Sailing the North Sea
Europe by Windjammer
Once aboard these ships, you will have an exclusive view of something that is rarely seen. The maritime setting on board, the vast, elegant decks, the warm teak and the brightly polished brass are more than just a matter of style. They symbolise all that is genuine and true, as well as timeless values. Cruising aboard the traditional hand-sailed windjammers is a feast for the senses. The scent of the sea, the rush of the wind as it fills the sails and the horizon hovering far in the distance - the spot where sky and sea melt into one - will soon banish the stresses and strains of daily life.
On a North Sea journey, you may choose to cruise from Le Havre in France to Hamburg in Germany. On the way you’ll stop by Oostende, where King Leopold II built the white palace and the long, wonderfully shady galleries on the beach. Like the casino and kursaal, they hark back to the Belle Époque when Oostende was the favourite summer resort of the aristocracy on the Flemish North Sea coast and was one of the most chic seaside towns in Europe. A short drive away is Bruges - this lively old Hanseatic city is captivating and its medieval atmosphere will enchant you. A rich historical heritage has been preserved, its historic centre declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also stop by Amsterdam - small and unhurried, cosmopolitan and avant-garde, a multi-cultural lively city and a royal capital. The countless canals and bridges, and the charming cityscape with all its beautiful gabled houses nestling beside the secluded canals, shape the character of the inner city. Amsterdam is considered the cultural centre of the Netherlands.