Deck chairs
Panoramic windows
TV in cabins
Individually controlled air conditioning
Bike and Barge Netherlands & Belgium: Amsterdam – Bruges or vice versa | Fluvius & Gandalf Charming villages, fantastic beaches, medieval towns, superb food and drink, the world-famous Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk and even a visit to a real Dutch cheese farm, you can’t beat this exciting eight day and seven-night tour of the very best Holland and Belgium have to offer. You’ll cycle through some of the Netherlands’ most iconic cities during the day, only to spend your evenings relaxing with new-found friends on your “floating hotel” as you […]
Holland & Flanders countryside cycling
World-famous Amsterdam, Ghent & Bruges
Visit the windmills at Kinderdijk
Barges with 20 to max. 40 passengers
Charming villages, fantastic beaches, medieval towns, superb food and drink, the world-famous Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk and even a visit to a real Dutch cheese farm, you can’t beat this exciting eight day and seven-night tour of the very best Holland and Belgium have to offer.
You’ll cycle through some of the Netherlands’ most iconic cities during the day, only to spend your evenings relaxing with new-found friends on your “floating hotel” as you watch the world drift by en route to the next leg of your adventure.
Experience the countryside of Zeeland, a Dutch province comprised of a gigantic river delta where the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt Rivers meet. Besides the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this tour offers people to experience this region in the most authentic way possible, you’ll also have a chance to discover Amsterdam, Antwerp (famous for its nightlife) Ghent and of course, the UNESCO World Heritage historical center of Bruges.
This tour is being offered with various ships. There may be slight differences in the day-by-day program, depending on the ship. You will find all details (per ship) in each individual day-by-day program description.
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
The detailed tour programs for the various ships, which are being operated on this tour, can differ in details.
Day 1 (Sat): Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Vianen
We kick off the tour with a welcome at 1pm after which we’ll set sail from Amsterdam to Vianen, a quaint, fortified village on the Lek River. After dinner there will be an opportunity to enjoy a small, test ride in preparation for the days to follow.
Day 2: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk | Kinderdijk – Dordrecht (56 km/34 mi.)
We hop on our bikes at the start of day two to cycle to Schoonhoven which, back in the 17th century, was renowned for the unmatched talent of its silver smiths, a reputation it holds to this day. From there it’s onward to Kinderdijk through the Alblasserwaard region. The 19 majestic windmills at Kinderdijk are some of the crowning engineering achievements of the Netherlands – we’ll be visiting one so be sure to bring your camera! After that, we’ll board the Waterbus with our bicycles as we head on to one of Holland’s oldest towns, Dordrecht.
Day 3: Dordrecht – Tholen | Tholen – Kreekrak lock | Kreekrak lock – Antwerp (20 km/13 mi. or 36 km/23 mi.)
As you enjoy a delicious breakfast, we’ll sail to Tholen. Once a fishing village, modern Tholen abounds with relics of the past and makes for a fascinating visit. Here you will start your day’s cycling by visiting the “Wouwse Plantage” forest. Another attraction on the day is the impressive Kreekrak lock. In the afternoon we’ll sail on to Antwerp, which is famous for processing nearly 80% of the world’s rough diamonds. As you can imagine the city is packed full of tourist attractions, one of which (the old city center), we’ll visit after dinner.
Day 4: Antwerp – Temse – Dendermonde (48 km/29 mi. or 64 km/39 mi.)
Day four affords us the unique opportunity to enjoy one of the natural highlights of the tour, the cycle route along the Schelde River to Dendermonde where we’ll spend the night. We’ll cycle through magnificent landscapes, dappled, sunlit forests and past winding rivers as we soak up the surrounding beauty.
Day 5: Dendermonde– Ghent (52 km/32 mi.)
On day five, we continue to follow the river Schelde to the lively university city of Ghent where we’ll spend the night. Since as far back as Roman times, Ghent has been a thriving trading port that is made up of a staggering 400+ historical buildings! Of course, a visit to Ghent wouldn’t be complete without stopping by St Bavo Cathedral to see the world famous “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”, arguably one of the world’s most famous pieces of medieval art.
Day 6: Ghent – Bruges (45 km/28 mi.)
It’s widely known that Bruges stands as the most beautiful of all the Flemish cities. Such is its allure that it attracts over two million visitors every year who fall in love with the idea of stepping into a city that has preserved its medieval fabric so completely. From gothic buildings and museums, to sidewalk cafes and hidden gems, there’s something in Ghent for everyone.
