Godefridus van Aemstel

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

The bike riding was the most enjoyable part for me. The ride to Amsterdam was great. As was the stop by the beach on the way to Veere. Our Guide, Mike was so kind to provide us with evening tours in the beautiful small dutch towns. our chef Paolo was great with delicious dinners each evening. And the captain Paul was excellent and added a touch of humor to the trip.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

scenery
great paths
food
The staff was very friendly and helpful

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

Cycling through villages in Belgium and Netherlands.
Enjoying beautifully prepared food from a wonderful Chef. Meeting and travelling with people from all over the world who enjoy an active and social holiday.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

Great boat. The food was exceptional, the guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. The whole staff was accommodating and dedicated.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

The trip was well run, food was great the tour was amazing look at the country's.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The sights were beautiful but would have preferred to arrive in the town and villages earlier so we could have seen them in the daylight.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Meals and staff were amazing! Serving 25 people individually was really done well,

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

My husband and I loved this trip! It was an amazing combination of cycling and sometimes more difficult cycling due to weather and an incredible opportunity to see some beautiful country! The crew aboard Sailibg Home worked hard to make this trip go off without a hitch and they were successful! We were spoiled rotten! The meals were tasty and satisfying without being over the top or too much food! Lunches for the day were tasty and satisfying. The crew provided a sense of comfort and safety and much fun and laughter.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The crew were super friendly and worked tirelessly to keep us comfortable and happy. The meals were delicious and beautifully plated. Our cycle guide Kitty was patient and friendly in spite of an unexpected reroute. Unfortunately this reroute had us cycling 50-60km each day with very little to see other than country side. Cycling shorter days would have allowed more time to explore the towns & villages. When we docked, our suppers took 2 hrs which prevented us from seeing some villages in the daytime. One final observation: we felt that the cyclers should have been split into two groups each with their own guide. One faster group and one slower group. The faster group often had to wait for the slower group to catch up.

Overall, it was an amazing experience. A huge thank you to Paul, Pim, Inma, Karin & Kitty for making us feel so welcome on the lovely “Sailing Home” barge.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Scenery and the food was delicious every meal. Rooms were better than expected.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Meeting other ship mates, seeing the country side of The Netherlands and Belgium, relaxing after a great day of riding.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

Cycling through the dutch countryside.
The guide/support crew.
The personal relationships developed between the passengers (that are continuing through social media)

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The entire trip was just so wonderful, the food, the accommodations, the guide, the staff and the places visited. The food was probably the biggest surprise. Each and everyday we had a delectable 3 course dinner. Everything was fresh and tasty. The beds were very comfortable and each stop was so peaceful and quiet, it was easy to get a good night's rest. We opted for e-bikes, more so for the wind than hills. We were fortunate to have only one ride with extreme rain (so have good rain gear or opt to stay on the boat if you know the weather is going to be really bad). After the trip, we have put this vacation as our best ever!

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

We were on the boat "Sailing Home" and we went from Bruges to Amsterdam. We've never done a Bike & Barge trip before and this trip far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we stepped on board, there was a warm welcome from the 5 fantastic crew members. These 5 could not do enough for you to make your trip a trip to remember. There were 22 travelers on board and having breakfast and dinners with them was so much fun. The food was 5 star every night, the captain was awesome with our boat... smooth and easy travel. Our bike guide was outstanding. We went to so many different places, learned about the history in the villages, she personalized the trip by taking us to a cheese farm and was calm under pressure! The biking was incredible... it was so beautiful everywhere! The rooms were cozy and it was so nice having a bathroom in each room! I highly recommend this trip. It was spectacular!

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

This was the most wonderful trip I have ever taken. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the trip was very well organized. We met some wonderful people who were also on our barge and the ebikes we used made the trip delightfully doable (we did bring along extra gel seat pads for the bikes which were welcomed after a few days of riding!) Our guide was knowledgable and funny and kept our group on target. Our group was pretty large and it would have be nice to have had an extra guide as our sweep but our guide Maryann did an excellent job of handling mishaps when they occurred.This will go down as one of the most wonderful trips I have taken and I would encourage everyone to sign have this adventure!

