Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 9 day

Day 1: Amsterdam to Haarlem
Day 2: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden
Day 3: Leiden - Gouda - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht
Day 4: Dordrecht - Tholen
Day 5: Tholen - Antwerp
Day 6: Antwerp - Dendermonde
Day 7: Dendermonde – Gent
Day 8: Gent - Bruges
Day 9: Bruges

Approximately 25 miles (40 km) of cycling per day (days 2-8). Some days it may be possible to participate in a shorter or longer route. 

*All itineraries are subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances concerning mooring requirements, etc. Distances are approximate.

Day 1: Amsterdam to Haarlem
Embarkation in Amsterdam. Be sure to be on time as the Iris will set sail, leaving the capital, and heading for the North Sea. Before Haarlem, you can begin cycling as the boat motors on. Enjoy your first bike ride through the dunes and forest. Once in Haarlem, and back on board, mingle with your fellow travelers, enjoy dinner, and perhaps take part in an evening city walk.

Day 2: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden
You do not have to wait long on this tour before enjoying one of the main highlights: the Keukenhof! This is the World's garden. Take in the sight of 7 million flowering tulips in a traditional and modern landscape. And not just tulips, there are hyacinths, narcissus, and much more.

These gardens are visited by millions of guests every year. So be prepared to hear every foreign language you can imagine.

The Iris moors this evening in the old town of Leiden, in the city canal that surrounds the old part of Leiden, once a defense against the Spanish soldiers. 

Day 3: Leiden - Gouda - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht
After an early sail out of Leiden, the first stop will be at a cheese farm, to experience this essential Holland. Gouda is one of the most popular and exported cheeses of the Netherlands and therefore the city center has many cheese shops! The Town Hall at the market square dates back to the 17th century. The Sint Janskerk here is a large Gothic church, known especially for its stained glass windows, for which it has been placed on the UNESCO list of Dutch monuments. The route then leads right to the windmills of Kinderdijk! Another essential Holland. Back on board, the boat sails to Dordrecht as you relax and ponder the impressions of the day.

Day 4: Dordrecht - Tholen, entering Belgium
During breakfast, you will cruise to Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. From there you bike along the impressive complex of locks ‘de Volkerak’ to Tholen. Tholen was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, otherwise known as the Rhein Delta on the North Sea, where many people fished for their living. Today Tholen is connected to the mainland, but it retains its picturesque charm and boasts many fishing and boating relics of its colorful past.

Day 5: Tholen - Antwerp
In the Netherlands, forests may be scarce, but you'll embark on a unique adventure through the Wouwse Plantation. This surreal landscape boasts sand dunes, remnants of a time when the sea occupied this area. As you cycle, you'll encounter a fascinating mix of oak and conifer forests, heather-filled fields, and moorlands. Our journey then takes us to Antwerp, renowned as the Diamond City and the residence of Flemish Baroque maestro Peter Paul Rubens. We'll marvel at three of his masterpieces in the Cathedral Of Our Lady. During the city's golden age in the 1500s, it flourished as a hub of exploration, serving as Europe's sugar capital and leading importer of spices like pepper and cinnamon. Antwerp's bustling port witnessed countless ships, while the city welcomed a diverse community of merchants from Venice, Ragusa, Spain, and Portugal. Known for its tolerance, Antwerp attracted a sizable Orthodox Jewish population. For centuries, it reigned as the global center for diamond refinement and trade, a title it held until recently.

Day 6: Antwerp - Dendermonde
After breakfast, the barge locks out of the port to the Zeeschelde. You follow this capricious tidal river upstream to Dendermonde. There is a beautiful bike path along the river and the landscape around the Schelde is magnificent. You can join the IRIS halfway in Temse or continue all the way to Dendermonde, a friendly little town along the river. In Dendermonde, you will visit the 14th c. “Clothmaker’s Hall,” formerly a center of the wool trade. After WWI, only the stone walls of the building survived. Here you may enjoy local ales in a private beer tasting on board of the IRIS. As they say, When in Rome drink beer in Belgium!

Day 7: Dendermonde - Gent
You bike to Ghent, a lively port and university city on the confluence of the Schelde und Leie rivers. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to discover this historic city that has its origins in Roman Times as they traded and fortified their outposts on the Rhine. In 800, the town grew when Charlemagne’s court biographer founded St. Bavo (Baafs) Abbey. By the 13th century, Ghent became one of the richest cities in northern Europe and biggest city north of the Alps (after Paris)—surpassing Cologne and Moscow! Textile trade and production (mainly wool from Scotland and England) created great wealth. You can still see the well-preserved patrician homes along the Quai aux Herbes dating from the 12th to 17th centuries. In St. Bavo (Baafs) Cathedral, admire a number of medieval masterpieces including ‘Adoration of the Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck. Art lovers will discover great classics in Ghent’s famous art museum.

