Amsterdam to Koblenz

Amsterdam to Koblenz

Day 1: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen - Arnhem
Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden - Rees (Germany)
Day 4: Rees - Wesel - Düsseldorf
Day 5: Rails to trails (details to be finalized soon)
Day 6: Düsseldorf - Cologne
Day 7: Cologne - Bonn
Day 8: Bonn - Koblenz
Day 9: Koblenz

Day 1: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede
Your adventure starts in the heart of Amsterdam, where the IRIS is docked and ready to sail. On board, as the boat navigates, you will get a taste of the beauty of Amsterdam seen from the water. You cycling begins as a scenic ride along the prestigious houses along the Vecht, where the sophisticated traders and aristocrats of Amsterdam had their country homes.  The winding little river is a branch of the Rhine and you follow this upstream. Your biking ends in Breukelen (yes, indeed: where Brooklyn NY gets the name. By the end of the afternoon, you board the barge and cruise to Wijk bij Duurstede, a small fortified town on the river Rhine. Enjoy an evening stroll and turn in your comfortable cabin!

Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen - Arnhem
What a magical place! No visit to Holland is complete without a ride through Europe’s largest drifting sand dunes in the National Park Hoge Veluwe. Imagine an African safari with grassy plains and weathered pines, bogs brimming with rare species, and hardwood forests filled with birdsong. The geography is wild thanks to an Ice Age glacier that dumped its load of sand and gravel in the region.  Awaiting you on the other side is the world-famous Kröller-Müller art gallery and sculpture park with the largest private Van Gogh collection in the world. Also showcased are works by Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondriaa.  The route continues to Arnhem ‘Home of Eagles,’ given its name by Romans stationed on the Rhine. Perhaps you recall the 1977 classic A Bridge Too Far and the failed Allied-Forces attempt to break through German lines and take several bridges (including Arnhem) in Operation Market Garden? Renamed the John Frost Bridge, you may walk or ride across this beloved landmark into Arnhem center which is teeming with art, fashion and all things Lekker (Sweet, fun, cool).

Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden - Rees
Of bridges, battlegrounds, and castles, for example,  the 13th-century Doornenburg Castle. It’s an impressive brick behemoth where German commanders set up headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem. Naturally, it became a prime target for British bombers. After a tour, your route leaves Holland, crossing the border into Germany. Around the bend is Emmerich, home of Germany’s longest suspension bridge. This engineering feat spans some 1,600 ft across the Rhine and you can bike across for super aerial photos. Some 500 ships pass underneath it every day. Before the Rhine was channeled in the 1800s, sturgeon, shad, and salmon used to swim the river — not anymore. Now, the barges are the big fish. Emmerich is also home to a WWII Biber submarine and one-man U-Boat which you can view in the Rhine Museum. Day's destination is Rees, famous for its medieval wall, towers and river promenade with art sculptures, restaurants, and cafés. This is the perfect place to raise your Riesling glass or beer stein and watch the Rhine flow by. 

Day 4: Rees - Wesel - Düsseldorf
The great Ruhr region was once Germany’s blast furnace during the Industrial Revolution. Not today.  Pedaling peacefully along the Rhine, you’ll see historic factory stacks, now mostly quiet and converted into other uses and venues, a reminder of when coal was king. This area is also where Neanderthal Man was found in 1856.  Your cruise through the world’s biggest inland harbor in Duisburg followed by the sparkling city of Düsseldorf, Germany’s fashion and advertising capital. Think supermodel Claudia Schiffer. You can sample Altbier which doesn’t mean the beer is old! It is a top-down fermentation style that’s hoppy and bitter-crisp. The waiters won’t ask if you want a second beer, it will just appear in front of you. Explore the Altstadt along the river or check out Media Harbo, the rehabbed riverside warehouse district that is very trendy. The city sparkles with international flair, übermodern architecture, and swanky folk. A casual feeling reigns in the evening when the “suits” loosen their ties at the 17th century Füchschen Brewery for roast pork shank (Haxen)  You’ll need a couple of cold ones to wash it down. Bring it on Düsseldorf!

Day 5: Rails to trails (details to be finalized soon)

Day 6: Düsseldorf - Cologne
Today’s ride stretches from one rival city to the other.  In Düsseldorf, you drink Altbier, but you’ll forget that word exists when you arrive in Cologne. Here, Kölsch is king. Everything worth seeing is within walking distance from the barge. The city isn’t just big, it’s ancient. The Romans set up their northern military headquarters here in 50 AD.  The blending of Roman and Germanic cultures is showcased in the Roman-Germanic Museum. The cathedral of Cologne towers above all. It is longer than a football field and holds 20,000 people! It takes an army of specialists to maintain the 750-yr old landmark, 80 stonemasons, glazers, and roofers. Once you hear the tolling of its bells, you will never forget it. There are many free concerts. The best place to take it all in is at Café Reichard for a German trifecta, coffee, cake, and cathedral views. district for rambling The medieval Hay Market is a wonderful place to meander.  Here you can fill your steins with good Kölsch beer and top it off with an order of Himmel un Ääd (heaven and earth). Apples and mashed potatoes are Cologne’s comfort food!

Day 7: Cologne - Bonn
Today you will pedal to  West Germany’s former Capital city. When the wall came down in 1990, most of the government moved back to Berlin. It’s the birthplace of musical genius Ludwig van Beethoven. You can visit the world-famous Haribo factory with all the gummy sweets and gadgets—imagine Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Bonn’s parks and gardens are splendid. The first-rate Botanical Gardens at Poppelsdorf Palace are among the oldest. Have you ever seen a water lily whose giant pads hold the weight of a 95-pound child!? And the world’s rarest flowering plant, titan arum, the Sumatran Corpse Flower that takes 7 years to blossom for just one day! Stroll Bonn’s endless river promenade and the nearby Rheinaue Leisure Park.  For the best views of the legendary Siebengebirge hills, join the locals under the great chestnut trees at the ‘Alter Zoll’ beer garden. It’s a former Rhine toll station and military fort along the river.