Day 7: Tour around Bruges to the North Sea (38 km/23 mi or 51 km/31 mi.)
As our tour winds down, we’ll cycle through a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as a “polder”. We’ll pass quaint farm houses en route to the North Sea coastline for a refreshing dip in the sea followed by a bite to eat at any of the cafes that line the beach. We’ll return to Bruges via a cycle route that will take us alongside a small, picturesque canal.
Day 8 (Sat): Bruges
After a hearty breakfast we’ll disembark in Bruges at 9:30am.
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
The detailed tour programs for the various ships, which are being operated on this tour, can differ in details.
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
The detailed tour programs for the various ships, which are being operated on this tour, can differ in details.
Day 1: Bruges (11 km/6 mi.)
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 p.m. there is time for bicycle fitting and a short test-ride through the countryside around Bruges. After dinner the tour leader will take you for a 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 (57 km/36 mi.)
Your cycle tour starts early today in the outskirts of Bruges. 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 town center features lovely illuminated streets that are a must to explore, while the architectural richness in the historical 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.
Day 3 (Mon): Ghent – Dendermonde (40 km/24 mi.)
After breakfast in Ghent you will cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde, a friendly little town, located at the junction of Dender and Schelde Rivers. Dendermonde has a beautiful town hall located at a cozy square. The ideal place to have a nice Belgium beer after your bicycle ride. Worth visiting is also the St. Alexius Beguinage where you can learn about housekeeping, work and recreation in the lives of former generations.
Day 4 (Tue): Dendermonde – Antwerp (48 km/21 mi. or 63 km/39 mi.)
Today we will follow the Schelde River further downstream through the Temse region and the small village of Baasrode to Antwerp. This part of the route is along a most beautiful and twisting section of the Schelde which over the centuries held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon. Antwerp, your destination for the day, is a harbor city situated on the river Schelde 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 (Wed): Antwerp – Kreekrak locks | Kreekrak locks – Tholen | Tholen – Dordrecht (36 km/23 mi. or 20 km/13 mi.)
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 beautiful city of Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland. Halfway the ship will pass the impressive Volkerak lock system. Your tour leader will take you for an evening walk and tell you about the history of the Netherlands.
Day 6 (Thu): Dordrecht – Alblasserdam | Alblasserdam – Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Vianen (57 km/36 mi.)
A fast ferry will bring you to Alblasserdam. From here you will cycle to 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 where you will spend the evening. Since the 17th century Schoonhoven – nicknamed Silver City – has been renowned for its talented silversmiths.
Day 7 (Fri): Vianen – Breukelen | Breukelen – Amsterdam (38 km/24 mi. or 48 km/29 mi.)
During breakfast the barge will cruise to Breukelen where you disembark and start your final day of cycling. Ride along the Vecht River in an area famous for its beautiful mansions, small castles and beautiful houses with large gardens and parks. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland you 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 (Sat): Amsterdam
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
The price of a charter depends on many things. The beauty of the tours that we offer is that they are fully customizable. We can add extra services such as special bikes, extra meals or we can organize visits to the highlights of the region where you cycle that are not included in the program. That all affects the price. You can request a quote here for a trip of your choice. Our team of specialists will assist you to choose the right ship and itinerary or design a customized program for you.
8 days/7 nights
7 x breakfast
Packed lunches
7 x 3-course dinner
Coffee and tea on board during breakfast and after the cycling tours, till 4 PM
Welcome drink
Use of bed linen and towels
Daily cleaning of the cabin (Gandalf: cleaning of the cabin once a week)
Climate-controlled cabin (Fluvius)
Daily briefings
Fully guided cycling tours (Fluvius: 2 tour leaders, 2 groups; Gandalf: 1 tour leader)
Some short walking tours
Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
GPS tracks
Use of a waterproof pannier bag
Fees for ferries / waterbus
Wi-Fi
Drinks
Coffee and tea on board on other hours
Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
Helmet rental
Personal insurances
Gratuities (at your discretion)
Entrance fees and excursions
Transfers to/from the docking place
Parking fees
Deck chairs
Panoramic windows
TV in cabins
Individually controlled air conditioning
Openable windows in cabins
Generator
Third bed available
Two sun decks
Colorful Holland & Flanders bike tours
World-famous Amsterdam & Ghent
Extra time to relax in Antwerp & Bruges
Barge with max. 20 passengers