Belgium/Holland River Cruise
Mar 16th, 2016, 05:57 PM
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Belgium/Holland River Cruise
Looking to take our first cruise in April 2017. Thinking of a river cruise in Belgium/Holland. Recommendations of cruises? My husband is a WW2 buff so would like a cruise that includes WW2 sites in Belgium (we've been to Normandy in France). Best things to see along the way? I'm leaning toward Avalon but open to suggestions. Is it better to go Amsterdam south or Antwerp north? Not sure what difference the direction might make other than where you end up. Never done any cruising so all suggestions welcome. I'm turning 60 on the trip and my hubby is already there (and then a few!). Definitely want to see tulips and windmills but seems all the cruises include those. Other must sees? museums? etc.
Thanks everyone, your advice has been great on previous travel questions!
Cheryl
Thanks everyone, your advice has been great on previous travel questions!
Cheryl
Mar 16th, 2016, 11:44 PM
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I wonder which WW2 sites would be close. Of course, if you did the Netherlands from Rotterdam (a huge WW2 site, but you wouldn't know it), you could end up in Arnhem (operation market garden) Amsterdam too is a WW2 site, but in the sense that a huge number of jews was deported from there. If it's theatres of war you're after, the main WW2 site in Belgium is in the Ardennes. That's the river Meuse you're after then.
I do see that Avalon has Brussels - Amsterdam cruises that have excursions to WW 1 battlefields (Ypres)
I also see that Avalon's Rhine cruise doesn't stop in Arnhem.
imo it makes no difference whether you go south or north.
However, those Avalon cruises do look interesting, taking in Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerpen, Brussels, all interesting and historical in their own right.
I do see that Avalon has Brussels - Amsterdam cruises that have excursions to WW 1 battlefields (Ypres)
I also see that Avalon's Rhine cruise doesn't stop in Arnhem.
imo it makes no difference whether you go south or north.
However, those Avalon cruises do look interesting, taking in Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerpen, Brussels, all interesting and historical in their own right.
Mar 17th, 2016, 05:32 AM
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well if alexiajack is a Belgian they clearly are not polyglot, unless gobbledygook is a new language 
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Can't say I have actually come across too many polyglot Belgians tbh (well not too many polyglot Walloons and Bruxellois), though you are a notable exception Whathello.
Sorry Cheryl, we have taken your question way off topic.
.Can't say I have actually come across too many polyglot Belgians tbh (well not too many polyglot Walloons and Bruxellois), though you are a notable exception Whathello.
Sorry Cheryl, we have taken your question way off topic.
Mar 19th, 2016, 11:52 PM
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A few years ago I walked from Hartenstein, British HQ, to the Rhine bridge, via Oosterbeek church.
It's a beautiful walk in its own right. But also, it brought home to me how impossible the allied position was, in the field.
It is then you see that Market Garden's aftermath was one of the first instances of full scale urban warfare.
Hartenstein has a museum, devoted to Market Garden, and there's a themed walk, with commemorative plaques. In my case it helped that I viewed a map of the operations beforehand.
Another tip in Arnhem is the Openluchtmuseum.
It's a beautiful walk in its own right. But also, it brought home to me how impossible the allied position was, in the field.
It is then you see that Market Garden's aftermath was one of the first instances of full scale urban warfare.
Hartenstein has a museum, devoted to Market Garden, and there's a themed walk, with commemorative plaques. In my case it helped that I viewed a map of the operations beforehand.
Another tip in Arnhem is the Openluchtmuseum.
