Pete and I recently returned from a Tulips and Windmills Viking River cruise, and I’m excited to share our experience with you. Unlike the Rhine or Danube cruises that follow major rivers, this unique itinerary meanders through the Rhine Scheldt Delta through the Netherlands along smaller waterways like the Noord, Waal, Lek, and Schelde rivers.
While the Netherlands may lack the terraced vineyards and hilltop castles found on other European river cruises, it does have its own distinct charm with picturesque windmills, colorful tulip fields, and quaint villages that seem frozen in time. It’s the perfect cruise for springtime! And going on Viking’s Tulips and Windmills cruise is a bit like having a floating hotel take you on a tour of the Netherlands. It’s such a relaxing way to see the country.
The Ship Experience
Our home for the 9-day journey was a Veranda stateroom with a private balcony aboard Viking’s Einar. While having the balcony was perfect for capturing photos, the weather was chilly for spring and we mostly sailed along at night, so we didn’t take advantage of having the outdoor space as much as we would have in some warmer weather. But it was worth it to have our own private views of the ports when we docked.
One aspect of Viking that consistently impressed us was the staff’s attentiveness. By the second day, they already knew our drink preferences and would bring them before we even ordered. This level of personalized service made the experience feel truly special.
For dining, Viking offers two main options: the Restaurant (main dining room) and the Aquavit Terrace. The Restaurant features one dinner seating time (ours was 7pm) where you’re seated with other guests. Sometimes it is a delightful way to make new friends, but occasionally you just want a quiet dinner with your spouse. So we found ourselves gravitating toward the more casual Aquavit Terrace for lunch and dinner. It offered the same menu as the main restaurant but with more private tables for two or four. However, when temperatures cooled in the evening, the outside deck was closed, which significantly limited the available seating to just six tables inside.
One amusing observation we had was that the Aquavit Terrace quickly became the coveted dinner spot, with guests strategically “reserving” the limited six tables with sweaters and puffer vests. You had to be quite strategic about securing a table on a first-come, first-served basis if you wanted to enjoy dinner there.
While Viking isn’t known for their food as much as their Scandinavian ships, they do make an effort to incorporate regional specialties into the menu. We particularly enjoyed the “A Taste of Holland” themed dinner, which gave us an opportunity to sample a few Dutch culinary traditions on board.
We also really loved the books we found in the ship library. It’s perfectly curated for those who love food, travel, culture, and history. While we didn’t have time to read on this cruise, I did take note of a few titles to pick up back home for my own reading and for gifts.
Day 1-2: Amsterdam
On to our first day! After a long flight, we were grateful that our ship was docked right in the city center of Amsterdam, making it easy to walk on and off the ship at our leisure. We spent our first day simply strolling through the city, adjusting to the time change and soaking in the atmosphere along Amsterdam’s famous canals.
After a bit of rest, on our second day we took advantage of the included Amsterdam Canal Cruise excursion. You simply can’t go to Amsterdam without a boat ride along the canals. It’s such a fun way to experience the city and the tour pointed out some of Amsterdam’s more famous row houses and architecture.
Gratefully, we’ve had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam a couple of times. So we had seen many of the main sites on previous trips. But if it is your first time in the city, I’d recommend visiting the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, and the Van Gogh museum. For this trip, we also made a stop to the oldest bakery in Amsterdam for stroopwafels, Hans Egstorf.
TIP: Always carry your Viking Daily newsletter with you – it contains crucial information like docking locations, emergency phone numbers, and ship departure times. While taking a photo on your phone seems convenient, consider bringing a paper copy as backup in case your phone battery dies after a day of photography. Reception also provides a wallet-sized card with this essential information.
Day 3: Enkhuizen & Tulip Excursion
Our first official sailing day brought us to Enkhuizen, which quickly became my favorite town of the entire cruise. The atmosphere of Enkhuizen was captivating: daffodils and sycamore trees lining the streets, carillon and church bells ringing throughout the morning, and locals enjoying coffee while reading newspapers. It had an overall peacefulness that’s increasingly difficult to find in our modern world.
We also had the chance to try pickled herring and fried pollock near the docks, a quintessential Dutch snack. I admit, I skipped the herring, but loved the pollock! After our tour, we had time to walk around town on our own and pop into a local bakery and some shops. It felt like we had the place to ourselves and was one of those moments where we felt more like a local than a tourist.
