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River cruises in the Netherlands

Experience the diverse country at the intersection of rivers and sea

The Netherlands and Belgium have always been among the Germans' favorite holiday destinations. And there are good reasons for that: Because despite their small area, the countries on the Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt and North Sea have an incredible wealth of sights and attractions to offer. The Dutch capital Amsterdam is world famous for its canals, its old gabled houses and its art museums. Rotterdam impresses with the largest port in Europe and lots of modern architecture. Antwerp, Ghent and Maastricht are among the finest examples of medieval old towns in all of Europe. Brussels is home to Europe's top politicians. And small towns like Gouda and Hoorn exude the typical cozy charm that travelers love about the Netherlands. A river cruise on the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt is also an excellent way to unwind. The view of the countless rivers, inlets, lakes and canals in Belgium and the Netherlands is pure relaxation. And if you want to mix up so much relaxation with a little sporting activity, the best way to do it yourself is to take a boat out on the water or a bike along the shore.



Dordrecht Nijmegen Rhein Waal Niederrhein IJssel Maas Venlo Roermond Maastricht Emmerich Amsterdam Rotterdam Alkmaar Groningen Utrecht Den Helder

City Highlights

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of those cities that every traveler should have visited at least once in his life. No wonder, millions and millions of tourists flock to the city on the canals every year to enjoy the flood of sights and cultural offerings. The best way to discover Amsterdam is by taking a boat ride along the canals or a walk along the unique canals. Art lovers will be immediately drawn to one of the world-famous museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum or the Van Gogh Museum. Party people will find their happiness in the nightlife and red light district De Wallen. And beer drinkers should by no means miss the Heineken Experience.



Rotterdam

Rotterdam

The port city of Rotterdam is located in the Netherlands and is one of the most interesting places in the world. The modern architecture plays a significant role in this. Among the impressive sights is the horseshoe-shaped market hall with the huge range of goods and the colorful hustle and bustle. In the old harbor with the striking white house, historic ships can be marveled at. For strolling, shopping and partying, the shopping mile Witte de Withstraat is an attraction. The futuristic-looking central station, the bag, also invites you to pub crawl and shop.

Dordrecht

Dordrecht

The Dutch city of Dordrecht is a former trading city thanks to its location on the water. This past can still be felt in the town today. Be it in the historic city center, at the harbor or in one of the several museums. Also worth seeing is the "Grote Kerk" and the Augustinian monastery of the 13th century. A walk through Dordrecht is the best way to discover the history of the place.

Alkmaar

Alkmaar

Located in the province of Noord-Holland, Alkmaar in the Netherlands is also known as the cheese city of Holland. You should therefore plan a visit to the traditional cheese market as well as a tour of the cheese museum. Alkmaar also has a historic city center with many shops, cafes and restaurants. You can easily explore Alkmaar on foot. Even more beautiful, however, is a round trip along one of the canals, because similar to Amsterdam, Alkmaar is also known as a canal city. In one of the typical Giethoornse Punter you sail under the numerous bridges and have enough opportunity to discover the many monuments of the city. Back on solid ground, we still recommend a visit to the Beatles Museum in Alkmaar. In addition to the Cheese Museum, which gives a closer look at cheese production, the Beatles Museum is another much-visited attraction in Alkmaar. Should you then still have a little time, you can start for a bike ride to the nearby beach.


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Groningen

Groningen

The university city of Groningen in the Netherlands is the largest city in the north of the country with over 200,000 inhabitants. Its streets and squares invite you to stroll with buildings worth seeing such as the grain exchange, the city hall, the synagogue or some old town houses. Along canal A in the old harbor district you can also still find many well-preserved warehouses. During a visit to a café, the hustle and bustle on the water and on the shore can be observed here in a relaxed manner.
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For those who want to enjoy a view over the city, a climb up the Martinitoren is recommended. The associated Martinikerk on the market square Grote Markt is the oldest and also the largest house of worship in Groningen. Museum lovers also get their money's worth in the city. The Groninger Museum impresses not only with the extensive collection of exhibits, but also with its exceptional architecture.


Emmerich

Emmerich

Emmerich is located on the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia and has a beautiful Rhine bridge, but also the Eltenberg, as a local mountain. In addition, there is a Rhine promenade for walking and strolling. If you want to know more about the art of coffee, you can visit the Museum of Coffee Technology, which is famous for the city of Emmrich. Nearby is the city of Kleve, which is also very worth seeing with its Swan Castle, the zoo and the historic gardens.

