Bruges to Amsterdam - 9 day
Belgium, Netherlands Bike + Boat Tours
A bike and boat tour through Belgium to Holland (or reverse)
Overview
What is a bike and boat tour in Europe, you ask? It is many things but one thing it is not, is a typical cruise. Forget the floating condominium vacation onboard a colossal city-ship.
This small-group experience features two countries, Belgium and Holland, showcasing these European gems (and everything in between) in a unique way. Your accommodations will be the premim vessel, the Iris, with capacity for 24 guests. By the end of your active vacation, you will know everyone's name and celebrate the camaraderie that only a tour like this creates.
As you navigate the ancient waterways and bike the terrain, you will learn from locals the history and culture of these Flemish and Dutch landscapes. We are glad that this is a 9-day tour as it allows for just a bit more time in each location. Who wants to hurry pass the Adoration of the Lamb or not stop to linger in the majesty of color in the Church of St. John in Gouda?
Slow down and really enjoy this active vacation on one of our most popular itineraries.
Highlights
- Ghent
- Adoration of the Mystic Lamb
- Willemstad
- Dordrecht
- Unesco World Heritage site, Kinderdijk
- Saint John's church in Gouda
- Muiderslot Castle
- Amsterdam
- Deluxe accommodation
- Wonderful traffic-free cycling
- Cheese and beer
Looking for more? All of our bike and boat tours in the Netherlands are here.
Itinerary
Bruges to Amsterdam
Day 1: Bruges - Ghent, 12 mi. (19 km)
Day 2: Ghent - Dendermonde, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Dendermonde - Antwerp, 20 or 32 mi. (32 or 51 km)
Day 4: Antwerp - Tholen, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 5: Tholen - Dordrecht, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Dordrecht - Gouda, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 7: Gouda - Uithoorn, 18 mi. (29 km)
Day 8: Uithoorn - Amsterdam, 25 mi. (56 km)
Day 9: AmsterdamAll distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, including, but not limited to weather, last-minute mooring changes, and restructuring of locks or bridges.
Day 1: Bruges - Ghent, 12 mi. (19 km)
After a hearty welcome on the ship in Bruges, the Iris navigates to Ghent and for those who want to cycle, there is a short itinerary planned. The goal of the day is to get comfortable on your bikes but also to experience the city of Ghent in a unique way. Some consider Ghent to be a rival to Bruges, but is often overlooked as a must see. It is one of Belgium's oldest cities, small but vibrant, full of medieval and classical architecture and urban renewal. In the evening, you will experience the city in a different way, by touring the canals and waterways by small boat.
Day 2: Ghent - Dendermonde, 25 mi. (40 km)
In the morning, you can have stroll about the city, explore and shop, or if you prefer you can participate in a guided town walk for those interested in the cultural highlights. At the top of that list, the cherished "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by the Van Eyck brothers. The history of this painting reads like a great novel of intrigue. Be sure to look it up!
In the afternoon, your cycling itinerary will follow the Schelde River to Dendermonde. You cannot be in Belgium without tasting its world-famous beer so this evening, you have the opportunity to participate in an organized Belgian beer tasting.Day 3: Dendermonde - Antwerp, 20 or 32 mi. (32 or 51 km)
Today you bike to Antwerp, the city of diamonds and Rubens. The distance today can be adjusted to your wishes. You can do the entire 32 miles, or a pickup or drop off is
possible, whittling the daily distance to about 20 mi. At the end of the afternoon, the bike guide will walk you into town to show you the beautiful city center. For your dinner, you are free to explore the local cuisine. Of course, your crew will provide you suggestions if you wish.Day 4: Antwerp - Tholen, 20 mi. (32 km)
Today our day will be very relaxed as once again, you can take extra time to visit the city in the morning. Then you will go back on board for a cruise through the harbor of Antwerp towards the Netherlands. Just over the border, you will be dropped off for a 20 mile ride through the forests. Your final destination of the day is a tiny fortified town of Tholen, in the Dutch province of Zeeland.Day 5: Tholen - Dordrecht, 25 mi. (40 km)
Departing the fortified town of Tholen, you will ride through the flat fields and along the dikes of the Netherlands to Willemstad, another beautiful fortified town with a historic harbor. Willemstad is small but it is chock full of history. From Willemstad, you will sail to Dordrecht, Holland's oldest city and once an important merchant city with a lively trade in wood, cereals, and wine. That history, wealth and culture is still clearly visible.Day 6: Dordrecht - Gouda, 20 mi. (32 km)
From Dordrecht you will be sailing again in the morning to arrive early to Kinderdijk, the Unesco World Heritage site of windmills that were used to reclaim land from the river delta. A visit to a mill and a museum is on the agenda. Then through the countryside dotted with windmills, you will make your way to the famous cheese city of Gouda.Day 7: Gouda - Uithoorn, 18 mi. (29 km)
In the morning, you will visit the famous stained-glass windows of Saint John's church in Gouda. No other church in the world has so much 16th century stained glass.