Later in the afternoon, we joined the optional “Tulips & Windmills” excursion. While the tour was interesting, I would note that seeing tulips in bloom isn’t guaranteed as it depends entirely on sunlight and temperature. The excursion included coffee and cookies while the farmer’s wife, Sandra, shared engaging stories about their family business and offered tips on buying bulbs (for example: don’t buy them in touristy shops, they won’t bloom).
Day 4: Nijmegen
After a night of sailing, we woke up in Nijmegen, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands with a history dating back to Roman times. The city has a special charm with its blend of historic architecture and vibrant student energy (it’s home to the oldest university in the Netherlands). After breakfast in the Aquavit Terrace, we joined a walking tour that took us through cobblestone streets lined with beautifully preserved buildings.
One of the highlights was our stroll through Valkhofpark, which offers stunning views over the Waal River and contains ruins of an ancient castle and church. The park’s peaceful atmosphere and spring blooms made it a perfect spot to pause and soak in the springtime weather and views.
The afternoon was ours to explore independently, and we made the most of it! We enjoyed shopping and relaxing at a café with delicious Dutch carrot cake and fresh mint tea (a Dutch specialty that quickly became my favorite drink of the trip). On our walk back to the ship, I discovered a small thrift shop in an alley where I found espresso glasses and a ceramic Dutch shoe for just one Euro – an unexpected treasure that’s now one of my favorite souvenirs!
Since the ship didn’t depart until 5 AM the following morning, we had plenty of time to explore the town thoroughly at our own pace, including an evening walk to see the city beautifully lit up after sunset.
Day 5: Kinderdijk & Rotterdam
Day was one of our most anticipated stops on our Tulips and Windmills Viking river cruise … Kinderdijk! This UNESCO world heritage site is iconic for preserving 19 traditional windmills dating from the 18th century. We were thrilled to discover that our ship docked right at Kinderdijk itself, allowing us to simply walk off the ship and straight into this historic landscape.
This was actually our second visit to Kinderdijk. Pete and I had visited about a decade ago, and we were delighted to see how much it had improved since then. The site has undergone thoughtful renovations that enhance the visitor experience while preserving its historic charm. And the biggest highlight was finally getting to go inside one of the windmills, something we couldn’t do during our previous visit.
Climbing up the narrow wooden ladders inside gave us a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the millers who operated these large windmills. We learned so many interesting details, like the fact that these engineering marvels can turn up to 100 mph but can be stopped in just 15 seconds. They also pump an impressive 50,000 liters of water per minute without electricity. But most surprising of all is that they’re still maintained by millers who actually live in them! These modern-day millers pay just $400 to the foundation for the privilege of calling a windmill home, while holding regular jobs in the community. We even spotted one mowing his lawn as we walked by!
Later that day, we made a brief stop in Rotterdam, though not long enough to explore the city as it was primarily to pick up passengers from an excursion. I hope Viking extends this stop in future itineraries, as Rotterdam’s ultra-modern architecture deserves more than just a passing glance. I was hoping to see Rotterdam’s Markthal.
Day 6: Antwerp
After being gently rocked to sleep as the Viking Einar sailed at night, we woke up in Belgium on day six of our tulips and windmills cruise. Belgium is a new country for us! I’ve now been to 62 countries, and Pete’s been to around 40. Our day in Antwerp began with a morning walking tour that introduced us to the city, highlighting a bit of history and architecture. The tour also gave us a good introduction to the layout of the city so we could confidently go for a walk later on our own without a map.
The real highlight of our day, though, was the afternoon food tour, which turned out to be a delicious adventure of Belgian specialties. We indulged in so many local treats: crispy Belgian fries with mayo, a Belgian beer tasting that showcased their incredible brewing tradition, decadent Belgian chocolates that melted in our mouths, and warm, sweet waffles topped with powdered sugar. The tour was the perfect balance of walking, history, and eating with just enough movement to justify all the calories.
With the ship docked in Antwerp until 10 PM, we had ample time for both our organized excursions and a bit of independent exploration too. Following a recommendation from our cruise director Emilie (who actually lives in Antwerp), we visited Leonidas to purchase chocolate as souvenirs for family and friends back home.
After all the walking and eating, we returned to the ship just as the evening lights came on along the waterfront, giving us a beautiful view of Antwerp’s skyline as we sailed away. Antwerp is definitely a city I want to come back to and visit again.
Day 7: Middelburg & Veere
Our seventh day on the Tulips and Windmills cruise had us docked in the city of Middelburg. It reminded me of Enkhuizen with its storybook charm, but bigger. Our guide shared fascinating stories about Middelburg’s history as we wandered through its streets. We learned about its connection to President Roosevelt through the Four Freedoms Awards, which honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary achievements concerning the four freedoms Roosevelt outlined in his famous speech (freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear). If you visit, don’t miss the photo display commemorating this connection.
