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. 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 - Oss | cycle Oss - 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.

Day 1: Maastricht
Check-in from 1 pm, then make yourself at home in 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. Following dinner, you’ll be able to test your bike.

Day 2: Cruise Maastricht - Born | cycle Born - Roermond (24 miles/40 km)
Feast whilst you float as your boat sails the Juliana Canal during breakfast. Disembarking at Born, you’ll begin your brilliant bike tour with a ride over the Dutch/Belgian border into Maaseik, known for its famous painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. Follow your guide into the fascinating Market Square where Renaissance-style facades provide a grand backdrop as you savor a beautifully brewed Belgian beer!

Refreshed, ride on to the charming ‘White Village’ of Thorn. 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!

The destination of today’s ride is the historically significant city of Roermond, rising from the spot where the Roer and Maas rivers come together. A designated ‘Bishop City’ since 1559, Roermond is home to several historical buildings of interest, including St. Christopher’s Cathedral and the Munsterkerk. The city was the home of Pierre Cuypers, one of the most influential Dutch architects of the 19th century, whose most famous works include the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam.

Day 3: Roermond - Venlo - Arcen (30 miles/50 km)
Ride and shine as you follow the east bank of the river to the beautiful village of Beesel, where you’ll see the charming ‘Grey Bear’ standing proudly outside the grain mill. Crossing over to Kessel on the opposite bank, discover one of the oldest villages on the Meuse before your guide leads you on to Venlo by lunchtime, a city known for its artistic edge.

Your afternoon in Arcen is a sheer delight. Immerse yourself in 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 4: Arcen - Cuijk (32 miles/53 km)
Wind your way to Well, where you’ll park your bike in the shadow of the commanding Well Castle, dating back to the 1300s. Pedal onwards through the superb National Park De Maasduinen, home to Holland’s longest belt of river dunes, before arriving in the alluring village of Afferden around lunchtime.

Your brilliant bike tour continues on to Cuijk, where your barge will be waiting for you. Cuijk, a town which 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.

Day 5: Cycle Cuijk - Oss (24 miles/40 km) | cruise Oss - Heusden
Today you’ll bike from Cuijk to Oss via Ravenstein and Grave, two impressive medieval cities. Grave played a crucial part in WWII’s ‘Operation Market Garden’ and is home to fascinating Napoleonic-era cannons, whilst Ravenstein derives much of its charm from the quaint Tanner’s Cottages.

Once you reach Oss, you’ll be greeted by the familiar sight of your barge, ready to float you along to Heusden, where you’ll be given recommendations for excellent local eateries since dinner is not served onboard tonight.

Day 6: Cruise Heusden - Gorinchem | cycle Gorinchem - Vianen (25 miles/41 km)
Glide through the morning light 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!

From here, you’ll ride 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. Vianen, you’ll also find, has remnants of its old city wall still visible - a key attraction in this lovely city on the River Lek.

Day 7: Cruise Vianen - Breukelen | Cycle Breukelen - Amsterdam (26 miles/42 km)
Your boat sails to Breukelen during breakfast where you’ll disembark and ride along the winding River Vecht towards Amsterdam, stopping to visit the charming mill at Loenen along the way.

Arriving in the iconic capital of the Netherlands - Amsterdam - you’ll be spellbound by this city of canals, bridges, and bicycles! Here, you’ll have the choice of taking a tour of the grand canals, visiting the Rijksmuseum, or visiting the Van Gogh Museum. As there’s so much to see in alluring Amsterdam, we recommend staying an extra day following the end of your tour to truly maximize your visit. You can find a selection of single-day bike tours around the city’s highlights, hidden gems, and encircling countryside here.

Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
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.