procedures and practical information on board will be reviewed.

We start with an excursion to the northwest of the Netherlands, more precisely, the area around the town of Den Helder. Many regions of the northwest of the Netherlands stand at this time of year as a brightly coloured patchwork carpet. It is the large tulip fields that are in full bloom, especially in the low-lying flat areas west and northwest of Amsterdam. Here, the sandy soil is perfect for growing tulip bulbs, which is therefore cultivated in style.

The tour continues, and northeast of Den Helder lies an impressive dike. The dike in the Netherlands is known as Afsluitdijk, it was built in the year 1932. It measures a length of 32 km, a width of 90 meters and a height of 7.25 meters above sea level. This dam serves to close the Zuiderzee, which was formerly part of the North Sea. This is how the freshwater lake Ljsselmeer was created.

We stop with the bus at Afsluitdijk, where there is an opportunity to look out over this huge dam project.

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No visit to the Netherlands without having experienced a Dutch windmill, and therefore the tour continues to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans. Here we will experience the traditional windmills, which were built back in the 1700s, as well as the beautiful historic houses, where it is possible to buy everything from delicious cheeses to Dutch cutting work.

After the visit to Zaanse Chans, the bus drives back to Zaandam, where M/S Leonora has lunch ready.

Before dinner, there will be a welcome meeting and presentation of the ship’s crew, where welcome drinks and canapés will be served in the Lounge bar.

From the morning, we start out by visiting the flower auction in the town of Alsmeer.

Alsmeer is home to the largest flower auction in the world, where there are numerous greenhouses and test sites for flowers. The city is therefore sometimes called the flower capital of the world. The flowers are often exported by air, and the auction building is the largest commercial building in the world.

Then the tour continues to one of the absolute highlights, the Keukenhof flower park – also known as the Garden of Europe. Keukenhof is located near the town of Lisse, and has for more than 50 years been known as the world’s largest flower park.

The park is one of the biggest spring attractions in the Netherlands and offers more than seven million flowers every year – mainly tulips, but also hyacinths, daffodils and other bulbous flowers in a spectacular play of colours.

Keukenhof is known for its creative flower displays, manicured theme gardens, and inspiring pavilions, which together provide a unique experience of Dutch flower culture. Here you get a beautiful and colorful introduction to what the Netherlands is so famous for.

Stunned by the pomp and circumstance of Keukenhof, we return to the ship where coffee, tea and cake are served, while M/S Leonora sails on to Arnhem.

Tiel, a hidden gem in the heart of the Netherlands, is located in the province of Gelderland on the banks of the River Waal. With a history stretching back to Roman times, Tiel offers a charming mix of historical sights, scenic surroundings, and a rich fruit culture. The city is ideal for travelers who want to experience authentic Dutch culture outside of the major tourist destinations.

The fourth day excursion in Arnhem starts with a 30-minute drive out to the suburb of Oosterbeek. Here is one of the world’s most impressive museums – The Airborne Museum. The museum tells the story of the “Battle of Arnhem” and “Operation Market Garden”.

Operation Market Garden was an attempt by the Allied forces to create a bridgehead across the Rhine and pave the way to Berlin for the Allied forces.

The plan, devised by British Field Marshal Montgomery, was named “Operation Market Garden” and called for more than 10,000 British and Polish paratroopers to land behind enemy lines in the fields near the town of Oosterbeek, west of Arnhem. But from the start of the operation, everything went wrong – the Allied forces never made it – and more than 2,000 paratroopers were killed and about 5,000 were wounded. In the winter of 1944-45, the Dutch experienced a catastrophic winter of war, in which thousands of Dutch died of hunger and cold. Arnhem was liberated on 8 April 1945.

The building “Hartenstein” served as the headquarters of the British 1.st Airborne Division. At the museum you will find a large and diverse collection of original weapons, original uniforms and equipment from the battle. The many photos and films from the battle help to create a realistic picture, which is also backed up by interviews with allied soldiers. Furthermore, the museum has won awards for their exhibition, which has recreated the landscape between Arnhem and Oosterbeek.

Later in the day, there is departure from Tiel towards Nijmegen. We arrive early in the evening, well in advance of the Captain’s Cocktail Party followed by the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

The ship departs from Nijmegen at 05:00 and heads for Amsterdam, where we arrive at 12:00.

After an early lunch, you depart for an excursion in the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Amsterdam is known for its many canals, so why not experience the city from the water on a beautiful canal cruise. After the canal cruise, there is time on your own to make the final purchases.

An unforgettable river cruise has come to an end, and after breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to M/S Leonora and her crew.