Holland in the Heart of Tulip Season

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!

A historic city in the eastern Netherlands, Arnhem is known for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and scenic location along the Rhine River. Must-see sites for WWII enthusiasts include the John Frost Bridge, Eusebius Church, and the Museum Arnhem. The city is also home to the Netherlands Open Air Museum, a showcase of regional cultural history, and an assortment of wonderful hiking and biking trails through the nearby forests and hills.

One of the Netherlands' oldest cities, Nijmegen recently celebrated its 2,000th birthday! Located near the German border, it was the first Dutch city to fall into German hands during WWII and heavy bombings left Nijmegen with few remaining historic buildings. Among its treasures, though, are Valkhof Park, site of a palace ruin whose construction was started by Charlemagne in the 8th century; the 16-sided Sint Nicolaas Chapel; and De Waagh (weigh house), built in 1612 in the Dutch Renaissance style and still sporting a huge set of scales hanging inside the building.

Roman settlement, medieval trade hub and religious center, birthplace of the euro—Maastricht, capital of the Limburg province, is a true dynamo. This was the first Dutch city to be liberated by Allied foces in September 1944, and it's home to more than 1,600 national heritage buildings, including the 13th-century Sint Servaas Bridge spanning the Maas River, the Romanesque Basilica of Our Lady, and bustling Vrijthof Square. And when it's time to relax, there's no better place for Dutch wine, beer, coffee, and tea!

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.