This eight-day journey offers a captivating exploration of Holland and Flanders, showcasing a tapestry of iconic cities, picturesque countryside, and enchanting villages. Immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant culture of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, each renowned for their unique charm and landmarks.
Embark on guided or individual bike tours to discover the scenic Dutch countryside, characterized by flat landscapes and meandering rivers. Traverse the watery province of Zeeland and soak in the tranquil beauty of the Scheldt river landscape in West Flanders, punctuated by quaint villages and local attractions.
After a day of exploration, unwind and indulge in the comfort of your floating hotel. Spend leisurely afternoons on board, relishing the serene ambiance and panoramic views as you cruise along the waterways. Whether discovering historic cities or idyllic landscapes, this journey promises an unforgettable blend of discovery, relaxation, and cultural immersion.
Experience the charm of a bygone era on this exciting 8 day, 7 night tour where you will discover the best of what Holland and Belgium have to offer. During the day you will cycle to world famous destinations such as Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, while at night you will relax in the comfort of your floating hotel. Cycling on this tour is through the beautiful – and flat – Dutch countryside of Zeeland and the western Flanders region of Belgium. Attractions along the way include many charming villages, a visit to a real Dutch cheese farm, the 19 famous Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk and the world famous cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges in the western Flanders region of Belgium. You will cycle through and discover the Dutch province of Zeeland, which is essentially one big river delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt Rivers famous for its fantastic beaches, water sport activities and Delta works and the Flanders region of Belgium famous for its medieval towns and a reputation for superb food and drink. As well as being able to discover many picturesque villages each day – both on your bicycle and on foot.
UNIQUE ON THIS JOURNEY BY BIKE AND SHIP
- Splendid cities: Amsterdam, Antwerp & Bruges
- Adventurous and easy cycling routes through polder and river landscapes
- Colorful Holland & Flanders bike tours
- Romantic canal tour in Ghent
- Ships for 20 to max. 40 passengers
- During this eight-day trip you will visit worth seeing areas in Holland and Flanders and get to know the world famous cities of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. At the same time you can discover by bike the beautiful (and flat) Dutch countryside, the watery province of Zeeland and the river landscape along the Scheldt in West Flanders.
- Have the opportunity to discover Amsterdam
- Visit the diamond, art and port city of Antwerp
- Take beautiful and varied cycling tours
- Marvel at Bruges (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
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ITINERARY*
Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam - Vianen
Embarkation and check-in will commence at 14:00, providing you with ample time to settle in and acquaint yourself with the ship's amenities. The welcoming crew will be on hand to assist you as you board. By around 14:30, the ship will set sail from Amsterdam, embarking on a scenic journey to Vianen, a charming fortified town nestled along the banks of the river Lek (Lower Rhine). Following dinner onboard, bicycles will be distributed, allowing you the opportunity to embark on a short test ride in Vianen. This will offer a chance to familiarize yourself with the bikes and adjust them to your liking before setting off on your cycling adventures in the days to come.
Day 2: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk (32 km/19 mi. or 56 km/34 mi.) | Kinderdijk– Dordrecht
Today you will cycle along a beautiful route to Schoonhoven – nicknamed Zilverstad (“Silver City”) – a city renowned for its talented silver smiths since the 17th century. Later in the day as you cycle through the Alblasserwaard region you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills. All 19 windmills have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight – you will have the opportunity to visit one so don’t forget to bring your camera! From nearby Alblasserdam you will take the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry, that will take you and your bicycle in approx. 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.historical charm and cultural richness.
Day 3:Dordrecht – Willemstad | Willemstad – Bergen op Zoom (42 km/26 mi. or 50km/31 mi.)
As you enjoy your breakfast aboard the ship, the ship will sail to Willemstad where you will start your day’s cycling. Willemstad is a beautiful old fortified town on the Haringvliet waterway. Your bicycle ride goes to 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. Then you cycle on to the destination of this trip, Bergen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom is a historic fortified town that once lay on the open waters of the Oosterschelde. After dinner you can take a walk through the old town. Narrow streets, old town, market and church squares and idiosyncratic monumental buildings show the history of a rich and eventful past that goes back more than eight hundred years.
