Amsterdam to Koblenz

Amsterdam to Koblenz

Day 1: Amsterdam - Nigtevecht | Nigtevecht - Breukelen | Breukelen -  Wijk bij Duurstede, 9 mi. (17 km)
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen |  Wageningen - Arnhem, 21 or 31 mi. (35 or 52 km)
Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden | Pannerden - Rees, 26 or 29 mi. (42 or 47 km)
Day 4: Rees - Wesel  | Wesel - Duisburg | Duisburg - Düsseldorf, 24 mi.(40 km
Day 5: Düsseldorf  Zons | Zons - Cologne, 17 or 33 mi. (28 or 54 km)
Day 6: Cologne - Bonn, 23 mi. (38 km)
Day 7: Bonn -  Remagen | Remagen - Koblenz, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 8: Koblenz

On days when two-day cycling routes are possible, the tour leader will choose to guide the longer or shorter option in consultation with the group. Not all highlights mentioned will be visited on the shorter cycling option. Parts in italics are covered by boat.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Nigtevecht | Nigtevecht - Breukelen | Breukelen -  Wijk bij Duurstede, 9 mi. (17 km)
Embarkation in Amsterdam is at 12.30 p.m. Please be sure to arrive on time!

Following a welcome meeting with the crew, the barge will depart immediately for Nigtevecht. Here you will set out on a short test-ride to Breukelen, after which Brooklyn in New York is named. You will enjoy the Dutch countryside and the meandering Vecht River. Dinner is served while sailing on the Amsterdam – Rhine Canal. The ship will dock at Wijk bij Duurstede; one of the oldest settlements in the lowlands.

Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen |  Wageningen - Arnhem, 21 or 31 mi. (35 or 52 km)
Enjoy breakfast while sailing. Today you cycle from Wageningen through the Hoge Veluwe National Park, with a visit to the Kröller-Müller museum. Anton and Helene had a dream: to bring nature and culture together. From 1909-23, the national park was developed and the museum constructed. Today the Kröller-Müller Museum features a world-famous collection of mainly 19th and 20th-century art. Central to the extensive collection are many works by Vincent van Gogh. Today’s ride has some elevation (by Dutch standards) featuring some uphills through abundant forest. In the afternoon, you ride to Arnhem to meet the barge. A walking tour of Arnhem is offered after dinner.

Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden | Pannerden - Rees, 26 or 29 mi. (42 or 47 km)
Sail through Dutch countryside during breakfast, then start the day’s cycling from Pannerden. Before reaching the German border, you pass Doornenburg with its wonderfully maintained medieval stronghold. This fairytale castle has provided the location for many movies. From Doornenburg you take the right bank of the Rhine and pass the border at Lobith. En route to your destination of Rees, you pass Emmerich, a larger town boasting a lovely boulevard along the Rhine. We end the day in Rees, with its impressive fortification remnants.

Day 4: Rees - Wesel  | Wesel - Duisburg | Duisburg - Düsseldorf, 24 mi. (40 km)
The barge departs early this morning to sail to Wesel for disembarkation. Today we focus on the Ruhr area where Germany, and possibly Europe’s, largest industries are located. Cities like Essen, Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Dortmund are intertwined together through a maze of highways, railways, and waterways. This region was once very prosperous and therefore an enemy target in both WWI and WWII. After so much conflict and industry, it’s hard to imagine that you can cycle here, but you can! The German government put a lot of effort into redeveloping the area after the closure of many factories. It may not be always scenic, but it is an impressive and evolving post-industrial landscape not to be missed when visiting the Rhine. The ship picks us up at Duisburg and takes us on to Düsseldorf. We dine while sailing. In the evening there is time to visit the Altstadt, where you can try the famous local dark beer, Altbier. You will be amazed what an international city Düsseldorf is, with foreigners comprising almost a fifth of the population.

Day 5: Düsseldorf  Zons | Zons- Cologne, 17 or 33 mi. (28 or 54 km)
The old town of Zons is the morning destination to which you will arrive by ship and then, leaving the Ruhr River behind, cycle towards Cologne. You follow the Rhine closely in order to arrive in Cologne early enough for some afternoon exploring. Founded by the Romans, Cologne is the oldest of Germany’s larger cities. In 50 AD it was already granted the status of ‘city’ as a gift from the Roman empress Agrippina. Later, Cologne became one of the most important centers of the Holy Roman Empire. Its landmark is, of course, the Dom cathedral, located right next to the central station and railway bridge crossing the Rhine. Construction on the cathedral began in 1248 and was only completed in 1880! The city was almost completely destroyed in Allied bombings of 1944-1945. The city hall, however, dating from 1330, has been beautifully restored.

