VIP Access to TEFAF Maastricht Amsterdam to Antwerp Aboard Transcend

Depart for Amsterdam on an overnight flight.

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, transfer to the city center. While you explore, your luggage will be dropped off at Transcend, your home for the next six nights. For guests arriving early, you may explore the Stedelijk Museum, a striking “white cube” that houses the Netherlands’ largest collection of modern and contemporary art. Your guided visit provides a comprehensive look at art from 1880 to the present, including a world-renowned collection of the De Stijl movement. There will be time for independent exploration of the galleries.

For the next wave of arriving guests, meet us at the Rijksmuseum, the “State Treasury” of Dutch art, featuring pivotal works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Hals, and Van Gogh. You may choose your guide on site, each an expert with a specific focus. Following a group lunch, you may choose to explore Amsterdam’s famous canals and cityscape at your own pace, join a guided tour of notable galleries in the art district, or simply settle into your cabin aboard Transcend. Later this afternoon, you may unpack and tour Transcend, then gather for a welcome reception and dinner on board.

Nijmegen / Otterlo or Gorssel & Ruurlo

The ship docks in Nijmegen, one of Holland’s oldest cities, with a 2,000-year history dating back to a Roman military camp. Today, you may choose from three options:
Option 1: Remain in Nijmegen to explore its deep history. Your first stop is the newly renovated Museum Het Valkhof, renowned for its extensive collection of Roman antiquities. You will be among the very first international groups to experience the completely redesigned galleries, seeing these ancient objects re-contextualized in a new space. Afterwards, a walking tour takes you to the Stevenskerk (St. Steven’s Church), the city’s Gothic Great Church. Consecrated in 1273, it is noted for its beautiful stained-glass windows and the 1512 tomb of Catherine of Bourbon.
Option 2: Journey to Otterlo and the Kröller-Müller Museum, a world-renowned institution set within the 5,500-hectare De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The museum holds the world’s second-largest Van Gogh collection, with over 90 paintings and 180 drawings.
Option 3: Transfer to Museum MORE, Holland’s largest museum for modern realism. Experience its collections over two distinct, exciting spaces: View its main location in Gorssel’s former town hall, which was expanded with a modern, light-filled extension to create spacious galleries. Next, visit the museum’s satellite building, housed in the 14th-century moated Ruurlo Castle. It is primarily dedicated to the museum’s extensive collection of works by Carel Willink, one of the leading Dutch neorealist painters.
All guests will return to Transcend, where we’ll gather for dinner this evening.

Maastricht

Arrive this afternoon after a morning cruise into Maastricht. Explore this city with 1,677 national heritage buildings, the second-highest number in Holland, on these optional tours:
Option 1: On a tour of Maastricht’s two most significant cathedrals, visit the UNESCO-listed Sint-Servaas Basilica, which is thought to be the oldest church in the Netherlands. Inside, see the Noodkist, a magnificent 12th-century gilded shrine considered a masterpiece of Mosan art. You will also visit the Basilica of Our Lady, a 12th-century church defined by its massive, fortress-like Romanesque westwork. It remains a major pilgrimage site for its 15th- century miracle-working statue, Our Lady, Star of the Sea.
Option 2: Take a guided tour of the Centre Céramique district, an urban renewal project built on the grounds of a former industrial pottery factory. Admire the modern architecture of this prominent glass-and-steel building, which houses the City Library and the Maastricht Museum, which explores the area’s pottery heritage.
This evening, join us for dinner on board.

Maastricht / Early VIP Access to TEFAF

Today is dedicated to the anchor event of our journey: TEFAF Maastricht, widely regarded as the world’s premier fair for fine art, antiques, and design. This unparalleled annual event showcases millennia of art history under one roof, presented by the world’s most prestigious dealers. What truly sets TEFAF apart is its unrivaled, rigorous vetting process. Before the doors open, a committee of independent international experts meticulously scrutinizes every single item for quality, authenticity, and condition. With your VIP Early Access, you will enter this extraordinary fair before the general public, allowing you to explore these vetted, museum-quality masterpieces at your leisure. Transportation will be provided for you to return to the ship for lunch, with hourly shuttles available throughout the day.
Return to Transcend this evening for dinner.

Maastricht

Your day begins with an invitation to the Collector’s Breakfast at the Bonnefanten Museum. This breakfast is a key event held in conjunction with TEFAF, serving as a high-level platform for collectors, museum professionals, and experts to exchange insights and present private collections.
Enjoy the remainder of the morning and early afternoon at TEFAF, with options for lunch at leisure or on board Transcend, before sailing into Antwerp.
This evening, enjoy dinner while cruising.

Antwerp

Arrive in Antwerp and take a private guided tour of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA), which reopened in 2022 after a decade-long transformation. The museum holds the world’s most extensive and significant collections of Belgian masters James Ensor and Rik Wouters, as well as major works by Rubens. With an expert, visit Antwerp’s UNESCO-listed Cathedral of Our Lady, the largest Gothic church in Belgium. The cathedral is world-famous for housing four masterpieces by Rubens. Two of them, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary and The Descent from the Cross, are in situ.
Next, enjoy special access to one of Belgium’s largest corporate art collections (pending confirmation), focusing on contemporary painting, sculpture, and photography. Return to the boat to rest and prepare for our farewell dinner.
This evening promises an unforgettable event fit for royalty: You will be hosted for dinner and a concert at a medieval castle not usually open to the public.

Antwerp / Disembark / Return

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the Antwerp airport for your flight home.