Europe’s Engineering Icons: Amsterdam to Copenhagen

Tolerant. Intelligent. Inclusive. There are many terms to describe Amsterdam, the city built around canals that began as a humble trading center and grew into a global powerhouse. Founded in the late 12th century, Amsterdam quickly established itself as a pivotal hub for commerce, sending explorers and traders to the far corners of the New World. This spirit of adventure and openness to different cultures has shaped the city’s character, making it a melting pot of diversity and innovation. Today, Amsterdam offers travelers a unique mix of picturesque canals, world-class museums, and a progressive, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you are strolling through its historical neighborhoods, exploring its world-class art scene, or simply enjoying a Heineken by a canal, Amsterdam promises to put a smile on your face.

You can choose from a selection of morning and full-day shore excursion options that best suits your interests and level of fitness (ask your Adventure Specialist for details). For a morning option, choose The Canals of Amsterdam for a canal cruise among former merchant houses, blooming flowers, houseboats and floating cafes. The other morning option is Zaanse Schans – a Pocket of Amsterdam’s Past, experience the iconic windmills and nearby wooden clogs, Dutch cheese and Delft Blue pottery that this community is known for. For a full-day experience, the Keukenhof – a Tulip Extravaganza tour reveals bright colors of over 7,000,000 bulbs (from 800 different varieties) during the annual Tulip Festival; if the yet-to-be-confirmed 2027 dates don’t align, a suitable alternative will be offered.

Enjoy a morning in Amsterdam, before you drive to The Hague (Den Haag). En route stop at Kinderdijk, offering a glimpse into one of the greatest engineering feats in Dutch history. This UNESCO World Heritage site showcases 19 iconic windmills, built in the 18th century to manage water in the low-lying polder landscape. These windmills weren’t just picturesque additions to the horizon. They were essential to survival. By pumping water from reclaimed land into canals and rivers, they made agriculture and settlement possible below sea level. The Dutch mastered this technology to reclaim land from the sea, literally creating more of Holland. Visiting Kinderdijk reveals how innovation, necessity and community shaped a nation that lives in harmony with water, turning threat into opportunity and marshland into thriving farmland. Only the Dutch!

On arrival at the seaside town of Scheveningen, board the ship and enjoy a welcome dinner while meeting your onboard team.

Tucked along the Wadden Sea coast, Harlingen offers a glimpse into the rural heart of the Netherlands dairy capital, Friesland, along with an insight into the Dutch people’s enduring battle with the sea. This charming port town blends maritime heritage with quiet countryside, where dijks and canals crisscross low-lying farmland reclaimed from the sea. The region’s iconic sea defenses tell the story of resilience and a deep connection to water.

Today’s ‘Your Choice’ experiences offer three engineering feats this morning, with your afternoon free to explore the waterfront town of Harlingen. This small town offers a true insight into ‘small town’ Friesland, before you take the ship out into the North Sea, ready to traverse one of Europe’s Engineering Icons – the Kiel Canal.

You can choose from a selection of morning and full-day shore excursion options that best suits your interests and level of fitness (ask your Adventure Specialist for details). On the Holland’s Savior – the Afsluitdijk tour, see the protective 18.6-mile (32km) dike and interactive exhibits that help bring it to life. Opt for Sailing the Canals of Leeuwarden for a canal tour by boat and free time to explore this quaint, rural town, including historic architecture and dairy products from famous Friesian cows. Or choose the Fortress of Resistance: A Visit to the Kazematten Museum to see the only place in Europe where the Blitzkrieg was halted during WWII.

Your day at sea offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on another great engineering feat — your own vessel. Join a member of your team for a fascinating onboard lecture exploring the ship’s design, cutting-edge navigation systems, along with what it’s like to sail to the polar regions aboard a purpose-built expedition vessel.

Between insights on sailing and scanning the horizon, there’s time to unwind and enjoy the ship’s amenities, whether it’s a quiet moment on deck or a drink with a view. As you sail, the outer Dutch islands gradually give way to the German coastline, setting the stage for your arrival the next morning at one of Europe’s most impressive engineering wonders.

You can’t travel through Germany without encountering its vast network of navigable waterways, but none are as iconic or strategically important as the Kiel Canal. Often called Europe’s Panama, this 61-mile (98km) engineering feat slices through the narrow waist of Schleswig-Holstein, cutting the Jutland Peninsula from mainland Europe and offering Baltic-bound ships a shortcut that saves 286 miles (460km) of open-sea navigation around Denmark.