Day 6: Cologne - Bonn, 23 mi. (38 km)
By bike, you follow the river to reach Bonn, West Germany’s capital from 1945 until 1990. Berlin was re-established as the capital after Germany’s reunification, but Bonn continues to house six governmental departments. Like Cologne, Bonn was founded by the Romans, around the year 10 BC, as it was a good site to bridge the Rhine. Worth visiting are the old City Hall, the Münster Basilica, and the house where Beethoven was born. After dinner, you can join a city walk through Bonn.

Day 7: Bonn -  Remagen | Remagen - Koblenz, 27 mi. (44 km)
During breakfast, you sail to Remagen. Your cycling tour starts here, but first there’s time to explore this town’s rich historical past. Nowadays it is best known for its once-famous Ludendorff Bridge, the only functional Rhine bridge captured by Americans in Operation Lumberjack in March 1945. The bridgehead houses a museum dedicated to its history. After Remagen, a more romantic section of the Rhine valley begins with strongholds, mansions, and the first vineyards at the foothills of central Germany. You pass the popular spa resorts of Bad Breisig and also Burg Rheineck. This stronghold, set in stunning scenery, dates back to 1100. You visit Andernach, once a Roman settlement. It is still a wonderful town with many historical sites. Shortly after Andernach you arrive at your final destination, Koblenz. Its name comes from the Latin confluentes, meaning the merging of two rivers (the Rhine and Moselle). The statue of Emperor Wilhelm of Prussia at the intersection of the two rivers is an impressive landmark. 

Day 8: Koblenz
The end of your tour: Enjoy one final breakfast and disembark by 9.30 a.m.

Amsterdam to Koblenz

Day 1: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede, 10 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen | Wageningen - Arnhem,  25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden | Pannerden - Rees, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Rees - Wesel | Wesel - Ruhrort, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Ruhrort - Düsseldorf, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Düsseldorf - Cologne, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 7: Cologne -Remagen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Remagen - Koblenz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 9: Koblenz

Day 1: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede , 10 mi. (15 km)
You are expected to arrive at the barge on Saturday between 1  and 2 pm. It is very important to be on time since the barge needs to leave the mooring place in Amsterdam (Oosterdok 2, near Nemo Museum) at 2:15 pm. Due to the opening hours of bridges and/or locks, timely departure is necessary. When you arrive on board the ship, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper, and crew and of course your fellow passengers. Once the boat arrives in Negtevecht, the cycling begins. You pedal along the river Vecht, where, in the 17th and 18th centuries, many country estates known as “buitenplaats” were built on the banks of the river by rich merchants and administrators from Amsterdam.  You bike along the meandering river to Breukelen. This town is known in New York as Brooklyn. The Zwaan is waiting for you to sail to Wijk bij Duurstede, an old settlement at the river Lek.

Day 2:  Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen | Wageningen - Arnhem,  25 mi. (40 km)
While you are enjoying breakfast, the barge will sail to Wageningen where, following the distribution of bicycles, you are finally off and cycling through the picturesque river valley of the Rhine. Along the way, you will visit the protected nature reserve “De Blauwe Kamer” (the Blue Chamber), followed by the woods and moorlands of Veluwe National Park. The 5400-hectare park is home to many plant and animal species and also to the Kröller-Müller Museum featuring the largest private Van Gogh collection in the world. To visit involves 25 km more cycling and is optional. The guide will ride the shorter route excluding the museum and can provide a route description. In Oosterbeek you can visit the memorials and cemeteries of the Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market Garden) in WW2. Later in the day you pedal through the suburbs and past lovely parks such as Sonsbeek and Zijpendaal to Arnhem, where you spend the night close to the city center. As on most evenings the tour guide will take you on a walk around the city.

Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden | Pannerden - Rees, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today your biking starts from Pannerden. Before you hit the German border, you pass Doornenburg, with its wonderfully maintained medieval stronghold. From Doornenburg you take the right bank of the Rhine and pass the border at Lobith, a village every schoolchild knows. At Tolkamer the Dutch used to impose tolls on incoming ships. On the way to your destination, Rees, you pass Emmerich, a larger town with a lovely boulevard along the Rhine. You may also stop at Kalkar. This beautiful town is also known for the failure of the German Nuclear Energy program in the 70s. A completely finished nuclear processing plant has never been put into use due to massive protest and is recently re-opened as an attraction park! You end your day in Rees, a town with impressive remains of fortification.

