Amsterdam to Bruges - 12 days
Netherlands, Belgium Bike + Boat Tours
Easy biking & boating through the Dutch & Belgian countryside
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length12 days
- Prices from€2780 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Enjoy more! More cycling, more sightseeing, and more time onboard your premium accommodations on this classic (and longer) bike and boat tour from Amsterdam to Bruges or reverse.
All the Dutch and Flemish highlights are featured! From Amsterdam’s canals, through old Dutch fishing villages, on into Belgium, cycling the Schelde River back into time, you will immerse in art, architecture, and culture.
This slow travel tour is a combination of the two most popular destinations in the biking and boating world, seeing the Netherlands more extensively and having time to explore the beauty of Belgium as well.
Highlights
- Lighthouse of Marken
- Island of Flevopolder
- Muiderslot, an iconic castle in the Netherlands
- Windmills at Kinderdijk
- Wouwse Plantation
- Cathedral of our Lady in Antwerp
- Historic and picture-perfect Bruges
- Antwerp and Ghent
- Great cycling on national bike route networks
Be sure to check out all of our bike & barge tours in the Netherlands.
Itinerary
Amsterdam to Bruges
Day 1: Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam - Volendam, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Flevopolder - Vianen, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Vianen - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 5: Dordrecht - Tholen, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Tholen - Antwerp, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 7: Antwerp, 10 mi. (17 km)
Day 8: Antwerp - Dendermonde, 32 or 20 mi. (52 or 32 km)
Day 9: Dendermonde - Gent, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 10: Ghent - Bruges, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 11: Bruges, varied distances
Day 12: Departure*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, at times without prior notice. Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary.
Day 1: Amsterdam
After a welcome meeting and a short test ride of your rental bike, you have the rest of the afternoon to explore the city. The bike guide will take you on a stroll along the canals and squares while educating you about Amsterdam’s great history. Amsterdam once was the leading capital of the world in trade and finance and the impressive buildings its merchants built are still there to be admired today. Early night in? Or a canal cruise on your own? Or a pub? The evening is yours to decide.Day 2: Amsterdam - Volendam, 25 mi. (40 km)
Your morning starts with a ferry ride across the IJ, the lake that splits Amsterdam in two, thus you avoid the busy bike paths that lead out from the city. You then head out into the water-rich farmlands north of Amsterdam, where the scenery is comprised of birds and farm animals! Your route leads to the small island of Marken and one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the country, the Horse of Marken. Situated on a pier in the water, this lighthouse is worth a picture or two. The day ends with another ferry ride to the town of Volendam. This famous fishing village is mostly known for its greenhouses and traditional clothing.Day 3: Flevopolder - Vianen, 31 mi. (50 km)
In the morning, the Iris crosses the IJsselmeer, the big lake in the center of the Netherlands, and passes from the old to the new as you are dropped off in the Flevopolder. This 370-square-mile island has been reclaimed from the sea in the 1950’ and ’60s and you experience firsthand Dutch urban planning where bike and car never meet. Bridges and tunnels make it so that apart from the buildings you wouldn’t even know you’re riding in a city. A very high bridge leads back into the old with Muiderslot Castle from 1370, awaiting. You find more of the old along the river Vecht, which is known for its famous 17th-century merchants’ estates, beautiful gardens, and little tea houses along its banks. The day ends with a crossing over the bridge into Breukelen, where you board the Iris again for navigation to your docking town for the day, Vianen.Day 4: Vianen - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht, 30 mi. (48 km)
Today’s ride is a rural one, following a small stream with farms and windmills lining the banks. You visit the area of the Kinderdijk, a land reclamation project of the 18th century, and today a Unesco World Heritage site, replete with 19 windmills. Back on board, you will navigate to Dordrecht, the oldest town in the Netherlands.Day 5: Dordrecht - Tholen, 25 mi. (40 km)
As you enjoy your breakfast, the Iris will navigate to Willemstad. This star-shaped fortified town was once an important defensive position, named after the founding father of the Netherlands, William of Orange. Your cycling route follows the impressive complex of locks "de Volkerak’" to Tholen. Tholen was once an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, otherwise known as the Rhein Delta on the North Sea where many fishermen lived. Today, Tholen is connected to the mainland, but it retains its picturesque charm and boasts many fishing and boating relics from its colorful past.Day 6: Tholen - Antwerp, 20 mi. (32 km)
There aren’t many forests in Holland, but you will have the unique thrill of biking through the Wouwse Plantation, an otherworldly landscape of sand dune forests alternating with fields of heather and moorlands. Along the way, you visit a Canadian and British World War Two Cemetery, an opportunity for a contemplative walk. After this short ride, back on board, you enjoy a cruising lunch to Antwerp, the city of Diamonds. Antwerp was home to the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens. Many of his paintings are still in the city to be admired. Antwerp’s Golden age was the 16th century when its trade blossomed and it became the sugar capital of Europe. Many of the buildings in the center still originate from that time and while walking the streets, you feel as if you have been transported back 500 years. From the 19th century until recently, Antwerp was the world center for diamond refining and trading.Day 7: Antwerp, 10 mi. (17 km)
Today, you will explore the city of Antwerp more fully, including significant sights like the Cathedral of Our Lady, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. with its celebrated paintings by Rubens, such as The Raising of the Cross, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and The Descent from the Cross, and many lesser-known but beautiful paintings by artists such as Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer, and Marten de Vosold. You can also visit a Beguinage where unmarried women could live like nuns until they found a suitable husband. The rest of the day is for you to spend by yourself in the city. You could visit museums like the Rubens House, which has many paintings in his old residence, or the Red Starline museum highlighting the history of the ships that brought many American immigrants to the US more than 100 years ago. If you’d like to go biking, you can join your bike guide for an alternative sightseeing tour on your bike.Day 8: Antwerp - Dendermonde, 32 or 20 mi. (52 or 32 km)
In Antwerp, you will make use of an iconic way of crossing the river, a tunnel, and elevators ONLY for pedestrians and bicyclists! You then make your way up the Scheldt river. by ferry. This will not be your last ferry of the day as you cross the river a few times. Lunch is enjoyed in the garden of Castle Wisselkerke. This won’t be the last castle of the day! The bike route crosses flood zones many times which attracts a wide variety of waterbirds to the area. Our docking for the day is in Dendermonde, a small but historic town with a great town square for us to enjoy a real Belgian beer.Day 9: Dendermonde - Ghent, 25 mi. (40 km)
The Belgian country roads lead through small towns, by lakes and castles, and into Ghent. As the birthplace of Charles V and the biggest city in the 13th century in Northern Europe after Paris, this city has many historical sights to see and, by many, is regarded as prettier than even Bruges. In the evening a small boat will pick us to see the city as most traders would have, from the water.Day 10: Ghent - Bruges, 25 mi. (40 km)
More time to explore Ghent is set aside this morning and then you continue your path to the final destination.From Ghent, you bike into forests and eat lunch at an old estate. Utilizing an old rail-to-trail route, you enter Bruges by bike. The Iris will be docked in the center of this small city so that you easily explore its criss-cross of canals and medieval alleys.
