Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Comfort
Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Comfort
8 Days Starting in Bruges and ending in Amsterdam
Visiting: Belgium
Tour Overview
Experience the great cities of western Belgium and the Netherlands on this classic barge and bike trip between Bruges and Amsterdam. En route visit Antwerp and Ghent whose historic centres will enchant you with their history and refined culture. Wind your way by bike along the Vecht river with its impressive mansions and country houses, visit a cheese farm and the 19 windmills in Kinderdijk. Via Dordrecht and Kreekrak lock, the barge cruises from Belgium through the 'delta' province of Zeeland. Cycling on your own with a set of maps and directions or with the guide - the choice is yours. In the evenings, relax on board your comfortable barge or explore the towns on foot.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Join Barge In Bruges, Afternoon Warm Up Cycle And Evening To Explore (11Km/6Mi)
From 1:00pm, you can check into the barge in Bruges and meet your guide and crew. After a welcome meeting with the crew at 2:00pm there will be a bicycle fitting and short test-ride through the countryside around Bruges. After dinner on board the tour leader will take you for a walk through the centre of town.
Bruges is known as the "Venice of the North" and the "Pearl of Flanders". We strongly recommend coming one or two days earlier so you have time to discover its treasures. Perhaps the most beautiful of all Flemish cities, the medieval Old Town is almost completely intact and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the Middle Ages it was a metropolis and centre of commerce and art, and you can see this glory in the beautiful buildings. Bruges is also a nice town for shopping or going out - sample a waffle, coffee or traditional Belgian beer around the Grote Markt (the big market place).
*If you arrive early, it's possible to leave your luggage on board from 11am.
Day 2 : Cycle The Flemish Countryside To Ghent (57Km/36Mi)
Your cycle tour starts early today in the outskirts of Bruges, from where you will pedal through pleasant Flemish countryside along the Ghent canal towards the historical centre of Ghent. It is a lively university city with a rich past, and in the afternoon you have the opportunity to discover more of its beauty on foot. The city was founded in Roman times, where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. The convenient location has over the years brought much prosperity - in the Middle Ages it was the second largest European city after Paris. The textile industry brought great wealth, with the Cloth Hall established in 1425 bringing many merchants together, and many aristocrats remain today. The main church St Bavo Cathedral reflects different periods in history and building styles, and houses some masterpieces of medieval art, the most famous of which is "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck. The barge will dock at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent approx. 30min by bike to the city centre.
Day 3 : Cycle To Dendermonde (40Km/24Mi)
After breakfast in Ghent you will cycle downstream through a diverse landscape alongside the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde, a friendly little town, located at the junction of the Dender and Schelde Rivers. The River Schedle stretches for 435km through northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands and is connected by several canals to the basins of the Rhine, Meuse and Seine Rivers. It has always had considerable commercial and strategic importance over the years. Dendermonde has a beautiful town hall on its main square. The ideal place to relax and enjoy a nice Belgian beer after your ride. Worth visiting is the St Alexius Beguinage, where you can learn about housekeeping, work and recreation in the lives of former generations. Overnight Dendermonde.
Day 4 : Cycle To Antwerp (48 Or 63Km/21 Or 39Mi)
Today you will follow the Schelde river further downstream through the Temse region and the small village of Baasrode to the lively port town of Antwerp. This part of the route is along a beautiful and winding section of the Schelde which over the centuries held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon. Antwerp, where the boat is moored overnight, is known as the diamond city and has an abundance of jeweller's shops. Peter Paul Rubens lived and worked in Antwerp in the 17th century, producing paintings popular with nobility and art collectors throughout Europe and you will find some of his paintings in the “Onze Lieve Vrouwe" (our lady) Cathedral. Other highlights include the City Hall, one of many majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market and the medieval Steen Castle. Dinner is not included this evening so you are free to dine in one of the many restaurants in the historic centre of Antwerp.
