Delights of Belgium & Holland with Amsterdam

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.

Founded in the 9th century, Ghent became a major player in the textile industry and its harbor became a hub for international trade, bringing wealth and influence to the town. Highlights include St. Michael's Bridge, where every direction reveals breathtaking views; the Old Port with its gabled guild houses; the Row of Three Towers; the mighty, moated, thousand-year-old Gravensteen Castle; and Gothic St. Bavo's Cathedral with the famous Ghent Altarpiece, whose WWII theft by the Nazis was detailed in the film "The Monuments Men".

From arches to unusual cube houses, few cities make an architectural statement like Rotterdam! Instead of rebuilding after the bombings of WWII, Rotterdam reinvented iteself with bold, modern architecture. Today, Europe's largest seaport sports an impressive skyline nicknamed the "Manhattan on the Maas". Skyscrapers tower over the harbor; the Erasmus Bridge ("The Swan") captivates with its asymmetrical design; and the soaring Euromast provides endless views over the city and its surroundings.

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!