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Everything. Loved the idea of biking through the country and spending time on the barge with the guests. The boat crew were very friendly and helpful. The food was excellent and the accommodations were great. I would do this again and have recommended it to my friends.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Well most memorable was the people who rode into the canal. Fortunately they were ok. And there was the man who hit the tunnel wall and took out another cyclist. It was rumored he was drinking vodka in his water bottle. Besides these incidents the best part was the daily riding through idyllic towns and pastoral areas where birds had their young, fields of flowers abound and people were so friendly.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

We had an absolutely amazing trip on the Sailing Home! The crew was outstanding and the experience memorable. I would love to do it again. The only complaint that I have is that for such a large group, we should have a rear guide that is part of the team.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

Most of the route was post-card perfect and the camaraderie felt as the group worked together moving across the land was satisfying. Joining the captain in the wheel house in the morning as we passed through the locks and ports was fascinating.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The whole experience was amazing!

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Best way to see the countryside, Unesco heritage sites ( Kinderdijk and Delta Works) of the Netherlands and Belgium (Bruges). An added bonus were the evening tour guided walks through each town where we met our docked barge. The dinners were always 3 courses- much tastier than expected and breakfast offered healthy options. As a senior traveller, I was happy to have rented an e-bike for the couple of days where we biked into the wind. The crew was warm & friendly and the accommodations on the Sailing Home barge were cozy and comfortable. The sun deck with cover was an additional gathering space. After a week together, felt like I was leaving family.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

Loved all the beautiful scenery and being able to see it by bike. We particularly liked being in a small group (9 couples) who we got to know quite well and had fun socializing with. The crew and guide were very attentive and made the trip extra fun.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

I appreciated all of our stops in small towns or villages and getting to patronize some local businesses. Each day was a different type of experience in terms of scenery as well as the type of paths we rode on and the distances traveled which I thought made it wonderful. I loved getting to ride near different people each day and getting to know all the members of my trip. Our guide Anita was great at modifying our route as needed based on issues with the barge and weather.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

The daily bike rides! With our group of 26 it would have been nice to have had 2 guides for 2 groups.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Daily countryside rides were wonderful. Our guide Marianne was great.
Suggestions- staff should wait until all courses are served and tables cleaned before eating. Waiting half an hour between servings not good and takes too long. Should make enough for seconds! Missed out on visit sites due to timing. Everything was closed by the time we were done with dinner. Notwithstanding the above, was a wonderful trip.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

This was such a special experience to visit small towns and areas we would never see otherwise. Using e bikes was a breeze and allowed us to focus on the scenery.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The staff and guide were wonderful. My only criticism is regarding the food: put out some snacks when returning to the barge after riding. One small bowl of chips for 22 people is insufficient. Secondly, the time from start to finish dinner talked too long ( 1 1/2 hours). While of course the staff must eat as well, they shouldn’t be eating after putting our plates down. Our dirty plates sit in front of us for 30 minutes while they eat. The food is very good though.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

Bike tour through the fields of tulips was life changing. Our amazing tour guide took us through farmland so we could enjoy the tulips up close as well as see all the baby farm animals. Every aspect of the trip was fabulous. I highly recommend this trip to those who love being active outdoors.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

Absolutely fantastic crew and guide. The barge, food (chef Koen fantastic), and crew were amazing. Sailing Home Vessel very well appointed and kept up. Bikes were in great condition.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

The tour exceeded expectations from the guide, the staff, the meals, the group, accommodations to the daily activities of cycling, walking tours after dinner in the stopovers and 'inside info' about where to have coffee and apple tart, shop or visit e.g. the Sint Janskerk in Gouda. Already researching the next one.

