River Cruise Through the Netherlands and Belgium: A Three Part Journey with Dr. Alette Fleischer
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You're invited on a custom-tailored virtual journey from Amsterdam to Ghent – and dozens of charming towns along the way.
Hundreds of rivers, bays, lakes, artificial waterways, and canals race through the heart of the Netherlands and Belgium. Our three-part itinerary will carry us directly through the must-see towns and cities on the shores of the Rhine, Meuse, Waal, Lek, and Scheldt Rivers.
Hundreds of rivers, bays, lakes, artificial waterways, and canals race through the heart of the Netherlands and Belgium. Our three-part itinerary will carry us directly through the must-see towns and cities on the shores of the Rhine, Meuse, Waal, Lek, and Scheldt Rivers.
Join us as we cruise along several scenic rivers in the company of a local expert. We will learn about the history of each town we pass through, while also gaining the practical knowledge to support our future in-person travels across the region. By combining the top-selling itineraries of several European river cruise companies, our Context expert presents the perfect excursion.
Details about each week of our virtual journey are available below.
Lecture One – Amsterdam, Enhuizen, Hoorn, and Harlingen
Our virtual journey presents a picture-perfect itinerary; one that combines several real-world options available for cruises across Amsterdam and Belgium.
Within Amsterdam, we present several available options. Travelers might decide to enjoy a leisurely cruise through the city’s 165 canals. Other guests might choose a visit to the famous Diamond Factory or a walking tour of the city – similar to Context’s Introduction to Amsterdam: Old Town Tour.
We would also leave time while passing through Amsterdam to explore world-class art galleries at the Rijksmuseum and the Vincent van Gogh Museum.
We would also leave time while passing through Amsterdam to explore world-class art galleries at the Rijksmuseum and the Vincent van Gogh Museum.
From Amsterdam, we venture to Haarlem, where the imposing Castle De Haar is a must-see attraction, once owned by the Rothchild family. As we virtually journey across the Ijssel-lake (the former Zuiderzee) we’ll enjoy visiting the charming towns along the waterfront. Here will learn about the national fishing industry, traditional handicrafts, and learn how the Dutch turned a sea into a lake.
Lecture Two – Arnhem, Nijmegen, Kinderdijk, and Rotterdam
While you sleep, an overnight cruise will take you to Arnhem. This city was a bloody battlefield between the Allied Forces and the Germans. An excursion to the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein will give you an account of September 1944. Close to Arnhem, lies a national park and in it, the Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses the second-largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh.
The city of Nijmegen, also part of Operations Market Garden, is a stopover too. This city, founded by the Romans, is the oldest city in the Netherlands, it is a lovely place, with a wonderful history and great views over the river. A true gem.
Sailing west, we will be stopping at another UNESCO site: Kinderdijk. Everything you associate Holland with is found here: the windmills, the skies, water… as if you are stepping into a painting. We end this journey in Rotterdam, Holland’s modern and hip city, with Europe’s impressive largest port.
Lecture Three – Zeeland, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent
During our third week together, we begin our last leg of the voyage. We are visiting Zeeland and Flanders.
First on our itinerary is the Delta Works, a flood barrier constructed after the devastating floods of 1952, ruining the houses, the lives, and livestock of thousands of people. This is Dutch engineering at its peak.
Then our ship will steer towards Antwerp, the most important harbor of Belgium. The city has lots of hidden gems to see: the Rubens Museum, the Fashion Museum, market squares, churches, and fun shops. Near to Antwerp, lies Bruges, once the center of the textile industry and trade. The quaint old town, with its museum of Medieval Art, is worthy of a layover.
Some cruise companies will take you to Ypres, a town battered by the guns of the First World War, and where every night at 8:00 PM the Last Post is played.
The last city on this tour is Ghent. The birthplace of the last great emperor of Europe: Charles the V, the Habsburg ruler over Germany, Austria, the Low Countries, Spain, and Portugal. It is the home of the Eyck Brothers’ Lamb of God.
Amsterdam-born Alette Fleischer has a degree in Art History and a PhD in 17th Dutch History, focusing on gardens, science, and technology. She has curated several exhibitions, publishes articles, presents lectures, and a proud Context Expert. For Context Travel, Alette has led the Rijksmuseum tours many times. Motto: staying curious is key for being a good historian.
Eager to resume traveling in person?
We would love to have you with us for our multi-day Context Journey in 2022!
Additional details here: Dutch Art in the Netherlands with Sabry Amroussi
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How does it work?
We would love to have you with us for our multi-day Context Journey in 2022!
Additional details here: Dutch Art in the Netherlands with Sabry Amroussi
______
How does it work?
This is a three-part series held weekly and hosted on Zoom. Please check the schedule for the specific dates and times for each lecture.
Is there a reading list in advance?
Though the course is open to participants with no background on this topic, there will be suggested readings for further investigation. These will be provided at the course's conclusion.
How long are the lectures?
Each lecture is 90 minutes long with time for Q&A.
How much is the course?
The course is $105 USD for three lectures.
Is a recording available?
Yes. A recording will be emailed to you within 48 hours of each lecture's conclusion. It will be available for you to re-watch at leisure for 15 days thereafter.
Are there additional seminars, courses, and in-person experiences being led about the Netherlands and Belgium?
Yes! Top Context experts will be leading several virtual experiences in the coming weeks. Details are available here.
Still have questions?
Our company's full FAQ page is available here. Or email us at info@contexttravel.com
Are there additional seminars, courses, and in-person experiences being led about the Netherlands and Belgium?
Yes! Top Context experts will be leading several virtual experiences in the coming weeks. Details are available here.
Still have questions?
Our company's full FAQ page is available here. Or email us at info@contexttravel.com
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
S
S.S. (Palo Alto, US) So far really enjoyable and valuable information. Looking forward to the next two lectures
B
B.K. (San Antonio, US) Since the 80s I wanted to go to the Netherlands and Belgium, primarily in the spring to see the tulips. I may never get there, but I have hopes and this presentation confirmed my desire to get over there some day.
D
D. (Phoenix, US) Whether you are planning to take a river cruise or travel by other means, the course introduces you to a number of stops in the low country.