Holland is famous, of course, for its tulips, but as a land with a rich artistic and cultural history, it has a lot more to offer. The western provinces of the land of water are populated by windmills which sit above the polders and along the very river that gave its name to Amsterdam. The fully crewed Holland river cruises reveal this country’s hidden gems to the spellbound guests who visit the Netherlands in this unique way.

Visitors who join one of these Holland barge cruises will glide past flowering wildflower meadows. From the colours of the bulb fields to the magnificence of the formal gardens such as the world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens tourists appreciate the unique horticultural expertise of the Dutch. And those who stop off at cities along the way, marvel at the architecture and engineering feats of the innovative people of Holland. River cruises are an ideal opportunity to experience the best of this nation.

Lovers of culture come from far and wide to tour the renowned Dutch museums. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Haarlem will charm you, just as they did the great artists, while other attractions such as the Delft Blue potteries and Gouda cheese market are equally memorable.

Cruise Highlights

• Tour the famous Keukenhof Gardens with the largest display of flowers in the world
  
• Explore Gouda's cheese markets and church of St. Pieterskerk
  
• Visit the fascinating Zaanse Schans conservation area
  

Belgium is perhaps one of the most under-rated countries in Europe, but a cruise on one of the hotel barges along its waterways, with tours of charming cities will convince you that it is a diverse and culturally rich land. Often called the ‘Essence of Europe’, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a land crisscrossed by waterways, is particularly proud of its medieval cities Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent.

Suspended in time centuries ago, Bruges, the ‘Venice of the North’, is one of Western Europe’s prettiest medieval cities, with its picturesque market squares and network of canals.

Antwerp on the other hand boasts the country’s most impressive cathedral and tucked away in cobbled lanes and backstreets are antiques shops, art galleries, exclusive chocolate outlets and, of course, diamond shops.

There is also the attractive medieval canal-side city of Ghent with its imposing architecture of churches and the former houses of rich traders. The city has an extensive network of canals and endless streets to explore and boasts the largest number of listed buildings in Belgium.

Picardy is the cradle of Gothic art and architecture with its six splendid cathedrals, particularly France’s monumental one in the capital of the region, Amiens. Picardy over the years has been a war-torn region that was often the place of invasions and battles. The two World Wars ripped through this region, leaving behind a fascinating legacy for visitors today, notably the battlefields of the Somme, now so tranquil.

Just north of Picardy is Nord-Pas de Calais, a region criss-crossed by a network of picturesque canals and rivers, a haven of pastoral landscapes, picturesque villages and historic cities such as Lille. Old mills, ancient abbeys and elegant châteaux are in abundance and it is the perfect region for those seeking a slower pace of life.

The scenery along the Canal du Nord, the canal we cruise on in this region, and over the Vermandois Hills is spectacular rural France at its best with wonderful towpath walks. Further south the châteaux of Chantilly and Compiègne nestle in a large forest that once extended all the way from Paris and it is near Compiègne itself that the World War I Armistice was famously signed in a railway carriage.

Since the reign of the Emperor Charlemagne, the Champagne region has been one of the great agricultural regions of Europe and now thanks to a type of sparkling wine to which the region has given its name, the word Champagne is known worldwide.

The region starts around 75 miles from Paris, around the city of Meaux and stretches along the beautiful River Marne to the city of Epernay, home of such renowned Champagne houses as Moet & Chandon. There is a plethora of vineyards spread across the undulating plains as far as the eye can see, brilliant green with the new leaves of spring, turning to gold as the grapes ripen in the autumn.

Also famous for its Champagne houses, Reims is one of the capitals of Champagne and certainly the most prestigious. It boasts one of the finest medieval cathedrals in the country where once the kings of France were crowned, including most famously, Charles VII, orchestrated by the loyal Joan of Arc.

The Champagne region is rich in other products, particularly its wonderfully creamy cheeses, with Coulommiers at its heart.

Alsace-Lorraine is a unique corner of France. Discover a land of storybook castles, rolling vineyards of Alsatian wines as well as Baroque, Gothic and Romanesque architecture. For centuries, the great empires of Europe confronted one another at this strategic and military crossroads. The area’s unique blend of French and German influences are strongly evident in its customs, cuisine, wines, architecture and language.

Cruise Highlights

• Visit the spectacular Rene Lalique Collection
  
• Strasbourg's Gothic Cathedral
  
• Tours of hostoric Saverne and Sarrebourg
  
• Experience the unique Arzviller boat elevator