Modern ship salon on MS Magnifique with white furniture, wooden floors, round portholes, and glass staircase railing.

Itinerary

Arrival and embarkation time between 2 pm and 2.30 pm in the beautiful city of Bruges, also called “Pearl of Flanders”. After a welcome meeting with the crew at 2 pm there is time for a short test-ride through the countryside around Bruges. After dinner the tour leader will take you for a walk through the city centre. Dinner on board.

Today your first bike tour to Ghent through the flat land of West-Flanders will start. Your destination today is the historical centre of Ghent. Enjoy the beautiful parts of Ghent during an afternoon stroll. The barge is docked at a lock in Merelbeke, in a suburb of Thent and approx. 30 cycling minutes from the city centre. Dinner on board.

In the morning, you’ll cycle downstream through a varied landscape along the tidal Scheldt to Dendermonde, which lies at the confluence of the Dender and the Scheldt. The scenery along the Scheldt can be described in just one word: “magnificent.” It is undoubtedly one of the scenic highlights of the tour. On this stretch of the Scheldt, the boat’s speed depends on the tide. From Dendermonde, depending on the tide, you’ll travel either by bike or by barge to St. Amands. Your floating hotel will dock there for the night.

Today we’ll follow the Scheldt downstream through the Thames region to Antwerp. Over the centuries, the Scheldt has been of strategic importance to the Romans, the Vikings, the Spanish, and Napoleon. Today, it’s a beautiful waterway, ideal for cycling and houseboat vacations! Antwerp, your destination today, is a port city known for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and as the birthplace of the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens. The city offers many attractions, including City Hall one of the most magnificent Renaissance buildings the historic Grote Markt, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, and the medieval Steen Castle.

This morning, the ship will sail along the Scheldt-Rhine Canal and pass through the impressive Kreekrak lock system. This is where your bike tour begins, taking you through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” forest to Tholen. Tholen was once an island in the midst of Zeeland’s major rivers, where many people made their living from fishing. Today, Tholen is connected to the mainland by various routes. However, it remains a picturesque village with many reminders of its eventful past. From Tholen, you’ll board the ship again and enjoy a relaxing afternoon cruise to Dordrecht. Halfway there, the ship will pass through the impressive Volkerak lock system.

Today, your tour begins with the “Waterbus,” a high-speed ferry that will take you and your bike to Alblasserdam in just 10 minutes. After a short bike ride, you’ll reach Kinderdijk, a village known for its impressive row of 19 windmills, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site you can tour one of them (don’t forget your camera!). The windmills were built in the 18th century to pump water out of the flat Alblasserwaard polder (a polder is a low-lying piece of land enclosed by dikes). You’ll then continue your drive through the Dutch countryside, passing through Schoonhoven, the “Silver City,” known for its tradition of silversmithing. From there, you’ll follow the picturesque route along the Lek River to Vreeswijk, a charming historic village with a rich maritime past. In the evening, you can explore the quaint alleys and canals at your leisure.

Shipping to Breukelen, where you disembark and your cycling tour starts. Ride along the small river Vecht: this area is well known for its beautiful mansions, small castles and beautiful houses with large gardens and parks. Over the small villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland to Nigtevecht, where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden and on to Amsterdam where you will meet the barge for the final time in the Amsterdam harbour. Dinner on board.

After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation till 09:30 am.

Tour character

Easy

You cycle through Belgium and Holland on flat and well-maintained cycle paths. The routes can be categorised as easy and are also suitable for inexperienced cyclists.

Map showing cycling route from Amsterdam to Bruges with red line connecting cities: Amsterdam, Vianen, Dordrecht, Tholen, Antwerpen, Gent, Dendermonde, Brügge.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & extras

Services

Included

7 nights in outside cabins on board the MS Magnifique III with shower/WC in the booked category
Programme as per itinerary
Welcome drink
Daily cabin cleaning
Use of bed linen and towels
Meals: 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for bike tours, coffee and tea on board, 6x 3-course evening meal
All harbour, bridge and lock fees
Daily cycle tour briefing on board
Detailed cycle maps and information material 1x per cabin (only available on site)

Not included

Arrival and departure
transfers
Bike hire
Entrance and sightseeing fees if not mentioned
City maps
insurance
Gratuities and personal expenses
Dinner on board in Bruges

Extras

Parking

For example, Oosterdok multi-storey car park
Car park directly at the central station (only for cars up to 2.10 m high). Saving rate approx. 20.00 € for 24 hours www.parkingcentrumoosterdok.nl/deutsch/
Return transfer by train from Bruges to Amsterdam, approx. 40.00 € per person.

Embarkation: from 14:00
Disembarkation: After breakfast until 09:30.
Rental bikes on board: Smooth-running 7-speed unisex touring bikes from Velo de Ville with hand and coaster brakes or freewheel and pannier bag. 7-speed electric bikes from Velo de Ville with freewheel and pannier bag (limited number - early booking required). Please state your height when booking. Bringing your own bike: Due to the limited space available on the sun deck, bringing your own bike is only possible on request and only to a limited extent.
Cycle tours: Guided or individual. A cycle tour guide (two cycle tour guides for groups of 18 or more) is available for a guided cycle tour every day. If there are two cycle tour guides on board, on some days you can choose between short or long routes or between faster and slower cycling.
Please note: Not all the places/sights mentioned are visited during the shorter tours. Maps are available on board for individual cycle tours (only available on board). All kilometres mentioned are approximate distances of the recommended cycle tours
On-board language: English, German and Dutch
Cycle routes/level of difficulty: Pleasure cycling - the quality of the cycle paths is excellent, so this tour is also suitable for cyclists with a basic level of fitness
Vacation luggage: We recommend good rainwear, cycle helmet, sun hat and sports shoes.
Timetable and programme changes: Subject to change without notice. If, for example, a route cannot be travelled due to low water, high water or bad weather, the captain reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this is not a reason for cancellation free of charge).
Travel documents: EU nationals (with no special circumstances, e.g. dual citizenship, primary residence abroad or provisionally issued travel documents) require a valid identity card or passport for this trip, which must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip. If you have another nationality or several nationalities or if you have to observe special legal regulations, please contact your local consulate for information on the relevant visa and entry requirements.
This tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.