West Flanders & Bruges

Day 1: Bruges - Oudenburg
Day 2: Oudenburg - Nieuwpoort - Diksmuide
Day 3: Diksmuide - Ypres 
Day 4: Ypres - Veurne 
Day 5: Day tour to Dunkirk, overnight in Nieuwpoort
Day 6: Nieuwpoort - Oudenburg 
Day 7: Oudenburg - Bruges 
Day 8: Bruges

The average daily distance is 45 km. This itinerary is subject to change, even on 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.

Day 1: Bruges - Oudenburg
Individual arrival and check-in onboard, the Feniks. You can enjoy a test ride on your arrival day of approximately 25 km along the oldest canal of Belgium, that connects Bruges and Ghent with the North Sea. The day ends in the beautiful town of Oudenburg with its old market square. It has a Roman Archeological Museum with treasures dating back as far as 69 AD.

Day 2: Oudenburg - Nieuwpoort - Diksmuide
You start the day with a bike ride along the canal from Plassendale to Nieuwpoort. In Nieuwpoort, the Yser River flows into the North Sea and has a long history. Most of the Dutch and Belgians know Nieuwpoort because of the Battle of Nieuwpoort, during the 80 Year War between Holland and Spain. At the start of the Great War, the Battle of the Yser between the Germans and the Belgian army took place here. From Nieuwpoort to Diksmuide, the old railroad that has been converted to a bike path will be followed. At times, the route leads away from this path to follow the meandering Yser River. In Diksmuide, you will visit the ‘Trenches of Death’ and the Yser-tower, reminders of the Belgian resistance.

Day 3: Diksmuide - Ypres
Continue your ride along the Yser River canal that connected the Belgian front to the English front near Ypres. You will cycle past many WW1 battlefields and memorial sites in and around Ypres (which, if weather and time allow, may include Zuydcoote in France, about 10 km from Dunkirk, with its Commonwealth cemetery). In Ypres, you can
visit the historic center and ‘Grote Markt’ and the ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum before attending the sounding of the Last Post ceremony at Menen Gate. The great memorial arch records the names of 55,000 soldiers including 6,000 Australians who died in Belgium in WW1.

Day 4: Ypres - Veurne
Today you will visit the very center of legendary Belgian beer brewing. Biking to Poperinge, a visit to the hop farm Lemahieu is on the schedule and then a visit to the Abbey of St. Sixtus, where Trappist monks brew the famous Westvleteren beer, proclaimed to be the best beer in the world.  Of course, a tasting is a must. Then following the Lo-Canal, the route leads to the picturesque city of Lo and then to the beautiful medieval town Veurne, with its “Grote Markt“ and historical center.

Day 5: Day tour to Dunkirk, overnight in Nieuwpoort
In the morning, you bike through the nature reserve “De Moeren“ to the well-known French harbor Dunkirk. In the afternoon, the route leads back to Zuydcoote and then along the French and Belgian beach to Nieuwpoort, where the river Yzer flows into the North Sea. This entire region has witnessed many wars. Dunkirk is famous for the Battle of Dunkirk, which was the defense and evacuation to Britain of British and other Allied forces in 1940. It was part of the Battle of France on the Western Front. Several memorials are a testimony to these dark days.

Day 6: Nieuwpoort - Oudenburg
In Nieuwpoort, you will bike along the "Ganzenpoot" the point where five different waterways come together. You follow the famous, "Coastal Cycle Route" between the beach resorts of De Panne and Oostende and cross the river mouth of the Yser on a ferry. You will bike along the North Sea beach and through the dunes to Oudenburg.

Day 7: Oudenburg - Bruges
Today's route leads through the northern part of the Flemish small-scale Farmland with its Belgian “White-Blue cows“ (specially bred for its meat) and barley fields. Today you can cross another border and pay a visit to Sluis, a small medieval fortified town in Zeeuws–Vlaanderen, the Southwestern part of the Netherlands. Tour around the town and continue to Bruges.

Day 8: Bruges
Your tour ends after breakfast in “the Venice of the North”, also known as Bruges.

• Feniks

  Comfort

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  Comfort Class Boat

  Touring bike

  The hybrid bikes available are 21-speed bikes with handbrakes. They are equipped with a pannier, water bottle, and lock. It is possible to bring your own pedals and saddle. Read More

  Electric bikes

  For those bikers who like to have some support while biking in the hills, there are different styles of electric bikes. They are equipped with a pannier, water bottle, and lock. It is possible to… Read More

  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