Day 11: Bruges, varied distances
The mesmerizing city of Bruges offers so many options to spend a day that we have decided to offer two nights on the barge here, so you will be able to visit everything you want. Of course, for those who’d rather bike, a bike route will be offered. Depending on the weather, you could go to the beach or do a city sightseeing tour. And then, finally, at the end of all these days, sit on the front deck and enjoy a Belgium beer!An informal last dinner on board will be the perfect way to end this unique trip.
Day 12: Bruges
Today is the official end of the tour after enjoying your last breakfast. You can leave your luggage on board until 12.00 and spend some more time in Bruges. Taxis can be arranged by the ship. Enjoy some more time in Bruges!Bruges to Amsterdam
Itinerary coming soon!
If you're looking for a different flavor, check out our full list of bike & boat tours or view all our featured trips, specials, and news.
Map
Boats & Bikes
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 11 nights onboard the Iris in climate-controlled cabins
- Breakfast buffet
- 8 dinners
- 10 packed lunches
- Coffee & tea while on board
- Daily cabin cleaning
- Cycling tour guide (with a minimum of 18 guests, a second guide will be added)
- Giant 8-speed bike rental with helmet, panniers, & water bottle
- Entrance to Kinderdijk
- Entrance to Muiderslot
What’s Not Included
- 3 dinners
- Laundry service (available with supplement. Please inquire on board in regards to details & costs)
- Entrance fees for museums, monuments, etc.
- Miscellaneous beverages & expenses on excursions
- Gratuities for staff & guides
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Premium Class
Iris
Bruges to Amsterdam
Saturday departure
May 13, 2023
Amsterdam to Bruges
Wednesday departure
May 24, 2023
Please 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
2023
Twin/double $ 4683 £ 2446 $ 4,139 € 2780 kr 426217 ₪ 11412 ¥ 467747 Mex$ 51780 NZ$ 5102 NOK 33187 zł 12245 S$ 4115 kr 32892 $ 3,021 Single supplement On request Extra Options
Electric bike: $ 236 £ 123 $ 208 € 140 kr 21464 ₪ 575 ¥ 23556 Mex$ 2608 NZ$ 257 NOK 1671 zł 617 S$ 207 kr 1656 $ 152
Special diets:
Vegan options on demand & with advanced reservation: $ 84 £ 44 $ 74 € 50 kr 7666 ₪ 205 ¥ 8413 Mex$ 931 NZ$ 92 NOK 597 zł 220 S$ 74 kr 592 $ 54 Vegetarian options (no meat) are available for every meal.
Vegetarian options (no meat or fish) on demand.Laundry service:
Limited and payable onboardExtra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy 12-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 are between 20 - 60 km.
Airport Info
Regardless of your tour start, Amsterdam or Bruges, many people fly into and out of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). Another option is to fly into one airport and out of another. The international airport in Brussels also called Brussels National or Brussels-Zaventem (BRU) is 107 km from Bruges and well served by public transportation. There is a train station on the lower level of the airport so onward or return travel to/from Amsterdam or Bruges is very convenient.
Local Travel
Tour start Amsterdam:
Arrival to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and train shuttle to Amsterdam Centraal Train Station (20 minutes). Airport train station is located on the lower level of the airport. And the end of your tour in Bruges, you could either take a train back to AMS (3 1/2 to 4 hours/1 to 2 transfers) or fly out of Brussels (1 1/2 hours/1 transfer).
Tour start Bruges:
Arrival to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and train to Bruges or arrive to Brussels and train to Bruges. At end of tour in Amsterdam, fly out of Amsterdam which is a 20-minute train ride from Amsterdam Centraal.Climate
The climate in Holland is considered maritime, greatly affected by the sea. Belgium as well is influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean, with cool summers and moderate winters.
Remarks
Though there is no van support on this guided bike and boat tour, guests can stay on board on any day instead of biking. During most days when the ship is navigating, a pickup or later drop off is possible. The guide will explain your options each day.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*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 Holland or Belgium, 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, can read 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?
Photos
Have you been on this tour?
Please leave your feedback