Amsterdam to Bruges

Belgium, Netherlands Bike + Boat Tour

From Holland's intriguing capital to Belgium's artistic gem, this bike tour follows meandering rivers and canals over the famously flat Dutch countryside and through Flanders' endlessly beautiful landscape. Amsterdam and Bruges hold no limit of treasures, and you will feast your eyes on many of them. As Amsterdam's wealth grew during the prosperous Golden Age (17th century), so did the size of the city. Canals were dug one after the other along which merchants built elaborate houses. Today, more than 100 canals crisscross the city and over 6800 historical buildings with a wide array of unique facades and gables remain, including the Royal Palace on the Dam Square. Rembrandt's life-size masterpiece Nightwatch alone makes a visit to the Rijksmuseum a must. From Amsterdam, you'll cycle past large manor estates with beautifully manicured gardens along the Amstel and Vecht Rivers to Dordrecht, one of the first settlements in the Netherlands. The tower on the Grote Kerk dates from 1339! Via more dikes, ferry rides, and several opportunities to visit the beach, you will enter into Belgium's Ghent, a major port with inviting riverbank cafés.

Well before cycling into the colorful town center, you'll see Bruges' towering Belfort (bell tower) guiding you ahead. Take a few minutes to climb its 366 steps for a rewarding view of the city as well as to discover the Treasury Room located within. As a former booming trading center along the sea, Bruges still harbors many reminders of its past glory. Architecturally, the city remains one of the best preserved examples of the northern Renaissance style. And as the birthplace of Flemish art (14th-15th century), Bruges is home to many magnificent paintings by Jan van Eyck and Gerard David. The Groeninge Museum is a great place to see a comprehensive and fascinating collection of 6 centuries of Flemish, Dutch and Belgian painting, including Renaissance and Baroque masters. Michelangelo's sculpture Madonna and Child can also be found on display in the Church of Notre Dame along with several other artistic gems: paintings, carved wooden statues, painted sepulchers from the 13th century et al.

Tour Dates

• On the Standard plus class ship, the Feniks): May 19, 2012., June 30, 2012
• On the Comfort class ship the Anna Cornelia: May 19, June 16, July 28, August 25, and September 8, 2012.
• On the Comfort class ship the Lena Maria: July 21 and August 11, 2012.
• On the Comfort class ship the Wending: April 28, May 12, July 7, August 18, September 1 and September 15, 2012.
• On the Comfort class ship, the Zwaan: May 19, June 2* and 16, September 15 and 29, 2012.
• On the Comfort plus class ship, the Elodie: Sundays on July 22 and August 12, 2012.
• On the Comfort plus class ship, the Iris: July 28, August 25, 2012
• On the Comfort plus class ship, the Sailing Home: June 2, 2012
• On the Comfort plus class ship, the MS Magnifique: April 28* (only one single cabin available!), May 26, June 9, August 4, September 1, 2012
• On the Comfort plus class ship, the MS Fluvius: April 21*, May 5*, May 19, June 30, July 14 and September 22, 2012.
• *Discounts now available. Please see pricing!
• 2013 Dates:
• On the Comfort plus class ship, the Merlijn: April 4, 2013

Where You’ll Stay

Different class boats are available for this tour. See dates and pricing. Click here for detailed barge information.

What’s Included

• 7 nights on board ship
• Breakfast buffets, packed lunches, 3-course dinners
• Coffee & tea on board
• Tour guide
• 7 - speed hybrid bicycle (MS Fluvius and MS Magnifiue)
• 24-speed hybrid bicycle
• Route information
• Ferry fares en route
• Air-conditioned cabins (Comfort Plus, some Comfort class boats)
• Daily cabin cleaning (Comfort Plus)

What’s Not Included

• Beverages (incl. alcohol), available on board
• Train ride back to Amsterdam from Bruges, ± €48
• Museum entrance fees
• Dinner on last night of tour on the Elodie

Skill Level

An easy guided tour. Areas are predominantly flat with some rolling hills possible further south. Average daily distances of about 34 miles over good asphalt bike paths with little traffic.

Tour Boats

• Anna Cornelia
• Elodie
• Feniks
• Iris
• Lena Maria
• MS Magnifique
• MS Fluvius
• Sailing Home
• Wending
• Zwaan

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Amsterdam; boarding time depends on ship; short round-trip.
2. Amsterdam - Vianen, 29 mi. 
3. Vianen - Dordrecht, 29 mi. 
4. Dordrecht - Zierikzee, 33 mi. 
5. Zierikzee - Middelburg, 32 mi.
6. Middelburg - Ghent (Belgium), 45/26 mi.
7. Ghent - Bruges, 36/42 mi.
8. Bruges, disembark at 10 AM.

**Please note!  The daily itinerary above may be a little different, depending on what boat your tour is booked on.  For example, the Anna Cornelia and Lena Maria have different itineraries than above (and in detail below). You will see their itinerary after the detailed day to day description. The Wending and Liza Marleen have a slightly different itinerary than the Zwaan. The Iris and Sailing Home may also have a slightly different itinerary than mentioned. We will be happy to send you the specific itinerary of each boat. 

All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

 Itinerary above and below is for the Wending.

DAY 1: Amsterdam; boarding time depends on ship. Can range from 12:30 to 4 PM
After boarding the ship, there is the option of partaking on a short cycling tour (15-20 km) that winds through serene parts of the city and, time permitting, will also take you for a short ride outside the city. Dinner will be served on board, and afterwards, the guide will explain the program for the next day and coming week.

