The Netherlands and Belgium: Amsterdam – Bruges
- Description
- Program
- Barge
- Details
- Route
Amsterdam – Bruges
7 days, Iris or Sailing Home
Itinerary: Amsterdam - Vianen – Dordrecht – Tholen - Antwerp – Dendermonde - Ghent – Bruges
Included: breakfast, packed lunch, 6 x dinner, bed linen, bike rental, tour guide, welcome drink, beertasting, 1 x lunch o board.
Flemish hospitality and history
During this tour, the historical Flemish cities are central: Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. But before we arrive there, you will get to know a very beautiful part of the Netherlands. You bike along the winding river Vecht with its impressive castles on its banks, you visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods and you visit the Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk. From the fortified town Willemstad, which is situated on the impressive wide Zeeland streams, we head for Belgium. There we spent the night in Antwerp, the city of Rubens, whose paintings you can admire in the cathedral. You bike from Antwerp to Ghent along the beautiful tidal river Nederschelde, in order to breathe in the atmosphere of the days of old in the town center, with its impressive Belfort and the St. Baafs-cathedral, where you can admire the famous triptych of painter Jan van Eyck. Final destination is Bruges, with its picturesque town center probably the most beautiful of the historical Flemish cities.
| Day 1 (Sat): | Amsterdam - Vianen | |
| Biketour: about 15 km | ||
| 13.00 h | Arrival | |
| 13.30 h | Welcome speech and crew introduction | |
| 14.00 h | We take off to Nichtevecht by barge. From there we make a short bike trip to Breukelen along the winding river Vecht. We visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods. By the end of the afternoon the barge takes us to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek. | |
| 18.15 h | Welcome drink | |
| 18.30 h | Dinner | |
| 20.00 h | Townwalk | |
| Day 2 (Sun): | Vianen - Dordrecht | |
| Biketour: about 50 km | ||
| 8.00 h | Breakfast | |
| 9.00 h | In the morning our beautiful bike ride leads to Schoonhoven, the Silvertown. From Schoonhoven we continue to Kinderdijk right across the Alblasserwaard. There an impressive row of large windmills appears, built to drain the Alblasserwaard. We can visit one of the mills. Then the barge takes us further to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland, and an important junction for shipping traffic. There we spend the night in the historic port of Wolwevershaven. | |
| 18.30 h | Dinner | |
| 20.00 h | Town walk | |
| Day 3 (Mon): | Dordrecht - Tholen | |
| Biketour: about 35 or 50 km | ||
| 8.00 h | During breakfast we cruise to Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. | |
| 10.30 h | From there we bike along the impressive complex of locks ‘de Volkerak’ 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. | |
| 18.30 h | Dinner | |
| Day 4 (Tue): | Tholen - Antwerp | |
| Biketour: about 35 km | ||
| 8.00 h | Breakfast | |
| 9.00 h | We bike through a forest area, “the Wouwse Plantage“, towards the south. The barge waits for us at the end of the dam and from there we cruise the impressive port of Antwerp to the center of the city. | |
| 13.00 h | Lunch on board. | |
| Antwerp is not only known as diamond city, but also as native city of painter Ruberns. In the Cathedral Of Our Lady we can admire his work. Around this church and the Market Square beautiful town houses from a rich past are situated. | ||
| 18.30 h | Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants of Antwerp. | |
| Day 5 (Wed): | Antwerp - Dendermonde | |
| Biketour: about 30 or 55 km | ||
| 8.00 h | Breakfast | |
| 9.00 h | After breakfast we lock out of the port to the Zeeschelde. We follow this beautiful but capricious tidal river upstream to Dendermonde. There is a beautiful bike path along the river, and the landscape around the Schelde is magnificent. | |
| We can join the Iris again halfway in Temse or continue all the way to Dendermonde, a friendly little town along the river. In Dendermonde we will visit the beautiful town hall and have a little beertasting. | ||
| 18.30 h | Dinner | |
| 20.00 h | Town walk | |
| Day 6 (Thu): | Dendermonde – Ghent | |
| Biketour: about 35 km | ||
| 8.00 h | Breakfast | |
| 9.00 h | The bike tour follows again the river Schelde in the direction of Ghent, a lively university city, again one with a rich past. | |
| In the afternoon you have the opportunity to discover the city some more, or to shop in the lively center. | ||
| The city has its origins in Roman Times, at the place where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. This favorable situation brought a great deal of prosperity over the years, which had its peak late 13th, early 14th century. Textile industry brought great wealth. In the city center many old patrician houses have been preserved. In the Clothmakers’ Hall (1425) textile merchants used to meet. Major church is St. Baafs’ Cathedral, raised in various ages and in various styles. In the cathedral you can admire a number of masterpieces of mediaeval painting, of which the ‘Adoration of the Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. | ||
| 18.30 h | Dinner | |
| Day 7 (Fri): | Ghent - Bruges | |
| Biketour: about 45 km | ||
| 8.00 h | Breakfast | |
| 9.00 h | Our bike tour through the pleasant country side of Western Flanders to Bruges starts right out of town. Today our final destination is Bruges, also called the Venice of the North, maybe is the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old center, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. At the time Bruges was a metropole, center of trade and art, which we can still fully enjoy. | |
| 18.30 h | Dinner | |
| 20.00 h | Town walk | |
| Day 8 (Sat): | Bruges | |
| 8.00 h | Breakfast | |
| 9.00 h | Departure | |
Iris (24 pass)
The Iris was put to sea in April 2005. The Iris is a refitted freight barge that accommodates 24 overnight passengers and 50 day passengers. The interior of the Iris is fresh, tasteful and comfortable.
The Iris can navigate on most rivers and canals in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
Accommodations
The Iris has two decks. On the top deck you will the lounge, a roomy sitting area, a cozy bar and a sun deck. The whole barge has central heating and air-conditioning.
Cabins
Below, the Iris has 12 spacious and comfortable guest cabins for two (no bunk beds) and each cabin has a private bathroom.
Included in the price
- All nights on board
- Bed linen and towels
- Breakfast
- 6 x dinner on board
- Packed lunches for bike trips (prepared by the guest)
- Coffee and tea on board
- Bike rental (incl. panniers, helmet and water bottle)
- Travel guidance
- Cabins cleaned daily
- Climate-controlled cabins
Not included
- Entrance fees for museums, monuments, etc.
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Miscellaneous beverages and expenses on excursions
Points of departure: Amsterdam or Bruges
The trip begins in either Amsterdam of Bruges.
In Amsterdam the Iris is docked in the Nautical Quarter, not far from the Central Station.
Click here to open a new window with the map of the mooring place in Amsterdam.
In Bruges the Iris is moored at the parking areas for touring buses near the Buiten Katelijnevest, not far from the train station.
Click here to open a new window with the map of the mooring place in Bruges.
You are expected aboard at approx. 13.00 hrs. The barge leaves the harbor at 13.30 hrs.
If you cannot arrive on time, will you please notify us by telephone or e-mail?
Tel: 0031 620245095
E-mail: info@eurosailtravel.com