Day 4: Bergen op Zoom – Kreekrak lock (21 km/13 mi. or 35 km/21 mi.) | Kreekraklock – Antwerp
In the morning you will enjoy a small bike ride through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” surrounding Bergen op Zoom. In the early afternoon you will once again board the ship which will sail to the port city of Antwerp, situated on the river Schelde. Antwerp is famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and is a city with a long list of attractions 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. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).
Day 5: Antwerp – Temse – St. Amands (34 km/21 mi. or 49 km/31 mi.)
This morning you will cycle out of Antwerp along a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St.Amands your home for the night. There is only one way to describe the landscape around the Schelde and that is “magnificent”. It is without doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour.
Day 6: St. Amands – Dendermonde | Dendermonde – Ghent (52 km/32 mi.)
Today you will continue to follow the river Schelde to Ghent where the ship will moor for the night at a lock in a suburb of town. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich history. Since Roman times Ghent’s position at the junction of Leie and Schelde Rivers has ensured that it has been a successful trading port. In total the city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more than 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. Major attractions are St. Bavo Cathedral where a number of masterpieces of medieval art including the world famous ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck are kept and the 91-metre-tall belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center. Before dinner a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.
Day 7: Ghent – Bruges (22 km/13 mi. or 45 km/28 mi.)
Today you will cycle from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish countryside of western Flanders to Bruges, widely described as the ‘Venice of the North’ and arguably the most beautiful of all the Flemish cities. Bruges attracts more than two million visitors every year who come to see the picturesque medieval town center of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic city and a long list of historic attractions. An outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain its historic fabric as it has evolved over the centuries, with the result that today the city’s original Gothic buildings form an integral part of the town’s identity. While you are here you can 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 8: Bruges
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
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* IMPORTANT NOTE: Some of the departures run in the opposite direction from Bruges to Amsterdam.
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ROUTE ASSESSMENT
The bike routes have no significant climbs and are easy to ride with average fitness. All distances are "circa-distances" for the suggested cycling routes.
The planned route is always subject to change for nautical, meteorological or organizational reasons. Among others, in case of high or low tide, the captain may decide that the route must be changed for your safety. This is not a legal reason for free cancellation of the trip.
Good to know
- Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
- On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
- If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
- The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
- On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
- Detailed cycling maps, route tips and a GPS app are available for guests who wish to cycle individually and at their own pace. The tour guide is always available via cell phone in case of questions, breakdowns or emergencies.
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DAILY SCHEDULE
A fortifying and varied breakfast is served daily at the buffet, where you can then make your own packed lunch (sandwiches, fruit and a drink). You will usually leave the ship between 8:30 and 9:30. While the ship is sailing to the next port, you will discover all the interesting highlights of the route by bike on mostly quiet paths and roads.
Bike tours The daily distances by bike (depending on the trip) vary between 25 and 60 kilometers. Each day you will have plenty of time to explore the cities and towns, take a coffee break or visit one of the many museums along the way. At the end of the day, your ship's crew will welcome you back on board. Later, you can chat about the eventful day with other fellow passengers (international audience) in a cozy atmosphere!
Stay on board If you want to take a day off from cycling, you can make yourself comfortable on board and enjoy the passing landscape. You can sit in a nice corner on the sun deck or take a seat in the salon. This option also makes a bike and ship tour so special! Since the ship can't run parallel to the bike route all the time, it's not possible to stop and board with your bike halfway. If you decide to spend the day on board, you can also prepare your packed lunch in the morning, as there is no service on board during the trip. The crew will then be busy cleaning the cabin and preparing dinner.
Evenings At the end of the day a delicious three-course menu is served. Various drinks (such as coffee, tea, wine, beer, water, soft drinks) are available for purchase at the bar. You can spend the rest of the evening in the salon, at the bar or outside on the deck. The tour guides will discuss with you the cycling route of the following day and also offer some city tours (free of charge) in the evening. But of course you can also take another walk through the town on your own. The ship is usually close to or right in the center of town, so you can easily reach the highlights, museums and stores on foot or by bike.
