Amsterdam to Bruges - 11 days

Amsterdam to Bruges

Day 1: Arrival to Amsterdam, barge departs at 2:30 pm. Amsterdam - Spaarndam - Haarlem, 10 - 15 mi. (6.2 - 9 km)
Day 2: Haarlem - Cruquius - Leiden, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 3: Leiden - Katwijk - Delft, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 4: Delft - Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Alblasserdam - Willemstad, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 5: Willemstad - Zierikzee, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Zierikzee - Veere - Middelburg, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 7: Middelburg - Vlissingen (Flushing) - Sas van Gent - Ghent, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Gent - Machelen - Kortrijk, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 9: Tour around Ypres, Flanders Fields, 27 mi. (43 km)
Day 10: Kortrijk - Lichtervelde - Bruges, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 11: Departure in Bruges

Day 1: Arrival to Amsterdam, barge departs at 2:30 pm. Amsterdam - Spaarndam - Haarlem, 10 - 15 mi. (6.2 - 9 km)
You are able to board the Quo Vadis and check-in from 12 noon onwards but please try to be on board by 2 pm. The boat will depart promptly at 2:30 pm for Spaarndam. Upon arrival, you will be fitted with your bike and begin a short ride to the oldest lock of Europe and the famous statue of Hans Brinker. You will then bike along a dune landscape to the historical city of Haarlem.

Day 2: Haarlem - Cruquius -  Leiden, 24 mi. (39 km)
Today is a day to enjoy the coast and the water. You will pedal through the dunes, along sandy beaches, and quaint harbor villages, like Zandvoort and Noordwijk. You will end in the historic city of Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt van Rijn. The origin of this university town is about 800 AD and became a marketplace at the confluence of the Old and New Rhine Rivers, the Vliet River, and the Mare. For many years, it was the second most important city in Holland with Amsterdam being the first. In medieval times, it was the center of the textile industry.  A well-known episode from the history of Leiden is the siege of 1574 by the Spanish, who were driven from the area when the dikes broke through. The history of this is fascinating if you have some time for pre-tour reading.

Day 3: Leiden -Delft, via  Katwijk, 37 mi. (57 km) or via the Hague, 29 mi. (45 km) or direct, 20 mi. (32 km)
From Leiden, the longer distance cyclists will follow the course of the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) through the dunes, to Katwijk aan Zee, an old fishing village, and Scheveningen, along the remnants of the Atlantikwall, the 1900 miles long coastal fortification built by the Third Reich. The shorter route leads through the luxurious Wassenaaar villa quarters to the government center, The Hague. with the International Court of Justice, the Panorama, the Royal art collection, huge parks and fancy shopping streets. The Quo Vadis lays at the edge of charming Delft, the birthplace of Vermeer, known for its Delfts Blue ceramic, the Nieuwe Kerk with its historic link to the royal House of Orange.  Relive its glorious past as you wander along canals, churches, mansions, and courtyards.  An even shorter distance through former peat fields in suburban parks, gives more time for Delft instead of The Hague. 

Day 4: Delft - Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht, 20 or 30 mi. (32 or 48 km)
After a visit to the famous Delft Blue ceramics, the long trackers head to Rotterdam.  Leaving Delft via the University campus with fine modern architecture, and the 17th-century gunpowder house in the water, the route leads first to the historic lock of Overschie.  You enter Rotterdam along the orange prison building and the early modern Van Nelle factory, continuing to Delfshaven and further. The shorter route begins with a sail on the Quo Vadis to Rotterdam for a short impression of the main harbor, the Dutch Manhattan with a skyline defined by the Erasmus bridge. If there is time, you may visit the stunning market hall, the Rotterdam version of the Sistine Chapel, or despite the bombings of WWII, old Delfshaven (harbor of Delft) from where the Pilgrim fathers left, and the late 19th-century Veerhaven. A fast ferry will then transfer you to the Alblasserwaard, fenland between the big rivers. The many inundations and the slowly sinking surface made water management essential in this fenland. Canals and ditches were dug and windmills were constructed.  In Kinderdijk 19 mills remain, standing at attention in impressive rows. Via an inland bike road, you visit a  cheese farm and then you can choose, a shorter or longer ride through the fenland. You'll enjoy the lovely scenery of water and marsh, filled with the sound of birds. The Quo Vadis waits in the center of interesting Dordrecht, the oldest city of Holland, once an important market because of its strategic location. utch State was announced in a confiscated monastery.

