Day 1: (Mo) Amsterdam

Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner aboard the luxurious Amadeus Queen. During dinner we enjoy a scenic cruise around the beautiful city of Amsterdam as a backdrop. What a magical start to your cruise! After dinner we gather together for an after-dinner toast and orientation preparing us for the coming weeks adventure. Then to cap it all off a Traditional Shanty Choir performance onboard makes a perfect beginning to your journey.

Day 2: (Tu) Amsterdam

After a restful night on board, set off to see the sights of one of the most unique cities in Europe. Beautiful bridges connect numerous parts of the city, which is divided by hundreds of canals and waterways, lined with 17th century architecture. Our morning will be spent exploring the wonders of Amsterdam both old and new.

After lunch onboard we begin our Jewish tour of Amsterdam. The area between Nieuwmarkt and Plantage was historically known as Jodenbuurt (the Jewish Quarter). This neighborhood contains many historically important buildings that are currently preserved and managed by The Jewish Cultural Quarter, an organization that is dedicated to the conservation of Jewish culture within Amsterdam. Our stops include The Portuguese Synagogue; built in the late 17th century by Amsterdam’s Sephardic Jewish population. During this period, many Jewish people fled from the Iberian Peninsula to escape persecution and settled in the Dutch Republic, partly due to the country’s liberal religious laws. The Portuguese Synagogue is still an important place of worship and contains one of the oldest Jewish libraries in the world, The Ets Haim Library.

Return back to our ship for our famous talk & tea lecture program with our scholars in residence or take time to explore Amsterdam at leisure on your own. During dinner our vessel departs Amsterdam to our next port of call. After dinner is our daily port talk and orientation to prepare us for our next day’s adventure followed by our KRC entertainers.

    Afternoon Talk & Tea Lecture Series
    Evening Port Talk
    Evening Entertainment

Day 3: (We) Antwerp

After an evening spent cruising the waterways, we arrive in the picturesque town of Middelburg. In the Golden Age (17th c), the Dutch East India Company flourished, evidenced by the merchant houses and storefronts that line the canals. For a feat of modern technology, visit the impressive Delta Works. This expansive series of dams was built to protect the area against flooding and high tides. Several original windmills still stand on the outskirts of town, representing another innovative technology of a bygone era.

Our morning tour of Middleburg includes a guided tour exploring the town and visit with the local Jewish community including The Middelburg synagogue, a red brick building with arched windows originally built in 1705; is the oldest synagogue in the Netherlands outside of Amsterdam. During World War II the German occupiers used it as a warehouse for confiscated radio equipment. It was badly damaged by a British shell during the liberation and fell into ruin after the war. A foundation was set up for its reconstruction, and the building was restored in 1994. It is currently used again as a synagogue. The Portuguese-Jewish Cemetery, located on

Jodengang (Jews’ Walk), was established in 1655 and used until 1721. Declared a national monument, it was restored in 1997-1998.

Our afternoon tour is a Guided tour of the Delta Works and Veere: From the ship we drive to the Delta Works Project located at Neeltje Jans. This is an amazing example of how the Dutch have truly tamed the environment in which they live. Here you will see and learn about the storm surge barrier, part of the Delta Works, a project that was started after the 1953 flood which killed many people and inundated much of the province of Zeeland.

The storm surge barrier was the final phase of this project which is considered one of the engineering marvels of the world. Afterwards stop at the lovely town of Veere, once a very prosperous trading port in the Middle Ages due to the wool trade with Scotland. Today Veere is a favorite spot for visitors as it is one of the most picturesque towns in the area.

    Afternoon Talk & Tea Lecture Series
    Evening Port Talk
    Evening Entertainment

Day 4: (Th) Bruges & Ghent

Bruges is one of Belgium’s best kept secrets and a  famous World UNESCO site. Due to the canal system the city is known as the “Venice of the North” and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The historic marketplace. In the center of old Bruges, is cradled by the river Reie and was recognized as cultural world heritage site by UNESCO. As you walk along the maze of winding, cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you will be transported to medieval times. Besides various other sights, we explore the market, the ‘Burg’ a highlight of our excursion to Bruges.

In the afternoon we begin our guided walking tour of Ghent, one of Belgium’s most attractive cities, with its rich heritage of medieval buildings. You will see the fortress “Gravensteen” which was built in the 12th century by the Count of Flanders after he returned from his crusades. Today, Gravensteen is one of the biggest moated castles within Europe. During the tour you will also walk through the beautiful city center and see the belfry, a medieval bell tower with 54 bells.

    Afternoon Talk & Tea Lecture Series
    Evening Port Talk
    Evening Entertainment

Day 5: (Fr) Middleburg & Veere

The storm surge barrier was the final phase of this project which is considered one of the engineering marvels of the world. Afterwards stop at the lovely town of Veere, once a very prosperous trading port in the Middle Ages due to the wool trade with Scotland. Today Veere is a favorite spot for visitors as it is one of the most picturesque towns in the area.

Return to our ship and prepare for a special Kosher River Cruise Shabbat all together in Middleburg.

    KRC Shabbat Program

Day 6: (Sa) Middleburg

Morning of Shabbat programming docked in Middleburg with all our old and new friends.

In the afternoon we have developed a Shabbat friendly guided walking tour as we continue our exploration of Middleburg. After a magical Havdalah we depart and set sail to Rotterdam.

    KRC Shabbat Program
    Guided Afternoon Walking Tour
    Afternoon Talk & Tea Lecture Series
    Evening Port Talk
    Evening Entertainment

Day 7: (Su) Rotterdam

On today’s return to the Netherlands, we arrive at another major port city – Rotterdam. This vibrant city has a strong maritime history as well as bold, modern, architecture. Nearby, the historic windmills of Kinderdijk are a good example of the rich history of the Netherlands and are in contrast to the modern city.

Our day begins with a city tour of Rotterdam the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world, often called the “Gateway to Europe”. During the Second World War the heart of Rotterdam was almost completely destroyed, and Rotterdam was gradually rebuilt from the 1950s through the 1970s. Nowadays Rotterdam is famous for its eye catching skyline with the Erasmus Bridge across the river Maas and modern architecture with cutting-edge buildings by Renzo Piano, Piet Blom, and Rem Koolhaas.

In the afternoon we complete our exploration of the Netherlands with “iconic Holland” with an Excursion to Kinderdijk. The Netherlands are famous for its windmills. Today the country still boasts more than 1,000 mills, and the largest concentration can be found near Kinderdijk. No less than 19 sturdy mills were built here around 1740 and they have been well preserved up to the present day. After a short drive from Rotterdam, during this excursion, you will see how a windmill works, why they were used, and how they have been replaced by modern pump stations. Get a glimpse of the old mills while walking along a private miller’s path and hear the miller explain the workings of the mill to you.

We return to our ship for a delicious farewell gala dinner and evening entertainment. Later this evening, the vessel sets off for its final port of call – Amsterdam.

    Afternoon Talk & Tea Lecture Series
    Evening Port Talk
    Evening Entertainment

Day 8: (Mo) Amsterdam

After breakfast, we bid you farewell. We hope to welcome you back again soon!