Belgium Bike Tour Reviews
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★★★★★ GatorDavid October 24, 2016Fantastic Way to Tour Netherlands and Belgium!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
We had never been on a barge trip, and did not know what to expect. The boat was very well maintained, the food was great, the cabin was clean, comfortable, and adequately sized so that we could sit in the cabin when we didn't want to be in the common spaces. The crew, staff, and guide were friendly, approachable, accommodating .... they really went out of their way to make guests comfortable. The bar was well stocked, and very reasonably priced. The guide (Paul) was knowledgeable, patient, and was fine if we rode with his group or out on our own (which we did most days). Overall, this bike tour was a great value considering the accommodations, service, food and quality of food, bikes, guide services.
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★★★★★ Natalie123 December 7, 2015
Leisurely luxury through classic Europe
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
I went on this tour as a BikeTours.com staff member. I was excited to check out this ever-popular bike and boat tour because our clients usually give it rave reviews. Now I know why!
Biking is such a part of Dutch culture, so we got to explore the country like the locals live it while benefiting from great infrastructure (dedicated bike paths, good signage, friendly drivers). The landscapes were charming: gardens around every cottage, wide green fields divided by canals, windmills. The Belgian countryside was also beautiful and you're often following river paths, but the Netherlands' villages stole my heart.
The cycling is leisurely: flat, distances not too long, plenty of breaks for snacks and stretching. The guide was great, but my friend and I decided to go off on our own a couple of days, armed with the route numbers that the group would be following so we could catch up to them if needed and find our way back to the boat. We got a bit lost one day on our own, but that became its own adventure and we didn't mind at all.
The Magnifique is cozy. The cabins are small (as expected) but comfortable, the dining room and bar are nice communal spaces for relaxing with new friends, and the hot tub on deck is the very best place to watch the passing scenery! The food is excellent, and the guide took us on a walking tour each night after dinner to learn about whichever city we were docked in overnight.
The thing I like the least about touring is having to pack and unpack every day, so it was a small luxury to be able to unpack on day 1 and not think about bags again since we were in the same cabin all week.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
Video: Pedaling along a canal-side bike path in Bruges
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WgZNJQ3t40 (404)
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★★★★★ Natalie123 December 9, 2015
Outstanding itinerary and tour company
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
I went on this tour as a staff member at BikeTours.com. I did this itinerary, but not on the Fluvius (the boat described on this page). I was on the Magnifique, which can also be booked on this site. Here are the parts of my review that you can find on the Magnifique's tour page that apply to this same program on the Fluvius...
Biking is such a part of Dutch culture, so we got to explore the country like the locals live it while benefiting from great infrastructure (dedicated bike paths, good signage, friendly drivers). The landscapes were charming: gardens around every cottage, wide green fields divided by canals, windmills. The Belgian countryside was also beautiful and you're often following river paths, but the Netherlands' villages stole my heart.
The cycling is leisurely: flat, distances not too long, plenty of breaks for snacks and stretching. The guide was great, but my friend and I decided to go off on our own a couple of days, armed with the route numbers that the group would be following so we could catch up to them if needed and find our way back to the boat. We got a bit lost one day on our own, but that became its own adventure and we didn't mind at all.
The thing I like the least about touring is having to pack and unpack every day, so it was a small luxury to be able to unpack on day 1 and not think about bags again since we were in the same cabin all week.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
Video: A typical scene along the route - cows and sheep aplenty, quiet and well maintained bike path, and of course windmills!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nczbAMMMCM4 (404)
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★★★★★ Darryl April 8, 2016
Summer 2015 Baotin' and bikin'
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
My wif, son and I had a great time going from Amsterdam to Bruges. Gerat guide and fellow bike riders. all ages lots of fun good equipment and excellent guide, Tom. Lots of fun and food stops along the way,=. very relaxed ride and boat. Highly recommend. Darryl, Chandler, Arizona
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★★★★★ Gay and Snuffy April 26, 2016
Best Bike and Boat hosts ever!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
Zwaantje Boat, Bruges to Amsterdam..fantastic hosts Marjorie & Martene, Trudie & Matthew, guide Felix, all welcoming, friendly with superb meals (especially arriving from the rain and cool temperatures, hot soup, drinks and home made baking). Great group of people on the tour and can highly recommend this relaxed and lovely bike ride experience. Well done Marjorie and Martene....best wishes for many more successful seasons!
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★★★★★ alev July 21, 2016
Great value, relaxing scenic tour
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
Our first boat-bike tour, this was a wonderful experience. The guide was perfect - knowledgeable, personable, and fluent in all languages spoken among the 30+ passengers. Provided urban bikes are comfortable and appropriate for the type of ride. The pace is leisurely (no hard-core exertion here). Protected bike paths meander through beautiful agricultural country and behind meticulously tended garden backyards. Meals were astonishingly good, with all manner of breakfast foods and four-course gourmet dinners. Our only suggestion is to find ways for smaller groups to travel off on their
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 25-July 2, 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- This is the first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
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★★★★★ E Leo August 4, 2016
Such a great time!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
Everyone on the barge loved this trip! The staff was great, our tour guide Lea was knowledgeable and fun, the biking worked well and was relaxing, the food was great, and so we're the rooms.
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★★★★★ nino September 26, 2016
mystery ship
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
I saw how civilized people should live. great country great food great people!
- What was the date of your tour?
- first 2 weeks of september
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
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★★★★★ Laners October 6, 2016
Everything I expected and more!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
I hate to write reviews but this one deserved a moment of my time. A great trip, a beautiful barge, a unique way to see this part of the world. I can truly say this was a trip I will remember for years to come.
