Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 9 day
Netherlands, Belgium Bike + Boat Tours
Bike & Boat in Holland & Belgium during Tulip Season
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Overview
We currently offer 14 days, 10 days, and 8 days of biking and boating from Amsterdam to Bruges in Tulip Season. We are now pleased to present this 9-day tour from Holland's intriguing capital to Belgium's artistic gem. Perhaps 9 will be your magic number. For sure, this tour is magical!
You will enjoy the enchantment of the Iris, your accommodation. This is a premium ship that feels like home. You will be delighted with the thrill of cycling in Holland and Belgium on one of the world's most developed cycling infrastructures. The dazzling landscape and light that so many Dutch and Flemish masters captured in their paintings is breathtaking, and cycling during tulip and spring flower season adds to the palette.
A highlight of this tulip-themed bike and boat tour is a visit to the world-famous Keukenhof, which will be ablaze with colors. In fact, all of Holland and Belgium will be bursting with spring.
Highlights
- Visit to the Keukenhof, the largest flower exhibition in the world
- Windmills at Kinderdijk
- Gouda and cheese!
- Historic and picture-perfect Bruges, Antwerp and Gent
- Perfect combination with short visit of the Netherlands before starting your tour!
Be sure to check out all of our bike & barge tours in the Netherlands.
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Itinerary
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*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.Minor itinerary changes are possible in 2025.
If you're looking for a different flavor, check out our full list of bike & boat tours or view all our featured trips, including hikes, active cruises, & multi-adventure.
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Map
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Boats & Bikes
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Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 8 nights in a climate-controlled cabin on board the premium vessel, the Iris
- Breakfasts
- 7 packed lunches
- 6 dinners served with glass of wine or beer
- Coffee & tea on board
- Tour guide (from 18 guests, 2 guides will be included)
- Cabins cleaned daily
- Bike rental with helmets, panniers, and water bottle
- Bike Protection
- Entrance to Keukenhof and Kinderdijk
- Visit to the Cheese farm
- WiFi
What’s Not Included
- 1 dinner
- All drinks other than coffee & tea on board
- Entrance fees other than those included
- Electric bike (available with supplement - see pricing)
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates
2025
Thursday departure
May 8, 2025Please 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
2025
Iris
Twin cabin $ 4377 £ 2200 $ 3,964 € 2610 Ft 1090331 kr 388979 ₪ 9950 ¥ 425491 Mex$ 56340 NZ$ 4833 kr 31154 zł 11383 S$ 3755 kr 30712 CHF 2487 $ 2,788 Single supplement on request Extra Options
2025
Electric bike rental $ 218 £ 110 $ 197 € 130 Ft 54308 kr 19374 ₪ 496 ¥ 21193 Mex$ 2806 NZ$ 241 kr 1552 zł 567 S$ 187 kr 1530 CHF 124 $ 139 -
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
Most people opt to fly into and out of Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS). However, you can research flying out of Brussels at the end of your tour.
Local Travel
From the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, you can take the train to Amsterdam Central. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter in the Arrival’s Hall of the airport, or at ticket machines located in the airport terminal (NS train station). From there you head down the escalator to the train terminal. The train ride from the airport to Amsterdam Central takes about 15‐20 minutes and costs only a few Euros. At the end of your tour in Bruges, the train station is within walking distance though many opt for taxi due to luggage and cobblestones! Amsterdam is approximately 3 1/2 hour train ride away and Brussels is approx. 1 1/2. Both airports have train stations in the lower level.
Climate
Please check local conditions before travel. 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. The Dutch have a saying “April doet wat hij wil”. It means that April does whatever it wishes to do. And early May too! Keep this in mind as you pack for your cycling holiday.
Important to know
Documents
Before you travel, please check the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have proper identification. For US citizens, the U.S. Passports & International Travel website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. It is important to research before you travel as airlines will not permit boarding if you do not have the required valid documents.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this 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.
Extra Stay
If you would like to book extra days in Amsterdam or Bruges to see all these vibrant cities have to offer, or extra time anywhere, we advise Booking.com for researching and reserving your extra nights. You can read a detailed description of the hotels offered including a clear listing of amenities, but more importantly, you can view customer reviews and ratings.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by BikePlanet.
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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