Brussels to Bruges
Belgium Bike + Barge Tours
Bike and barge Belgium along the Schelde River
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1094 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Bike and Barge in Belgium, in the heart of Europe! With three official languages (Flemish, French and German), Belgium is a culturally diverse country with a rich and varied history and an understated sophistication which makes it a charming country to visit and the perfect place for a bike and boat tour.
It boasts a wealth of spectacular architecture, with many of its oldest buildings listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. The renowned grand squares of Brussels and Bruges, with hundreds of museums, parks, restaurants, and bars will not fail to impress you.
Belgium also has a proud tradition of fine art and the works of many well-known artists, from medieval masters such as Van Eyck to modern surrealists like Magritte.
For lovers of the outdoors, Belgium's beautiful countryside offers a range of things to do.
Most of all, Belgians know how to enjoy life to the full - their world-famous beers, chocolates, waffles, mussels, fries, and fine cuisine are a testament to this. It's never difficult to find a great place to eat or drink in any Belgian town or city.Highlights
- Enjoy the best of Brussels
- Vibrant Antwerp
- Understated Ghent
- Unesco world heritage listed Bruges
- Small and picturesque Mechelen
Be sure to check out all of our Bike and Barge tours in Belgium.
Itinerary
Each boat has a slightly different itinerary. Be sure to check your boat/itinerary below. All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.
Bruges to Brussels
Day 1: Bruges
Day 2: Bruges, roundtrip to the North Sea, 33 mi. (55 km)
Day 3: Bruges - Moerebrugge | Moerebrugge - Oostende - Merelbeke (Ghent), 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Merelbeke (Ghent) - Dendermonde, 29 mi. (48 km) Dendermonde - St. Amands
Day 5: St. Amands - Temse - Antwerp, 25 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Antwerp - Lier - Willebroek, 27 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Willebroek - Mechelen - Vilvoorde, 24 mi. (40 km) Vilvoorde - Brussels
Day 8: BrusselsDay 1: Bruges
Individual arrival in Bruges. The ship awaits you in the Bruges harbor. Embarkation and check-in is from 3 to 5 p.m. Before or after boarding take the opportunity to explore this lovely city of art, widely described as the “Venice of the North”. You can enjoy the ambiance of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical center during a leisurely walk, take in the hustle and bustle of the Grote Markt square (Great Market square), visit one of Bruges many museums or simply enjoy the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk café.Day 2: Bruges, roundtrip to North Sea, 33 mi. (55 km)
Your first day of cycling will take you through Damme, the birthplace of the impudent Middle Ages trickster Till Eulenspiegel, to the seaside resort of Blankenberge. Visit any one of numerous cafés and, if you want to cool down, enjoy a swim in the North Sea. After approx. 2 hours you will cycle back to Bruges and the ship.Day 3: Bruges - Moerebrugge | Moerebrugge - Oostende - Ghent (Merelbeke), 24 mi. (40 km)
While you enjoy breakfast the barge will sail to Moerebrugge, departing at 8 am, where you will start your day’s cycling. With the historical city of Ghent your destination today you will cycle via Oostende along the Ghent-Oostende-canal through the beautiful Flemish landscape. The town center of Ghent features lovely illuminated streets that are a must to explore, while the architectural richness in the historical center of the city has to be seen to be believed. During the Middle Ages, after Paris, Ghent was the 2nd largest European city. The Gandalf will dock for the night at the Merelbeke lock, a suburb of Ghent and approx. 15 cycling minutes to the city center.Day 4: Ghent (Merelbeke) - Dendermonde, 29 mi. (48 km) Dendermonde - St. Amands
After breakfast, you will cycle through a diverse landscape to Dendermonde which is located at the mouth of the Dender River where it flows into the Schelde River. Here you can enjoy some time off your bicycle with a coffee or a cup of tea at the beautiful Flemish Grote Market square. In the evening shipping to St. Amands one of the most beautiful and winding parts of the route on the river Schelde.Day 5: St. Amands - Temse - Antwerp, 25 mi. (42 km)
Your cycle route for the day starts in St. Amands and takes you over the Brussels-Rupel canal and on to a historical brick factory situated between Boom and Niel where bricks have been manufactured since the Middle Ages. After cycling through the countryside to Rupelmonde and later Hemiksem you will finally reach Antwerp, your destination for the night. Antwerp is a harbor city situated on the river Schelde famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds. There are many highlights in the city to discover including the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle.Day 6: Antwerp - Lier - Willebroek, 27 mi. (45 km)