Day 5: Dordrecht – Willemstad – Zierikzee, 29 or 35 mi. (56 or 46 km)
During breakfast, you sail to Willemstad, a tiny historical garrison town with fortifications, a good representation of the old Dutch Republic. Continuing on, you arrive in Sealand, islands in the shallow delta of Rhine, Maas and Scheldt rivers. Although these islands are now connected, thanks to land reclamation after the flood disaster of 1953 with huge dams of the Delta Works, they all have retained their own character. You enjoy a beautiful tour through open land between sky and sea to Oude Tonge, a small water-sports village that was badly impacted by the 1953 flood catastrophe. 305 People were buried in a mass grave near the dike just outside the village. On the island of Duiveland, the longer route leads to the Inundation museum, located in a secluded area housed in 4 huge boxes with which the dikes were restored after the bombing in World War II. The Quo Vadis can be found in Zierikzee, dominated by the ‘Fat tower’; once a rich trading-port with a beautiful harbor and lots of monuments.

Day 6: Zierikzee - Veere - Middelburg, 16 or 33 mi. (26 or 52 km)
Today's bike tour will start by taking you towards the western part of the island, Schouwen. At Westenschouwen you will begin crossing the Oosterscheldedam. Halfway along the dam, you can spot the former artificial island, Neeltje Jans. Be sure to take a closer look at the interior and exterior of the storm surge barrier. Although all the islands of the provinces Zuid-Holland and Zeeland are now connected, and should no longer be called islands, they have all retained their original character. With a strong headwind, this trip can be quite strenuous. In that case, you may prefer to do the first part of today's route on board the ship and start cycling at Zandkreek. Quiet country roads will take you into Veere and end in Middelburg. This town became, after Amsterdam, the most important center for the Dutch East India Company and also played an important role in the 17th-century slave trade.

Day 7: Middelburg - Vlissingen (Flushing) - Sas van Gent - Ghent, 28 mi. (45 km)
By ship or on the bike, you will head to Vlissingen (Flushing), an important port at the mouth of the Westerschelde. Here, you will take the ferry to Breskens in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (the Dutch part of Flanders), which takes about twenty minutes. Belgium is now getting close. While cycling through the spacious land and scattered villages, you may not even notice that you are crossing the Dutch-Belgian border. In Sas van Gent, the Quo Vadis waits for you and brings you to Ghent. The city of Ghent is proud of its rich past but is much more than just a museum town. This lively city has numerous squares and cozy pubs and is an excellent mixture of medieval edifices, stylish shopping streets, splendid mansions, working-class quarters from the beginning of the 20th century which now often house students, and busy little squares where people eat out till the wee hours during the summer.

Day 8: Gent - Machelen - Kortrijk, 25 mi. (40 km)
This morning the ship will bring you to Machelen on the Leie River, the eastern border of the Western Front of WW1. The first stop will be at the Flanders Fields American Cemetery. This peaceful site includes an impressive Memorial. From here you will follow the Leie River to Kortrijk. This town originates from a Gallo-Roman town, at the crossroad of two Roman roads. In the Middle Ages Kortrijk grew to one of the biggest and richest cities in Flanders because of the flax and wool trade with France and England.

Day 9: Tour around Ypres, Flanders Fields, 27 mi. (43 km)
After breakfast, you’ll go by train to Ypres where your bike is already waiting for you and you will set off following the Peace Route. The Peace Route will highlight Ypres Salient, the old arch-shaped front line which enclosed Ypres on three sides during the First World War. It starts on the market square in the heart of Ypres. You will cycle by historical sites and Memorials of WW1.

In the late afternoon, you’ll be back in Ypres. Here you can enjoy the regional cuisine in one of the city's restaurants.  At 8:00 pm you should visit the Last Post Ceremony under the Menin Gate.  This ceremony has been a tradition since 1929 and takes place every night and in all types of weather.  After this event, you’ll be brought back to the Quo Vadis.

Day 10: Kortrijk - Lichtervelde - Bruges, 20 mi. (32 km)
Today a shorter trip is on the schedule so that you will have ample time to explore Bruges. You will cycle through the beautiful countryside of Western Flanders to Bruges, the Venice of the North. This town is one of the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old center, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. Bruges was, in old times, a metropolis and center of commerce and art. Bruges historic center with its numerous canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 11: Departure in Bruges
Departure is after breakfast by 9:30 am.