Not recommended for children. -
★★★★★ Barbarella529 October 10, 2016
RideEurope2016
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
A most delightful week meandering through the countryside in both The Netherlands and Belgium. Fabulous bike trails, perfect weather, great group, and an outstanding tour guide. Exceeded my expectations for sure. The barge was superb, the bikes easy to manage, the briefings each evening were thorough and precise. Simply wonderful experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 17-24, 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
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★★★★★ Badger79 August 29, 2017
Trip of my dreams
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
The perfect way to get away and see the beautiful countryside of The Netherlands and Belgium. The riding was about 30 miles per day, on completely flat terrain and at a leisurely pace. The tour guide and barge staff were friendly and accommodating. The barge was really nice. The food was excellent.
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★★★★★ Canuks September 6, 2018
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 11 to 17.
- How many tours have you completed?
- Zero.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
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★★★★★ Kath O July 8, 2018
Beautiful surprises every day!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
We enjoyed everything about this tour! We’ve We have participated in afew bike trips now and this was the best so far. The beautiful scenery of Belgium and the Netherlands was like a painting. The towns we rode through were so pretty- it was rose and hydrangea season! Always a good beer or rose plus some kind of sweet specialty on offer! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the area and took time to get to know all of us. The Zwaantse barge was great- the captain and crew friendly and professional, the cook prepared excellent meals everyday! Couldn’t ask for a better week of riding!
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★★★★★ Scoop414 July 1, 2018
Cities, countryside all by bicycle and cruise! Unpack just once!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
This was a wonderful week of exercise and fresh air through the countryside as well as major cities of Belgium in a small group setting of approx 35 passengers. The Magnifique II is well equipped with all the comforts of a small ship. The staff/crew were attentive and always had a smile and warm greeting. The food was prepared and presented as well as one would find in most fine dining establishments. We met many wonderful people from all over the world. As a bonus they offered both guided and self-guided biking as well as longer and shorter routes. We've done other hotel to hotel bike tours but the value of being on the boat and unpacking just once really gave this trip extra value and convenience. We will do another bike/boat trip in the future.
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★★★★★ SusanG September 4, 2017
The trip exceeded our expectations
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
The Magnifique II is a very comfortable boat with an excellent crew. Our bike tour guide was very attentive to everyone's needs. We were awed by the historic centers in Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges and the beauty of the countryside. The dedicated bike highways all over the Netherlands and Belgium made cycling there safe and easy.
The trip could have been improved by dividing into 2 groups as we were stronger cyclists and would have liked to go faster with fewer stops. We understand that is the plan for 2018- What was the date of your tour?
- August 19th -August 26th 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- only self directed no tours
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
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★★★★★ Louis August 18, 2017
Awesome,Awesome Trip
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
Can't say anything negative about this trip.
Probably one of the best vacation experiences we have ever had.
From the cycling,the crew on the boat the places and scenery we experienced and saw. We will be doing another bike & barge trip again real real soon.
thanks again to the great crew on the Magnifique.
We did the Bruges to Amsterdam.
Awesome, Awesome!!!- What was the date of your tour?
- 7/22
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
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★★★★★ go for it June 2, 2017
Adventure of a lifetime!
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
Everything could not have been better. The small group(30)was just right for riding and for socializing on the boat. The staff were so helpful and friendly. We had an excellent guide whose pride in his country and knowledge of history shone through.
The bike routes and stops for lunch and for evening walks were idyllic. The bikes were well maintained and comfortable to ride. Coming to the boat for a first class meal at the end of the day, was a delight. -
★★★★★ vickiboys August 11, 2017
Bucket List Adventure
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal
The entire trip was awesome from start to finish. Tour guide(Hester)and boat staff/captain were all extremely accommodating at every request. The thirty four passengers from U.S.,Canada,Scotland,Brazil,Germany,Switzerland and Portugal were all easy going and ranged in ages fro two teenage girls to people around 70.There were never any issues between the guests during meals, evening relaxing time and daily rides.The choice of paths/routes brought out the best of Belgium and Holland and high lighted the country side farms and villages as well as several larger cities. The only suggestions we have would be to try and provide a little variety of breakfast foods and keep the cabin temperature a little cooler on very hot summer days.
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★★★★★ Gib E 2 months agoNice way to experience Belgium and the Netherlands.
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Fluvius (and reverse)
Very good ride. So much to see along the way and relatively easy. Planning with biketours.com worked well and our back and forth communication during the planning process was as expected. Pre-travel materials were accurate, and we were well prepared upon arrival in Europe. In country, Boat Bike Tours did a nice job. The boat was clean and well-staffed with friendly people. The bikes worked well, however we were not able to bring our own pedals and saddles as we have been able to swap them out on previous rides with biketours.com. Apart from blowing out the bearings on a pedal, we had no issues with the bikes. We went self guided and the directions via the Ride with GPS app were spot on and accurate. Highlights, bathrooms, restaurants along the route were highlighted and worth the visit. We liked having options on some days as well with a couple choices on rides. Though I enjoy staying in the different small European cities along the way and having our luggage transported on previous rides, the boat worked well, especially for those that wanted to take a day off due to rain or winds. For the most part, the boat parked in excellent locations making it easy to explore on your own. There was no curfew on the boat, so you could come and go as you please for the most part. Part of the trip is not riding, but on the boat. This is primarily through industrial areas, which was interesting because we traveled through multiple locks. We traveled with two vegans, and were told during planning process that they could not accommodate these diets, but the staff were eventually able to make vegan meals for the two which was not expected, but welcome none the less (thank you Firas on board the Fluvius!). Note that helmets were included on the boat free of charge, so don't pay the 10 Euro to rent one.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, Holland
