River cruise on historic Rhine River from France via Germany to the Netherlands

On board MS Leonora, a welcome drink and canapés will be served shortly after check-in. The ship’s Cruise Manager will welcome you, as well as safety procedures and practical information on board.

In Strasbourg, we go ashore and visit, among other things, the beautiful Petit France, which is located in the well-preserved center. Strasbourg is located in northern Alsace and has alternately been under French and German rule. Now, however, the city is a symbol of reconciliation between France and Germany and thus of peace in Europe. Several EU institutions are housed in the city, including the parliament. Strasbourg is both a fashionable city with chic shops and beautiful streets, while at the same time it is an old city with half-timbered walls, small alleys and narrow canals.

In Mannheim, we disembark and drive to Heidelberg, which is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities. There are a wealth of charming houses, and the whole area is seeded with magnificent castles and river valleys, where some of Germany’s best wine is produced. The city is a university town, and this leaves its mark on the streetscape. The many students from home and abroad fill the streets well, and there is life and happy days.

In Koblenz, you can take an evening walk on your own along the river. The famous equestrian statue of Kaiser William I, marking the Deutsches Eck (the place where the Moselle flows into the Rhine) is located a few hundred meters from the ship.

Both breakfast and lunch are enjoyed on the ship, while the beautiful scenery glides by. Early in the afternoon we arrive in Cologne. We go ashore and follow the tour guide on a city walk, where we visit the city’s famous cathedral, among other things. The beautiful Cologne Cathedral is the city’s landmark and the church miraculously escaped almost unscathed from the Allied bombings during World War II. Of course, there will be time to shop or quench your thirst with a freshly poured glass of Kølsch in one of the city’s beer halls. We eat dinner on board, and afterwards we continue in the lounge bar, where there is the opportunity to move your legs when the ship’s musician plays up for dancing.

After lunch, depart by bus to The Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek. This museum is half an hour’s drive from the city centre, where M/S Leonora is docked. The former Hotel Hartenstein in Oosterbeek served as the headquarters of the British 1st Airborne Division, which played a crucial role in the Battle of Arnhem. The Hartenstein Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum that brilliantly tells the story of one of the most famous battles at the end of World War II.

The city of Arnhem will forever be associated with one of the most famous battles of World War II – the Battle of Arnhem, which took place on 17. and September 18, 1944.

The plan, devised by British General Montgomery, was named Operation Market Garden, and it called for more than 10,000 paratroopers to land behind enemy lines in the fields at Oosterbeek – west of Arnhem.

Subsequently, the paratroopers were to advance towards Arnhem and take the bridge over Nederrijn and hold it until reinforcements from the American and Polish troops arrived from the south.

Montgomery expected this surprise attack to confuse and divide the German troops, but Operation Market Garden went completely wrong. Between 17. and On September 18, such a dense fog fell over Arnhem that it was impossible for the American and Polish troops to arrive.

After 9 days of fighting, more than 2,000 soldiers were killed and more than 5,000 wounded or left behind in the destroyed city.

The Allies never arrived, and in the winter of 1944-45 the Dutch experienced a catastrophic winter of war, in which thousands died of cold and famine. Arnhem was liberated on 8 April 1945.

 Today, no other city in the Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day (5 May) with such great festivity as Arnhem.

At the former Hotel Hartenstein in Oosterbeek, which was the headquarters of Operation Market Garden, today there is the most amazing museum that tells the whole story. Not far from Hartenstein is the Airborne Kerkhof cemetery. Here rest 1,667 British and 79 Polish soldiers who fell during the Battle of Arnhem.

After the visit to the Hartenstein Museum, a visit to Arnhem itself is set aside. Arnhem is a cozy little town with about 150,000 inhabitants. The town has an exciting and long pedestrian street with many lovely shops.

Today, we take a closer look at Amsterdam. The city is criss-crossed by canals, which gives it its very own character and charm. The best way to experience Amsterdam is by water. The tour includes a one-hour canal cruise, where you can enjoy the harbor, experience the narrow canals and see the many beautiful gabled houses. Some of the houses are very narrow, as in the past it was common for the property tax to be set according to the width of the house facing the canal. Back on M/S Leonora, we enjoy lunch while sailing towards Cologne. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon on the ship’s sun deck or relax in the cozy lounge. We enjoy dinner on board, and afterwards we are served coffee in the lounge, where the ship’s musician plays up for dancing.

An unforgettable river cruise is coming to an end for this time.