Amsterdam Connection

There is exactly one place in the world where you can wake up in a rural nature reserve in the morning and dock in one of Europe's most exciting cities in the evening – all while cruising leisurely on a houseboat. This is the Vecht-Amsterdam route. The Loosdrecht Lakes (Loosdrechter Plassen) are natural pools in the heart of Holland. Herons, swans, and water sports. From there, you head up the Vecht: Holland's most aristocratic river, lined with 17th-century country houses (where Amsterdam merchants built their summer residences). And then: the Amstel, the canals, Amsterdam. You dock in the very heart of Europe. The special thing: From the boat, you see sides of Amsterdam that tourists never see. The hidden canals, the small houseboats, the backyards of the canal houses. Hard Facts: No license required • Some locks (easy) • Amsterdam moorings must be booked in advance! • Best time: April-October • Loosdrecht + Amsterdam = the perfect combination