Green landscapes of Holland: Amsterdam and Maastricht

Day 1: Amsterdam - Weesp

Arrive in alluring Amsterdam where your boat will be ready to begin boarding between 1–2 pm. We fully recommend arriving a day early in Amsterdam to make the most of this iconic city of canals, bridges, and bicycles! You can find a selection of single-day bike tours around the city’s highlights, hidden gems, and encircling countryside here.

Once on board, your boat will wind its way to Weesp, the perfect first stop following the nation’s capital. Upon arrival, the guide will arrange a short ride (11 km/6 miles) to test your bike and make sure it is well sized for a comfortable ride tomorrow! Historical Weesp will welcome you into its center, where you’ll behold beautiful surviving bastions, fascinating fortresses, and majestic moats. If you’re wondering why Weesp has so much protective infrastructure, this city formed part of the defensive line for the County of Holland until the Second World War, the inundation zones flooding in wartime to create the Hollandic Water Line. Here, you’ll also find three full-size watermills - true icons of the Netherlands that make memorable photo opportunities!

Day 2: Cycle Weesp - Utrecht | cruise Utrecht - Vianen
28 miles/47 km

Ride and shine as you pedal your bicycle from Weesp to Utrecht along the verdant banks of the Vecht River. En route, you’ll cycle past the highly desirable mansions that line this waterway, and, at least for today, you’ll share their enviable views! Following your guide to a typical Dutch farm, you’ll gain insight into traditional cheese-making processes.

Upon arrival in Utrecht, the charming ‘City of Churches’, you’ll park your bikes ready to reboard the barge and sail on towards Vianen via the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. Vianen, as you’ll find, is a lovely little city on the River Lek, with remnants of its old city wall still visible.

Day 3: Cycle Vianen - Gorinchem | cruise Gorinchem - Heusden
25 miles/41 km

Today you’ll meander along the Merwedekanaal, riding the route that takes you through typical Dutch countryside towards the little city of Leerdam, nestled on the banks of the Linge River. This charming city boasts beautiful water meadows around its edge, the historic Great Church, and restored city walls.

Your guide will then lead you along the Linge to gorgeous Gorinchem, named in 2021 by the Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB as the most beautiful star fort in the Netherlands! This is a resplendent river city where windmills, churches, and bridges provide charming backdrops for your tour photos. Back aboard your barge, you’ll cruise from Gorinchem to Heusden.

Day 4: Cruise Heusden - Lith | cycle Lith - Cuijk
24 miles/40 km

Feast as you float as your boat sails to Oss during breakfast. Disembarking in this stunning city on the Maas, you’ll set off from Oss to Cuijk via Ravenstein and Grave, two impressive medieval cities. En route through Ravenstein, you’ll take a look at the Tanner’s Cottages, then glide by the Napoleonic-era cannons in Grave, a city that played a crucial part in WWII's ‘Operation Market Garden’.

Your brilliant bike tour continues on to Cuijk, where your barge will be waiting for you. Cuijk, a town that rose from a Roman settlement with a name meaning ‘bend’ (after the curve in the Meuse River), is home to St. Martin’s Church, a grand feat of neo-gothic splendor. Within its stunning walls sits one of the oldest organs in the Netherlands, built between 1639–1650 - a fascinating attraction. Following dinner, you’ll discover the breathtaking views from atop the Ceuclum Museum tower.

Day 5: Cuijk - Arcen
32 miles/53 km

Today you’ll enjoy a truly magnificent bike tour through the Maas Valley, arriving in the alluring villages of Afferden and Heyen before pedaling through the superb National Park De Maasduinen, home to Holland’s longest belt of river dunes. You’ll wind your way through the gorgeous park to Well, where you’ll rest in the shadow of the commanding Well Castle, dating back to the 1300s.

Today’s destination, Arcen, is a sublime village on the Maas River, home to the rapturous Castle Gardens boasting the Rosarium (with 10 different rose gardens), the water and sculpture garden, the luscious Lommerijk (with waterfalls and rushing streams), the Valley (with its 6 international gardens), the tropical and Mediterranean gardens of Casa Verde, and the gorgeous Golf Garden (with a perfect view of the largest waterfall in the Netherlands).

Day 6: Arcen - Venlo - Roermond
30 miles/50 km

This morning you’ll make your way further along the romantic River Maas, crossing over the waterway either by ferry or bridge to discover the vibrant city of Venlo, known for its artistic edge, and quaint Kessel, one of the oldest villages along the river. Biking over to the opposite bank, your cycle tour will take you on to beautiful Beesel, where you’ll see the charming ‘Grey Bear’ standing proudly outside the grain mill.

Day 7: Roermond - Born
25 miles/42 km | Born - Maastricht

Let Limburg inspire you on the final touring day of your terrific trip! You’ll pedal through abundant charming villages and lush Dutch countryside as you make your way to Thorn, the ‘White Village’. Sitting serenely on the Dutch/Belgian border, Thorn is a quaint village of cobblestone streets and white-washed houses that gleam gorgeously in the sunlight. The only colorful building in the entire village is the church, dating back to the 14th century!

Biking over the Dutch/Belgian border, you’ll make your way into Maaseik, known for its famous painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. You'll continue pedalling to the fascinating Market Square where Renaissance-style facades provide a grand backdrop as you savor a beautifully brewed Belgian beer! Refreshed, you’ll ride on to Born, where your boat awaits, ready to take you to Maastricht.

Maastricht - the capital of the Limburg province - is a sublime city with reams of Roman and medieval history waiting to be uncovered in its architecture and museums. In fact, Maastricht has 1677 national heritage buildings (‘rijksmonumenten’), a total topped only by Amsterdam!

Behold the breathtakingly beautiful Basilica of Saint Servatius and its perfect ‘Bergportaal’, and catch a good look at the Kazematten, underground fortress works dating back to the 18th century. You’ll be intrigued by the architecture of the Bonnefantenmuseum, with its unusual spaceship shape, and it’s worth making your way to the Marl Caves, where Rembrandt van Rijn’s ‘The Night Watch’ was stashed for safety during WWII. Wind down at Maastricht’s main urban square, the wonderful Vrijthof, in the evening.

Day 8: Departure from Maastricht

Disembarkation will conclude following breakfast, by 9:30 am.

Unforeseen itinerary changes are possible due to weather or other factors! The captain reserves the right to make changes as necessary.