After breakfast, you will cycle through the leafy suburbs of Antwerp and past typical Belgian villas that feature beautiful trees, manicured gardens and picturesque facades to Lier. From here you cycle along the small river Nete and on to Willebroek where the ship will be waiting for you. When there is enough interest, a beer tasting will be held on board (to be paid on board).Day 7: Willebroek - Mechelen - Vilvoorde, 24 mi. (40 km) Vilvoorde - Brussels
While the barge sets sail along the Willebroek canal, your final day’s cycling will see you pass through the picturesque countryside via Mechelen to Vilvoorde. Mechelen is a remarkable city that boasts more than 300 buildings that are historically listed. Of these, 8 are churches – all on less than 3 square kilometers! From Vilvoorde you will board the Gandalf for the trip to Brussels, where you can walk through the historical city center, visit the Grote Markt square (Great Market square), arguably Europe’s most beautiful medieval square lined with guild houses or marvel at the Gothic town hall.Day 8: Disembarkation and departure
Brussels to Bruges
Day 1: Brussels
Day 2: Brussels - Vilvoorde | Vilvoorde - Mechelen - Willebroek, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Willebroek - Antwerp, 30 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Antwerp - St. Amands | Dendermonde, 30 mi. (50 km) St. Amands - Dendermonde
Day 5: Dendermonde - Ghent (Merelbeke), 29 mi. (48 km)
Day 6: (Merelbeke) Ghent - Lovendegem - Bruges, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Tour around Bruges to the North Sea, 33 mi. (55 km)
Day 8: BrugesItalicized sections reflect itinerary by boat.
Day 1: Brussels - Vilvoorde
Day 2: Vilvoorde - Mechelen - Willebroek
Day 3: Willebroek - Antwerp
Day 4: Antwerp
Day 5: Antwerp - St. Amands - Dendergem
Day 6: Dendergem - Ghent
Day 7: Ghent - Bruges
Day 8: BrugesDaily distances on the Feniks average 40 - 45 km per day
Day 1: Brussels - Vilvoorde
Boarding between 12 and 2 pm.Day 2: Vilvoorde - Mechelen - Willebroek
Sailing breakfast, then biking along the Zenne River to the historical town Mechelen. St. Rumbold's Tower is Mechelen's centerpiece, a towering 15th-century cathedral, 318 feet (97 meters) and more than 500 steps high. Climbing to the top will be rewarded with a magnificent view over Mechelen and a glimpse of other cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Leuven. The cathedral is also home to some incredible art. In the luminous baroque interior, you'll find The Crucifixion, a marvelous painting by the famous master Anthony Van Dyck, and dozens of other fine artworks. Peter Paul Rubens is considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time. Go to St. John's Church and admire his 17th-century masterpiece 'Adoration of the Magi'. Rubens himself called it one of his best works ever. After the visit of Mechelen, you’ll bike along the tidal river the Dijle to an authentic pub near the lock of Zennegat. It seems as if time stood still here. Then to the (small) rivers Nete and Rupel you will enter the estuary of the river Scheldt, the vein of Belgian wealth, then and now. You will meet the Feniks in Willebroek for the night.Day 3: Willebroek - Antwerp
You will bike on the meandering dikes along the Rupel and Nete to the picturesque city Lier, with its medieval town center. We will continue our bike tour through Flemish Brabant (a Belgian province) to the well-known harbor city Antwerp. The Feniks will be moored in the old Willemsdok, once the center of naval merchant activities, now still a beautiful place to berth.Day 4: Antwerp
Today a stopover in Antwerp to give you the opportunity to visit exhibitions of the Flemish Masters such as:
• House of Peter Paul Rubens, the absolute top painter of the late 16th and early 17th century.
• The “Museum aan de Stroom” (MAS), meaning the Museum at the river Scheldt.
• Museum of Contemporary Art; one of the leading Belgian museums for contemporary art.
• Possible excursion by tram or bike to the Coogels-Osy-Lei, a neighborhood with many houses in Art-Deco, Art-Nouveau, ane Jugendstil style.Day 5: Antwerp - St. Amands - Dendergem
Bike tour through marvelous nature upstream along the river Scheldt. Via Temse to St. Amands where we will visit the Morocco-Stone-Exposition. From St. Amands we will sail on the river to Dendermonde for the night.Day 6: Dendergem - Ghent
Another beautiful bike ride of 50 Km upstream the Scheldt to Ghent. Visit of the medieval town center including a city walk. The St. Baafs cathedral with the triptique of the Lamb God’s of the brothers Van Eijk is not to be missed.Day 7: Ghent - Bruges
Bike ride along the canal of Ghent to Ostend through the varied Flemish farmland to the end of this tour: Bruges. The Feniks will moor at the Bargeweg approx. 5 minutes from the medieval townDay 8: Bruges
Looking for more? View all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bike trips.