Bruges to Amsterdam

Day 1: Arrival in Bruges. You are able to check in beginning at 3 pm.
Day 2: Bruges - Machelen - Kortrijk on the Leie River,  27 mi. (43 km) 
Day 3: Kortrijk – Menen – Wervik, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Wervik, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Kortrijk – st.Baafsvijve – Ghent, 27 mi. (43 km)
Day 6: Ghent – Dendermonde - St Amands, 20 mi. (48 km)
Day 7: St Amands – Temse – Antwerp, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 8: Antwerp - Tholen - Willemstad – Dordrecht, 26 mi. (42 km) 
Day 9: Dordrecht - Gouda, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 10: Gouda – Alphen - Amsterdam, 21 mi. (34 km)
Day 11: Departure in Amsterdam

Day 1: Arrive Bruges
Individual arrival in Bruges. The MS Quo Vadis awaits you in the Bruges harbor close to the railway station. You are able to check-in from 3:00-05:00 pm. The ship will stay in Bruges. Before dinner, you will be assigned your bike. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks and dinner on board before taking a guided walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Bruges known as the “Venice of the North” because of its many canals. Medieval buildings dating back to the 14th-century line its narrow cobbled streets.

Day 2: Bruges - Machelen - Kortrijk on the Leie River, 27 mi. (43 km)
Before breakfast, the barge will sail to Moerbrugge along the Ghent – Oostende canal. Here you start your first cycling experience through the beautiful Flemish countryside and stop to see some well preserved WWII German pillboxes built to guard this strategic waterway. After several hours, you re-join the barge in Machelen on the Leie River. From here, you sail southbound to Kortrijk.

Day 3: Kortrijk – Menen – Wervik, 26 mi. (42 km) 
Today you bike southeast of Ypres, visiting the famous WW1 battle sites of the Ypres Salient South.  The Zandvoorde Cemetery, the Hill 62 Sanctuary Wood, Hill 60 (Australian Tunneling Company), the Caterpillar Crater, and the Command-bunker Zandvoorde. You will end the tour back in Wervik, where the Quo Vadis is moored.

Day 4: Wervik, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today a bus will bring you and your bike to Ypres. You will follow the Ypres Salient North and East. The Yorkshire Trench and dug-out, Langemark, and many places where the Anzac troops saw service, the New Zealand Forces Memorial, the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele,  Polygon Woods, and the Menin Road in Belgium. Late afternoon you are back in Ypres. Here you can enjoy the regional cuisine in one of the city’s restaurants, at your own cost. Tonight, at the Menin Gate in Ypres, you will experience the Last Post Ceremony. This has taken place every night since 1928 except during the German occupation of WWII. After this event, you are brought back to the Quo Vadis.

Day 5: Kortrijk – st.Baafsvijve – Ghent, 27 mi. (43 km)
During breakfast, the ship will bring you in the direction of Ghent. Near St-Baafs the biking starts, following the river Leie. This river was one of the frontlines in WW1 and WW2. By early afternoon you arrive in Ghent. This city is proud of his rich past but is much more than a museum town. This lively city has numerous squares and cozy pubs and is an excellent mixture of medieval edifices, stylist stopping streets, splendid mansions, working-class quarters from the beginning of the 20th century, and busy little squares where people eat out till the wee hours during the summer.

Day 6: Ghent – Dendermonde - St Amands, 20 mi. (48 km)
After breakfast, you ride through diverse landscapes to Dendermonde at the mouth of the Dender River where it flows into the River Schelde. Here you can enjoy some time off the bike with a coffee at the beautiful Flemish Grote Market Square. Back on the barge, you cruise along one of the most beautiful and winding parts of the route along the River Schelde to St Amands.

Day 7: St Amands – Temse – Antwerp, 26 mi. (42 km)
The cycle route leads along the Schelde to Temse Bridge. Then through the countryside, via Rupelmonde and Hemiksem, to the harbor city of Antwerp. This city is where 80% of the world’s rough cast diamonds are handled. After dinner, you may wish to catch a cab into the city to see the spectacular buildings lit by floodlights.

Day 8: Antwerp - Tholen - Willemstad – Dordrecht, 26 mi. (42 km)
The Quo Vadis will sail this morning along the Schelde-Rhine Canal to the huge Kreekrak lock system, just over the Dutch border. From here you bike to Tholen, a former fishing village in the province of Zeeland. From Tholen, it is onward to the fortified town of Willemstad passing along the impressive Volkerak lock system. Final destination today is  Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands.

Day 9: Dordrecht - Gouda, 25 mi. (40 km) 
You start the day with your bikes on the fast ferry “waterbus” that will transfer to  Alblasserdam in just 10 minutes. From here it is just a short ride to Kinderdijk,  famous for its impressive row of 19 windmills classified as a world heritage site. They were constructed in the 18th century to pump water from the low lying tract of land or polder surrounded by embankments. You cycle on to Gouda, famous for cheese and its city hall built in the mid-1400s. You will see the market place and historic cheese weighing station and museum.