What made Middelburg special was how it balances being a historic destination while still feeling like a place where real people live their everyday lives. We spotted locals cycling to work, shopkeepers arranging displays, and students enjoying coffee at outdoor cafés all against the backdrop of centuries-old architecture.
In the afternoon, we visited the small town of Veere, which has unexpected but fascinating Scottish ties dating back to the wool trade. The harbor was particularly picturesque with small boats bobbing in the water. It felt very seaside vacation-y compared to Middleburg. While some of the shops catered more to tourists, the historic architecture and views of the impressive dikes made it worth visiting. I also loved seeing the names of families inscribed above doors, a tradition that began before Napoleon required family house numbers to be recorded.
That evening, we returned to the ship for “A Taste of Holland” themed dinner, where we got to try some authentic Dutch specialties and cheese we’d been curious about. And then we sailed through the night to our next destination, falling asleep to the gentle movement of the ship.
Day 8: Bruinisse & Zierikzee
Today offered a different perspective on the Netherlands as we explored some smaller, less-visited areas. We docked in Bruinisse and took buses to several locations, including the charming town of Zierikzee with its picturesque harbor. The highlight here was definitely the food – we couldn’t resist trying proffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes) from a street vendor, dusted with powdered sugar and served piping hot. Such a simple treat, but absolutely delicious!
We also visited the Watersnoodmuseum, which commemorates the catastrophic North Sea flood of 1953. This sobering but important museum helped us understand the Netherlands’ complex relationship with water management and why the impressive dike systems we’d been seeing throughout our journey are so vital to the country’s survival.
Back onboard, we treated ourselves to the ship’s afternoon tea service, complete with Jing teas, madeleines, scones, and dainty sandwiches. It was the perfect way to relax after a day of exploration as we started thinking about packing for our journey home.
Day 9: Keukenhof Gardens
Our final day saved the best for last: a full day excursion to the gorgeous Keukenhof Gardens. I had been eagerly anticipating this visit since we booked the tulips and windmills cruise. And since we had checked windmills off our list with a visit to Kinderdijk, it was time for tulips! Imagine 79 acres filled with over 7 million flower bulbs in bloom. It’s breathtaking and almost impossible to capture in photos (though we certainly tried).
What makes Keukenhof special isn’t just the sheer number of flowers but the artistry behind the plantings. The gardens feature over 1,600 varieties of tulips arranged in color combinations and patterns. Each turn in the path reveals a new row of flowers more beautiful than the last. There’s reflecting pools,, charming bridges arching over streams lined with flowers, and themed gardens showcasing different styles and plant combinations.One of my favorite features was the Willem-Alexander pavilion. This indoor exhibition showcased even more varieties and tulips in shapes I didn’t even know existed!
Yes, it gets crowded (it’s one of the Netherlands’ most popular attractions, after all), but it’s absolutely worth it. We arrived when it opened in the morning and enjoyed relatively peaceful walks through many sections. By afternoon, the pathways were significantly busier, so I’d definitely recommend walking through the gardens first, and then saving the pavilions for the afternoon.
The gardens are only open for eight weeks each year during spring, making a visit here feel truly special. As we boarded the bus back to our ship, I felt we had experienced the perfect finale to our Tulips and Windmills Cruise adventure.
Tulips + Windmills Cruise Tips
Packing for spring in the Netherlands is challenging! We experienced temperature swings from 40°F to 72°F, so layers are essential. Think bright scarves, good walking shoes, and both a light and a heavy jacket. For the colder mornings, you may even want a hat and gloves.
New e-bike tours! Viking is now offering new bike tours for adventurous travelers (like us active voyagers!) But, they have limited availability and sell out quickly, so book early if interested. The Netherlands is flat and known for having the best cycling infrastructure in the world, so a bike excursion is definitely one you’d want to sign up for. I wish we had known how limited they were before we booked the cruise because we missed it.
Final Thoughts
Viking’s Tulips & Windmills cruise offers a unique perspective on the Netherlands beyond just Amsterdam. The itinerary balances iconic Dutch experiences (windmills, tulips, charming villages) with enough free time to explore independently.
Whether you’re a first-time river cruiser or a seasoned traveler, Viking’s Tulips and Windmills itinerary offers a delightful immersion into Dutch culture, history, and natural beauty that will leave you with lasting memories and possibly a new appreciation for this remarkable corner of Europe.