Day 4: Rees - Wesel | Wesel - Ruhrort, 25 mi. (40 km)
Once again you sail during breakfast and get off at Wesel. Today, you focus on the Ruhr area where Germany’s and probably Europe’s largest industries are housed. On a surface of 4.600 km2, very rich in coal, a vast landscape folds out of steel plants and textile industries, combined with chemical industrial plants. Cities like Essen, Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Dortmund are linked together through a maze of highways, railways, and waterways. Once very prosperous, it was a target in 1923 when Belgium and French troops tried to enforce WW 1 payments of Prussia and a target in1944-1945. Hard to imagine that you can cycle here, but you can! The German government put extensive effort in re-developing the area after the closing down of many factories. In the afternoon, you visit the enormous landscape park of Duisburg-Nord, where you get to see huge former industrial plants and receive a more detailed explanation and information about this area. It may not be always scenic, but it is an impressive landscape indeed and not to be missed when one visits the Rhine. You will find the ship in Ruhrort

Day 5: Ruhrort - Düsseldorf, 26 mi. (42 km)
Today you leave the Ruhr-area behind and head first to Krefeld. In the 18th century, Krefeld grew thanks to the textile industry. Velvet, silk, and brocade were sold to emperors and kings from all over the world. The weavers worked in small houses that simultaneously served as a factory and house. In Krefeld, one can still see some of these houses. Today's destination is Düsseldorf. In the evening there is time to visit the Altstadt. You can try their famous local dark beer, Altbier. You will be amazed at what an international city this is, with almost a fifth of the population being foreigners.

Day 6: Düsseldorf - Cologne, 19 mi. (30 km)
Cycling in the direction of Cologne you will stay close to the Rhine in order to be in Cologne with ample time to look around. Cologne is the oldest of the bigger German cities, founded by the Romans. It got its city rights already 50 years after Christ as a gift from the Roman empress Agrippa. Later Cologne became one of the most important centers of the Holy Roman Empire. Landmark is of course the Cathedral right next to the railway station and the railway bridge over the Rhine. In 1248 they started with the construction of the cathedral and only finished it in 1880!

The city was almost completely destroyed in 1944-1945. The city hall, however, dating from 1330, is beautifully restored.

Day 7: Cologne - Remagen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today you cycle further along the Rhine to the former capital of West Germany and the birthplace of Beethoven Bonn. From Bonn, you keep following the river and former border of the Roman Empire to mooring place Remagen. Remagen was once a Celtic settlement and after that a Roman fort. Remagen became world-famous in the 2nd World War, thanks to the struggle for the “Bridge of Remagen” and the 60’s film of the same name. In March 1945 the Allies crossed the Rhine on the Ludendorff Bridge after the failure in Arnhem in September 1944. Today the Peace Museum is housed in the surviving piers. In the city center, you will find a pedestrian area with stylish shops, interesting cafes, and traditional, cozy pubs. Narrow streets with ancient Roman names will take you from the old town to the Rhine promenade

Day 8: Remagen - Koblenz, 22 mi. (35 km)
During the final stage of your bike and barge cycling holiday, you will experience for the last time the rich history of this majestic river. You visit the Andernach, once a Roman settlement. It is still a wonderful town with many historical sites. Shortly after Andernach, you arrive in Koblenz. Its name comes from the Latin Confluences, meaning the merging of two rivers (Rhine en Moselle). The statue of Emperor Wilhelm of Prussia on the merging point is an impressive landmark. Koblenz is a city cozily rebuilt after the Second World War damages.

Day 9: Departure
Your tour officially ends after breakfast.

Koblenz to Amsterdam

Day 1: Amsterdam, embarking between 1 and 2 pm. Amsterdam - Nigtevecht by boat |  Nigtevecht - Breukelen by bike | Breukelen - Wijkbij Duurstede by boat, 11 mi. (17 km)
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen by boat | Wageningen - Arnhem, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden by boat | Pannerden -  Rees by bike, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Rees - Wesel by boat | Wesel - Ruhrort, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Ruhrort - Düsseldorf, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Düsseldorf - Zons by boat | Zons - Cologne Rheinau Sport, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 7: Cologne - Remagen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Remagen - Koblenz, 28. (45 km)
Day 9: Departure by 10 am