Boats
Aboard the Comfort class boats, the Feniks or the Mecklenburg
- Feniks
Comfort Class Boat
This comfortable little vessel is the pride and joy of its captain/owner, Marius. As is true for many of our boats, the Feniks was originally built as a freighter, but then converted into a hotel passenger ship in 1992. Since then, she has undergone several renovations. Wearing her history well, you will find a welcoming atmosphere on board, a crew ready to serve, and great food showcasing local cuisine featuring fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the market to the table. Read More
- Mecklenburg
Comfort Class Boat
Navigating the rivers and channels of Belgium, the Mecklenburg is a comfortable river boat with an inviting atmosphere. First built in 1957 in Belgium, it was rebuilt in 2000. You can enjoy the passing scenery from the partially shaded sun deck with chairs and tables. The salon, with large panoramic windows and comfortable couches, is the perfect place to enjoy a meal and drink. There are eleven twin cabins on board with friendly staff to cater to your needs. Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Each boat varies slightly. Be sure to see what is included/not included on your boat.
- Accommodation for 8 days/7 nights
- Breakfast, packed lunches, and 7 three-course dinners
- Coffee and tea on board during breakfast and in the afternoon
- Welcome drink
- All bed linens and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- 7-speed city touring bike with hand brakes and pedal brakes or hand brakes only (subject to availability, please specify), gel saddle, pannier, and lock
- Bike protection
- Daily briefings by multilingual tour leader
- Fully guided cycling tours
- Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Wifi, signal strength and speed cannot be guaranteed and may not be what you are accustomed to
- Accommodation for 8 days/7 nights
- Breakfast, packed lunches, and 6 three-course dinners
- Coffee, tea, and biscuits<
- Afternoon snacks
- All bed linens and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- 24-speed city touring bike with rear pannier, water cage and bottle, and frame lock
- Helmets available
- Tour guide
- Laundry service (clothes are returned clean but not dry. Clothes can be hung mid ship)
- Wifi, signal strength and speed cannot be guaranteed and may not be what you are accustomed to
Mecklenburg
Feniks
What’s Not Included
Mecklenburg
- Drinks
- Coffee and tea on board at other hours
- Helmet (not available on board)
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Entrance fees and excursions
- Fees for ferries
- City maps
- Transfers to/from the docking place
- Parking fees if applicable
- Travel Insurance
- Beverages other than those mentioned (beverage package available with supplement. See pricing.)
- Museum entrance fees
- Gratuities
- Bicycle Protection
- Travel Insurance
Feniks
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Comfort Class
Feniks
Brussels to Bruges: July 17, 2021
Bruges to Brussels: July 24, 2021Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Feniks
Premium twin cabin $ 2335 £ 1327 $ 2,296 € 1465 NZ$ 2516 kr 15096 $ 1,816 Regular twin cabin $ 1992 £ 1132 $ 1,959 € 1250 NZ$ 2147 kr 12880 $ 1,549 Single cabin $ 2495 £ 1418 $ 2,453 € 1565 NZ$ 2688 kr 16126 $ 1,940 Bunk bed cabin for twin use $ 1698 £ 965 $ 1,669 € 1065 NZ$ 1829 kr 10974 $ 1,320 Extra Options
2021
Electric bicycle rental
Feniks: $ 77 £ 43 $ 75 € 48 NZ$ 82 kr 495 $ 59 Mecklenburg: $ 143 £ 82 $ 141 € 90 NZ$ 155 kr 927 $ 112Gluten-free or other special dietary requests: surcharge may apply. Please ask
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy, guided bike and boat tour with average daily distances between 24 and 33 miles (40 and 55 km).
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam or Brussels.
Local Travel
If you fly into Amsterdam, you can access the train station on the lower level of the airport. From there you will take a short train ride to Amsterdam Centraal, the main train station in Amsterdam. A train to Brussels Central is about 2 hours and 40 minutes with one transfer in Rotterdam Centraal. A train to Bruges is close to 4 hours with either one or two transfers. If you fly into Brussels, it is just a short train ride to Brussels Central from the airport and then you can take a taxi to the harbor. If your tour is beginning in Bruges, it is about an hour and a half train ride with one transfer in Brussels Midi.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. Average high/low temperatures (°F) for Brussels: April 55°/40°, May 63°/47°, June 67°/52°, July 72°/56, August 72°/55°, and September 66°/52°.
Day of Rest
Any day can be designated a day of rest by remaining on board and enjoying the scenery from on deck.
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 SE Tours and Feniks charter.
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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