Day 5 : Cruise To Kreekrak, Cycle To Tholen, Cruise To Dordrecht (20 Or 36Km/13 Or 23Mi)
In the morning we cruise through the Schelde-Rhine Canal and through the imposing Kreekraksluis (Kreekrak lock). Your cycle tour starts through the beautiful 'Wouwse Plantage' forest before leading to Tholen, a former fishing village set amidst the large streams of the province of Zeeland. From Tholen you board the boat for an afternoon cruise to Dordrecht, passing through the impressive Volkerak lock system en route. After dinner there will be an evening walk with the tour leader to the town centre of Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands.
Day 6 : Ferry To Alblasserdam, Cycle To Kinderdijk And Vianen (57Km/36Mi)
This morning you will take a fast ferry to Alblasserdam from where it is a short cycle to the famous 19 UNESCO listed windmills of Kinderdijk. The windmills were constructed in the 18th century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder. Continue cycling to the 'Silver City' of Schoonhoven, renowned for its talented silversmiths, and on to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek. In the evening you can explore the town.
Day 7 : Cruise To Breukelen, Cycle To Nigtevecht And On To Amsterdam (38 Or 48Km/24 Or 29Mi)
During breakfast the barge will cruise to Breukelen where you disembark for the final day of cycling. You will ride along the Vecht River in an area famous for its sprawling mansions, small castles and beautiful houses with large gardens and parks. Pass through the small villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland and arrive at Nigtevecht, where we can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden to Amsterdam and the barge's mooring place in the harbour for your last evening aboard. On arrival you can explore the lively Dutch capital on foot or make a round trip of the famous Amsterdam canals.
Day 8 : Trip Concludes In Amsterdam
After breakfast the journey comes to an end as you say farewell to the guide and crew. Check out until 9:30am.
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 nights in a twin share cabin -
7 breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches, 6 dinners (does not include drinks) * Continental breakfasts are served and will usually consist of breads, cheese, ham, tea, coffee & juices. At breakfast you will prepare your packed lunch for the day which will be sandwi
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7 nights accommodation aboard a Category A barge with ensuite facilities on a twin share basis. Fluvius: all cabins are air conditioned, twin share cabins are configured with two lower beds, while double cabins are configured with a double bed. The trip
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Rental bike with helmet and pannier (e-bike available on request - supplement applies)
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Daily briefings. While you cycle independently, the tour leader also cycles each day. Optional guided package available - supplement applies
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Information pack including route notes & maps (one set per cabin), GPS tracks available
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Welcome drink and briefing on the first evening
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Several city walking tours
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Linen and change of towels as required
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Daily cabin cleaning
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Daily tea and coffee during breakfast and 3-4pm
What's Not Included
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Catering for special diets (except Vegetarian). A supplement is payable for lactose or gluten free diets - EUR50pp (subject to change) paid locally on board. See below for further details regarding catering for dietary requirements.
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Bike insurance - payable locally (EUR10 for standard bikes and EUR25 for e-bikes) - further details of this Limitation of Liability (damage) policy are available on request
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Bike insurance - available only if pre-booked. Payable locally: rates are €10/week standard bike, €25/week e-bike
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2024: guided option - supplement applies. Includes
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2024: guided option - supplement applies. Includes the fees for ferries and Waterbus
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2024: Fees for ferries and Waterbus
Grading
INTRODUCTORY - GRADE 1
The cycling is introductory (1) grade with daily cycling distances from 11 to 63km (6 to 39mi). As with all of our cycling programs, wind and poor weather could make the trip grade change. Should you not wish to cycle there are walking options available. The accent is on keeping a relaxed pace to take in all of the attractions, with time to stop and take photos, visit a museum or enjoy the market places in many of the interesting towns visited. It is considered suitable for children, as long as they have road sense, are familiar with the workings of a bike (gear change etc) and are comfortable cycling alongside moving vehicles at times. Electric bikes are available for a supplement and when used will ensure the cycling is comfortable for less physical cyclists - however it is still essential that you are comfortable cycling on roads and in light traffic in variable weather conditions. *For safety reasons, we highly recommend that cycle helmets be worn during cycle sections.
What You Carry
During the cycle day you will carry your daily requirements in the panniers provided with the bike. This may include your lunch, wet weather gear, water and camera.
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