Highlights from my Tulip Time River Cruise With AmaWaterways
Spring in the Netherlands and Belgium? With visions of vibrant blossom colors, canals with reflections of clear, blue skies and open air cafes, I hopped at the opportunity to sail on the inaugural sailing of 2025 with AmaWaterways on their Tulip Time itinerary. Featuring a round-trip sailing out of Amsterdam, I have always been intrigued by the classic charms of this region with its fairytale cities, iconic windmills and intricate canal systems. And bonus, river cruises are a phenomenal way to be immersed in each city as the smaller sized vessels enable access to the charming towns and cultural landmarks along the river banks.
I knew the dates of the cruise wouldn’t be ideal for seeing the famous tulips of the Netherlands (we were just a few weeks early), but the dates worked for my schedule and flying in and out of Amsterdam normally makes traveling easier, especaily flying from Montana like I do. We sailed onboard the AmaSerena and the ship was immaculate, the crew were delightful and I found the dining experiences onboard top notch. Speaking of river cruise experiences, you can read more about my Colors of Provenace cruise and be sure to check out my river cruise packing list. This post is all about my experience on the Tulip Time sailing and I’m sharing highlights from the different excursions I experienced below!
Giethoorn
After our first peaceful morning sailing, we docked in Kampen and then took a bus ride through the country to the charming, canal-laden village of Giethoorn, nicknamed the “Dutch Venice.” I will forever refer to it as ‘Storybook Land’ as it was adorable and such a peaceful place. We took a “whisper” (electric) boat tour through the canals and had a wonderful skipper who shared that the area was actually one of 21 National Parks designated in Holland. The biologist in me was excited to know that river otters live here as do the endangered fire butterflies. There are 180 bridges and fun fact, the height of the bridges has to allow for a cow to pass under if being transported in a boat. The village gets its name from the goat skulls that were discovered in the 13th century when they were digging foundations for houses. I can’t imagine how gorgeous this place is at the height of spring! They have some wonderful little shops, cafes and restaurants and it’s a special place to take photos of the traditional reed-thatched roofs and beautifully maintained gardens. The village center is car-free, creating a peaceful atmosphere where people travel by boat, bicycle, or foot.
Zierikzee
Excursions offered during our second full day of cruising included a Delta Works visit, bike tour or a city tour, which happened to be my choice. We visited the medieval harbor town of Zierikzee and wandered along the cobblestone streets taking in the historic cities gates, towers, churches, bridges and old fish market. What will stay with me is how charming the town was with its mixture of gabled and canal houses, brickwork, and gorgeous details throughout (lanterns, old doors, window boxes, flowers and shutters). So cozy and inviting!
Although it’s an amazing place to visit, the town does sit three meters below sea level and in 1953 a massive flood all but destroyed the area (parts were 14 feet under water). Lives were lost and the history is very sad, but at the entrance you will see a statue of a woman. She is looking forward with her head up, with a small child behind her all to symbolize the resilience of these people: bereft but not broken.
Bruges
Imagine a place that wasn’t bombed during the wars, smells like waffles, chocolate and fries and you can tour it via foot, boat or horse drawn carriage. Day three found us in Bruges, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever seen! Literally everywhere you look, you want to stop and snap a photo. We got to spend the entire day here and had the most wonderful tour guide who took us back in time. It’s quite surreal to stand in front a building that was built in the 13th century! He also brought to life the human stories and it was a really special day. We had lunch at a pub, sat outside in the sunshine, had a waffle for dessert and tried to take it all in! I hope to come back someday.
On our way to Bruges, we drove through Flanders Fields, a region in Belgium and France that gained immense significance during World War I as a major battleground, inspiring the iconic poem “In Flanders Fields” and the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance. Almost 400 Americans are buried here. On 11/11/2018 at 11:00 am people could finally hear the birds singing as the aerial bombardment was over. Experiences like these that provide a chance to remember and honor the powerful history that is found throughout Europe are what make river cruises so special!
Belgian Chocolate, Beer and Waffle Tasting in Antwerp
Antwerp may be known as the diamond capital of the world, but we got to enjoy the city’s true treasures when we embarked on a fabulous beer, waffle and chocolate tour. The Belgium’s take a lot of pride in creating all three and in between our different tastings, we got to walk through the city learning more about its history. AmaWaterways prides itself on supporting both local establishments and tour guides and it was a wonderful way to cap off day four of our river cruise.
The name Antwerp is believed to come from a legendary tale involving a giant named Antigoon who lived by the Scheldt River. According to the myth, Antigoon would demand a toll from passing ships, and if sailors refused to pay, he would cut off their hands and throw them into the river. Eventually, a brave Roman soldier named Brabo defeated the giant, cut off his hand, and tossed it into the water. This act supposedly gave rise to the city’s name, derived from the Dutch words “hand” (hand) and “werpen” (to throw)—essentially meaning “hand-throwing.
Royal Delft Porcelain Factory
Delft is another charming city in the Netherlands known for its well preserved medieval center and picturesque canals. The renowned painter, Johannes Vermeer whose masterpieces include Girl with a Pearl Earring also lived here. Day five of our cruise took us to Delft where we got to visit the Royal Delft Museum which has been creating the iconic Delft Blue pottery pieces for almost 400 years. Founded in 1653, this is the last remaining pottery factory from the 17th century in Delft that still makes Delft Blue according to age-old traditions. We learned all about the history, craft and innovation of the famous blue and white porcelain. I found it interesting that the porcelain is made in part from clay from the Netherlands. Also, the special collection of Delft pottery of King William III can be admired in the Royal Delft Museum. He donated his collection in 1887. When I arrived home, I went through my own China hutch and found a piece of Delft pottery that my Grandma had given me years ago. Traveling is always a great reminder of our treasured connections, don’t you agree?
Kinderdijk Bike Tour
Day six found us pedaling through the idyllic village of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its historic windmills! There are 18 of these amazing structures and people still live in them today. The windmills keep the adjacent areas from flooding by pumping water through a series of canals and when going at full speed, they can pump 150 gallons per second! We got to tour inside the oldest windmill built in 1630 that shows the historic living conditions and I always love to step back in time. During our ride through the area we also spotted swans, pheasants and cranes getting ready for spring.
Overall Thoughts
Sailing through the charming highlights of the Netherlands and Belgium with AmaWaterways was a truly delightful experience! If the villages and activities mentioned above speak to you, you’ll absolutely love this itinerary—especially during peak flower season when the landscapes are at their most vibrant. One thing to keep in mind: this particular sailing doesn’t offer much in the way of daytime scenic cruising, as most of the travel happens overnight. So if your dream river cruise includes leisurely views of Europe’s iconic castles and riverside landmarks from the sun deck, you might want to consider a different itinerary. Every sailing with AmaWaterways offers something unique and special and you can view all of the amazing itineraries and even book your next river cruise here. Be sure to check out my Ten Tips you need to know prior to sailing with AmaWaterways.
Are you ready to unpack once and embark on an incredible journey down one of the many spectacular rivers of Europe? I am an AmaWaterways Certified Advisor and my assistance is 100% complementary to you! I am an Certified Travel Advisor and would love to work with you. Reach out to me at [email protected] or fill out a quote request here.
