Belfort Tower in Bruges. Photo via Flickr:Wolfgang Staudt Cycling along the canal

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 Comfort plus class boats:
  • Iris: June 1, July 6, August 3, and October 12, 2013
  • MS Fluvius: May 4, May 18, June 1, June 15, June 29, July 13, August 24, September 7, and September 21, 2013.
  • Elodie: May 26 and August 18, 2013
  • MS Magnifique: April 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, June 22, July 6, and September 14, 2013.
  • On the Comfort class boats:
  • Wending: April 27, May 11, June 1, and September 14, 2013
  • Zwaan: May 25, June 8, July 27, August 10, August 24, September 7, September 21, 2013
  • Fiep: June 1, June 15, July 13, July 27, August 24, September 7, September 21, and October 5, 2013
  • Lena Maria: July 13 and August 10, 2013
  • On the Standard plus class boat:
  • Feniks: August 24, 2013
  • 2014 Dates
  • On the Comfort plus class boat, the Merlijn: May 31, 2014

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 Magnifique)
  • 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 while in Antwerp (aboard the Iris)
  • Dinner on last night of tour on the Elodie
  • Aboard the Wending or the Zwaan: maps for self-guided option (€9.10 per map. Tour requires seven maps.)

Amsterdam to Bruges Map

Book This Trip

TourBike + Boat
TypeGuided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€779
Print Tour

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 well maintained asphalt bike paths with little traffic.

Tour Boats

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Amsterdam to Bruges Map
  1. Amsterdam - Oude Wetering - Alphen aan de Rijn
  2. Alphen aan de Rijn - Gouda, 27 mi. (45 km)
  3. Gouda - Dordrecht,  30 mi. (50 km)
  4. Dordrecht - Zierikzee, 32 or 14 mi. (54 or 24 km)
  5. Zierikzee - Middelburg - Vlissingen , 31 or 19 mi. (51 or 32 km)
  6. Vlissingen - Ghent (Belgium), 27 or 15 mi. (45 or 25 km)
  7. Ghent - Bruges, 27 or 15 mi. (45 or 25 km) 
  8. Bruges, disembark at 10 AM

**Please note! The daily itinerary above  and in detail below is aboard the Wending and the Zwaan. Aboard these boats, it is possible to do the tour as self-guided with route descriptions. Please specify at the time of booking if you wish to do this. Maps are available for a small, additional fee. Ask us for details.

Each boat has a slightly different itinerary. You will see different itineraries after the detailed day to day description of the tour on these boats. If you do not see your boat listed below, we will be happy to send you the specific itinerary. 

DAY 1: Amsterdam - Oude Wetering - Alphen aan de Rijn
Upon arrival on board the boat, your luggage can be left in your cabin while you enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. During this coffee break there is plenty of opportunity to get to know your guides, the crew, and your fellow passengers. Early noon, the boat sail through the western part of Amsterdam to the small village of ‘Oudewetering’,where your first cycling tour will begin. Via the Braasemermeer, we will cycle through the ‘Green Heart of Holland’ with its ditches, canals, farms and moisty fields (on which cows and sheep graze) tot the rustic town of Alphen aan de Rijn. During dinner aboard the boat, the program for the week is discussed.

DAY 2: Alphen aan de Rijn - Gouda, 27 mi. (45 km)
From Alphen, which is situated at a tributary of the Rhine, you will cycle over country roads, banks, and channels through the Green Heart and polders to Gouda, the city mostly known for its cheese but also pipes, ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle-waffle) and pottery, and stained-glass windows. Gouda is a beautiful, old Dutch city with much to explore. As on most days, after dinner will be an opportunity fo a city walk. 

DAY 3: Gouda - Dordrecht,  30 mi. (50 km)
Today's route  takes you along the Dutch Ijssel, through the deepest lying polder of the Netherlands, Krimpenerwaard, and over narrow cycling paths to the river ‘Lek’. Here, you will cross the river by ferry to Kinderdijk, a unique and renowned monument where Holland’s largest number of historical windmills is found. These 19 windmills are now listed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage site. Today's destination is Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities of the Netherlands, situated at a busy crossing of fairways. 

DAY 4: Dordrecht - Zierikzee, 32 or 14 mi. (54 or 24 km)
During breakfast, the boat will sail to the old, fortified town of Willemstad where your cycle tour will begin. You will ride over the Volkerakbrug (with beneath it, one of the busiest locks in the world) to the former island of Goeree-Overvlakkee. Today, this land is easy to reach by embankments and bridges, all part of the Deltaplan of 1953 now protecting the southwestern part of the Netherlands against the rough. Before reaching Zierikzee, today's destination, there will be an opportunity to visit the ‘Watersnoodmuseum’. This museum tells the tragic events of 1953 and is built in recently renewed caissons, once used for the last closure gap. This was done in November 1953, ten months after the storm surge which broke through more than 300 embankments. A shorter version of today’s route is offered by sailing to Bruinisse, from where the group of remaining cyclists can be joined to Zierikzee. The town of Zierikzee is the center of the ‘mussel culture’ where the ‘Zeeuwse mosselen’ (blue mussels) are a renowned delicacy. 

