'Panache' Cruise in Holland & Belgium

If you are a family with children, we are able to create a bespoke itinerary and substitute a maximum of 4 excursions from our Classic Cruise Itinerary with your preferred family activities.

The following activities can usually be arranged on-board directly with the barge Captain and included in your itinerary without any extra charge (unless otherwise stated):

Bowling 
Bowling alley in Amsterdam offering bowling and restaurant facilities. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings are reserved for “disco bowling”. Suitable for all ages.

Laser-Tag
A 900 sq. metre arena offering laser tag, where up to 24 people in six teams can play in one game. Food and drink facilities are available on site. Suitable for all ages.

Medieval Castle, Moat and Gardens
Discover the hidden story behind the 13th century Muiden Castle, situated approximately 15km southeast of Amsterdam. As well as exploring the maze of narrow passages and dead ends in the castle and the beautiful gardens, there are plenty of activities for children including treasure hunts and displays of birds of prey. Restaurant facilities are available. Suitable for all ages.

Rotterdam Euromast
An observation tower originally built for the 1960 Floriade, an international exhibition and garden festival which is held now once a decade in the Netherlands. Visitors will climb 96m (315ft) in an elevator to the observation deck to take in breath-taking views of the city of Rotterdam. Restaurant facilities are available. Suitable for all ages.

Zaanse Schans Windmills, Traditional Crafts and Museums
A living museum in which 18th and 19th century Holland is brought to life. Stroll past the bakery, and enjoy the smell of fresh bread, or take a look at a warehouse where clogs are made. A cheese factory, pewter (tin/lead) foundry and various windmills are also open to the public, making it fun for all the family. Learn about how raw materials were processed and how products were made and transported at the various museums spread over the site. Restaurant facilities are provided. Suitable for all ages

Kinderdijk Windmills
A UNESCO World Heritage Site 15km east of Rotterdam, Kinderdijk is a small village with the largest concentration of old windmills in the world. The windmills are located on a public road, but if you would like to enter the mills a ticket will need to be purchased from the visitor centre. The windmills were built around 1740, and played an important role to pump and regulate the water level and protect Kinderdijk from flooding, as much of the land surrounding the village is below sea level. Today the windmills have been replaced by a fully automated pumping station but are still operational, and help to teach future generations about how the Dutch kept their lowlands dry. Inside you can see how a miller lived, and even dress in a miller’s overalls and try on a pair of clogs! Suitable for all ages.

Artis Royal Amsterdam Zoo
The Artis Royal Amsterdam Zoo was founded in 1838 and is just as serene and enchanting as it was when it first opened. The zoo is a haven for nearly 700 animal species and 200 tree varieties, many on the verge of extinction. It is also one of the few zoos in Europe to have so many listed buildings within its grounds, namely the Large Museum, the Library building and the Aquarium. Restaurant facilities are provided. Suitable for all ages.

Tennis
Tennis Club in Pouilly-en-Auxois founded in offering court hire by the hour. Suitable for all ages.

Paintballing (12 years+)
Paintballing grounds near the town of Dijon set in 6 acres Protective clothing is provided, including masks, gloves and breastplates for women and children. Three formulas are possible – 1 ¼ hours (200 balls), or 2 ¼ hours (500 balls), or a full day of play. Must be booked in advance. Check the time slot allocated by the barge’s itinerary before booking. (Supplement Payable)

Other activities* – shown below – can be arranged but, due to their nature, they should be booked directly by the client with the activity provider. These activities are:

Climbing Wall (4 years+)
Wall Climbing is offered at the Klimmuur Centraal in Amsterdam and is suitable for climbers of all levels of expertise. There are plenty of walls to climb, making your visit challenging and enjoyable. Introductory courses are available for children who are new to climbing. (Supplement Payable)

Quad Biking (10 years+)
Aimed at both experienced and novice drivers, the Action Planet Quad Biking Experience is a great day out for friends and families on an off-road terrain of nearly 20 acres. A driver’s licence is not required, but some experience handling motor vehicles is recommended. (Supplement Payable)

*Activities are payable by the client directly to the provider, whose individual terms and conditions apply
All activities are subject to availability. Children’s bicycles, bicycle helmets, child car seats and high chairs and available without cost

Golf cruises include four pre-booked and paid tee times and transfers to and from the golf clubs. Hire of clubs, caddy or buggy not included. Only those golfing pay the supplement. A minimum of 4 passengers on a golf charter are required to play golf.
 

Sunday, Day 1 Alkmaar
Guests are met in Amsterdam and transferred by private minibus to Panache. Once aboard enjoy a champagne welcome and an introduction to your crew and hotel barge.
Dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans
This morning we cruise to Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam, a place renowned for its wooden windmills, barns and houses built in the traditional Dutch style. After lunch, depart for our afternoon of golf at Amsterdamse Golf Club. Founded in 1934, it is one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands; typical characteristics of the course are water hazards with reeds. Dinner on board

Tuesday, Day 3 Zaanse Schans to Haarlem
We enjoy an early morning cruise to the historical city of Haarlem, dating back to the 13th Century. After an early lunch, enjoy a round of golf at Kennemer Golf and Country Club.  Founded in 1910, the course is about 1.5 km from the sea and consists of three series of nine holes.
This evening, enjoy dinner ashore at a local restaurant

Wednesday, Day 4 Haarlem to Oude Wetering
Optional very early morning tour is to Aalsmeer Flower auction, where some 17 million cut flowers from all over the world are traded here each day. Return to the hotel barge for a breakfast cruise to Oude Wetering, our mooring for tonight. This afternoon marks a cruise highlight, with a walk through the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Known as the garden of Europe, with more than 100 acres filled with over 7 million flowering bulbs, we stroll through breath-taking waves of colour on this unforgettable half day excursion. Free time this evening to cycle along the many towpaths around the lake or visit a local cheese market, in the nearby medieval town of Gouda. The large Gothic church of Sint Janskerk in Gouda is known especially for its magnificent stain glass windows, for which it has been placed on the UNESCO list of Dutch monuments.  Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Oude Wetering to Leiden
After breakfast we cruise to Leiden. Home to one of the oldest universities in the country and the birth place of Rembrandt. Leiden is an historical city full of charm and character. Perfect for those who like to cycle, or simply stroll the banks of the pretty tree lined canals. This afternoon, tee off at Koninklijke Haagsche, the Royal Hague Golf and Country Club considered one of the most beautiful in the European Continent. The course consists of 18 holes situated in an undulating dune landscape, providing impressive views. Return to the hotel barge for dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Leiden to Delft
Morning cruise arriving in Delft by lunchtime, our final mooring for the week. Delft is well known for its pottery ceramic products, which were styled on the imported Chinese porcelain of the 17th century. This beautiful, unspoilt town is more than 750 years old, and began as the home port of the Dutch East India Company. Following lunch, we depart for Golfbaan Delfland; a challenging course with many water hazards, strategically place bunkers and breath taking vistas. Tonight enjoy the Captains Farewell Dinner on board.
(18 holes, 5800m, Par 71)

Saturday, Day 7 Delft
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Amsterdam.

On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change