Day 8: Bonn - Koblenz
This morning you cruise past the Siebengebirge (seven hills) and officially enter the legendary middle Rhine valley with its dramatic cliffs and curves, romantic castles, sloping vineyards, and sleepy half-timbered villages. You sail past the ancient volcano, Dragon’s Rock where the hero Siegfried killed the dragon and bathed in its blood to become invincible. The Dragon’s Castle lies in ruins, a reminder of French revenge. Today’s biking starts in Remagen with a stop at Ludendorff Bridge. It was only one of two bridges still intact over the Rhine during Operation Lumberjack in the final days of WWII. In a stroke of good luck, U.S. Army got 25,000 troops, six Army divisions, tanks, artillery, and trucks across the river. You pass little villages with old churches and the medieval harbor crane. Arriving in Koblenz, you moor in the shadows of mighty Ehrenbreitensteinfortress. Here the noble Riesling grape is the Queen of Cups. Trocken means dry. Order one and prepare to become a convert for life. Prefer a beer in the Koblenz’ Biergarten? You will find that just steps away. 

Day 9: Koblenz
Departure

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.

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. The museum is a cultural heritage site founded at the start of the twentieth century by Anton and Helene Kröller-Müller. Anton was a successful businessman who enjoyed hunting with business associates and friends, so he purchased the Hoge Veluwe, in several phases from 1909, as a hunting ground. Helene was an enthusiastic art collector. Anton and Helene had a dream: to bring nature and culture together. Between 1909-23 they laid the foundations for today’s national park, and started construction of a museum for their art collection. In 1935 the park was placed in a foundation: The Hoge Veluwe National Park. The foundation received a loan from the Dutch government, and the art collection was donated to the State of the Netherlands, which completed the museum. 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) and we cycle through the abundant forest. In the afternoon we ride to Arnhem where we meet the barge. After dinner, you can join a walking tour of Arnhem

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, we pass Doornenburg with its wonderfully maintained medieval stronghold. This fairytale castle has provided the location for many a movie. From Doornenburg you take the right bank of the Rhine and pass the border at Lobith. En route to our 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 remains

Day 4: Rees - Wesel  | Wesel - Duisburg | Duisburg - Düsseldorf, 24 mi. (40 km)
The barge departs early this morning and over breakfast, we sail to Wesel, where we disembark. 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 a target in 1923, when French and Belgian troops tried to occupy it to enforce Prussia’s WWI reparation payments. From 1944-45 the Ruhr was also a top target for the Allies. 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. However, as we don’t want to cycle too long past factories, 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)
During breakfast we cruise to the old town of Zons. We leave the Ruhr behind as we cycle towards Cologne. Today we 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)
Today we again follow the river by bike in order to reach Bonn in time to visit 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. We pass the beloved bathing resort of Bad Breisig and also Burg Rheineck. This stronghold, set in stunning scenery, dates back to 1100. We visit Andernach, once a Roman settlement. It is still a wonderful town with many historical sites. Shortly after Andernach we arrive in 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. Koblenz is a city cozily rebuilt after the damages of the Second World War.

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, 11 mi. (17 km)
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede, sailing to Wageningen, cycling to Arnhem, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Arnhem, sailing to Pannerden, cycling to Rees, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Rees, sailing to Wesel, cycling to Ruhrort, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Ruhrort - Düsseldorf, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Düsseldorf, sailing to Zons and cycling to Cologne, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 7: Cologne to Remagen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Remagen - Koblenz, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 9: Koblenz

Day 1: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede , 11 mi. (17 km)
You are expected to arrive on the barge on Saturday by 2 PM. Boarding begins at 1 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, as due to the opening hours of bridges and/or locks, timely departure is necessary. When you arrive onboard 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, sailing to Wageningen, cycling to Arnhem, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today you enjoy breakfast during sailing to the city of Wageningen and then bike along the Nederrijn River. Later you bike through National Park de Hoge Veluwe with its abundant scenic beauty. Your bike tour ends today in Arnhem, famous for its role in the Second World War.

Day 3: Arnhem, sailing to Pannerden, cycling to 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, sailing to Wesel, cycling to 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, sailing to Zons and cycling to Cologne, 19 mi. (30 km)
Today you will enjoy a great ride into West Germany’s former capital city. When the wall came down in 1990 most of the government moved back to Berlin. It’s the birthplace of musical genius Ludwig van Beethoven. Even after he’d lost his hearing in his ‘20s, Beethoven continued to write classics like Moonlight Sonata. It’s a tune that puts you in the Bonn mood. You can visit the world-famous Haribo factory with all the gummy sweets and gadgets—imagine Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Sure Bonn has its “museum mile,” but Bonn’s parks and gardens are the cat’s meow when it’s sunny. The first-rate Botanical Gardens at Poppelsdorf Palace are among the oldest. Have you ever seen a water lily whose giant pads hold the weight of a 95-pound child!? And the world’s rarest flowering plant, titan arum—the stinky Sumatran Corpse Flower that takes 7 years to blossom for just one day…fairytale flowers! Stroll Bonn’s endless river promenade and the nearby Rheinaue Leisure Park. There are so many sights right near the dock. For the best views of legendary Siebengebirge hills, join locals under the great chestnut trees at the ‘Alter Zoll’ beer garden. It’s a former Rhine toll station and military fort along the river and another BikePlanet favorite.

Day 7: Cologne to Remagen, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today you cycle further along the Rhine to the former capital of West-Germany and 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, 28 mi. (45 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