DAY 5: Zierikzee - Middelburg - Vlissingen , 31 or 19 mi. (51 or 32 km)
From Zierikzee, you will cycle towards the North Sea, along the Oosterschelde to the Oosterscheldedam. Enormous locks are built in this embankment, that can be closed during storms and high tides protecting the south-west of the Netherlands against the sea. This embankment was one of the last in a series of barriers against the sea. The impressive Deltaworks are referred to as the one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. After a stop in Middleburg, a lively town with many old houses, churches, and pleasant shopping. If possible, during dinner, the boat will sail to Vlissingen. This lovely port town is situated at the Westerschelde. A walk through the town and over its boulevard is absolutely worth a visit!

DAY 6: Vlissingen - Ghent, 27 or 15 mi. (45 or 25 km)
With the unique cycle ferry to Breskens in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Dutch-Flanders), you will arrive at the Dutch-Belgian border in Sas van Gent, the former gateway to the harbor of Ghent, through an area with small villages, along creeks, bending embankments, and beautiful panorama’s. If you choose the shorter option, you will stay on board and as the boat sails you can witness the lively maritime traffic in the canal from Ghent to Terneuzen, with impressive industrial buildings along the shores. After a short journey of 1.5 hours, the boat will arrive in Ghent, a lively city with a stunning mixture of medieval buildings, beautiful old mansions, and trendy shoppings areas.  

DAY 7: Ghent - Bruges, 27 or 15 mi. (45 or 25 km) 
This morning, you will have the opportunity to further explore Ghent as you cycle through it to the scenic countryside of Oost- Vlaanderen (East-Flanders). The impressive city of Bruges is the end destination of your cycling vacation.

DAY 8: Bruges, disembark at 10 AM
End of tour after breakfast.

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE FIEP 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. Departure. Transfer by bus back to Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport included.

BELOW IS THE INTERARY ABOARD THE ELODIE

  1. Amsterdam, 10 mi. (17 km)
  2. Amsterdam - Vianen, 33 or 23 mi. (55 or 38 km)
  3. Vianen - Dordrecht, 34 or 17 mi. (57 or 28 km)
  4. Dordrecht - Zierikzee, 36 or 12 mi. (60 or 20 km)
  5. Zierikzee - Middelburg, 30 or 6 mi. (50 or 10 km)
  6. Middleburg - Gent, 28 or 6 mi.(47 or 10 km)
  7. Gent - Bruges, 27 or 13 mi. (45 or 22 km)
  8. Departure from Bruges

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE MS MAGNIFIQUE

  1. Amsterdam - Vianen, 9 mi. (15 km). Embarkation  and check in at 1 pm.
  2. Vianen - Dordrecht, 16 or 30 mi. (25 or 50 km)
  3. Cruise Dordrecht - Tholen; Cycle Tholen - Kreekrak lock,  21 mi. (35 km); Cruise Kreekrak - Antwerp
  4. Antwerp - Temse Dendermonde/St. Amands,  25 or 34 mi. (42 or 56  km)
  5. St Amands/Dendermonde - Ghent , 32 or 24 mi. (53 or 40 km)
  6.  Ghent - Bruges, 28 mi. (45 km)
  7.  Tour around Bruges to the North Sea, 30 mi. (50 km)
  8. Departure from Bruges

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE IRIS

  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, 22 mi. (35 km)
  5. Antwerp - Dendermonde, 18 or 33 mi. (30 or 55 km)
  6. Dendermonde - Ghent, 22 mi. (35 km)
  7. Ghent - Bruges, 28 mi. (45 km)
  8. Departure from Bruges

BELOW IS THE ITINERARY ABOARD THE MS FLUVIUS

  1. Amsterdam - Nigtevecht/Nigtevecht - Breukelen, 9 mi. (15 km) Breukelen - Vianen. Embarkation  and check in at 1 pm. Boat sets off at approximately 2 pm for Nigtevecht.
  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 - Dendermonde/ St Amands, 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

    Amsterdam to Bruges Boats + Barges

    • Elodie Photo

      Elodie Netherlands, Belgium, France Comfort Plus Class Boat The Elodie was built in 1931 and has been completely refurnished into a luxury holiday ship. The ship has a saloon and sundeck and all of its cabins come with air-conditioning. The saloon of the Elodie is furnished in ship-style by using various types of wood in the finishing.

    • Feniks Photo

      Feniks Belgium, Netherlands, France Standard Plus Class Boat

    • Fiep Photo

      Fiep Netherlands Comfort Class Boat

    • Iris Photo

      Iris Comfort Plus Class Boat

    • Lena Maria Photo

      Lena Maria Belgium, Netherlands Comfort Class Boat

    • Merlijn Photo

      Merlijn Germany, Netherlands Comfort Plus Class Boat

    • MS Fluvius Photo

      MS Fluvius Belgium, Netherlands Comfort Plus Class Boat

    • MS Magnifique Photo

      MS Magnifique Netherlands Comfort Plus Class Boat

    • Wending Photo

      Wending Netherlands Comfort Class Boat

    • Zwaan Photo

      Zwaan Belgium, Netherlands Comfort Class Boat

    Facebook