Carved by hand over eight demanding years by 9,000 workers, the canal opened in 1895 as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal, but as Germany’s naval power surged, it had to be widened by hand once more to accommodate a new generation of battleships. Today, renamed the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, but often simply called the Kiel Canal, it remains one of the most fascinating waterways, attracting 90 to 130 vessels daily.

Thanks to your boutique ship’s compact size, you’re able to navigate this rare inland passage, an experience off-limits to today’s towering cruise giants. Yor daytime transit offers a front-row view of the canal’s working locks, designed not for elevation but to manage the tidal flow between seas. As you glide through peaceful stretches of countryside, the scenery becomes unmistakably German: wide meadows, red-brick farmhouses and the occasional herd of cows watching from the banks. It’s one of the few journeys in Europe where tranquility still reigns and where you’re more likely to spot a tractor or a fishing rod than another tourist.

Disembark this morning at historical Wismar and take a morning’s drive to Germany’s capital; Berlin, where you will spend the night to ensure a fascinating insight into this iconic city.

Few cities wear their history as openly or as powerfully as Berlin. Once the heart of Prussian royalty and imperial ambition, it became a symbol of cultural prestige with grand boulevards and monumental buildings. But the 20th century reshaped it dramatically. Devastated by Germany’s defeat in WWI and the ensuing depression, Berlin fell under Nazi rule, becoming Hitler’s capital, where dark ideology took root. World War II left the city in ruins, and by the end of the decade, Berlin was divided; reflecting the fractured world around it. Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall became the starkest symbol of the Cold War, splitting not just the city but Europe itself for nearly three decades.

Your overnight visit to Berlin offers an insight into a city shaped by centuries of conflict and resilience. This afternoon, a local guide brings their hometown’s rich and turbulent past to life. Trace the story of the Berlin Wall on a driving tour from the East Side Gallery to Checkpoint Charlie, where tales of division and daring escapes still resonate. Along Unter den Linden, the grand boulevard of Prussian power, explore Berlin’s imperial legacy by viewing landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, while at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, one of the few buildings to survive World War II bombings, you’re reminded of the city’s devastation and its extraordinary capacity to reengineer itself as Germany’s capital.

This evening, enjoy some traditional German fare, before an overnight stay in this historic city.

Your morning in Berlin offers two ‘Your Choice’ experiences for you to choose from. Reflect on 1940’s Berlin with a moving visit to the Jewish Memorial and a powerful lesson learnt through wartime images and testimonials at the Topography of Terror Museum. For those interested in the Cold War era, browse the DDR Museum to uncover the story of divided Berlin. In the early afternoon, head north to Rostock, a historic stronghold of the Hanseatic League, where you’ll board the ship, and sail for Denmark mid-evening.

You can choose from a selection of morning and full-day shore excursion options that best suits your interests and level of fitness (ask your Adventure Specialist for details). The World War II Berlin tour visits the Topography of Terror, an open-air museum located on the former site of the World War II Gestapo and SS headquarters, followed by the Jewish Museum with its deeply personal stories of Jewish life in Germany. Or choose the Living Behind the Wall tour to visit the immersive DDR Museum to experience everyday life in the former East Germany.

Copenhagen is a city where Scandinavian tradition meets modern Nordic cool. Home to three royal palaces and nearly a quarter of Denmark’s population, this casual capital reflects centuries of regal heritage alongside a progressive, design-driven spirit. Consistently ranked among the world’s most livable cities, Copenhagen is celebrated for its clean, human-centerd design and its effortless blend of historical buildings and sustainable suburbs. Nowhere is this clearer than along its transformed harborfront. Once industrial, now reimagined through clever engineering, the former warehouses are now a vibrant public space. With clean swimming zones, open promenades and a buzzing café scene, it’s a showcase of how the Danes design not just for function, but for joy. In Copenhagen, life is meant to be well-lived, so get ready for an enjoyable day on your Copenhagen by Design day tour.

Begin with a brief driving tour of Copenhagen’s iconic landmarks, including a stop at the famous Little Mermaid statue, before joining a tour of Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the Danish royal family.

In the afternoon, enjoy some free time at Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s iconic marina, framed by colorful 17th-century buildings, wooden sailboats and inviting cafés, or take a stroll along the Strøget, Europe’s first pedestrian shopping streets, lined with boutiques, galleries and street performers. Copenhagen is the perfect place to unwind. Savour authentic Danish cuisine at a trendy waterfront restaurant or perhaps treat yourself to an afternoon of retail therapy, Scandinavian style. (Note: Should Amalienborg Palace be closed for an event, a suitable alternative will be provided.)

Late-afternoon, transfer to the group hotel for an overnight stay in Denmark’s capital.

After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.