Rajah Travel Corporation

The Red Light District—or, as it is referred to locally, De Wallen—has been the center of Amsterdam’s sex work industry for several hundred years. It’s famous for the neon lights, partygoers, and “coffeeshops” that proliferate in the area, as well as the windows where some of the sex workers stand to attract clients. Today, you’ll visit the Prostitution Information Center to discover the important work they’re doing to educate visitors on the lives of sex workers for a respectful take on the popular Red Light District tour. Meet one of their experts, a current De Wallen sex worker, for a fascinating talk on the history of the district and her story. After, she will give you pointers on places to explore in the area (guided walking tours past the windows are not allowed here), followed by a Q&A back at the center.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 4: Quality Education; and Global Goal 5: Gender Equality.

Anyone who has read The Diary of Anne Frank knows what happened to Amsterdam’s Jews under the Nazis. But not everyone knows that the Jewish community began in the city when Sephardic Jews fled Spain and Portugal after 1492, a group of successful merchants and professionals who in turn sponsored Ashkenazi migrants fleeing Central Europe in the 17th century. Visit the Jewish Historical Museum, with its meticulous re-creation of the Great Synagogue, compelling exhibit called “Friday Night” and lively children’s area, and the nearby Portuguese Synagogue, before strolling through the former Jewish Quarter (Rembrandt lived in in this neighborhood, and he often asked his Jewish neighbors to pose for his Old Testament scenes; his house is now a museum and is one of the few original houses still standing in the area). Today’s Jewish community is largely centered in Amstelveen, where some 15,000 Jews live, work and worship in one of the largest and most vibrant communities in Europe.

Delft is noteworthy for several reasons: it's the birthplace of world-renowned painter Johannes Vermeer, home to the famous blue Delft pottery, and burial place of Dutch royalty. Explore picturesque Old Delft, with its tiny footbridges arching over peaceful, water-lily-filled canals, and visit Royal Delft to see the blue-and-white porcelain being made.

Next, we make our way to Kinderdijk to see the town’s famous collection of 19 still-functioning windmills erected in the 18th century. Most are ground-sail windmills (meaning their sails nearly touch the ground as they whirl) and each one was carefully situated to make sure one did not block another’s wind. Each windmill moves the water a little farther, pumping it from field to canal, from canal to river. Climb the steep stairs of a mill and look out over the quiet fields that would be underwater were it not for the ingenuity of the Dutch. These mills are kept in working order partly as a backup in case modern technology fails, and they were used as recently as WWII, when there was no fuel to keep newer pumping stations working.

Note: lunch will be on your own today.

The history of the Jewish people in Cologne is nearly as long as the history of Cologne itself. The first documented mention of the Jewish community is a 321 AD edict allowing Jews to become members of the curia, a class of public office in the Roman Empire. The community fluctuated over the centuries, and eventually came to number around 19,500 people before Nazism and World War II. In the years since, the Jewish community of Cologne has slowly re-established itself, now numbering about 4,500 members. Because of its history, today’s synagogue calls itself “the oldest Jewish congregation north of the Alps.”

Meet our guides and head towards the site of the thriving medieval Jewish Quarter, where a museum dedicated to Jewish history is currently being constructed around the archeological site. Learn about some of the discoveries they’ve made from excavations here before moving on to the final portion of the tour, where you’ll meet a member of Cologne’s Jewish community at either a synagogue or at a memorial site known as Jawne. Formally the only Jewish grammar school in the Rhineland, Jawne is now a small, volunteer-run learning and center dedicated to the memory of a school head who saved many of his pupils from deportation and death.

Journey to tucked-away Idstein, where colorful half-timbers and stone alleyways lend the town an irresistible charm. As you stroll around with your expert guide, pay close attention to the buildings lining the streets; some of them have interesting embellishments that add a distinctive flair to Idstein’s iteration of the classic German half-timber. Before returning to the ship, we’ll sample a local favorite treat, the Idsteiner Nuss, a sweet confection comprised of nougat, walnuts, and chocolate.

Speyer, Worms, Mainz, all UNESCO sites dedicated to the Jewish people of the Rhineland, are collectively known as the ShUM. Why? It’s a translation of the Hebrew acronym for all three cities: the Hebrew letter Shin (Sh) for Speyer, Waw (U) for Worms, and Mem (M) for Mainz. ShUM became the center of Jewish Ashkenazic Judaism in the middle ages. Visit markers of this legacy today on a walking tour through Speyer, including the medieval synagogue and mikveh.

