Spring Garden Tour and River Cruise of Holland and Belgium
10-day tour: 6 – 16 April 2027

 £3,475 per person (double occupancy)
based on 18 (min) – 22 (max) guests

MOBILITY Note – A good degree of mobility is required to get the most out of this holiday. Tour guests should be able to comfortably walk for several (2+) miles each day at a moderate pace. We will also be cruising by ship for 4 days/nights with stops at several ports where we will deboard to visit destinations on land. The ship has easy on/off access and sailing via the river should be relatively smooth. If you have mobility or balance issues (e.g., you walk slowly, have frequent joint pain, need walking aids, etc.), or are uncomfortable on boats, you should not enroll on this trip. If your mobility status worsens prior to the trip, you should withdraw from the trip and use your travel insurance to pursue a refund. The tour guide has the right and responsibility to exclude you from touring sites if he/she deems that you cannot safely traverse the planned sites.

Overview

On April 6, HPS/MAG will begin our 10-day tour of Belgium and Holland. All travelers will arrange their own air travel to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) where the trip will originate.  At the appointed time (TBD) on April 6, we will meet our tour guide Colin Crisoby at the designated airport location (TBD), and travel to Bruges, stopping at several sites along the way.  We will enjoy 3 nights in Bruges where we will tour the city, visit private gardens and allow time to explore this historic and beautiful city. On Day 4 we will travel to Antwerp and embark on our 4 night river cruise of Belgium and Holland with day trips to gardens and arboretums in Belgium and Holland including the Vlinderhof, Our ship’s final destination will be Amsterdam, where we will spend 3 nights with visits to the Keukenhof, Dutch bulb markets and farm, the city of Delft, the Het Loo Palace, private gardens in northern Holland and other sites.  

Day 1 – Tuesday 6 April 2027

We depart from Amsterdam Schiphol airport and begin our journey towards Belgium stopping briefly at Moses Bridge (Mozesbrug), Halsteren which is a remarkable example of modern engineering and design located at the historic Fort de Roovere. Opened in 2011, the bridge was cleverly built below the surrounding water level, allowing visitors to appear as though they are walking through the moat rather than over it. Constructed from sustainable Accoya wood with waterproof sides, the bridge blends seamlessly into the landscape while preserving the historic character of the 17th-century fort.

We later continue just over the Border to Kalmthout Arboretum. The arboretum is what remains of 19^th century nursery and arboretum that specialized in species that plant hunters brought back by plant hunters from Asia and the Americas. In the 1950’s, the diamond dealers Georges and Robert De Belder, rescued 20 acres of land from its post-war decline, and developed new magnificent gardens. The gardens, in part designed by Russell Page and Piet Oudolf, and arboretum have been expanded several times, now covering more than 30 acres and containing over 11,000 plant species. The arboretum harbours an endangered species of Chinese conifer, the continent’s largest collection of witch-hazels, and one of only three snowdrop trees to be found in Europe. The gardens can be appreciated in equal measure at any time of the year and has recently been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Oversea Partner Garden of the year. 

Following our visit, we travel to Bruges and our comfortable accommodation the 4-star Hotel Navarra, located in the heart of Bruges, just a short walk from the Market Square. Housed in a beautifully restored historic mansion, the hotel combines classic elegance with modern comfort and facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, peaceful garden and jazz bar. The hotel’s rooms are well equipped with en-suite facilities, hairdryer, free WI-FI, flat screen TV and tea and coffee making facilities.

This evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 2 – Wednesday 7 April 2027

This morning, we spend the day in Bruges, a fairy-tale medieval city and UNESCO-listed historic centre. Known for its romantic canals, cobbled lanes, soaring bell towers, and the irresistible scent of Belgian chocolate drifting through the air.  We enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. Highlights include

• the Markt (main square) with colourful guild houses
• the Belfry (Belfort), which rises 83 metres and houses a carillon of 47 melodious bells.
• Church of Our Lady, home to Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child
• Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde and peaceful cloister garden
• Lake of Love, also known as Minnewater
• short canal cruise, offering a unique perspective of Bruges’ medieval charm, often referred to as the “Venice of the North”.
                                                                                               

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at leisure. Bruges is ideal for sampling Belgium’s favorite treats, from handmade pralines and truffles in charming chocolate shops to warm Belgian waffles topped with chocolate, cream, fruit or sugar. The city also has a proud lace-making tradition, once earning a reputation as the lace capital of the world. Browse small boutiques and workshops for delicate handmade pieces and learn about this historic craft, or relax in a cozy café or traditional beer bar while enjoying one of Belgium’s famous beers and soaking up the atmosphere of this beautiful medieval city. Bruges is also home to the Groeningemuseum which houses some of the world’s best examples of Flemish art, including masterpieces by Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling.

Dinner is on our own this evening.

