Dutch Sampler: Five Provinces Plus Belgium

Capital of the Netherlands, the magical Venice of the North is famous for its dazzling Golden Age of power and wealth during the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, it is a bustling wonderland of things to see and do. No visit is complete without a cruise along the intricate network of more than 62 miles (100 km) of canals and time with the Dutch masters at the renowned Rijksmuseum. Other highlights include the Royal Palace, Anne Frank House, lavish 17th-century canal homes, Heineken Beer Experience, and the infamous red-light district!

The city of Utrecht is an underappreciated whose ancient city center features structures dating back to the High Middle Ages. It has been the religious center of the Netherlands since the 8th century, and was the most important city in the Netherlands until the Dutch Golden Age, when it was surpassed by Amsterdam. Today, Utrecht is a city of lovely parks and canals, lively cafes, and remarkable historical buildings and museums. And no visit here is complete, of course, without the 465-step climb up the cathedral tower for incredible views over the city.

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Strategically situated between the Scheldt River and the North Sea, Vlissingen (aka Flushing) has been an important harbor for centuries. It served as the Dutch East India Company's primary ship harbor in the 17th century and as the construction shipyard for the Royal Netherlands Navy. This was also the birthplace of Michiel de Ruyter, one of the most skilled naval commanders in Dutch history, and home to the MuZEEum, one of the country's most important maritime museums, with nearly 20,000 objects and artifacts in its collection.

Capital of Belgium, Brussels has traces of human settlement dating back to the Stone Age. Over the centuries, it grew in size and importance and by the Middle Ages was an important hub of trade and commerce. Today, this bustling cosmopolitan city is the de facto capital of the European Union. It's also a magnet for foodies seeking some of the world's finest chocolate, French fries, and beer! Major attractions include the impressive Grand-Place (main square), irreverent statue of Manneken Pis, and futuristic Atomium.

Dating back to Roman times, Antwerp was a cosmopolitan center by the early 1500s—an important trade hub for everything from Italian textiles and French wines to Portuguese pepper and Baltic wheat. In the 19th century, the city built a new port, which made it a target during WWII. Today, its port is one of the largest in the world. Antwerp is also an international fashion center, home to at least 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, and is the Diamond Capital of the World. Highlights include the City Hall, 16th-century guildhalls, Grote Markt, and Palace of Justice.

The port of Willemstad in the Netherlands' North Brabant province is where William of Orange transformed the dike village of Ruigenhil into a fortified powerhouse with canals, ramparts, 5 bastions, and 2 forts! Highlights include the beautiful gabled Mauritshuis, a one-time hunting lodge built in the Dutch Renaissance style in 1623; and the 16th-century Koepelkerk, the first church in the northern Netherlands built for Protestant worship services.

Dordrecht is the the oldest city in Holland. Its 800-year-old historic district has scarcely changed over the centuries, with more than a thousand monuments testifying to its one-time role as an important trade center. Highlights include the Grote Kerk, the ornate 14th-century Big Head's Gate (where three rivers converge), the old harbor, and a collection of splendid merchant homes with their traditional Dordtse facades. The city is also home to popular museums and galleries, such as the Dordrechts Museum, a showcase of regional culture and history.

Enkhuizen is a charming West Frisian city on the IJsselmeer. Like Amsterdam and Hoorn, it was one of the Dutch East India Company's premier harbor towns for overseas trade during the Dutch Golden Age. Today, Enkhuizen boasts one of the country's largest marinas; the Zuiderzee Museum, which chronicles the region's cultural and maritime history; and a host of outdoor activities, like biking, sailing, fishing, and kayaking.

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