Travel-Learn Program

When: April 10, 2011 - April 18, 2011 (iCal)

Description

Celebrate the spirit and beauty of springtime in the Low Countries along the tranquil waterways of Holland and Belgium. We will make our way through the rivers and canals of this fascinating area aboard the deluxe M.S. AMALEGRO, past centuries-old windmills, canal-lined villages and vast landscapes of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils stretching as far as the eye can see. As millions of bulbs blossom in a sea of color, we visit picturesque Old Dutch towns where the traditions of fishing and porcelain have survived for centuries. We will immerse ourselves in the great artistic legacies of the great Dutch and Flemish Masters, as we explore the cities of Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Amsterdam. Throughout the program, specially arranged educational presentations provide the perfect accompaniment to the breathtaking sites. We also invite you to join a special two-night stay in the Hague during the Pre-Program Option.

Cost

Waitlist only - For more information,contact Usha Nand Sellers Ed. D., Director Tufts Travel-Learn Program, at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 617-627-5323.

Itinerary

DAY 1 & 2 – U.S.A. / AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

Depart from the U.S. and arrive in Amsterdam. Shortly after we arrive, we will embark on a private canal cruise. The waterways and canals continue to play an integral part in the life of the city, and they also offer a unique glimpse of Amsterdam’s most noteworthy landmarks. Following this, we will transfer to the M.S. AMADOLCE.

DAY 3 - AMSTERDAM/VOLENDAM

Ringed by concentric canals lined with 16th- and 17th-century row houses, charming houseboats and world-renowned museums, Amsterdam is brimming with history and artistic wealth. Today we will visit the Rijksmuseum’s prestigious collection of the Dutch masters’ works and the Van Gogh Museum’s exhibit—the world’s largest collection of this post-Impressionist’s paintings.

Next we will experience the beauty and charm of the Dutch fishing port of Volendam. Built along the top of a dike, the village’s primary thoroughfare is lined with colorful cafés and purveyors of fresh fish, handmade cheeses and a myriad of traditional Dutch crafts.

DAY 4 - ARNHEM

Today, our first stop is the Airborne Museum at the former headquarters of the British army during the 1944 Battle of Arnhem: the Hartenstein mansion. Later, we will travel through unspoiled forest, marsh and sand dunes in the picturesque De Hoge Veluwe, the Netherlands’ largest national park. Our cultural enrichment continues in a tour of the world class Kröller Müller Museum where works by Picasso, Renoir and Manet are complemented by a captivating collection of late-19th-century to 21st-century art sculptures in the museum’s unique 60-acre garden.

DAY 5 - ANTWERP, BELGIUM

Today we discover the Flemish charm of Antwerp’s Old Town. A labyrinth of squares and narrow passages lead into its spectacular Grote Markt, where beautifully preserved guildhalls once bustled with Antwerp’s 17th-century merchants and tradesmen. We will visit the elegant Renaissance-baroque Rubenshuis, where Rubens once lived and worked, and see Rubens’ masterpieces, Resurrection and Assumption, in the Cathedral of Our Lady. This cathedral is the pride of Belgium with its remarkable 47-bell carillon and soaring 404-foot, delicately ornamented spire. Later, during the VILLAGE FORUM™, we will hear local residents discuss contemporary cultural and political issues.

DAY 6 - BRUGES

From the Market Square to the Chapel of the Holy Blood, Bruges exudes the timeless atmosphere of Europe on the eve of the Renaissance. One of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bruges was built around a double ring of picturesque canals and is connected by arched foot bridges. Today we will see Bruges’ treasured architecture, virtually untouched since the 15th century, from the very best perspective aboard our private canal cruise. We will also visit the lively Grand Place Market, the center of life in Bruges, and historic Burg Square.

DAY 7 - WILLEMSTAD/ KINDERDIJK

Today, in the south of Holland, we will get the chance to see one of the most impressive feats of hydraulic engineering in the world, the famous Delta Works. Developed over the past 50 years, this vast and complex system of locks, sluices, channels, bridges, slides and storm-surge barriers was built after the catastrophic floods of 1953 to protect southwestern Holland from the encroaching North Sea.

Close by to this work of modern engineering stand Holland’s greatest concentration of old windmills. Here, little has changed since the mid-18th century, when 19 tall, wooden windmills were erected side by side at Kinderdijk to drain the Alblasserwaard, one of many regions in The Netherlands below sea level. Though no longer used to monitor water levels, the windmills are still one of Holland’s most picturesque sights.

DAY 8 - UTRECHT/AMSTERDAM

The morning today is spent in the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. The flowers of Holland are world-famous and this pinnacle of Dutch horticulture is only open a few months each year, with more than 90 bulb-growing companies participating. We will have the opportunity to explore on our own, or join a guided walk through this spectacular display.

In Amsterdam, following a visit the renowned Van Gogh Museum, the rest of the afternoon will be at leisure to explore on our own.

DAY 9 - AMSTERDAM/U.S.

Transfer to the airport and return to the U.S., arriving later today.

Price and Itinerary remain tentative and subject to change

617-627-5323|usha.sellers@tufts.edu