Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique II (and reverse)

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam | Cruise to Vianen
Embarkation and check-in is at 2:00 pm, around which time the ship will depart for the small fortified village of Vianen, beautifully situated on the Lek River. After dinner, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a short test ride around town.

The city of Amsterdam is an icon of Europe, and if you're arriving the day before the tour, we strongly recommend taking one of our exciting day tour adventures!

Overnight in Vianen.

Day 2: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk | Cruise to Dordrecht (19 miles/32 km or 34 miles/56 km)
Today you will cycle along a beautiful route to Schoonhoven, nicknamed Zilverstad ('Silver City') – a city renowned for its talented silversmiths 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 approximately 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.

Overnight in Dordrecht.

Day 3: Cruise Dordrecht – Willemstad | Cycle Willemstad – Bergen op Zoom (26 miles/42km or 31 miles/50km)
As you enjoy your breakfast aboard the ship, you'll sail to Willemstad where you'll start your day’s cycling. Willemstad is a beautiful old fortified town on the Haringvliet waterway. Your bicycle ride continues on to Tholen, once 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 remains a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past.

In the afternoon you'll cycle to the destination of this evening - Bergen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom is a historic fortified town that once lay on the open waters of Oosterschelde. After dinner, you can take a walk through the old town. Enjoy narrow streets, the old town market, church squares, and the idiocyncratic monumental buildings that show the history of a rich and eventful dating back over eight hundred years.

Overnight in Bergen op Zoom.

Day 4: Cycle Bergen op Zoom – Kreekrak lock | Cruise Kreekrak lock – Antwerp (13 miles/21km or 21 miles/35km)
In the morning, you will enjoy a short 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, located on the Schelde river.

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 Marker, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, and the medieval Steen Castle. Dinner tonight will be in Antwerp at restaurant of your choosing (not included; recommendations available on board).

Overnight in Antwerp.

Day 5: Antwerp – Temse – St. Amands (21 miles/34 km or 31 miles/49 km)
This morning you will cycle out of Antwerp along a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St. Amands, your home for the night. 'Magnificent' is the only way to describe the landscape around the Schelde - it is without a doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour.

Overnight in St. Amands.

Day 6: Cruise St. Amands – Dendermonde | Cycling Dendermonde – Ghent (32 miles/53 km)
Today you will continue to follow the river Schelde to Ghent where the barge will moor at a lock in a town suburb. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich history. Since Roman times, Ghent's position at the junction of the Leie and Schelde Rivers has ensured its success as a trading port.

In total, the city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more than 100 churches, and over 400 historical buildings. A key attraction is the 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-meter-tall belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center.

Overnight in Ghent.

Day 7: Ghent – Bruges (13 miles/22km or 28 miles/45 km)
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 center, which has received UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

An outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain its historic fabric even as it has evolved over the centuries, with the city's original Gothic buildings still forming 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.

Overnight in Bruges.

Day 8: Bruges
After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30 am. If you feel like getting more out of the city, try one of our exciting Bruges day tours!

All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours.

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Bruges (9 miles/15 km)
Arrival and embarkation is between 1-2:00 pm in the beautiful city of Bruges, nicknamed the 'Pearl of Flanders'. The crew will welcome you to the ship, which departs at 2:00 pm from Bruges to a suburb where there is time for bicycle a fitting and test ride through the surrounding countryside. 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 city. If you want to get into the rhythm of riding early, we recommend taking one of our wonderful biking day tours in Bruges! While you're in town, make sure to 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.

Overnight in Bruges.

Day 2: Bruges – Ghent (21 miles/35 km or 36 miles/57 km)
You will start your first day of cycling by pedaling towards Ghent through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. Upon arrival in Ghent, consider an afternoon stroll - Ghent’s medieval center features lovely illuminated streets that are a 'must' to explore, while the architectural richness in the center has to be seen to be believed. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was the second-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.

Overnight in Ghent.

Day 3: Ghent – Dendermonde / St. Amands (24 miles/40 km or 32 miles/53 km)
After breakfast in Ghent 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 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.

Overnight in St. Amands.

Day 4: St. Amands – Temse – Antwerp (19 miles/32km or 31 miles/49km)
Today you 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 holidays! 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.

Overnight in Antwerp.

Day 5: Cruise Antwerp – Kreekrak locks | Cycle Kreekrak locks – Tholen | Cruise Tholen – Willemstad – Dordrecht (23 miles/36km or 13 miles/20 km)
The barge will cruise this morning along the Schelde-Rhine Canal, over the huge Kreekrak locks to Tholen, a former fishing village amidst the large streams of the province of Zeeland. From Tholen you will cycle along the impressively large Volkerak locks to the fortified town of Willemstad, then cycle further to end in Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Today, the skipper will discuss with you which part of the tour will be covered by bicycle. You will enjoy an evening walk in Dordrecht with the guide to learn a little more about the history of the Netherlands. Dinner tonight will be in Dordrecht at restaurant of your choosing (not included; recommendations available on board).

Overnight in Dordrecht.

Day 6: Cruise Dordrecht – Kinderdijk | Cycle Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Vianen (19 miles/32 km or 36 miles/57 km)
Today you will start your tour with the 'Waterbus', a fast ferry that will take you and your bike to Alblasserdam in just 10 minutes. 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 (where you will be moored for the evening and can explore after dinner).

Overnight in Vianen.

Day 7: Cruise Vianen – Breukelen | Cycle Breukelen – Amsterdam (23 miles/36km or 28 miles/46 km)
During breakfast, the ship cruises to Breukelen, where you disembark and your cycling tour starts. Ride along the small Vecht river, an area known for its beautiful mansions, small castles, and beautiful houses with large gardens. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen, and Vreeland, you'll arrive in Nigtevecht, where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through Abcoude and Ouderkerk beside the Amstel River to reach Amsterdam, where your barge will be waiting for you in the harbor.

Overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30 am. If you wish, you can explore Amsterdam and one of its numerous museums, do some shopping, or make a canal tour (not included). As an icon of Europe, Amsterdam is a worthy destination for some serious exploration! If you'd like to stay in the city for a few more hours or days, we strongly recommend taking one our insightful and enjoyable day tours!

All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours.