DennyP Travel - Rockstar's On The Rhine River Boat Excursions

Rockstar’s on the Rhine River Boat Excursion details.

Brussels 
Brussels city tour with Planet Chocolate demonstration and tasting Welcome to Brussels! Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the largest city.

The de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels is home to the Berlaymont Building, the seat of the European Commission. You’ll see the European District and more on a panoramic tour of the city, including the royal residence, Chinese Pavilion, and the Koekelberg Basilica. You’ll then leave the motor coach and explore Brussels on foot, passing the impish Manneken Pis fountain.

Antwerp
Residents of Antwerp are called Antwerpenaars, and you’ll feel like one during your guided tour of this bustling multicultural city. This walking discovery tour takes you through the sights, sounds, and smells of City Hall, the Market Square and the UNESCO-designated Cathedral of Our Lady, which houses four extraordinary works by one of the city’s most beloved sons—Peter Paul Rubens. He was the Head for Farmers’ Tower, an art deco–era building that many call the first skyscraper in Europe. In your free time, you have to try French fries, which, despite the name, are a Belgian invention. From there you can take a short walk back to the ship or stay in town and keep exploring.

Ghent
Since cars are completely banned in Ghent’s historic center, it’s a particularly pedestrian-friendly area. Stroll with your guide from the Church of Saint James, with its two Romanesque towers, to the Friday Market square, which, as its name suggests, was the site of a huge market every Friday in the Middle Ages. You’ll pass the magnificent 15th-century Great Butchers’ Hall and the elegant medieval trading houses that line Graslei and Korenlei streets on your way to St. Bavo’s Cathedral. It’s not often that a Rubens is upstaged, but in this cathedral it takes second place to the famed Ghent Altarpiece, Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. This stunning 15th-century artwork, which consists of 24 panels, was begun by Hubert van Eyck and completed after his death by his younger brother, Jan. It’s been called the most often stolen artwork in the world, coveted not only for its beauty and cultural significance but also for its seminal role in the development of oil painting (the George Clooney film The Monuments Men recounts the most recent theft and recovery, during WWII); in fact, one panel has been missing since 1934. Your last stop is the Belfort, the great bell tower that rises above the Old Town. You’ll have time to explore and savor lunch on your own following your tour. 
Note: Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is undergoing restoration; so not all of its panels will be on display.

Middelburg
Middelburg is a capitol of Zeeland and one of the most scenic places in The Netherlands. The province, located in the southwest of the country, consists of a number of islands and peninsulas and a strip bordering Belgium. Admire old mansions and storehouses on your walking tour. Many of the streets show you what was traded there; take for instance Bierkaai. Bier means beer, so beer was traded on this street. Another example is Houtkaai. Hout means wood, so wood was traded in the street of Houtkaai. There are also many spectacular churches all throughout Middelburg. The one is bigger than the other while the next one is more detailed. All of them beautiful and with the same purpose, but so different. Hofjes are typically Dutch and in English, we call them courtyards. In Middelburg, you will only find one hofje or courtyard in front of the tower Lange Jan (at the Abbey complex). But, it isn’t anything like you have seen before. This used to be a courtyard with many small houses. The front is exactly the same as it used to be. Only the inside is different. They have broken down the walls of the houses and created one big ‘store/ café’ of it.  And it is worth a visit.

Rotterdam
Get a taste for Rotterdam’s architectural achievements on a walk to Market Hall. Built in 2014, this extraordinary building is known for its futuristic look and unique culinary offerings—from bars and food stands to full-service restaurants. Market Hall is just one example of Amsterdam’s captivating mix of 17th-century canals, gabled façades and modern architecture. You’ll also enjoy a look at the UNESCO-designated Witte Huis, an Art Nouveau masterpiece adorned with mosaics and statues. When it was built in 1898, it was the tallest office building in Rotterdam and Europe’s first skyscraper.

Amsterdam 
Explore Amsterdam from a local’s perspective on this tour that provides guests with an authentic look at the city’s culture, architecture, maritime history and more. Amsterdam’s art and design comes alive as you meander along a series of lesser known, but equally charming canals to Zuiderkerk—a former church that’s now an art gallery and exhibition center. See Rembrandt’s former home and now museum, as well as the Waterloo Square flea market, The Netherlands’ oldest. From there, you’ll continue on to the “Cultural Garden of Amsterdam,” featuring lush green spaces, Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, the Hermitage, the Royal Zoo. The last stretch of your stroll will introduce you to Amsterdam’s maritime legacy via the Royal Netherlands Navy yard, which is home to the Maritime Museum and the Dutch East India Company ship replica. Pass by the museum and enter into the Marineterrein (navy yard), where you’ll enjoy picture-perfect views of Oosterdokseiland island, the NEMO Science Museum and the 17th-century Prins Hendrikkade boulevard. You’ll notice the ever-changing nature of the navy yard with its remodeled homes, design startups and restaurants popping up in restored buildings.