For a different spin on the Palatinate wine region, visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting. Yes, you read that right—a vinegar tasting. Founded by Georg Wiedemann some 30 years ago, Doktorenhof produces vinegars from premium wines, rather than inexpensive ones. Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Riesling, and Pinot Noir are aged with a century-old vinegar “mother,” as the bacteria that makes vinegar is known, and flavored with a variety of herbs and fruits. Most importantly, Wiedemann and his family run their farm and vineyards with the utmost care, tending to them with natural materials only.

The results make complex and elegant aperitifs, intended to be sipped from a specially designed long-stemmed glass between courses or after a meal. The atmospheric tasting room (think candles, cloaks, and choir music) is like no other you’ll ever experience. You’ll have plenty of time to explore their enticing gift shop, too.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Please note: In the event that this tour falls on a Sunday, when the estate is closed, an alternative tour will be offered instead.

Meet a member of Alsace’s Jewish community for a morning of immersive cultural insights. As you walk around Strasbourg with your guide, they will introduce you to the city through the eyes of its modern Jewish community and share insights into the history of the broader region of Alsace. Amongst your stops for the day: a local Jewish school and a medieval mikveh that is likely the oldest surviving work of Jewish architecture in the region.

Please note: this excursion will not be available during Jewish holidays.

Discover the tradition of Swiss brewing with a private experience at one of the oldest factories in Europe. Visit Feldschlösschen Brewery, a stunning Swiss landmark with 145 years of history. Appreciate the building’s castle-like exteriors and original copper brewing barrels, sampling some of the country’s most popular brews along the way.

Please note: this excursion is available on the Amsterdam to Basel route of the itinerary only.

Discover Basel from an unexpected perspective today as you embark on a city tour led by a current or former member of the city’s unhoused population. Your guide will share insights into their everyday lives as they show you places most tourists miss. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, you’ll be privy to a uniquely immersive local experience, while also helping to support good work for some of Switzerland’s disenfranchised community.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 1: No Poverty.

Discover Basel from an unexpected perspective today as you embark on a city tour led by a current or former member of the city’s unhoused population. Your guide will share insights into their everyday lives as they show you places most tourists miss. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, you’ll be privy to a uniquely immersive local experience, while also helping to support good work for some of Switzerland’s disenfranchised community.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 1: No Poverty.

Meet a member of Alsace’s Jewish community for a morning of immersive cultural insights. As you walk around Strasbourg with your guide, they will introduce you to the city through the eyes of its modern Jewish community and share insights into the history of the broader region of Alsace. Amongst your stops for the day: a local Jewish school and a medieval mikveh that is likely the oldest surviving work of Jewish architecture in the region.

Please note: this excursion will not be available during Jewish holidays.

Drive out to the forest for a private tour at a unique old flour mill. Though the silos here are still used to store grain—and the delicious bread you’ll get to sample at the end of your visit is evidence of that—the mill itself is no longer active. Instead, it has been transformed into a beautiful little sanctuary by the owner. An avid world traveler and collector, the owner has filled the inside of the mill with mementos from his expeditions (not trinkets, either, but life-sized Buddha statues, gorgeous photography, and much more). The highlight though, is the award-winning garden he has curated.

Speyer, Worms, Mainz, all UNESCO sites dedicated to the Jewish people of the Rhineland, are collectively known as the ShUM. Why? It’s a translation of the Hebrew acronym for all three cities: the Hebrew letter Shin (Sh) for Speyer, Waw (U) for Worms, and Mem (M) for Mainz. ShUM became the center of Jewish Ashkenazic Judaism in the middle ages. Visit markers of this legacy today on a walking tour through Speyer, including the medieval synagogue and mikveh.

For a different spin on the Palatinate wine region, visit the Weinessiggut Doktorenhof estate for a special vinegar tasting. Yes, you read that right—a vinegar tasting. Founded by Georg Wiedemann some 30 years ago, Doktorenhof produces vinegars from premium wines, rather than inexpensive ones. Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Riesling, and Pinot Noir are aged with a century-old vinegar “mother,” as the bacteria that makes vinegar is known, and flavored with a variety of herbs and fruits. Most importantly, Wiedemann and his family run their farm and vineyards with the utmost care, tending to them with natural materials only.

The results make complex and elegant aperitifs, intended to be sipped from a specially designed long-stemmed glass between courses or after a meal. The atmospheric tasting room (think candles, cloaks, and choir music) is like no other you’ll ever experience. You’ll have plenty of time to explore their enticing gift shop, too.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Please note: In the event that this tour falls on a Sunday, when the estate is closed, an alternative tour will be offered instead.

Journey to tucked-away Idstein, where colorful half-timbers and stone alleyways lend the town an irresistible charm. As you stroll around with your expert guide, pay close attention to the buildings lining the streets; some of them have interesting embellishments that add a distinctive flair to Idstein’s iteration of the classic German half-timber. Before returning to the ship, we’ll sample a local favorite treat, the Idsteiner Nuss, a sweet confection comprised of nougat, walnuts, and chocolate.

The history of the Jewish people in Cologne is nearly as long as the history of Cologne itself. The first documented mention of the Jewish community is a 321 AD edict allowing Jews to become members of the curia, a class of public office in the Roman Empire. The community fluctuated over the centuries, and eventually came to number around 19,500 people before Nazism and World War II. In the years since, the Jewish community of Cologne has slowly re-established itself, now numbering about 4,500 members. Because of its history, today’s synagogue calls itself “the oldest Jewish congregation north of the Alps.”

Meet our guides and head towards the site of the thriving medieval Jewish Quarter, where a museum dedicated to Jewish history is currently being constructed around the archeological site. Learn about some of the discoveries they’ve made from excavations here before moving on to the final portion of the tour, where you’ll meet a member of Cologne’s Jewish community at either a synagogue or at a memorial site known as Jawne. Formally the only Jewish grammar school in the Rhineland, Jawne is now a small, volunteer-run learning and center dedicated to the memory of a school head who saved many of his pupils from deportation and death.

Delft is noteworthy for several reasons: it's the birthplace of world-renowned painter Johannes Vermeer, home to the famous blue Delft pottery, and burial place of Dutch royalty. Explore picturesque Old Delft, with its tiny footbridges arching over peaceful, water-lily-filled canals, and visit Royal Delft to see the blue-and-white porcelain being made.

Next, we make our way to Kinderdijk to see the town’s famous collection of 19 still-functioning windmills erected in the 18th century. Most are ground-sail windmills (meaning their sails nearly touch the ground as they whirl) and each one was carefully situated to make sure one did not block another’s wind. Each windmill moves the water a little farther, pumping it from field to canal, from canal to river. Climb the steep stairs of a mill and look out over the quiet fields that would be underwater were it not for the ingenuity of the Dutch. These mills are kept in working order partly as a backup in case modern technology fails, and they were used as recently as WWII, when there was no fuel to keep newer pumping stations working.

Note: lunch will be on your own today.

Anyone who has read The Diary of Anne Frank knows what happened to Amsterdam’s Jews under the Nazis. But not everyone knows that the Jewish community began in the city when Sephardic Jews fled Spain and Portugal after 1492, a group of successful merchants and professionals who in turn sponsored Ashkenazi migrants fleeing Central Europe in the 17th century. Visit the Jewish Historical Museum, with its meticulous re-creation of the Great Synagogue, compelling exhibit called “Friday Night” and lively children’s area, and the nearby Portuguese Synagogue, before strolling through the former Jewish Quarter (Rembrandt lived in in this neighborhood, and he often asked his Jewish neighbors to pose for his Old Testament scenes; his house is now a museum and is one of the few original houses still standing in the area). Today’s Jewish community is largely centered in Amstelveen, where some 15,000 Jews live, work and worship in one of the largest and most vibrant communities in Europe.

The Red Light District—or, as it is referred to locally, De Wallen—has been the center of Amsterdam’s sex work industry for several hundred years. It’s famous for the neon lights, partygoers, and “coffeeshops” that proliferate in the area, as well as the windows where some of the sex workers stand to attract clients. Today, you’ll visit the Prostitution Information Center to discover the important work they’re doing to educate visitors on the lives of sex workers for a respectful take on the popular Red Light District tour. Meet one of their experts, a current De Wallen sex worker, for a fascinating talk on the history of the district and her story. After, she will give you pointers on places to explore in the area (guided walking tours past the windows are not allowed here), followed by a Q&A back at the center.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 4: Quality Education; and Global Goal 5: Gender Equality.