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The old port of Rotterdam

Rotterdam and Province Zeeland, MS Normandie

Picturesque seaside resorts & idyllic beaches

8 Days / 7 Nights
Easy
The old port of Rotterdam

The province of Zeeland delights with its endless coastlines, characteristic dune landscapes, and historic towns. Renowned for its windmills, dykes, and picturesque polder landscapes, Zeeland offers maritime adventures, especially when explored by bike and boat. Relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea, and indulging in culinary delights such as fresh seafood await you. Can we welcome you aboard the MS Normandie soon?

Let's get started: in Rotterdam, you'll board your floating hotel, the MS Normandie, and sail first to the beautiful city of Dordrecht. From there on, the boat and bike stages alternate. You'll first hop on the saddle at Willemstad and cycle via the Volkerakdam to Hellevoetsluis. The route then takes you along the coast to the mussel village of Bruinisse, Zierikzee, and Veere.

On day 5, you visit the Delta Works where your itinerary also includes a visit to Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland, and the Walcheren peninsula. From Dordrecht, the last stage takes you back to Rotterdam. Along the way, you will pass the famous windmills of Kinderdijk - the UNESCO World Heritage Site represents Holland like no other attraction.

  • The charming city center of Dordrecht: Historic buildings, canals, and the picturesque harbor define the landscape of this South Holland city. Explore the Hofkwartier for a shopping spree and make sure to visit the Biesbosch Museum of Art and Natural History.
  • Picturesque nature on the Walcheren peninsula: The area is defined by its beaches, dune landscapes, and charming coastal villages, making it a picturesque destination. Close to the peninsula is Middelburg, where you can experience the lively atmosphere in cafes and browse through delightful shops for souvenirs to take home.
  • The impressive Delta Works: They serve as vital defenses against flooding and stand as remarkable architectural masterpieces. Nearby, Deltapark on the artificial island of Neeltje Jans offers abundant entertainment and educational opportunities for visitors to delve into the coast, the storm surge barrier, and the region's history.

The 40 to 50-kilometer cycling segments alternate with boat travel. Onboard the MS Normandie, you'll have a tour guide who will go through the daily stages with you and can provide insider tips on worthwhile sights. You'll be treated to typical local and international dishes as part of the full-board package aboard the charming MS Normandie.

The Netherlands is a cyclist's paradise – the routes are top-class, and the landscape is very flat. The waterways also have their charm, leading you to delightful cities and through idyllic countryside.

Itinerary at a glance

Individual arrival in Rotterdam. Embarkation at about 4:00 pm. You may have some time left to see Rotterdam’s stunning Market Hall. The Dutch refer to it as their version of the „Sistine Chapel“. At 6:00 pm sail to Holland’s oldest town, Dordrecht, impressively located on an island between three wide rivers.

In the morning, set sail for Willemstad, a small fortified town dating from the 17th/18th century, which is well worth visiting. Here start for your first cycle tour. Cross the inland waters of Haringvliet over the Volkerakdam, and cycle through fields and past storybook villages like Zwartsluis and Goudswaard to the popular water sports centre of Hellevoetsluis.

With fine weather, it is worth to take a detour to the bathing beach of Rockanje, a wide fine-sandy beach with marvellous dunes, before starting the bike tour. Crossing the Haringvliet again, you pass through small villages like Stellendam with the mill Korenlust, the small water sport village of Herkingen and, continuing along the Grevelingendam, you reach the mussel village of Bruinisse.

Today you can visit the "Watersnoodmuesum" during your bike tour. Here you will learn all about the great flood disaster of 1953 and the "drowned" village of Viane, which was flooded and never rebuilt. Continue towards Zierikzee, which is among the 10 most beautiful Dutch national heritage towns. The „fat tower“riseshigh above the town. The top of the tower offers marvellous views over the town, the harbour and the island. Continue your tour crossing the Zeelandbrug -an impressive structure 5 km long, built on 54 piers -to your destination of the day-the harbour town of Veere. Where once richly laden ships from Scotland docked, today impressive yachts are moored.

Today you can choose between three different routes, for example the former working islandNeeltje Jans, which was created by rising a sand flat to facilitate the construction of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the most impressive construction of the Delta Works. You will have the possibility not only to marvel at the locks from up close but also from the inside. The adjacent amusement park "Deltapark" gives an insight into the life of sea lions and the underwater world of the Oosterschelde(optional).

The first stop on your cycling tour is Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland. The city looks back on a rich past and was once the most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. Numerous stores and cafés invite you to visit. During a city tour (optional) you will have the opportunity to learn all kinds of interesting facts about the charming city. The tour continues through the picturesque, typically Dutch landscape on the Walcheren peninsula. Wide beaches, forests and dunes await you. Nowhere in the Netherlands the sun shine as often and as long as here.

On your last bike stage you will experience the most famous windmills in the Netherlands at Kinderdijk. The 19 well-preserved mills date from the 18th century and have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  Your path continues along the Maas River to Rotterdam. Take the opportunity for a harbor tour through the largest deep water port in Europe and admire the skyline and impressive architecture from the water.

Disembarkation until 09:00am and individual journey home.

Route information

Easy

Due to its numerous cycle paths, Holland has become a paradise for cyclists. The cycle routes are on flat terrain and are easy to cycle on, strong headwinds possible.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Program according to itinerary from/to Rotterdam
  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked cabin category
  • 1 welcome drink
  • Full meals (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board, , 7x 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
  • GPS-data

Optional

  • Bringing your own bike/electric bike:  €29,- (on request only, limited)

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Parking garage de Boompjes Rotterdam
  • Central Parking Valet Services
    On the day of arrival your car will be picked up at the landing stage and brought back to the ship on the day of departure

Note

  • Minimum number of participants: 60 persons
  • 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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Melanie Spitzwieser

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Melanie Spitzwieser
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