Day 8: Gent to Bruges
Today the final destination is Bruges, dubbed the darling of Flanders and Venice of the North with its criss-cross of canals and medieval alleys. Its center is historically intact and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steep yourself in the Belgian culture. Grab a seat in a cafe at the market square and order mussels and fries (frites & moules), or Belgian stew with crusty bread and a dark ale. Top it off with a visit to Choco Story Museum, a fascinating place to learn about how chocolate stormed this nation in the 18th century. Sample a praline or two. If you’re looking for something light to bring home, consider an investment in fine lace. Bruges was the epicenter of exquisite lace for generations. In the 16th century, lace was itemized on aristocratic property lists. It was considered so valuable that those found guilty of smuggling or stealing patterns were harshly punished. An ancient and venerated site is the Basilica of the Holy Blood, stained with Christ’s blood. It is the sacred relic of Bruges, an 1134 chapel by the Count of Flanders. After his 2nd Crusade, he returned to his home city with the Holy Blood, a cloth.

Day 9: Bruges
This morning your guided tour ends after breakfast. You can leave your luggage until 12 pm and spend some more time in Bruges. A taxi can be arranged by the ship. 

Day 1: Arrival in Bruges, Sail to Ghent
Day 2: Ghent - Dendermonde
Day 3: Dendermonde - Antwerp (option to cycle or bus to Keukenhof)
Day 4: Antwerp - Tholen, cross in the Netherlands
Day 5: Tholen - Dordrecht
Day 6: Dordrecht - Kinderdijk - Oude Wetering
Day 7: Keukenhof - Haarlem
Day 8: Haarlem - Amsterdam; Option to cycle to Zaanse Schans
Day 9: Departure from Amsterdam

Approximately 25 miles (40 km) of cycling per day (days 2-8). Some days it may be possible to participate in a shorter or longer route. 

*All itineraries are subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances concerning mooring requirements, etc. Distances are approximate.

Day 1: Arrival in Bruges, Sail to Ghent
Arrive in Bruges and take in the city’s beauty. It's recommonded that you arrive a day early to explore at your own pace. After a warm welcome aboard, set sail, dropping you off for a short test ride before continuing to Ghent, where we’ll dock for the night. Enjoy a leisurely evening stroll before an early night.

Day 2: Ghent - Dendermonde, 25 mi. (40 km)
Explore Ghent, known for its cultural highlights like the "Adoration of the Lamb of God" by the Van Eyck brothers at St. Bavo’s Cathedral. In the afternoon, we cycle along the Schelde River to Dendermonde, covering 25 miles. In the evening, enjoy a Belgian beer tasting on board.

Day 3: Dendermonde - Antwerp, 32 or 20 mi. (51 or 32 km)
Today you have 2 options;
Choose between cycling the full 32 miles or a shorter 20-mile ride to Antwerp. Discover the city of diamonds, known for its Golden Age and as the home of Peter Paul Rubens. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the city center, followed by dinner at one of Antwerp’s local restaurants.
Alternatively, a visit by bus to the Keukenhof vibrant flower garden will be planned from Dendermonde. The travel time is approximately 2 hrs 45 minutes and will include adequate visit time at the Keukenhof. Via bus you will return back to Antwerp (the original planned destination of this day). Travel time back to Antwerp is approx 2 hours. 

Day 4: Antwerp - Tholen, cross in the Netherlands
Sail through Antwerp’s modern harbor and start cycling near the Kreekrak Locks in the Netherlands. The short ride takes you to Tholen, a village once an island, now connected to the mainland. After an evening walk by the windmills, you’ll know you've arrived in the Netherlands!

Day 5: Tholen - Dordrecht
Cycle from Tholen across the bridge to the mainland, heading toward Willemstad, a historic fortification. After exploring here, continue to Dordrecht, known for its role in the Protestant Reformation and its historic harbors.

Day 6: Dordrecht - Kinderdijk - Oude Wetering
Today, cycle to Kinderdijk, home to famous windmills and a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a visit, you'll continue to Oude Wetering, stopping at a cheese farm near Leiden to taste Dutch specialties.

Day 7: Keukenhof - Haarlem
Today you'll visit the world-famous Keukenhof. Imagine 7 million tulips in full bloom! A spectacular display of spring flowers awaits, especially vibrant in May. After soaking in the beauty of Keukenhof, continue the journey toward the delightful town of Haarlem, where the Iris will be waiting. After dinner, take a stroll through the charming streets and perhaps end the evening with a beer at the iconic Jopen Church brewery.

Day 8: Haarlem - Amsterdam; Option to cycle to Zaanse Schans
On the last day, stay on board to reach Amsterdam around 1 pm, or cycle to Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum with traditional windmills. Afterward, cycle into Amsterdam on safe bike paths. A farewell dinner awaits on board.

Day 9: Departure from Amsterdam
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers and crew. Luggage can be stored on board until 11:30 am for easy departure.

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