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View of brick houses and a castle in Ghent

Amsterdam - Bruges, MS Magnifique II

Fascinating Belgium and Holland

8 Days / 7 Nights
Easy
View of brick houses and a castle in Ghent

Leading you from Holland to Flanders by bike and boat, this tour offers an ideal route for a cycling holiday, showcasing flat landscapes, breathtaking nature, and welcoming locals. The highlights of this journey include the enchanting cities of Amsterdam and Bruges. Your accommodation will be aboard the MS Magnifique II, providing comfortable nights as you journey along.

After embarking in Amsterdam, your floating hotel will cruise to the fortified town of Vianen. The first leg of the journey already features unforgettable highlights, including the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk and Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland. You'll reach Willemstad by boat and then cycle to the historic town of Bergen op Zoom.

On day 4, you'll cross the Belgian border and visit Antwerp. Then, you'll make your way to Bruges via St. Amands and Ghent. Prior to that, you'll cycle through idyllic West Flanders, characterized by picturesque villages, traditional farmsteads, and expansive heathlands.

  • Antwerp, the city of diamonds and fashion: The diamond trading tradition in the Belgian city traces its roots back to the 15th century - take a trip to the "Diamond District" to experience it firsthand. Fashion enthusiasts will discover a plethora of options to explore, from the Fashion Academy to the Antwerp Fashion Show, in the boutiques and shopping streets. And, of course, the stunning city center with its historic landmarks is a perennially rewarding destination to visit.
  • Enjoy the charming flair of Bruges: Medieval architecture and romantic canals define the cityscape - at the Groeninge Museum, you can admire the works of Flemish painters, while the Grote Markt offers direct access to the Belfry and the Gothic town hall. Indulge in pralines, chocolate, and waffles; Bruges is also renowned for its exquisite handmade lace.
  • Enchanting river landscapes: The landscape and villages around the Scheldt River, in particular, contribute to the picturesque scenery of this tour. This river, flowing into the North Sea, holds significant importance for shipping in Belgium and the Netherlands. Enjoy the maritime ambience in the villages and the charming countryside.

The stylish MS Magnifique II boasts a relaxed atmosphere, allowing you to unwind on the sun deck or in the whirlpool. Our team has planned plenty of exciting activities for you on this holiday, including a canal tour in Ghent and a tasting of Belgian specialties. With cycling stages ranging from 20 to 50 kilometers, it's easy to manage, ensuring you can fully enjoy your vacation and all the attractions on offer.

Our bike and boat tours in Holland and Belgium offer a combination that couldn't be more harmonious. You'll cycle through beautiful landscapes and visit historically and culturally fascinating cities. On your floating hotel, you can relax in between or even opt to skip a cycling stage in Holland and Belgium.

Itinerary at a glance

Embarkation and check-in is between 1.30 – 1.50 p.m., where your crew for the week will be waiting to welcome you on board. At  2 p.m. the ship will depart from Amsterdam for Vianen, a small, fortified village on the Lek River. After dinner you have the opportunity to enjoy a short first test ride through the surrounding area.

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 approx. 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.

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.

Then you cycle on to the destination of this trip, Bergen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom is a historic fortified town that once lay on the open waters of the Oosterschelde. After dinner you can take a walk through the old town. Narrow streets, old town, market and church squares and idiosyncratic monumental buildings show the history of a rich and eventful past that goes back more than eight hundred years.

In the morning you will enjoy a small 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, situated on the river Schelde. 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 Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).

This morning you will cycle out of Antwerp along a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St. Amands your home for the night. There is only one way to describe the landscape around the Schelde and that is “magnificent”. It is without doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour.

Today you will continue to follow the river Schelde to Ghent where the ship will moor for the night at a lock in a 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-metre-tall belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center. Before dinner a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.

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.

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

Route information

Easy

 

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Fully guided cycling tours according to program from Amsterdam to Bruges 
  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked cabin category 
  • 1 welcome drink 
  • Full meals (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists, 6x coffee and tea on board, 6x 3-course-dinner) 
  • On board tour guide incl. daily tour briefing
  • Daily cabin cleaning, change of bed linen and towels as needed 
  • 1 route book per cabin 
  • All harbour, lock and bridge fees
  • Canal trip through Ghent 
  • Entrance Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp 
  • Tasting Belgium products 
  • Wifi
  • GPS-data 

Optional 

  • Bring your own bike €10,- /electric bike €25,- (on request only, limited) 

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Train station Amsterdam close to the pier
  • Train station Bruges (Stationsplein) about 3 km from the pier
  • Car park Amsterdam Oosterdok: guarded car park at the train station (www.parkingcentrumoosterdok.nl)

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: none
  • Further important information according to the package travel law and additional information about your bike and boat trip can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

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Christine Pölzleitner

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