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

Amsterdam to Bruges on Magnifique II

During this bicycle tour, you will visit some of the most beautiful cities of Holland and Flanders (Western Belgium): Amsterdam, Utrecht, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, where you still can feel the charm of the days long gone.

After embarking from Amsterdam, you will cross through a beautiful part of the Netherlands, before you bike along the winding Vecht River with its impressive mansions and country houses on its banks. You will visit a real Dutch cheese farm and the 19 Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk.

You will cycle through and discover the Dutch province of Zeeland, essentially one big river delta of the Rhine, Meuse, and Scheldt Rivers famous for its fantastic beaches, water activities and Delta works and the Flanders region of Belgium famous for a reputation for superb food and drink. The destination of your tour is Bruges, the "Pearl of Flanders" with its picturesque medieval town center.

You will stay on board a premium barge, your floating hotel. You will experience daily guided bike tours, but it is also possible to ride the bike tours individually as tour descriptions and maps are available on board.

With 22 guests or more, the boats will have two tour guides for guided cycling in smaller groups; guests can opt for longer/shorter of quicker/slower cycling tours (depending on the route). With fewer than 22 guests, one guide will perform the guided responsibilities.

The Amsterdam - Bruges (and reverse) itinerary is available on a number of boats on various dates. Please check the following tours for different boats and dates:
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique II (and reverse)
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique III (and reverse)
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique IV (and reverse)
Amsterdam – Gouda – Bruges by Bike and Boat
Bruges – Antwerp – Amsterdam by Bike and Boat
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Fluvius (and reverse)

View more photos

Highlights

• Amsterdam
• Utrecht
• Vecht River and Vianen
• Schoonhoven, "the silver city"
• Kinderdijk and windmills
• Antwerp
• Ghent
• Bruges, "the Venice of the north"

Learn More

Learn more about guided tours.

Daily program

Direction: Amsterdam to Bruges

Day 1: Arrival to Amsterdam, cruise to Vianen
Embarkation and check-in on board 2:00pm. Around 2:00, the ship will depart for the small fortified village of Vianen, beautifully placed along the Lek River. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a short test ride around town.
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 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 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, 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. But it is still a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past.

In the afternoon you will 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 past going back more than eight hundred years.
Overnight in Bergen op Zoom.

Day 4: Cycle Bergen op Zoom – Kreekrak lNormalock | Cruise Kreekrak lock – Antwerp (13 miles/21km or 21 miles/35km)
In the morning, you will enjoy a small bike ride throug hthe 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 famouse 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 the 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 either 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 for the night at a lock in the 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-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 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.

Dinner tonight will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (not included; recommendations available on board).
Overnight in Bruges.

Day 8: Bruges
After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30am.

Direction: Bruges to Amsterdam

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Bruges (9 miles/15 km)
Arrival and embarkation between 1-2:00pm in the beautiful city of Bruges, also called "Pearl of Flanders." The crew will welcome you the ship departs at 2:00pm from Bruges to a suburb where there is time for bicycle fitting and test-ride through the countryside around Bruges. 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 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.
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. 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 center features lovely illuminated streets that are a must to explore, while the architectural richness in the 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. 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 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 we 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. Dinner will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).

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 impressive large Volkerak locks to the fortified town of Willemstad, then cycle further to end in Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities of 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 the history of the Netherlands.
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 in just 10 minutes to Alblasserdam. 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 where you can explore at your leisure 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 arrive to Nigtevecht, where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through Abcoude and Ouderkerk beside the Amstel River to reach Amsterdam. You will meet your barge again in the harbor of Amsterdam.
Overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30am. If you wish, you can visit Amsterdam or one of its numerous museums, do some shopping or make a canal tour (not included).

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

Surface and terrain

The tour follows flat terrain routes that has occasional hills. The route is on dedicated bicycle paths about 50% of the time, follows roads shared with traffic about 30% of the time. The remaining 20% of the route follows quiet roads.

You will have an option to remain aboard if you wish not to cycle some days.

Boats

• MS Magnifique II

How to get there

Tour start and end
Amsterdam
Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Nearest train station: Amsterdam Centraal

Bruges
Nearest airport: Ostend-Bruges International
Nearest train station: Bruges

Tips for getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights accommodation on board in the booked category from/to Amsterdam or Bruges; climate-controlled cabin
• Full board - 7x breakfast, 6x picnic lunch during bike tours, 6x three-course dinner (dinner excluded in Bruges and Antwerp)
• Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
• Daily short cleaning of the cabin
• Welcome drink and speech on the first evening
• Fully guided cycling tours (2 guides/groups)
• Some short walking tours
• Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily bike tours (1 set per cabin); GPS tracks
• Fees for ferries
• Entrance Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp
• Tasting Belgium products
• Canal trip through Ghent
• Wifi on board
• Coffee and tea on board

Please note special diets may be accommodated upon request, although surcharges may apply.

Bike rentals

Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:

• Hybrid touring bikes, 7-speed
• Electrically assisted bikes (limited number, upon request)*
• Children's equipment and tandems, in limited quantities (please inquire for pricing)

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Equipment included with bike rental:

• Pannier bag
• Helmet
• Water bottle
• Bike locks

You can bring your own bicycles for an additional charge. Hybrid bikes are an additional € 10 and E-bikes are an additional € 25. The crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles.

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals.

Helmets:
Please note that helmets are available on this tour (for free, included with bike rental). We recommend that you bring your own, or purchase one when you arrive at your destination. In the Netherlands and Belgium, cyclists are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet, but we strongly recommend everyone to wear a helmet.

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Tour Company