Bruges to Amsterdam Bike Tour

8-day tour

Day 1: Arrival in Bruges
Day 2: Bruges - Middleburg or Vlissingen, 41 mi. (66 km)
Day 3: Middleburg or Vlissingen - Zierikzee, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Zierikzee - Willemstad, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Willemstad - Papendrecht, 40 mi. (65 km)  
Day 6: Papendrecht - Gouda, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 7: Gouda - Amsterdam, 49 mi. (79 km) 
Day 8:  Departure 

*All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Arrival in Bruges 
Bruges is known as the pearl of Flanders. It is truly an enchanting town that has been welcoming tourists for about 150 years. With most of its medieval architecture intact, it remains exceptionally well preserved and gives you a sense of times gone by when it was at the center of the European wool and cloth trade. 

Accommodation: Velotel, 4-star

It is possible to upgrade to NH, Bruges (see pricing).

Day 2: Bruges - Middelburg/Vlissingen, 41 mi. (66 km)  
After a hearty breakfast, hit the tracks and pedal to the charming little town of Damme on the banks of the Damse Vaart. Then continue to the border and enter Zeeland, a Dutch province marked by light, wind, water, and lots of space. It is mostly made up of islands so bridges and ferries will be taking you across the waters as you drift northeast. Picture-book towns with ancient houses and cobbled streets But first you will pass through Zeelandic Flanders with its winding country roads, pollard willows, wet meadows, and scattered villages. At the end of the day, hop on a ferry boat to the maritime town of Vlissingen. Cruising further north, you will discover the nostalgic splendor of the city of Middelburg, capital of Zeeland. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was one of the most important centers of trade in the Netherlands.

Accommodation: Hotel Loskade 45, 4-star

Day 3: Middleburg/Vlissingen - Zierikzee, 26 mi. (42 km)
Discover the charming village of Veere. From 1541, everything that was exported to Holland from Scotland (mainly wool) came ashore and was distributed from Veere. This contract brought the town not only prosperity but also a very lively Scottish ex-pat community that stayed for 300 years. Walk in their footsteps as you take a tour of the sights. A wander down the narrow streets of Zierikzee is an absolute delight. Quaint little old houses take you back in time to the town's glory days when ships set sail for the Baltic and Mediterranean to sell salt, wool, fish, grain, and red dye.

Accommodation: Hotel Mondragon

Day 4: Zierikzee - Willemstad, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today, your last day in Zeeland, you will traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes, and golden sand flats. Your day will end in Willemstad, a fortified town shaped like a seven-point star. 

Accommodation: Hotel Mauritz, 3-star

Day 5: Willemstad - Papendrecht, 40 mi. (65 km) 
​The result of a major flood in 1421, Biesbosch is one of the few remaining wetland habitats in Europe where the ecosystem has adapted both to saltwater coming in from the sea through tidal creeks and to freshwater coming down from the rivers. It’s an ever-changing labyrinth of creeks and riverlets encompassing countless little islands of willow woods and reeds, a paradise for birds. Pedaling on, you will reach one of the oldest towns in Holland, Dordrecht, completely surrounded by water. The area around the marina is a true gem. This oldest part of town has over a thousand historical buildings and three nostalgic canals. The hotel is in Papendrecht, but if you like to stay in Dordrecht this is possible, just ask!

Please note you will only cycle through de Biesbosch park on days that the ferry departs. It does not have daily departures and currently, because of safety measures due to Covid-19, it is not running. An alternative route will be followed if the ferry does not run.

Accommodation: Leonardo Hotel Papendrecht, 4-star

Day 6: Papendrecht - Gouda, 23 mi. (37 km)  
Today's route leads to the village of Kinderdijk where nineteen majestic windmills present a unique sight. They were used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. As you ride your bike towards Gouda, cruising at about two meters below sea level, enjoy the pastoral countryside and wonderful cloudscapes. For centuries, people flocked from far and wide to buy horses, cows, meat, turf, seed, cheese, etc., at weekly and annual markets in Gouda. We recommend a stroll around the old part of town to soak up the yesteryear atmosphere. Walk all the way around St. John’s church and the market square boasting a 15th-century town hall and a Weighing House (“Waag”).  

Accommodation: Best Western Hotel Gouda, 4-star

Day 7: Gouda - Amsterdam, 49 mi. (79 km) 
Pedal into the “Groene Hart” (green heart), a pleasant rural area of low-lying polders with peat meadows and grazing cattle. It’s a flat, open, spacious landscape where church spires and windmills touch the horizon and clouds are reflected in lakes and canals. Your bicycle holiday ends in Amsterdam, famous for its gorgeous 400-year-old canal district. This city is brimming with things to see and do. As always, street artists and performers draw crowds to Dam, Leidseplein, and Rembrandtplein. A new attraction is “Het Grachtenhuis” (Museum of the Canals). You'll also want to visit the newly renovated Rijksmuseum and Maritime Museum.  

Accommodation: Westcord Art Hotel, 3 -star rooms (4-star rooms available as upgrade with supplement. See pricing.)

**If this day is too long for you, you can actually change the itinerary and spend an overnight in Woerden (38 km) and then continue on to Amsterdam (49 km). See below. Another option is to do the first or the last stretch by train. The cycling route is then only 56 or 53 km.

Day 8: Departure 
End of tour, after breakfast.

9-day tour

Day 1: Arrival in Bruges
Day 2: Bruges - Middleburg/Vlissingen, 41 mi. (66 km) 
Day 3: Middleburg/Vlissingen - Zierikzee, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Zierikzee - Willemstad, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Willemstad - Papendrecht, 40 mi. (65 km) 
Day 6: Papendrecht - Gouda, 23 mi. (37 km)  
Day 7: Gouda - Woerden, 24 mi. (38 km) 
Accommodation: Best Western Hotel
Day 8: Woerden - Amsterdam, 30 mi. (49 km) 
Day 9:  Departure 

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On each day’s detailed itinerary you will find the name of the preferred hotel listed. If the hotel listed is not available, a hotel of equal standard will be offered.

Bicycles

City Touring Bike

City touring bike, ideal for an upright but relaxed riding position. View a video tour here.

• Aluminum frame
• Upright handlebar (adjustable)
• 24 speed
• Flat pedal (pedals can be changed for personal pedals but clients must bring their own tools and put original pedals back on after use!)
• Mechanical V brakes
• Rear rack
• Mudguards
• 28-inch wheels
• Schwalbe marathon plus anti-puncture tire
• Equipped with QR code for scanning with your smart device
• Adjustable saddles

Water bottle holder cannot be guaranteed on all bikes.

Electric Bike

• Stable frame with low entry
• 25 kg
• Upright handlebar (adjustable)
• Pedal assist
• Small electric engine and battery, which can be charged at the hotels
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Rear rack

Experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine.

Tandem

Victoria Spezial 8.7 tandem (limited number are available)

• Frame size is 48 cm
• Weight is 28 kg
• Flat handlebars
• Flat pedals (pedals can be changed for personal pedals but clients must bring their own tools and put original pedals back on after use!)
• 28-inch wheels
• 24 speed Shimano RD-T4000 or Nuvinci gearing
• Magura HS 11 brakes
• Schwalbe marathon plus anti-puncture tire

Family tandems (7-speed) are also available in limited number. Recommended for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.

Child’s Bike

Heer Road or Oxford child's bikes

• For children that are at least 125 cm and a maximum height of 155 cm
• 24 or 26 inch
• 7 speed
• Hand brakes
• Rear racks

For children up to 30 months old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. This is not possible with e-bikes, due to the display.

For children older than 30 months (max. 22KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.

Child trailers (XLC Duo 2) can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).

Child trailers are not possible in combination with e-bikes.

Accessories

Included accessories on touring, hybrid, and electric bikes:

Front and rear lights
Defender lock with plug-in chain
Quick-release to adjust height of handlebars and saddle
Small puncture repair kit
One pannier

• Height: 42 cm
• Depth front to the side: 17 cm
• Wide top: 32 cm
• Wide down: 23 cm
• Easy click-on/click-off system

Supplemental accessories:

• Helmet
• Pre-loaded GPS device