Nijmegen

Nijmegen

The oldest city in the Netherlands exudes a quaint Dutch flair with its gabled houses, small cheese shops and delicacies on the "Grote Markt". In the narrow streets, yesterday and today go hand in hand. Therefore, a visit to the Gothic St. Stevenskerk, including the burial cellar, as well as a stroll along the shopping street "Lange Hezelstraat" should be on the sightseeing plan. With freshly fried Kibbelingen in the wintry Kronenburgerpark can be perfectly paused afterwards.

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Venlo

Venlo

Next to Roermond is the city of Venlo, which has 101,984 citizens, almost twice as many inhabitants as the neighboring city. Small stores within the center are perfect for a shopping trip. If you are looking for art and culture, you should visit the Limburg Museum, which tells a lot about the people of Limburg and the culture. Another point of reference is the Oude Markt in downtown Venlo, where you can find many restaurants that are especially recommended if you crave a delicious wine in the sunny Netherlands. 



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Roermond

Roermond

Roermond is a city and municipality with 58,806 inhabitants in the Dutch province of Limburg, which lies on the border with Germany and near Belgium. Roermond is best known for the Designer Outlet Center, where there are a lot of special discounts on exclusive brands and selected clothing. Directly connected to the outlet center is the city center of Roermond. Here you can walk relaxed between small boutiques and quaint cafes. 



Maastricht

Maastricht

Maastricht is a university city in the extreme south of the Netherlands. The city is characterized by its medieval architecture and lively cultural scene. The cobblestone old town is home to the Gothic Church of St. John (Sint Janskerk) and the Romanesque Basilica of St. Servatius with its important collection of sacred art. On the banks of the Meuse River, which flows through the city center, is the futuristic Bonnefanten Museum of Fine Arts.



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Description and info of river cruises
in the Netherlands

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Arnhem - each of these three Dutch metropolises has its very own character. While in Amsterdam you will discover the best shopping district in Amsterdam in the picture-perfect canal belt with the "9 Straatjes" and their numerous small boutiques and cafes, things are futuristic in the port city of Rotterdam: the city was almost completely destroyed during World War 2 and has been famous for its futuristic-modern cityscape since its reconstruction.

Whether the cube houses, the Erasmus Bridge or the many skyscrapers - in the list of the architecturally most exciting cities in the world, Rotterdam rightly ranks high. Arnhem, on the other hand, impresses above all with its unique shopping and fashion offerings. Let yourself drift and enjoy the Dutch casual flair - and perhaps "een bier" in one of the many "bruine cafés", as the quaint pubs there are called.

Click here to get to the voyage: City trip Netherlands | River cruise | VIVA TWO | VIVA Cruises (viva-cruises.com)


From Amsterdam's canal belt to architectural masterpieces in Rotterdam to ostentatious cathedrals in Ghent - on this trip you only have to unpack your suitcase once and can discover a new Rhine metropolis every day! Go shopping in Antwerp and stroll through the cozy sailor town of Hoorn. Enjoy the variety and relax on the ship while the wonderful landscape of Flanders passes by. 

Click here to get to the voyage: Beautiful Flanders | River Cruise | VIVA MOMENTS | VIVA Cruises (viva-cruises.com)


Prinsengracht, the "9 Straatjes", Kalverstraat, the Rijksmuseum, the Heineken brewery or a somewhat off-the-beaten-path detour to "Oud Zuid", one of Amsterdam's most beautiful districts, where the numerous mansions, boutiques and cafés make you want to move immediately. You have a whole two days to discover the many highlights of the Dutch metropolis for yourself. Afterwards you will continue to Rotterdam. The city is famous for its futuristic-modern cityscape since the reconstruction after the Second World War.

Whether the cube houses, the Erasmus Bridge or the many skyscrapers - in the list of the architecturally most exciting cities in the world, Rotterdam rightly ranks high. Finally, on the fourth day we make a detour to Nijmegen, where you can stroll through the beautiful city center and let your soul dangle, before it goes back to Düsseldorf in the evening.

Click here to get to the voyage: Break in Amsterdam | River cruise | VIVA ONE | VIVA Cruises (viva-cruises.com)


From the Netherlands to Switzerland - experience the most spectacular Rhine metropolises on this trip. Drive through Amsterdam's historic canal belt, sample Rüdesheim's finest wines, stroll through Speyer's beautiful old town and enjoy a traditional tarte flambée in Strasbourg. Experience the highlights of the Rhine and return home with wonderful memories in your luggage.

