Explore More UK - Spring 2021

REVIEW
Rediscovering the
Low Countries
Carol and Jeremy Davies-Webb look back at the
highlights of their trip to Holland and Belgium
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK/AWL
In April 2018, seven friends
ventured on Viking Baldur
for the Tulips and Windmills
cruise. We are a diverse
group, friends from 40 years ago,
ex-work colleagues from 20 years
ago and newer Viking friends
(yes, we met on a cruise and are
now firm travelling companions).
We are all based in the UK and
we had journeyed to most of the
destinations offered but decided
we would go for the adventure,
relaxation and luxury Viking
provides. What an adventure it
proved to be. Here are just a few
of the unforgettable memories...
We all arrived in Amsterdam
on different flights or by train, two
from “the West Country”, one from
“Up North” and four of us directly
to Amsterdam by Eurostar.
We had all visited Amsterdam
on many occasions but tried to
find something new. And we did
– the Amsterdam Observatory
and Sensational Swing, or A’DAM
Lookout, Overhoeksplein, directly
opposite the main railway station
and reached by a free ferry. Flying
free from the building with nothing
underneath you but a sheer
drop of 100m.
Two days later we were in the
town of Hoorn and were taken on
a walk around the lovely town. At
the end of the walk we went to an
apartment where we were hosted
by two delightful young people,
given amazing coffee and cake,
and we all regard this as one of
the highlights of our trip.
Ghent was a real eye-opener
for us. We had heard of it but had
never visited. What an amazing
town, all very accessible and easy to
get around. We also visited Bruges
and took the opportunity to see
Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child,
reputedly the only sculpture by
the artist outside of Italy.
On the 27th April it is King’s
Day, and we joined in with the
celebrations, with the ladies in our
group wearing orange feather boas
(those feathers surfaced for many
weeks after the cruise), the gents
in orange trilbies. Even a café we
visited in Veere gave us orangecoloured
cakes and coffee.
But the pièce de résistance was
our return to Amsterdam. Two
highlights stood out – a visit to the
Hermitage Amsterdam where we
learnt the story of the Night Watch
and then to the Rijksmuseum to
see the painting in all its glory,
and afterwards, a visit to the
renowned Keukenhof gardens for
the spectacular floral displays.
All in all, an amazing cruise, and
the whole Viking experience was
terrific, as always. We loved all the
new experiences along the way and
we would recommend this trip to
anyone, even if they have already
been to The Low Countries.
A 10-day 2022 Tulips & Windmills
round-trip from Amsterdam,
starts from £1,895pp.
This page,
clockwise,
from top left:
Beautiful orchids;
an interesting
daffodil-inspired
installation;
Carol and Jeremy
with friends;
spectacular tulips;
the Sensational
Swing over
Amsterdam
Opposite:
Windmills dot
the landsccape
64 VIKING.COM | SPRING 2021
SPRING 2021 | VIKING.COM 65