Experience the Rhine and the Sea

It’s not just the locals who consider Cologne to be among the best cities in the world. The typical friendliness that you find at every turn makes visitors feel at home right away. It’s not unusual to quickly get chatting to strangers and even go for a couple glasses of Kölsch with them. The main landmark – Cologne Cathedral – watches over the whole city. It is the third-tallest church building in the world, at 157.38 metres. It might be a bit of a trek up to the top of the tower, but it’s worth it. You’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable view of the city and the Rhine spread out before you.

From Cologne to Willemstad, Antwerp, Ghent, Kinderdijk, Lelystad, Harlingen, Hoorn and Emmerich to Cologne.

It seems like the North Sea tidied up here to give space to the Rhine. The onlooker has a clear, sweeping vista of the river separating into a wide delta and eventually, having completed a 1,320-km journey, disappearing into the sea. More than 58 million people live in the Rhine’s catchment area and 20 cities have developed along its banks. The last of these is the global harbour city of Rotterdam, with its futuristic architectural wonders. Amsterdam, a colourful, cheery centre of culture; Gent, a vibrant student city; elegant Antwerp, with its buildings from every epoch; and of course, the biggest city: the happy-go-lucky Cologne – the Rhine passes through all of these on its way to the IJsselmeer. And the only thing to be heard at this expanse of water is peace, the sound of the wind, the seagulls and the sand crunching beneath your feet as you walk briskly across the mudflats.

Antwerpen is al jarenlang één van de topbestemmingen voor een stedentrip onder toeristen. Al jarenlang komen toeristen naar deze historische stad aan de Schelde om uit te gaan, te winkelen en om te genieten van al het moois dat de stad te bieden heeft. De grootste trekpleister vormt de historische binnenstad. Op eeuwenoude pleinen zoals de Grote Markt kun je hier volop genieten van een heerlijke Belgische pint. Winkelliefhebbers kunnen helemaal los gaan in de veel winkelgebieden die Antwerpen telt. Niet voor niets geldt Antwerpen als dé winkelstad van de Benelux.

This old university town buzzes with energy. Rich in cultural attractions, it also boasts a varied nightlife, with imposing architectural monuments serving as a backdrop. During the ‘Gentse Feesten’ – a ten-day festival of street performance, music and culture that takes place in the city centre every July – these magnificent buildings really come into their own, illuminated by light installations It is a truly spectacular sight.

Kinderdijk is a village in the the Netherlands’ South Holland province, known for its iconic 18th-century windmills. Its water-management network features 19 mills and 3 pumping stations, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the polder (low-lying land). Waterways, footpaths and bike trails crisscross the area, leading to the main visitors center and museums in preserved working windmills

Lelystad is a municipality and a city in the centre of the Netherlands, and it is the capital of the province of Flevoland. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk, making the reclamation possible.

Lelystad is a municipality and a city in the centre of the Netherlands, and it is the capital of the province of Flevoland. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk, making the reclamation possible.

Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the central region of the Rio Grande Valley of the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas, about 30 miles from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the central region of the Rio Grande Valley of the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas, about 30 miles from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Hoorn is a town and a former Dutch East India Company base in the Dutch province of North Holland. It lies on the IJsselmeer, a lake north of Amsterdam. Shops and cafes dot its 17th-century town center, which is anchored by the Roode Steen, the main square. The harbor features the Hoofdtoren, a 16th-century tower. Museums include the Westfries Museum, displaying paintings of the Westfrisian Golden Age.

From Cologne to Willemstad, Antwerp, Ghent, Kinderdijk, Lelystad, Harlingen, Hoorn and Emmerich to Cologne.

It seems like the North Sea tidied up here to give space to the Rhine. The onlooker has a clear, sweeping vista of the river separating into a wide delta and eventually, having completed a 1,320-km journey, disappearing into the sea. More than 58 million people live in the Rhine’s catchment area and 20 cities have developed along its banks. The last of these is the global harbour city of Rotterdam, with its futuristic architectural wonders. Amsterdam, a colourful, cheery centre of culture; Gent, a vibrant student city; elegant Antwerp, with its buildings from every epoch; and of course, the biggest city: the happy-go-lucky Cologne – the Rhine passes through all of these on its way to the IJsselmeer. And the only thing to be heard at this expanse of water is peace, the sound of the wind, the seagulls and the sand crunching beneath your feet as you walk briskly across the mudflats.

It’s not just the locals who consider Cologne to be among the best cities in the world. The typical friendliness that you find at every turn makes visitors feel at home right away. It’s not unusual to quickly get chatting to strangers and even go for a couple glasses of Kölsch with them. The main landmark – Cologne Cathedral – watches over the whole city. It is the third-tallest church building in the world, at 157.38 metres. It might be a bit of a trek up to the top of the tower, but it’s worth it. You’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable view of the city and the Rhine spread out before you.