Known collectively as The Gouda Glass, the scenes depict the history of the Netherlands. We hope the sun is shining this day as there is nothing more spectacular to witness as the light filters through in an array of colors. Afterward, back on board the Iris, you will sail to Alphen aan de Rijn and have lunch on board. In the afternoon you can enjoy a relatively short afternoon ride to Uithoorn.Day 8: Uithoorn - Amsterdam, 35 mi. (56 km)
This day can again be adjusted to your wishes but the plan is to offer a long ride of about 35 miles to see the castle Muiderslot. Although a bit over the normal distance it is a site well worth a visit. From there the ride into Amsterdam can also be done with almost no encounters with traffic. You should be arriving in Amsterdam around 4 so those that want to walk around a bit before can do so before the final farewell dinner. It is always a celebration!Day 9: Amsterdam
You will not want to say goodbye but depart with life-long memories and newfound friendships.Be sure to check out all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bicycle tours.
Boats & Bikes
Inclusions
What’s Included
- 8 nights accommodation in a climate-controlled cabin
- Breakfasts
- 7 packed lunches
- 6 dinners with one drink
- Coffee and tea on board
- Fresh fruit, cookies, and snacks
- Table water & ice machine
- Daily cleaning of cabin
- Two tour guides who cycle with group and offer guided city walks on most nights
- Cabins cleaned daily
- Bike rental with helmets, panniers, & water bottle
- Bike Protection
- Entrance to Kinderdijk
- Visit to a Cheese farm
- WiFi
What’s Not Included
- 2 dinners
- All drinks other than coffee and tea on board
- Entrance fees other than those included
- Electric bike (available with supplement - see pricing)
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Bruges to Amsterdam
Sunday to Monday
May 30, 2021Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Twin: $ 2978 £ 1553 $ 2,653 € 1775 kr 271780 ₪ 7389 ¥ 302238 Mex$ 33413 NZ$ 3260 NOK 21297 zł 7812 S$ 2640 kr 21138 $ 1,942 Single supplement: on request
Extra Options
Electric bike: $ 159 £ 83 $ 142 € 95 kr 14546 ₪ 395 ¥ 16176 Mex$ 1788 NZ$ 174 NOK 1140 zł 418 S$ 141 kr 1131 $ 104
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy 9 day guided bike and boat tour. Bicycle routes follow mainly flat designated bike paths and country lanes with little traffic. Occasionally heavier traffic is encountered when entering or exiting the bigger cities but this region is very accustomed to cyclists and very accommodating as well. Daily cycling distances average 25 miles (40 km).
Airport Info
Fly into and out of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) or fly to Amsterdam and out of Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU) or reverse depending on your tour start.
Local Travel
Starting in Amsterdam:
Arriving to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), you will have just a short train ride from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Amsterdam Central train station. From here, many boats are actually moored within walking distance, or just a short taxi ride away. From Bruges, at the end of your tour, the train to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport takes approx. 3¼ hr and costs approximately ± €48. Alternatively, you can fly out of Brussels. From the train station in Bruges the Brussels Zaventem Airport takes just under two hours and requires on transfer.
Starting in Bruges:
From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), you can purchase train tickets to Bruges at the TICKET COUNTER in the “Arrivals Hall” of the airport. From there you just go down the escalator to the train terminal. The train to Bruges takes approximately 4 hours and costs about €43, standard fare. There are also faster trains but will cost more. Just ask at the ticket counter for information.
If arriving to Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU), you can take the train to Bruges Central Station. The railway station is located under the airport building at level 1. The train departs every hour and the ride takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes - cost around €20 per person. The ride requires one connection.
Your tour ends in Amsterdam. Depending on the docking location, the train station may even be within walking distance of Amsterdam Central Train Station. From here, there are trains that depart frequently to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or back to Brussels.Climate
Please check local conditions before travel. There are many websites to visit to research regional weather such as average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more. Average high temperatures at the end of May are generally around 64° F. Plan on cooler mornings and evenings. The climate in Holland is considered maritime, greatly affected by the sea. Belgium as well is influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with cool summers and moderate winters.
Important to know
Documents
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Tripsite in collaboration with Lenny Versteeg.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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