DAY 2: Amsterdam - Vianen, 29 mi.
Today the ship will take us to Nigtevecht, where our tour starts along the Vecht River. Letting the river guide us past panoramic views of low-lying meadows as well as magnificent country mansions and houses with pristinely manicured gardens gracing the banks, the route will continue winding via Breukelen and Maarssen to the center of Utrecht.

DAY 3: Vianen - Dordrecht, 29 mi.
From Vianen, we'll follow the river dike before cycling along the Merwede canal to Meerkerk. Further on to the west lies Alblasserwaard. This region holds villages built in long ribbons that hug the watercourses, which meander through it. Here too, we will find the peace of the countryside, with sheltered roads, broad views overlooking pastures and the inevitable windmills that are so natural to the Dutch landscape. In the distance, we'll catch sight of the industrial area surrounding Rotterdam. By ferry, we shall cross over to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland, which lies on a busy waterway intersection.

DAY 4: Dordrecht - Zierikzee, 33 mi.
From Dordrecht, the ship will sail during breakfast to the delta region of large rivers. The many traders here used to have an open connection with the sea. A beautiful tour around the island of Schouwen Duiveland is also a part of our itinerary. At the end of the route, the well-preserved city of Zierikzee will await our arrival.

DAY 5: Zierikzee - Middelburg, 32 mi.
We'll start today with a sail to Middelburg. The route will next take us from Zierikzee to the western side of the island Schouwen, where we will begin our leg in Westenschouwen and ride over the Oosterschelde Dam. On the south side of the Oosterschelde Dam, there is the opportunity to go swimming (beach and sand dunes). Then, we will cycle across another dam on the former island of Walcheren; which will bring us to the quaint village of Veere, formerly an important trading city. Cycling on back roads, we'll next head for Middelburg, a small town with a beautiful old city-center and also the capital of the province of Zeeland.

DAY 6: Middelburg - Ghent, 45/26 mi.
Down the canal, a fast bike path will take us to Flushing, an important port at the mouth of the Westerschelde. Belgium is now just a stone's throw away. Cycling through the expansive landscapes with sparsely dotted villages, winding dike roads and many remnants of old streams, we will enter Belgium. Ghent, during the Middle Ages, was a major trading center and still is one of Flanders' most important cities that has retained much of its original beauty.

DAY 7: Ghent - Bruges, 36/42 mi.
Again hopping on our saddle, we will cycle straight through the beautiful center of Ghent along a serene route. Outside the city, we will soon enter the Leiestreek region. St. Martens-Latem nestles in the green landscape. This was once a center for artists. Continuing on, we'll cycle past the Leiebrug (bridge) and enter the tranquil countryside of East Flanders.

DAY 8: Bruges; breakfast and disembark
Tour ends with disembarkment at 10am following breakfast. If you have chosen the two-week trip, then you'll have more time to visit the beautiful city center and possibly partake on an afternoon cycling trip to Damme perhaps or another interesting town.

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE ANNA CORNELIA OR LENA MARIA:

1. Amsterdam. Embarkation is between 12:30 & 1:30 PM. Sail to Oude Wetering, short bike ride. 7 mi. (10 km)
2. Oude Wetering - Gouda, 22 mi. (35 km)
3. Gouda - Willemstad, 25 mi. (40 km)
4. Willemstad, sail to Antwerp. Free time in Antwerp.
5. Antwerp - Dendermonde, 32 mi. (50 km)
6. Dendermonde - Ghent, 19 mi. (30 km)
7. Ghent, train to Bruges & free time. Return back to Ghent by train.
8. Ghent, end of tour.  Transfer by bus back to Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport included.

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE ZWAAN:

1. Amsterdam. Embarkation at 2 PM. Motor to Alphen. Short bike tour of 12 plus miles.
2. Alphen - Gouda, 28 mi., 45 km
3. Gouda - Dordrecht, 31 mi., 50 km
4. Dordrecht, motoring to Willemstad or Bruinisse, cycling to Zierikzee, 34 or 15 mi., 54 or 24 km
5. Zierikzee - Middelburg-, 32 mi., 51 km or motoring to Zandkreekdam, cycling to Middelburg, 20 mi., 32 km (perhaps motor to Vlissingen as well)
6. Vlissingen  – Ghent, 28 mi., 45 km or starting in Terneuzen, 16 mi., 25 km
7. Ghent – Bruges, 28 mi. or 16 mi., 45 or 25 km
8. Bruges, end of tour, disembarkation at about 10 am near central station.

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE MS MAGNIFIQUE AND THE MS FLUVIUS:

1. Amsterdam - Vianen, 9 mi (15 km)
2. Vianen - Dordrecht, 30 mi (50 km)
3. Dordrecht - Tholen, 21 or 30 mi (35 or 50 km)
4. Tholen - Antwerp, 21 mi (35 km)
5. Antwerp - St-Amands or Dendermonde, 18 or 33 mi (30 or 55 km)
6. St-Amands/Dendermonde - Ghent, 22 mi (35 km)
7. Ghent - Bruges, 28 mi (45 km)
8. Departure from Bruges

ALL ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO CHANGING WIND AND WEATHER CONDITIONS AND OTHER UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES HAVING TO DO WITH MOORING REQUIREMENTS, ETC.  DISTANCES ARE APPROXIMATE.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us