Tulips and Springtime Gardens Cruise

Meet your HF Holidays Specialist Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras International. After check-in, baggage checks and passport control, we board the Eurostar to Amsterdam. 

On arrival, we transfer to our river cruise ship, Amadeus Queen or Amadeus Star, with time to unpack and settle into our cabins. This evening, we’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail and special dinner accompanied by a traditional shanty choir before setting sail.

We arrive in Arnhem during breakfast before setting off for Kasteel Amerongen, one of the Netherlands’ finest country estates. Surrounded by elegant formal gardens and parkland, it offers a fascinating insight into Dutch aristocratic life through the centuries. 

In the afternoon, we continue to Wageningen Botanical Garden, where themed collections, colourful planting and specialist gardens showcase plants from around the world. We return to the ship before it sets sail in the early evening.

Arriving in Middelburg late morning, we set off to discover the distinctive landscapes of Zeeland. 

Our first stop is Terra Maris, housed in the former orangery of historic Westhove Castle. Its dunes, woodland and traditional planting reflect the natural character of this unique coastal province. 

We then continue to the seaside resort of Domburg, where there’ll be time to walk through the dunes to admire a striking contrast to the formal gardens visited elsewhere on our tour. Our final stop is the charming harbour town of Veere, where we can wander along cobbled streets, admire traditional Dutch architecture and enjoy views across the Veerse Meer. 

Having arrived in Ghent overnight, today we experience two contrasting gardens. 

We begin at the Gardens of Adegem, an inspiring private garden known for its imaginative design, colourful planting and beautifully maintained borders. 

Later, we visit Ghent University Botanical Garden, home to extensive plant collections, glasshouses and research gardens. It’s an excellent opportunity to discover both native and exotic species in peaceful surroundings. We return to the ship and set sail during dinner. 

Today we dock in Antwerp, one of Belgium’s most fascinating cultural cities. 

We begin at the beautifully restored Rubens House, the former home and studio of celebrated Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. Exploring the courtyard and historic garden offer a glimpse into the artist’s life and inspirations. 

After lunch on board, we continue to Plantentuin Antwerp, the famous Belgian city’s botanical garden. Though compact, this peaceful green space boasts an impressive collection of medicinal and ornamental plants. We return to the ship and depart Antwerp during dinner.

One of the holiday highlights awaits today with a visit to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. 

Often called the ‘Garden of Europe’, Keukenhof showcases millions of spring bulbs in spectacular displays. Sweeping drifts of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths create an unforgettable celebration of seasonal colour and we’ll enjoy plenty of time to explore the gardens at a relaxed pace. 

Returning to the ship we cruise towards Amsterdam in the evening. 

We wake in Amsterdam before setting off on a full-day excursion to Paleis Het Loo, one of the Netherlands’ finest royal palaces. 

Our guided tour takes in the beautifully restored palace and its magnificent Baroque gardens, complete with formal parterres, fountains, sculptures and ornamental avenues which were built for William of Orange and his then consort, Queen Mary II of England, in the 17th century. Together, they offer a fascinating insight into Dutch royal history and centuries of garden design. 

On our final evening, we round off our cruise with a celebratory gala dinner on board. 

After breakfast, we say farewell to the crew and transfer to Amsterdam Centraal for our Eurostar journey back to London.