Dutch Delight (2022)


Dive into Dutch history, culture and cuisine on a river cruise through the Netherlands.
Windmills, delicious cheeses, colorful flowers, a rich art history and more bikes than you can possibly imagine—the Netherlands is like nowhere else on earth. See the full spectrum of Dutch life, landscapes and customs on visits to bustling cities and small rural villages.
With an entire third of the country below sea level, it takes a complicated system of inland waterways and flood barriers to keep the Netherlands afloat, including the Delta Works architectural marvel that was named the 8th wonder of the world. It’s no wonder, then, that Dutch culture is so deeply tied to the water. Experience the many ways this plays out as you sail your own boat in a lakeside resort town, visit charming port towns, taste pickled herring and, of course, stroll through endless canal-lined streets.
On all 2022 sailings, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Netherlands’ World Horticultural Exhibition, Floriade. Happening once every 10 years, Floriade is an opportunity for Dutch cities to share their ideas for greener, healthier ways of life. Floriade 2022 is set to take place in Almere, just outside of Amsterdam, and construction is already underway! They’re building a demo “Green City of the Future” on the grounds that will eventually become a fully functional, entirely “green” new city. Stroll the expansive arboretum, sample healthful foods and learn about developments in sustainable architecture and energy.
Who will like this cruise?
This cruise is perfect for history buffs, sustainability-minded nature lovers, sailing enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a relaxing trip through a charmingly unique country.
Other Excursions:
This idyllic village is full of thatched roofs, lush greenery and lawns overflowing with colorful blooms. What it has virtually none of, on the other hand, is roads. Instead, locals live across a multitude of small islands connected by wooden bridges and get around by boat. This morning, you’ll have the chance to sail with your fellow guests through Giethoorn’s canals to get the best view of this pretty town.
Follow your guide through the streets of Lemmer to find yourself engrossed in stories of this town’s past and present. You’ll visit the town’s most important sites, getting a sense of how modern Lemmer is shaped by its history as a flourishing trade and fishing city.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Featured Excursion:
- Nijmegen Walking Tour
As you join a local guide on a walk through the streets of Nijmegen, you might be surprised by the youthful energy you find in the Netherlands’ oldest city. Discover a history that stretches back to the Romans and learn how this town recovered from World War II devastation to become the lively center it is today. End your visit in Nijmegen’s best shopping district, where you can branch out on your own to browse the small boutiques, popular chains and local restaurants available there.
Featured Excursion:
- Stroll into the Artists’ Village of Veere
A harbor village on the shores of the Western Scheldt, Veere may be a small town now, but its stately 15th-century town hall tells of a grander past. For three centuries it was the bustling center of the wool trade with Scotland; the wealth from this trade built the splendid church with its tall and ornate steeple that dominates the village, as well as the handsome mansions on its main street. Wander with the Cruise Manager through Veere’s central marketplace, where you will spot the well-known Scottish Houses, so called because Scottish wool merchants built them early in the 16th century when Veere was the primary port for Scottish trade goods. The Scots maintained a community in Veere, complete with their own church and laws, until Napoleon took over the region and eliminated their privileges. In 1896 an English art collector named Albert Lionel Ochs bought one of the two Scottish Houses and welcomed an enthusiastic group of international artists who were drawn to the scenic harbor and its fishing boats. For years painters set up their easels and painted the gentle seaside views, but after a dam closed off the harbor from the sea, the fishing boats left—and so did the artists. Today, the Scottish Houses serve as a lovely museum displaying the regional antiquities, folklore and life of the Zeeland province. And, interestingly enough, artists are once again painting in Veere, so perhaps a new colony will take root and flourish.
Other Excursions:
When Hurricane Sandy hit New York in 2012, New York officials began to take serious interest in Dutch methods of controlling flooding. After all, the Dutch have been protecting lowland from the sea for 2,000 years; back in 1953, they responded to a storm—one not unlike Sandy—that flooded the countryside and killed almost 2,000 people by implementing a series of projects called Delta Works. You'll see exhibits about this engineering marvel in nearby Neeltje Jans and visit a storm-surge barrier, a massive set of gates and piers that allow seawater to flow with the tides in and out of the estuary during normal weather. During a major storm, however, the gates can be closed to keep out the surging water. This incredible feat of engineering is a fascinating sight—but the Dutch will tell you that it is just one more front in their ongoing battle with the sea, which many coastal cities around the world may be studying.