Day 10: Gouda – Alphen - Amsterdam, 21 mi. (34 km) 
During a sailing breakfast, the Quo Vadis brings you to Alphen aan de Rijn. From here you start biking along the Amstel River to Ouderkerk. Here, the Quo Vadis for an impressive sail-in through the old Amsterdam canals to Amsterdam Harbor. Tonight is free so you can enjoy the city, just a short walk from the harbor.

Day 11: Departure in Amsterdam
Departure is after breakfast, by 9:30 am.

Program and timetable may differ.

Amsterdam to Bruges

Day 1: Amsterdam - Weesp | Test ride in Weesp, 6 mi. (11 km)
Day 2: Weesp - Utrecht | Utrecht - Vianen, 28 mi. (47 km)
Day 3: Vianen - Schoonhoven - Kinderdijk - Alblasserdam | Alblasserdam - Dordrecht (waterbus ferry), 13 or 36 mi. (22 or 57 km)
Day 4: Dordrecht - Willemstad | Willemstad - Tholen, 28 mi. (44 km)
Day 5: Tholen - Kreekrak lock | Kreekrak locks - Antwerp, 13 or 23 mi. (20 or 36 km)
Day 6: Antwerp
Day 7: Antwerp - Temse - St. Amands, 21 or 31 mi. (34 or 49 km)
Day 8: St. Amands - Dendermonde | Dendermonde -Ghent, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 9: Ghent- Bruges, 13 or 28 mi. (22 or 45 km)
Day 10: Tour around Bruges to the North Sea, 23 mi.(38 km)
Day 11: Bruges

Distances are approximate. All itineraries are subject to change due to variables in wind and weather and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, lock repairs, etc. Parts in Italics are by boat.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Weesp | Test ride in Weesp, 6 mi. (11 km)
Embarkation and check-in. The crew will welcome you on board are between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Around 2 p.m. the ship sails to Wees so be on time! This small city on the banks of the river Vecht has a historical center with many canals and buildings dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth century. It also has a few beautiful windmills. The scenic river Vecht and the small roads along the river attract yachters and cyclists. As soon as you arrive, the tour leader will organize a test ride. After dinner, you will have time to stroll through this charming city.

Day 2: Weesp - Utrecht | Utrecht - Vianen, 28 mi. (47 km)
Your bike tour starts in Weesp along the beautiful meandering river Vecht with impressive mansions on its banks. Along the way, you will visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods. You will meet the ship in the city of Utrecht and from there, sail the Amsterdam-Rhine canal to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek.

Day 3: Vianen - Schoonhoven - Kinderdijk - Alblasserdam | Alblasserdam - Dordrecht (waterbus ferry), 13 or 36 mi. (22 or 57 km)
Today you will cycle a beautiful route along the Lek River to Schoonhoven, a city renowned for its talented silversmiths since the 17th century, earning it the nickname Zilverstad (“Silver City”). 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. These 19 windmills are also UNESCO cultural heritage attractions and are a definite highlight of The Netherlands.  You will have the opportunity to go inside one, so don’t forget to bring your camera! From nearby Alblasserdam, you will take the “Waterbus,” a fast ferry that carries you and your bicycle in approx. 10 minutes to Dordrecht. Dordrecht, or “Dordt,” as it is called by insiders, is one of the oldest Dutch cities, and sits on the confluence of three major rivers. In the evening, after dinner, you can join your guide for a short city walk visiting some of Dordt’s 1600 monuments and the picturesque point where the waterways meet.

Day 4: Dordrecht - Willemstad | Willemstad - Tholen, 28 mi. (44 km)
As you relax with a tasty breakfast aboard your ship, the Gandalf, it will sail onwards to Willemstad where you will start your day’s cycling. Willemstad is a beautiful old fortified town on the Haringvliet waterway. From here, your bicycle tour for the day heads to Tholen, which once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland stream system — a place where many people fished for their living. Nowadays, Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways, but it is still a picturesque village with many relics from an eventful past.

Day 5: Tholen - Kreekrak lock | Kreekrak locks - Antwerp, 13 or 23 mi. (20 or 36 km)
After coffee and breakfast, you will leave the barge for a bicycle tour through the “Wouwse Plantage” forest, heading south to the impressive Kreekraksluis, or Kreekrak lock.

In the afternoon, you will once again board the ship to cruise to the port city of Antwerp, which is 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 delightful attractions in store for you. These include the City Hall — one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period — the Grote Markt historical city square, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, and the medieval Steen Castle.

