Belgium & the Netherlands: Windmills, Canals & Medieval Cities

Dating back to the 13th century, Delft rose to prominence as a home port of the Dutch East India Company. It is well known for its blue-and-white pottery called Delftware, which was first produced in the 17th century and styled after imported Chinese porcelain. You’ll learn more about the unique pottery during a visit to a local porcelain factory. You’ll also enjoy a walking tour of the city and lunch at a local restaurant. 

Discover the Delta Works project, a feat of hydro-engineering that was initiated in response to floods that devasted Holland's Zeeland region in 1953​. 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 years, and get a sense of how the Dutch have claimed, reclaimed, and protected their homeland from the threat of the sea.