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Tulip River Cruise
  • Yvonne Jones

Tulip River Cruise

The Tulip River Cruise was sponsored by Canary Travel and Fox 8 hosts David Moss and Natalie Herbick joined us. We started in Amsterdam where we boarded the Avalon Expression Cruise Ship and traveled through ports in the Netherlands and Belgium. Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 9, 2025
    Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    1Rebecca
    Our hotel...strange structure!1SunflowersThe Pink OrchardThe Piata...copied from Delacroix'sSeascape near Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer1The Bedroom...Van Gogh's favorite1View from my roomOur ship

    Amsterdam the Netherlands

    April 9 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    We arrived in Amsterdam this morning. We’re staying at the Mövenpick Hotel which is on along a canal where the river cruise ships are docked. My room on the 12th floor has a panoramic view of the area. Rebecca and I spent the afternoon at the Van Gogh Museum. The museum has the largest collection of Van Goghs in the world. There are over 200 paintings of his as well as his etchings and personal letters. I can’t believe how many self portraits he painted and how different they were. I enjoyed reading about him as we traveled through the different periods of his life. He only sold 2 paintings in his life…The Red Vineyard and a self portrait. It is only because of his sister-in-law and his nephew, Vincent, that Vincent Van Gogh became known in the world after his death.Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    Gouda demonstration with great samples

    Zaanse Schans the Netherlands

    April 10 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Today we boarded our cruise ship. My room has a panoramic view and I can lay in bed and watch as we float down the Rhine River! It is spectacular!We took an excursion to Zaanse Schans this afternoon. It is a beautiful historic mill village with centuries-old windmills and timber houses painted green. The old buildings depict Dutch life in the 17th and 18th centuries. It’s not an outdoor museum. It’s a small community and the residents live here. They have a few small businesses such as a wooden shoe workshop, a Gouda cheese workshop, the mill and of course the windmills! It quite picturesque. The place reminds me of Hale Farm and Williamsburg.Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    1121

    Rotterdam the Netherlands

    April 11 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    We took an excursion to Keukenhof Park to see the world’s largest spring blooming garden. The garden covers 80 acres. Tulips are definitely center stage here, but the garden also features other spring flowers, including hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations and irises. Each fall, 40 gardeners spend 2 months planting 7 million bulbs by hand. To ensure continuous bloom, three bulbs are planted in each location at different layers. The bulbs are donated by over 100 growers. Surprisingly, Keukenhof Park is only open for 2 months each year. It is impossible to capture the beauty of this garden.

    This afternoon Rebecca and I explored a little of the city of Rotterdam which is the largest port in Europe.The city was pretty much destroyed during WWII and has been completely rebuilt. They have the most unusual architecture. It is definitely a playground of modern design and anything goes. The most striking example of this is the cube house whose purpose is high density housing to optimize the space inside.
    The day ended with our captain taking us on a cruise around the harbor.    Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    Het Steen medieval fortress and statue of the giant Antigoon
    Brave soldier who fought the giantFlemish guild housesGrote MarktCathedral of Our LadyHistoric Old TownReuben's "The Raising of the Cross"Reuben's "The Descent from the Cross"Reuben's "The Resurrection of Christ"

    Antwerp Belgium

    April 12 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    This morning we took a guided walking tour to explore Antwerp’s historic old town, including grand Flemish guild houses, the Grote Markt (central market square) and Our Lady of Cathedral (14th century Gothic). The cathedral houses 4 of Flemish painter Peter Paul Reubens’ masterpieces. After the tour Rebecca and I wandered nearby streets and found a little cafe terrace to have lunch and people watch. We had to sample and purchase a few pieces of Belgium chocolate, too! We enjoyed the late afternoon relaxing on the sky deck of the ship.

    Interesting legend how Antwerp got its name. There was a giant named Antigoon who ruled the water and demanded a toll. If not paid, he cut off your hand and threw it into the river. Brave soldier named Brabo fought the giant, won, and threw the giant’s hand into water. The name Antwerp translates to “hand throwing”. Hands are depicted all over the city from streets, cookies, chocolates, statues and fountains.    Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    Bruges
    BrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesBrugesGhentGhentGhentGhent

    Bruges and Ghent Belgium

    April 13 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    We had a full day guided excursion today. We traveled first to Burges which is in the northwest in the Flemish region where they speak Dutch. The town is nicknamed “Venice of the North”. We took a ride on the crisscrossed canals, which provided perfect views of the town. Because Burges was not an industrial town, it was spared in wars. The medieval architecture is mostly intact and is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Flemish and Gothic architecture, step gabled guild houses and buildings, cobbled streets, colorful squares and expansive medieval parts are all a part of its historical beauty. It’s Palm Sunday today and the 47 bells of the 12th century Belfry of Burges rang out today. Burges is my favorite place that we have visited so far. Rebecca and I had our Belgium chocolate, Belgium waffle, and Belgium french fries. French fries were invented here…not in France! Belgium fries are fried twice and they use beef tallow (fat)…just 3 ingredients. MacDonald’s uses 22 ingredients!