Other Excursions:
Though Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is the seat of the country’s government and a fantastic place to visit in its own right. A favorite local highlight of ours, and your destination on this tour, is the Mauritshuis. This museum houses a significant collection of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces—an array of stunning still lifes and portraits, including Vermeer’s famous Girl with a Pearl Earring. Besides its remarkable collection, what makes this museum so special is its setting. The Mauritshuis itself was once a city palace, allowing the works of art inside to be presented in the manner they were originally intended, hanging on the walls of stately houses.
Rotterdam’s bustling market hall epitomizes the city’s penchant for innovative architecture. The massive tunnel-shaped building—the walls containing hundreds of apartments—is an awe-inducing sight. Inside, you’ll find the towering walls and ceiling entirely covered in a colorful nature scene, and rows upon rows of vendors selling local and international cuisine. As you weave your way around with your guide, we’ll treat you to a taste of Dutch favorites along the way.
Featured Excursion:
- Night Out: Amsterdam Canal Cruise at Night
It’s called the “Venice of the North” for a reason: Canals crisscross the heart of the old city, and bridges link some 90 islands. As the principal city in a newly independent Holland, Amsterdam was a boom town in the early 17th century, rapidly outgrowing its medieval walls. The city’s fathers responded by demolishing most of the old city and building an entirely new one, creating Europe’s first planned city. That “new” district is now 400 years old, and as you glide along the main canals, you’ll pass stately merchants’ houses built centuries ago (some of them are now house museums you can visit on your own). But the canals are not merely scenic; they are essential thoroughfares—people take water buses to work and live in houseboats along the banks—so a canal cruise also gives you a look at the busy modern city.
Other Excursions:
There's an old saying: “God created the world, but the Dutch created their own land.” Today, as you head off to Zaanse Schans, a wonderful living-history village, you'll get a close-up look at the land the Dutch created. Zaanse Schans stands on the banks of the Zaan River, amid the Kalverpolder—land reclaimed from the sea 500 years ago and put to work supplying the needs of booming Amsterdam in the 17th century. Though the water was pumped away from the land via windmills, the windmills you see in Zaanse Schans were early industrial mills, dedicated to grinding spices, oil, flour—whatever the city growing nearby needed. Some 600 windmills operated here, forming the country’s earliest industrial zone; today six working mills stand atop the dike on the banks of the Zaan.
Floriade is a world horticultural exhibition that takes place only once every 10 years in the Netherlands. This is the seventh time that Floriade has been held, and this time it will take place in a beautiful location in Almere. “Growing Green Cities” is the theme of Floriade 2022, with the location itself—the grounds for a sustainable new city district called Hortus—serving as a prominent example. Scientists across the Netherlands, as well as international participants, will showcase their innovations for greener cities. After an introduction from your guide, you’ll have time to discover the many fantastic things Floriade has to offer. Sample healthful bites at the food pavilion, stroll the arboretum or hop on an aerial cable car to view it all from above.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Cruise Departure | Double Occupancy Pricing | Ship | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sat, 20 Aug 2022
(Amsterdam to Amsterdam) |
$0.00 |
River Empress |
Select this date | |
Sat, 27 Aug 2022
(Amsterdam to Amsterdam) |
$0.00 |
River Empress |
Select this date |
- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
- Availability of all stateroom categories cannot be guaranteed.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation.
- Itineraries, hotels, and vessels may change, and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water level fluctuations and other uncontrollable factors.
- The order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port authority assignments.
- Prices exclude additional port charges of $200 per person
Dining
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
- Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water

Excursions
- 6 days of excursions, including "Choice Is Yours" options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- Guided “Let's Go” and “Village Day” programs
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks

Accommodations
- 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the imperial River Empress
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Internet and Wi-Fi access

Experiences
- 1 country: the Netherlands
- 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days (please see terms and conditions for transfer guidelines)
- Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
- Captivating onboard local entertainment
- Cultural enrichment, including Signature Lectures