Day 3 – Thursday 8 April 2027

After breakfast today we will visit some private gardens in and around Bruges. Tucked behind historic houses, canals, and medieval buildings, there gardens provide a peaceful respite to the busy streets and feature colorful flowers, neatly trimmed hedges, and centuries-old trees.  

We later return to our hotel where the remainder of the day is free at leisure.

Dinner will be on our own this evening.

Day 4 – Friday 9 April 2027

This morning following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and depart for a visit to the Herkenrode Garden and Wespelaar Arboretum. These two separate gardens on the private estate of Viscount Phillippe de Spoelberch are spectacular, and considered to be among the most beautiful in the world; The Herkenrode Garden surrounding Phillippe’s home is designed more like a woodland garden than an arboretum and was originally established in the 18^th Century on the estate of Jean-Baptiste de Herkenrode. The garden features winding woodland trails that open onto glades planted with rhododendrons, magnolias and many other genera. Architectural features, such as the Temple of Flora, an Obelisk and a Pyramid are points of interest within the garden. The Wespelaar Arboretum is set on approx. 50 acres of old meadows and woodland, originated after the Herkenrode Garden had become fully planted.  The arboretum contains large collections of Rhododendrons, Magnolia, Acer, Tlia, Fraxinus, Quercus, Prunus, Malus, Betula, Carpinus and many other varieties of trees and shrubs.  Many of the large magnolias have thousands of flowers on each tree, and large open expanses of grass frame beautiful views of water features and sculptures.

This afternoon we will visit Kruidtuin in Leuven, the oldest botanical garden in Belgium. The garden was laid out in 1738 by the university for medical students so that plants and herbs enthusiasts could indulge in the collections.

We later transfer to Antwerp to board our 180-passenger river cruiser the MS Beethoven. After settling into our Upper Deck cabins, you'll have time to relax before the evening's activities. Every cabin features a French balcony with large sliding windows, and is tastefully appointed with private en-suite facilities, air conditioning, TV, hairdryer, safe, and telephone, ensuring a comfortable stay throughout the voyage. This evening, we will meet the ship's crew and enjoy a welcome drink before sitting down to our first dinner aboard the ship.

Day 5 – Saturday 10 April 2027

After an early breakfast, we will disembark the ship and enjoy a short visit to the 200-year-old Botanic Garden, which boasts a substantial number of exceptional trees and shrubs. We then continue to the Rubens Experience Centre and Gardens. The centre delves deeper into Rubens' life and work, with interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and even a reconstructed version of his studio. The building was designed by architects Robbrecht and Daem in a contemporary style that blends old and new, and is inspired by Rubens’ artistic vision. Ruben’s original home is adjacent to the centre but is currently closed for refurbishment until 2030.  The new baroque garden similarly blends past with present, and features plants from Rubens' time. At noon we return to the ship before we set sail from Antwerp to Rotterdam, crossing the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde, two sheltered inlets off the North Sea. Lunch is served on board.

We will enjoy a gala dinner on board this evening before our arrival into Rotterdam late this evening.

Provisional Sailing times: Depart Antwerp at 13:00 and arrive in Rotterdam at 21:00hrs.

Day 6 – Sunday 11 April 2027

After breakfast on board this morning we will depart for a visit to Vlinderhof garden, located on the west side of Utrecht. The garden was designed by Piet Oudolf and is one of 6 sections in over 5000 square meters of parkland in what is now known as Netherlands Maxima Park. The planting of the Vlinderhof has a naturalistic palette and structure, with informal clusters of perennial flowering plants and ornamental grasses, that has become Piet Oudolf’’s signature.                                                                              

Later we will visit the Trompenburg Arboretum in Rotterdam. This beautifully designed garden is spread across 20 acres and includes a large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and tubers. The Trompenburg Gardens and Arboretum was founded in 1820 with the oldest part of the gardens laid out in an English landscape style.

In the afternoon, we will return to Rotterdam where we will re-join the ship and begin our overnight cruise to Amsterdam. Dinner will be served on board.

Provisional Sailing times: Depart Rotterdam at 16:00 and arrive in Amsterdam at 08:00 hrs on Monday 12 April.

Day 7 – Monday 12 April 2027

We will arrive in Amsterdam this morning. Following breakfast on board, we disembark the ship and depart for a visit to one of the most famous                                                        gardens in the world, Keukenhof. Over seven million bulbs are planted annually and around one million visitors pass through it from mid-March to mid-May – it is truly breathtaking.

We then continue on to the city of Delft, where will tour the Royal Delft Factory, home to the distinctive blue china. There will also be some free time to wander around this quaint old city with its many waterways and canals.

We return to our ship in Amsterdam for our final night aboard the MS Beethoven. Dinner will be served on board this evening.