Your room always travels with you During your bike and ship trip, you will be accompanied by your hotel room. You don't need to change accommodation every day and there is no need for the hassle of packing and unpacking your luggage. You can always sleep in the same bed and still have a new view every day!
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FURTHER NOTES
You can bring your luggage on board on the day of arrival already from about 11 am.
The tour guide offers daily guided bike tours. Detailed cycling maps and route tips are available for guests who wish to cycle individually and at their own pace; the tour guide can always be reached by cell phone in case of questions, breakdowns or emergencies.
This trip is operated with 2 tour guides, so we can offer the bike tours in smaller groups; guests can often choose (depending on the route section) between short/long or fast/slow cycling (only with a minimum of 18 people booked ).
Bicycles/e-bikes: ship-owned rental bikes are unisex hybrid bikes with low entry, 7-speed hub gears, hand brake, and luggage rack bag. Five bikes have hand and coaster brakes. The e-bike is a Velo de Ville with 7 gears, 5 levels of assistance, hand brakes only and luggage carrier bag (or comparable model). (Only available upon prior request)
Bicycle rental is optional. Passengers can bring their own bicycles or e-bikes at no extra charge or cost. In this case, the ship's crew and the organizer are not liable for any damage, loss or theft of the own bike. Other rental bicycles (including children's bikes, tandem, slipstreamers) and child seats (for the luggage rack) are possible on these trips only after prior request (when booking) and confirmation.
Own bicycle: Please let us know if you would like to bring your own bicycle so that we can reserve a parking space for you on board. Not all ships are suitable or spacious enough for additional bicycles, so check with us. If you can't or don't want to bring your own bike, it is important that you indicate your rental preferences when booking. Then we can provide you with a bicycle with wheels adapted to your body size.
Internet and Wi-Fi on board: The ships offer a free Wi-Fi internet connection on board. Please note that in all cases this is an internet connection via the mobile network, which may be slower than a cable connection you may have at home. Please note that WLAN is mostly only available in the public areas on board (lounge, salon, restaurant) and that the signal in your cabin (especially in the lower deck cabins) may not be strong enough.
Laundry Service: If you need to have your clothes washed, you can visit a laundromat in various locations. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use the washing machine on board.
Smoking: Smoking is absolutely prohibited in all cabins on board a ship by law and for safety reasons: all cabins as well as all interior spaces of the ship are therefore non-smoking areas. Smoking on the deck, however, is permitted.
Meals and drinks: The chef knows exactly how to spoil hungry cyclists. An extensive breakfast is served every morning and a three-course dinner in the evening. On some trips, dinner at a restaurant of your choice outside the ship is at your own expense. During breakfast, you can make your own packed lunch to take home. After the daily bike ride, coffee and tea are available on board. Other drinks, such as wine, beer, or soft drinks are available at the ship's bar for a fee. There is a well-stocked self-service bar on board. During the week you can enter all the drinks consumed in a list provided by the crew. At the end of the week it is then settled, only cash payment possible.
Special requests meals: If you have any special requests regarding meals (vegetarian, or lactose or gluten free diet for example), please indicate them directly when booking. Vegetarian meals are always feasible, for special diets we check the possibilities on the trip of your choice. In some cases (such as lactose or gluten free) an extra charge may be applied.
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ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
After you have booked your desired trip, we will provide you with more detailed information on how to best reach your departure point by car, train or plane and how to get to the berth of your ship.
In any case, we can recommend a parking place; for some voyages a parking place can also be reserved in advance. If you are arriving in your own vehicle (with the exception of Venice), it is recommended that you first drive to the ship to unload your luggage and possibly your bicycles, and only then bring your car to the parking lot.
Transfer between Amsterdam and Bruges: There is a good train connection between both cities. Details (in English) can be found on:
http://www.trainline.eu oder
https://www.goeuro.de