Click here to get to the voyage: Rhine City Trip upstream | River Cruise | VIVA MOMENTS | VIVA Cruises (viva-cruises.com)


Germany, Netherlands, Belgium - this is exactly the order in which you will travel on one of our most modern ships, the VIVA ONE, from Düsseldorf via Amsterdam, Hoorn and Rotterdam to Antwerp, before setting course for Düsseldorf again via Nijmegen.

While Amsterdam and Rotterdam, two Dutch metropolises, are waiting to be discovered by you, in Hoorn in the province of North Holland you will come across perhaps the most beautiful port in the Netherlands, whose historical uniqueness is due not only to the Hoofdtoren, a 16th-century tower, but also to the many well-preserved historic houses. In the Belgian metropolis of Antwerp, you will be captivated not only by the historic city center but also by the lively cultural scene. The once oldest city in Europe is still a magnet for many fashion designers, painters and musicians.

Click here to get to the voyage: Three Countries City Trip | River cruise | VIVA ONE | VIVA Cruises (viva-cruises.com)


A river cruise through Holland and Belgium is hard to beat for variety. In almost every city of the two Benelux countries there are beautiful historical sights to visit. However, many of the metropolises of the Netherlands, such as Rotterdam and Antwerp, are also known for their modern architecture. Art lovers will discover numerous old and new masterpieces in the museums of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and Maastricht. Sporty people can enjoy sailing or kayaking on the many waters of Holland and Belgium. That both countries are a paradise for cyclists is widely known anyway. And whether it's with a Belgian beer in Antwerp, a bag of fries in Brussels or a coffee in Amsterdam, the bars, cafés and restaurants in Belgium and the Netherlands are right up there with the best in Europe when it comes to coziness.


The starting point of a river cruise to the Netherlands is Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. Due to its excellent connection to the highway network, its large airport and its important train station, Düsseldorf is easily accessible from anywhere in Germany. The VIVA Cruises team will be happy to assist all guests in planning their journey to Düsseldorf.



VIVA Lifestyle Shoot 2022 (20)

VIVA All-Inclusive:
only the best for you

With VIVA Cruises, "all-inclusive" means you can sit back, relax and enjoy. Your physical well-being is taken care of with selected food and drinks. In addition, we offer you relaxing care products. And if you do need a good connection, use our WLAN. For other good connections - especially to our on-board staff - the included tip provides.

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A warm welcome with a
welcome champagne - to a wonderful
stay on board

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Full board with breakfast buffet,
lunch, dinner (multi-course gourmet
gourmet menus, served at the table) and
snacks with free choice of table and flexible dining
meal times

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All day high quality, cold and hot
non-alcoholic beverages and a
exquisite selection of alcoholic beverages;
take a look at our bar menu.

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High Tea: once per trip a selection
of sweet and savory treats such as scones
such as scones, sandwiches, cupcakes
cupcakes, chocolates and macarons. In addition
various teas are offered to match
are offered.

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Daily freshly filled mini-bar and
reusable water bottle in the
cabin

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Selected beauty products from
RITUALS

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Free WLAN on board - for undisturbed
reception

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Tips for the entire crew


The right excursions for your river cruise

The guests on board our floating premium hotels are all different. That's why we devise an equally diverse excursion program for each of our fascinating itineraries. Whether you're a pleasure seeker, a nature lover or an art enthusiast, our selection of experiences will open up new perspectives on every voyage.


Arrival and departure to your VIVA ship

Arrival and departure to your VIVA ship

With VIVA Cruises you enjoy the feeling of being in the best hands from the very beginning. That's why our service is not limited to life on board, but begins with the preparation of your trip.

You need a parking space for your vehicle, plan a comfortable arrival and departure by train or would like assistance for a suitable flight?

Upon request, we will gladly take care of your stress-free arrival and departure as well as transfers. Call us: +49 211 274 032 50 or write us an e-mail : info@viva-cruises.com

AMSTERDAM

Our berth in Amsterdam is usually located at Haven Amsterdam, Ruyterkade Oost IJ RO1 You will receive more information with your travel documents two weeks before departure.

If you are traveling to Amsterdam with your own car, here is our recommendation for nearby parking garages:

Piet Heingarage
Piet Heinkade 59 
1019 GM Amsterdam 
Piet Heingarage | Amsterdam

IJ-oever Centrum 
Vriesseveem 9 
1019 GM Amsterdam 
IJ-oever Centrum | Amsterdam 



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