Day 6: Antwerp
Today the barge stays in Antwerp. This means you will have an entire day to discover this city of culture, cobblestones, and Flemish Baroque masterpieces. You can visit the Rubens House, the palazzo where the brilliant and versatile artist lived with his family. You will find some of his paintings to admire just a ten-minute walk away in the “Onze Lieve Vrouwe (Our Dear Lady) Cathedral.”

Other ideas for spending a pleasant afternoon here are to visit the famous beer brewery of ‘de Koninck’ for a tour and tasting, explore the fascinating Museum on the Scheldt River (MAS — Museum aan de Stroom) or go shopping in Antwerp’s welcoming shopping area. Dinner tonight is not included as you have the chance to dine at a restaurant of your choosing. If needed, your crew can provide restaurant recommendations.

Day 7: Antwerp - Temse - St. Amands, 21 or 31 mi. (34 or 49 km)
This morning, you will cycle out of Antwerp along a striking section of the Schelde River to St. Amands, where your home away from home will dock for the night. There is only one way to describe the scenery along the Schelde, and that is “magnificent.” Its natural splendor is, without doubt, one of the highlights of the tour. In the evening, if you haven’t already taken the chance to taste one of Belgium’s incomparable “biers,” then make sure you give them a try. The famous Duvel brew is a specialty of the region.

Day 8: St. Amands - Dendermonde | Dendermonde -Ghent, 32 mi. (52 km)
During breakfast, the ship will bring you to the city of Dendermonde. Here you’ll disembark and continue to bike along the Schelde River to Ghent, where the ship will moor for the night at a lock in a suburb of the city. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich history: Since Roman times, Ghent’s position at the confluence of the Leie and Schelde rivers has ensured its success as a trading port, at one point making it the second biggest city in Europe.  The old city features an Opera House, a total of 18 museums, more than 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. Two of the major attractions are St. Bavo Cathedral — where a number of medieval art masterpieces are kept, including the world-famous ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck — and the 91-meter-tall belfry of Ghent, which is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center. Tonight, your floating hotel will be docked close to the city center of Ghent, giving you the chance to explore at your leisure.

Day 9: Ghent- Bruges, 13 or 28 mi. (22 or 45 km)
After a fortifying breakfast, you will cycle onwards from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish countryside of Western Flanders to Bruges, which is widely described as the ‘Venice of the North’ and arguably the most beautiful of all the Flemish cities. Bruges attracts a great many European and foreign holidaymakers thanks to its picturesque, UNESCO-listed medieval city center and a wealth of attractions for history lovers. An outstandingly-preserved example of a medieval 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 its 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. In the evening, your guide will take you for a walk to show you some beautiful parts of the city center — and maybe you can even taste a ‘Brugse Zot,’ a famous local beer.

Day 10: Tour around Bruges to the North Sea, 23 mi. (38 km)
Today your barge will stay in Bruges, giving you the choice of how you would like to spend the day. The tour leader will offer a morning bike tour of about 37 km. Your final cycle will set out along a quiet canal, past beautiful poplar trees, and through attractive landscapes of flat green polder fields dotted with small farmhouses (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments). On the return ride to Bruges, you will cycle along a charming little canal.

Day 11: Bruges
The end of your tour: Enjoy one final breakfast and disembark by 9.30 a.m.

Bruges to Amsterdam

Day 1: Bruges, 6 mi. (11 km)
Day 2: Roundtrip from/to Bruges and North Sea, 23 mi. (38 km)
Day 3: Bruges - Aalterbrug | Aalterbrug - Ghent, 23 or 28 mi. (37 or 45 km)
Day 4: Ghent - Dendermonde/St. Amands, 24 or 34 mi. (40 or 55 km)
Day 5: St. Amands - Temse - Antwerp, 21 or 31 mi. (33 or 49 km)
Day 6: Rest day in Antwerp
Day 7: Antwerp - Kreekrak Locks | Kreekrak Locks - Tholen, 13 or 23 mi. (20 or 36 km)
Day 8: Tholen - Willemstad |Willemstad -Dordrecht, 23 or 26 mi. (36 or 44 km)
Day 9: Dordrecht - Alblasserdam (waterbus ferry) | Alblasserdam - Kinderdijk - Schoonhoven -  Vianen, 19 or 36 mi. (32 or 57 km)
Day 10: Vianen - Breukelen | Breukelen - Amsterdam, 22 or 29 mi. (37 or 47 km)
Day 11: Amsterdam

Parts in Italics are by boat.