Belgium: Antwerp | The Netherlands: Willemstad, Kinderdijk, Nijmegen | Germany: Bonn, Cochem, Trier
Ship
Privately Owned, 140-passenger Ship
Includes airfare
During your trip, you will have the opportunity to join optional tours to further your discoveries—all of which are noted below. Most of these tours can only be reserved onsite with your Program Director, however due to limited space and other special requirements, some optional tours must be reserved before your departure from the U.S. If this trip has optional tours that need to be purchased in advance, they will be noted with a disclaimer below.
Day 4 | $95 per person
Day 4 | $95 per person
Discover the Delta Works to see a restoration project known worldwide for its hydro engineering, begun after flooding had devastated Holland. Originally, the province was a collection of islands—easy prey to the sea. Now the islands are connected and protected by a series of dams, dikes, and bridges. The destructive tides that flooded the islands in 1953 and claimed the lives of 1,800 people are still remembered by the inhabitants of Zeeland. Since then, the gigantic Delta Works have prevented a recurrence. During an informative film and a guided tour, you’ll see several of the ingenious technical achievements designed over the past 35 years, and get a sense of how the Dutch have claimed, reclaimed, and protected their homeland from the threat of the sea.
Day 8 | $150 per person
Day 8 | $150 per person
Join our full-day optional tour to Luxembourg, the tiny nation whose territory comprises less than 1,000 square miles. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy located between Belgium, France, and Germany. Here, the everyday language is Letzebuergesch, which symbolizes the national identity of the people. In addition to a city tour and visit to the Battle of the Bulge Cemetery, you’ll also enjoy lunch and free time to explore on your own. German forces occupied Luxembourg in May of 1940, and its liberation (primarily by American troops) began in September of 1944. The Battle of the Bulge began with Hitler’s desperate attack through the Ardennes to attempt to drive out the Allied forces. The resulting battle, called “the greatest American battle of the Second World War” by Winston Churchill, raged here from the 16th of December 1944 through the 28th of January 1945. Though 200 men from the tenth British Corps were killed in this action, the U.S. (8,447 killed, 46,170 wounded, 20,905 missing or imprisoned) and Germans (10,749 killed, 34,439 wounded, 32,487 missing or imprisoned) suffered tremendous losses. In the city of Luxembourg itself, you’ll see the market square, the Palais of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and the cathedral.