    On the way back we stopped in the town of Ghent for a mile guided walk of the historical area. After Paris it is medieval Europe’s largest city and much has stayed intact. Ghent seems grey and somewhat dirty, not pretty and colorful like Burges. We walked by Gravensteen, a 12th century castle that has been restored and quite impressive.

    Every evening there is entertainment, and we decided to finally go tonight. It was a string quartet from France…nice way to end the day.    Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    Town of Middleburg showing canals that surround it
    MiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgMiddleburgVeereVeereVeereVeereVeereVeereVeereVeere

    Middleburg and Veere the Netherlands

    April 14 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    We cruised back into The Netherlands overnight to visit the towns of Middleburg and Veere. We took a guided walking tour of Middleburg, and I fell in love with this place. Once again there are the rows of beautiful canal houses with tall narrow gabled roofs. We wandered into narrow alleyways with adorable homes tucked in. I’ve never seen a more pristine litter-free town. Every building appears newly painted. I guess with the salt water from the North Sea it becomes necessary to paint often. Some of the historic buildings, houses and warehouses date as far back as the 1500s and many have been preserved. I felt like I was walking back through time. I found it amazing that buildings and homes that were destroyed during the war have been torn apart and rebuilt in the same style as they were in previous centuries. When you look at a row of houses, it is quite difficult to tell which one is from the 16th to 18th century and which are from the 20th! I love the quiet, calm feeling here in picturesque Middleburg. The stores hadn’t opened yet which was disappointing as the city square was filled with cute boutiques, shops and cafes. It has my vote for the best place in the Lowlands!

    During lunch we cruised to the small village of Veere where we once again took a guided walking tour. Veere is a small quaint village and is popular for the beaches and marina. There is a small market square with a few shops and cafes. We stopped at a cafe and were treated to a Dutch treat called Zeeuwse Bolussen which is a type of sweet cinnamon roll…delicious!

    During dinner we were cruising in the North Sea for a while! There were so many huge ships everywhere!    Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    Willemstad mapLinden and poplar trees are severely pruned like this everywhere in the Lowlands1

    Willemstad the Netherlands

    April 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    I woke up to a perfect view from my bed of the countryside Dutch village of Willemstad. The village has a population of 2,500. Willemstat is 7 star well-preserved fortification, and in the past it was a strategically important position defending and protecting the southern part of the Netherlands. You can still see ramparts all around the village. As you know, I’m traveling with a group from Cleveland with Fox 8’s “New Day Cleveland” personalities David Moss and Natalie Herbick. Rebecca, Sue (new friend) and I were in their small tour group today. This village is like a utopia where everyone knows everybody and helps each other. There is a real sense of community here, and the residents were so welcoming. The first Protestant church in the Netherlands was built here in 1607. The organist at the church was excited to play 5 songs for us! It was a big deal for him. After the tour we had a Dutch tasting get together provided by 2 residents dressed in their traditional costumes. We sampled several varieties of Gouda cheese and a Dutch drink called genièvre, which is a juniper flavored traditional liquor in the Netherlands. We are cruising the rest of the day and heading back to Amsterdam for our last day.

    I can hardly wait to offer my grandkids the daily breakfast that children in the Netherlands have pretty much everyday. It’s called mouse poop on toast!    Read more

  • Yvonne JonesTulip River CruiseTraveler
    Green birds on branchesRembrandt's houseRoyal Palace in Amsterdam.View from my room...very fancy yacht

    Amsterdam the Netherlands

    April 16 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    This morning we took the classic guided canal cruise on Amsterdam’s canal ring and saw some stately homes of Amsterdam’s Golden Age. There are so many houseboats on the canals, and I understand that it is extremely expensive to own a space for one. Also people are not kidding when they say there are a lot of bikers in Amsterdam. They are everywhere and don’t necessarily pay attention to traffic laws. It is dangerous if you’re not watching! We also took a guided walking tour and saw 17th century home of Rembrandt and the Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace). Royal guards and police were there which indicates that King William Alexander was present today. Parts of Amsterdam date all the way back to the 9th century! We saw coffee cafes everywhere, but they don’t necessarily sell coffee! It’s where you can buy weed! We ended our day with a little shopping at Dam Square. We’ll have a quiet evening on the ship with new friends and get ready to head back home tomorrow. The Tulip Cruise was quite an adventure!Read more

    Trip end
    April 17, 2025
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