Day 8 – Tuesday 13 April 2027

After an early breakfast, we disembark the ship with our luggage and travel by coach for a guided visit to Aalsmeer, home to the world’s largest flower auction; 60% of the worldwide trade in flowers and plants flows through the Aalsmeer auction houses.  Our visit also includes entrance to the historic garden.

This afternoon we will visit a Private Tulip Farm to learn more about the bulb growing and harvesting process. We will tour the greenhouses and flower fields, and learn about traditional tulip growing, sustainable cultivation, and care that affect tulip production. Tea/coffee and cake will be served

This afternoon we visit Zaanse Schans Windmills, famous for its wooden windmills and green-painted houses. We will visit a cheese farm and clog-making workshop to learn about these traditional crafts. Finally, we will visit a working windmill and discover how these waterside factories helped drive the 17th-century Dutch Golden-Age.

We later continue to our accommodations in Amsterdam, the 4-star Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam Museum Quarter; located within a short walk to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and Vondelpark (Amsterdam’s largest public park).

Dinner is on our own this evening. 

Day 9 – Wednesday 14 April 2027

This morning, following breakfast, we visit two gardens in northeast Netherlands, near the German border.

We begin in Dedemsvaart, at the garden of Mien Ruys, a Dutch landscape and garden architect (1904-1999). Rhys was a leader of the New Perennial Movement, a movement in horticulture emphasizing the use of naturalistic designs that mimic wild plant communities like prairies and meadows. The garden contains some 25 different areas, where Rhys experimented with various conditions for plant fitness and design. A guided tour is included here.   [Picture 10]

We will then visit the garden of Priona in Schuinesloot, one of the leading naturalistic gardens in the Netherlands and considered to be a prime example of the Dutch Wave in landscape architecture. The owners, Henk Gerritsen and Anton Schlepers, were inspired by both Mien Ruys and Piet Oudolf, but went on to create a series of gardens that challenge the established preconceptions about what plants to grow and combine. [Picture 11]

We later return to Amsterdam where we will end the day with a farewell Rijsttafel (Dutch-Indonesian rice table) dinnerat local restaurant.

Day 10 – Thursday 15 April 2027

After breakfast we visit the Het Loo Palace and Gardens. a 17th-century palace of the royal House of Orange. The stunning palace and gardens were recently restored and re-opened to the public in 2023, The intricate baroque garden are a Dutch interpretation of 17^th-century Italian-French gardens, and are unique to the palace. The exotic flowers and plants fed by the constant supply from the fountains were intended to impress visitors, and remain a spectacular sight today. 

This afternoon we will return to Amsterdam to visit the Hortus Botanicus. Established in 1638 to serve as a herb garden to the city’s doctors and pharmacists, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Its hothouses and exotic plants have fascinated visitors for nearly four centuries and today the garden is home to over 6,000 varieties of plants and unique specimens.  We will also have an opportunity to visit the newly renovated greenhouse which re-opened in 2025.

Dinner is on our own this evening.

Day 11 – Friday 16 April 2027

This morning our coach will provide transportation to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam for our flight back to the USA (under your own arrangements).

Alternatively, for those who will be extending their stay independently in Amsterdam, you may check out of the hotel at the appointed time. Contact Brightwater Holidays if you wish to book an additional night(s) stay at the hotel.

While in Amsterdam some points of interest are as follows:  [Picture 12]

• Museum Van Loon, a magnificent private residence from the Dutch Golden Age, with a fine collection of paintings, porcelain and silver.
• Anne Frank House, where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary
• Rembrandt House Museum, the house where Rembrandt lived and worked, which re-opened in 2024 following major renovations.
• Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, where 800 years of Dutch art and history are displayed, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.
• Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh, with celebrated paintings such as Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, The Bedroom and his expressive self-portraits. Other visit of interest may include
• Singel Floating Flower Market
• De Oude Kerk                 

Included in the price:

£3,475.00 per person (shared room occupancy)

• Four nights’ full board accommodation aboard the MS Beethoven in an upper-deck cabin including breakfast and dinner; lunch (onboard;  packed lunches will be provided for days off board) plus on-board drinks during meals and from bar (except drinks from specialty drink list) - https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:7b2a9c8f-23d6-4ae0-abd8-589bdd905690
• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the 4-star Hotel Navarra Bruges                              https://www.hotelnavarra.com/
• Three nights' bed and breakfast at the 4-star Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam Museum Quarter - https://www.leonardohotels.co.uk/amsterdam/leonardo-hotel-amsterdam-museum-quarter
• Welcome dinner in Bruges and a Farewell dinner in Amsterdam
• Comfortable coach travel and all visits as per itinerary
• Services of horticulturalist Colin Crosbie as Tour Manager

Not included (per person):

• £1,245.00 Single cabin/room supplement
• Lunches (except Day 5, 6 & 7)
• Dinners for 4 evenings
• Tips (Note: tips for Guide and Driver are included in the HPS/MAG registration fee)
• International flights