Benelux – Celebrations in Fairytale Towns (from Thessaloniki)

We start the day with a warm Christmas breakfast and set off on an unforgettable excursion to Luxembourg, one of the smallest but most charming countries in the European Union. The landscape, draped in its winter cloak, welcomes us as we cross the snow-covered south of Belgium, through the plain dotted with picturesque villages and imposing castles. The festive atmosphere follows us as we arrive in the heart of Wallonia, in the beautiful city of Dinant, the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone. Here, beside the frozen Lesse River, we’ll enjoy a warm drink and a short stroll, exploring the town’s Christmas-decorated alleyways. As we continue our journey toward Luxembourg, the route through the wintry landscapes of southeastern Belgium fills us with awe. Upon arriving in Luxembourg, we’ll admire the city, which seems to rise from a ravine, adorned with sparkling lights and a festive atmosphere. Among other sights, we’ll see the majestic Cathedral of Our Lady, the famous Red Bridge, from where we’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the city at Christmas, as well as the impressive Philharmonic Hall. Our day will conclude at the central Place d’Armes, adorned with sparkling Christmas lights and festive stalls. After an enchanting Christmas experience, we’ll return to Brussels in the afternoon, filled with images and memories of this beautiful winter journey.

Today you can spend your day in Brussels however you’d like. But if you think there aren’t any other beautiful places in this region, join us on an optional excursion that’s sure to change your mind. We’ll start in the picturesque city of Ghent, a city with a rich medieval history and a vibrant cultural heritage. In the Middle Ages, Ghent was one of Europe’s most important trading ports—something we’ll discover as we stroll through its cobblestone alleys. There we’ll see City Hall (Stadhuis), with its impressive architecture that blends Gothic and Renaissance styles, the Government House, an iconic building that exudes a sense of the city’s historical power, St. Nicholas Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk), one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful churches, built in the Gothic style, and St. Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal), also known for the famous painting “The Secret Lamb” by the Van Eyck brothers. After admiring the architecture and the important historical monuments, we’ll have free time in the city center to soak up the Christmas atmosphere, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, or browse the local markets. We’ll continue on to the famous Bruges, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. A city where time seems to have stood still in the Middle Ages! Among other sights, the park with the “Lake of Love,” St. John’s Hospital—the oldest in Europe—the Church of Our Lady, the much-photographed St. Boniface Bridge, the Governor’s Palace, and the historic center—a unique gem of medieval architecture. After the tour, there will be free time for coffee or a stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets and past the ornate mansions reflected in the canals, which give the city its characteristic nickname“Venice of the North.” Return to Brussels in the afternoon.

We enjoy a good breakfast, leave Brussels, and head for Amsterdam, stopping along the way in Antwerp, cosmopolitan The Hague, and medieval Delft. Antwerp, built on the Scheldt River at the mouth of the North Sea, is Belgium’s largest port and the second-largest in Europe. We’ll begin our tour along the banks of the Scheldt River and head toward the cathedral and city hall in the heart of the medieval quarter, with its famous main shoppingand the Boerentoren, Europe’s oldest skyscraper. Hidden in the narrow streets, we’ll find thousands of restaurants and bars, antique shops, galleries, chocolate shops, diamond stores (it has the world’s largest diamond-processing industry), and boutiques featuring avant-garde designers. Next, we’ll visit Delft, the first capital of the Dutch state, a historic city with a beautiful historic center, spacious squares, and majestic royal churches. Next stop is The Hague, the third-largest city in the Netherlands, the seat of the Dutch government, the Parliament, the country’s Supreme Court, numerous United Nations agencies, and the International Court of Justice. Because of all the international institutions and embassies, The Hague is a multicultural society, and the foreigners living in the city are there primarily for work rather than for leisure, as is the case in Amsterdam. For this reason, it has a reputation as a strict city—a view, of course, that the thousands of students living there disagree with. You’ll see buildings featuring traditional Dutch architecture, cathedrals, parks, and a beach that’s packed with people during the summer. The uniquely valuable buildings that house government ministries and embassies make up the most elegant Dutch city. Three main squares and a network of pedestrian walkways characterize the city center. Our final stop for today is Amsterdam. As soon as we arrive, we’ll check in at the hotel, which is in a beautiful location with easy access to the city center.

After breakfast, we’ll board the bus to begin our tour of the famous capital. A unique city, both timelessly romantic and modern. The city resembles a vast open-air museum, where the abundance of canals, combined with the multiculturalism of its residents, makes it one of the best-known metropolises in Europe. We’ll tour the city center, which is bordered by three main semicircular canals (and countless others around the perimeter), connected by more than 1,000! small and large bridges, to see, among other sights, the imposing “Rijksmuseum,” the towering “Western Church,” the unique “King’s Palace” on Dam Square, the “floating” Central Station, along with many other features of a city that “floats” on the sea. We’ll once again make our way through the historic center, passing Waterlooplein, Rembrandt Square, the flower market, Rokin, and Dam Square. We’ll continue our tour of Amsterdam at Museum Square, where we’ll visit the city’s largest diamond workshop, COSTER DIAMONDS, and learn about the diamond-cutting process, from start to finish, and then we’ll have the opportunity to view historical “pieces” and a vast array of diamonds from the company’s enormous jewelry collection. After the tour, you can spend your free time however you like. From here, you can continue with a wonderful cruise through the city’s canals to enjoy the architecture and the breathtaking views of the city’s famous landmarks. We recommend that you join us on a charming optional excursion to the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken. The first, this small town on the IJsselmeer, still retains the authentic atmosphere of a fishing village. Here you can still encounter locals wearing traditional costumes: women in tight-fitting bodices, lace hats with feathers, and aprons, and men in wide-leg pants and woolen shirts, as well as the characteristic wooden houses naturally painted in shades of white and green. We’ll find the same scene in Marken, located on a small island—a village nestled in nature, with wooden houses featuring very distinctive architecture, each in its own unique color, and well-tended gardens. Late in the afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel.