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Boat & Bike
Belgium & Netherlands

Bruges – Amsterdam
8 Days
June 27 to July 4, 2024

Itinerary

Day 1 —
Bruges

 

Embarkation time in Bruges is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The ship awaits you in the Bruges harbor. After a welcome meeting with the crew at 2 PM there is time for bicycle fitting and a short test ride through the countryside around Bruges. After dinner, the guide will take you for a short walk through the center of town.

We advise you to come to Bruges one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical city of Bruges, aptly named the “Pearl of Flanders”. While you are there, make sure you visit one of Bruges' many museums or simply take in the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk café.

Day 2 — 
Bruges – Ghent
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You will start your first day of cycling by pedaling towards Ghent through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. On arrival in Ghent make sure you make the effort to discover the best of what this historical city has to offer during an afternoon stroll. Ghent’s medieval center features lovely illuminated streets that are a must to explore, while the architectural richness in the center of the city has to be seen to be believed. During the Middle Ages Ghent was the 2nd largest European city, after Paris. The ship will dock for the night at a lock, in a suburb of Ghent and approx. 30 cycling minutes from the city center. Before dinner, a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.

Day 3 — 
Ghent – Dendermonde/St. Amands

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In the morning you will spend some time in Ghent. Later in the morning, you will cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde located at the confluence of the Dender and Schelde Rivers. There is only one way to describe the landscape along the Schelde and that is: “magnificent”. It is without a doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour. During this section of the Schelde, the speed of the ship will be determined by the height of the tide. You will travel from Dendermonde to St. Amands by either bicycle or barge depending on the tides. Your floating hotel will be docked for the night in St. Amands.

Day 4 — 
St. Amands – Temse – Antwerp

 

Today we will follow the Schelde river further downstream through the Temse region to Antwerp. Over the centuries the Schelde River has held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish, and Napoleon. Today it is a beautiful waterway just perfect for bike and barge trips!  Antwerp, your destination for the day, is a harbor city famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and as the birthplace of the famous painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens. There are many highlights in the city to discover, including the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, and the medieval Steen Castle.

Day 5 —
Antwerp – Kreekrak Locks – Tholen – Willemstad – Dordrecht
 

This morning, the ship will sail along the Schelde-Rhine Canal and over the huge Kreekrak lock system. Here your bicycle tour starts through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” forest to Tholen, Tholen once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Nowadays, Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it is still a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past. From Tholen, you will join the ship again for a nice afternoon sail to the city of Dordrecht. Halfway the ship will pass the impressive Volkerak lock system.

 

Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands is your destination for the day. The guide will take you for an evening walk and tell you about the history of the Netherlands.

Day 6 —
Dordrecht – Kinderdijk | Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Vianen

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Today you will start your tour with the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry that will take you and your bicycle in just 10 minutes to Alblasserdam. After just a few minutes of cycling, you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 UNESCO cultural heritage-listed windmills – one of which you can visit (don’t forget your camera!). The windmills were constructed in the 18th century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments). You will then continue to cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek (Lower Rhine), where you will stay for the night and where you can explore at your leisure after dinner.

Day 7 —
Vianen – Breukelen | Breukelen – Amsterdam

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During breakfast, the ship will cruise to Breukelen where you disembark to start your final day of cycling. Ride along the Vecht River in an area famous for its beautiful mansions, small castles, impressive houses, and their large gardens. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen, and Vreeland you will arrive at Nigtevecht where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden and on to Amsterdam where you will meet the barge for the final time in the Amsterdam harbor.

Day 8 —
Amsterdam

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End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

Map

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Bikes at Amsterdam Canal

Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Amsterdam is also called, by some, the smallest metropolis of Europe. It boasts many unique
museums, as well as enticing shopping, and the UNESCO-listed canals in the heart of the city
certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a fine Holland highlight. Visit the famous flower market in the
center of the capital and discover the Zaanse Schans open-air museum, including windmills, a
traditional cheesemaker, a clog maker, and a traditional Dutch village. Other highlights of this trip
are the historic city of Haarlem, the world-famous flower park Keukenhof, near Lisse. Optional is a
visit to the world’s largest flower auction in Aalsmeer.

Pricing

June 13

through

June 20

​

2024

€2,399 per person

(Double Occupancy)

€2,699 per person

(Single Occupancy | Lower Deck)

Traditional Bike: €100 Extra

E-Bike: €250 Extra

Bouquet of Flowers

Included

  • 8 days / 7 nights

  • 7 breakfasts

  • Packed lunches

  • 6 three-course dinners

  • Coffee and tea on board

  • Welcome drink

  • Daily cleaning of the cabin

  • Climate-controlled cabins

  • Bike rental

  • Daily briefings

  • Fully guided cycling tours (2 tour leaders, 2 groups)

  • Some short walking tours

  • Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)

  • GPS trackers

  • Use of a helmet

  • Use of a waterproof pannier bag

  • Water bottle

  • Entrance to Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp

  • Tasting Belgium products

  • Canal trip through Ghent

  • Fees for ferries

  • Wi-Fi

Bicycle Shop

Bicycles

The bicycles on board are unisex city bikes with a low entry and a riding position that is upright and comfortable. The bike is handmade in the Netherlands by Azor, specially designed by Boat Bike Tours.

 

The bike consists of a lightweight aluminum frame and is equipped with responsive roller brakes (handbrake), a Shimano 7 speed nexus drive, Selle-Royal gel saddle (adjustable), an easy to use lock (fixed on frame), and the Schwalbe Marathon anti-puncture tire. This all results in a lightweight, stable, and reliable bike that's good for many miles on the saddle.

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