Dress in layers and if you're of borderline cycling ability, book an e-bike. You will be glad when you cycle along the North sea.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

The after dinner guided walks through the various towns we stopped at were an added bonus to the tour

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

This was a most beautiful memorable lifetime trip . I am recommending to all .all of the staff on the sailing home were superb. You felt most comfortable as if you are in your own home and the cycling tour guide was exceptional. The chef gave us such wonderful meals. The skipper and the support staff were so kind and superb.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

Overall the trip was great! The boat was nice, the rooms had more space than I expected, and the boat staff were superb! My only "opportunity for improvement" comment is that for a group of 25, the cycle tour company needs to provide more than one guide. Though our guide was very nice and knowledgeable, he was not good at making sure all 25 of us stayed together, made it through red lights, knew where the rest of the group was, etc. On more than one occasion, we had multiple people get far enough behind that they got lost and didn't know where they were supposed to go.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

The barge, service, crew, meals & hospitality all exceeded my expectations. This was a very well planned itinerary and was implemented seamlessly. Riding past tulip fields and the amazing day at Keukenhof Garden is something I will never forget!

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

Boat and crew were great! Food was very good and overall I would recommend this trip especially if you are a skilled/avid biker. For me I only biked one day of the five, I had trouble managing the e-bike with the number of other bikers, people walking and cars especially in the cities. I would agree that the biking was easy because it was flat, but there are a ton of other people biking and there was lots of starting a stopping and others people, bikes and cars to watch out for. I also think there needs to be two guides, 25 riders is a lot for one person to keep track of and manage. On Multiple days riders got lost.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

the holland countryside and the professionalism of the sailing home crew

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

The barge, the crew, the service, the hospitality were exceptional. The itinerary was well planned. The thrill of cycling by tulip fields and the amazing day at Kuekenhof Garden is something I will never forget.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Holland Southern Tulip Tour
Netherlands

I found the European bike very heavy to maneuver so I chose to stay with the barge rather than cycle on several days, and the scenery from the deck of the boat as we travelled was spectacular. Watching the houses, farms, tulip fields and other boats go by was something I will always remember. The architecture in Holland is so unique and easily observable while boating by on the canals. Our crew was so nice to spend that extra time with as well. It was a great option and I am glad I made that choice—I saw so much en route and had additional time to tour our destinations.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Cycling through the countryside and then returning to the comfort of our boat. The staff were accommodating and considerate. By far the best cruise that I have experienced. The meals were exceptional and the small group setting provided an opportunity for both socialization and relaxation. The crew also provided a variety of opportunities which enhanced the experience .

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The trip was very enjoyable. The scenery and bike paths were great. The staff and cook were excellent.
Suggestions:
The bike groups should be split up into smaller groups (6-8 riders), especially when using busy routes.
The strong bikers should not be grouped with the more leisurely bikers.
The guides should have good skills in GPS navigation and/or riders could use an app such as "Ride with GPS".

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Just a great experience. The food and views were wonderful and the guide was excellent.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

The wow factor of the trip was riding our bikes in an underground tunnel under the River Sheldt in Antwerp. We took the elevator down. Unfortunately, the elevator to go back up was broken, so we had to take 2 escalators up which was a challenge with our bikes. We later found out that there is a ferry. I’m glad we didn’t know about the ferry!

It was a wonderful trip. The barge accommodations were good, not luxurious. The crew was excellent. They were cheerful and efficient. The food was good. There were no choices for dinner.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

The visit to a working grain windmill.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands

The most memorable part of the trip was creating new relationships and the beautiful canals and gardens!
I would consider booking another bike and barge through tripsite in the future.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Bicycling through the picturesque countryside was magical. We saw beautiful homes and gardens, bridges, small villages, windmills, and night touring the bigger towns to learn a little about the history was a bonus. Staying on a smaller barge gave us an opportunity to get to know the other guests and crew. This too made for a memorable trip. The company is very organized and have a well thought out program. Our tour guide Roseanna was amazing. She had much information to share on our route, kept us together, tremendous patience and lots of fun. Our Chef, Captain and crew made for a comfortable, safe and relaxing trip down the canals after our ride.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The bicycling each day through fabulous scenery led by a wonderful guy and guide - Mark Van Rossom. The leap-frogging of our comfortable barge each day to pick us at at a new spot along the way from Netherlands to Belgium.
Also extremely impressed with our barge’s captain Coba.

  Godefridus van Aemstel Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

Every aspect of the trip was delivered as advertised. Crew and cycling guide were outstanding. Sailing Home was more than comfortable and food was plentiful and delicious.