Holidays at last! After a very difficult season, which demanded a lot from us at Rückenwind Reisen and also from our customers in terms of cancellations and rebookings, I decided to go on a trip again. The Corona safety concept on the MS Magnifique, which I watched on video in advance, convinced me. It would be my first bike and boat trip and I was curious and excited to see if this form of travel would suit me.
To bring you closer to this wonderful journey, I was happy to document my experiences and adventures.
The itinerary had to be adjusted a little, as Antwerp was currently not allowed to be travelled to, but this did not affect the trip as a whole.
The tour starts in Amsterdam, where tour guides Arie and Jens welcome us on board the MS Magnifique at 1.00 pm for embarkation. The ship belongs to the Magnifique fleet, which covers the premium sector in the bike and boat sector. A complete renovation a few years ago has created an elegant and modern design that also offers a relaxed feel-good atmosphere.
The currently necessary Corona requirements are optimally implemented. Marked one-way routes, distance markings and disinfection stations were clearly visible and immediately conveyed a sense of responsibility.
After moving into the cabins (16 for a maximum of 35 guests), which are comfortable, surprisingly spacious and well equipped, the crew introduces themselves at a welcome drink and explains the on-board regulations and procedures. The guests are divided into two groups for breakfast and dinner due to social distancing rules. There will not be the usual buffets, but service at the table.
This raises expectations and increases the anticipation of further culinary delights.
The ship departs at 2.00 p.m. and we glide past stately country houses and along gentle, green landscapes. In the meantime, the drizzle has turned to sunshine and the good mood of all the guests is visible.
After arriving in Vianen, we try out our pre-ordered bikes and take a short tour of the small town on the River Lek. We get a first impression of the Dutch architecture and the lovingly maintained houses.
Our first dinner is served and we are impressed by the cooking skills of our New Zealand chef Russel. The 3-course menu exceeds all our expectations and heightens our anticipation of further culinary delights.
After a delicious breakfast, we pack our packed lunches and set off on our first cycle tour. We cycle a beautiful route along the Vecht on flat paths and see impressive country houses. Pure idyll and we soon reach the old silver town of Schoonhoven; a town that has been home to many talented silversmiths since the 17th century. We take a break here and stroll through the picturesque little town.
Later we follow the Lek, cross the Alblasserwaard polder and reach Kinderdijk, which is certainly the highlight of the day. Kinderdijk is famous for its impressive row of 19 windmills and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We cover the last stretch of the journey on the ‘Waterbus’: in approx. 10 minutes we travel from Alblasserdam (near Kinderdijk) to our destination of Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland. The MS Magnifigue awaits us here and after dinner we take an interesting city tour of Dordrecht. Maritime flair and an extensive old town centre characterise the image of one of Holland's most beautiful towns.
During breakfast, the boat sails from Dordrecht through the Rhine-Meuse delta with its enchanting water landscapes to Willemstad, where we take a short cycle tour through the charming town before setting off on our next cycle tour. The day is wonderfully sunny and we cycle through the province of Zeeland to de Heen, which is already in the province of North Brabant. Here we take our lunch break and watch the ships and boats on the water. The route leads to Tholen, once an island in the middle of the large rivers of the province of Zeeland, which was often flooded. Today, Tholen is connected to the mainland, but is still a picturesque little town. We are back on board in the afternoon and the Mani-fique takes us comfortably on to Bergen op Zoom.
As we are not allowed to dock in Antwerp or cycle in the area due to coronavirus, we have moored in Bergen op Zoom. The picturesque town lies on the inland Scheldt and we start the day with a guided tour of the town. We marvelled at the listed facades, the many small shops decorated with flowers, which radiate a pleasant atmosphere and learnt a lot about the history of the town. Afterwards we relax on the boat and in the afternoon we start our cycle tour through a large nature reserve with distinctive heath and dune landscapes.
The Magnifique sets off for Dendermonde early in the morning. We enjoy the gentle glide and the idyllic landscape. At midday, we set off on our daily cycle tour. Despite the overcast weather and a strong wind, cycling in a group is great fun. We often take a photo break or treat ourselves to coffee and cake. In the late afternoon, we reach the former cloth-making town of Dendermonde in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The town is nestled at the mouth of the Dender and Scheldt rivers and here, too, we see a well-preserved old town centre. After a short tour, we look forward to boarding our ship, which has docked 5 kilometres away.
Today we are lucky again: bright sunshine accompanies us on our way through villages decorated with flowers and past blooming begonia fields. At midday we reach the village of Laarne where we take a long lunch break and savour the famous Belgian fries. We make another stop at the majestic castle and then we are already in Ghent. A walk through the city and a guided canal cruise explain a lot about the lively university city, which exudes a lot of medieval charm.
Today we cycle through the enchanting Flemish countryside of West Flanders to Bruges. Forests alternating with extensive pasture landscapes make our last cycle tour one of the many highlights of this trip. Bruges, also known as the ‘Venice of the North’, attracts more than two million visitors every year who cannot resist the flair of this cultural city. The atmosphere of this unique and unforgettably beautiful city makes you want to return here again to see the city at your leisure.
We enjoy our last breakfast on board in peace and quiet and are bid farewell by the crew with a glass of sparkling wine. It was a fantastic trip and we were sad to see it come to an end.
Thanks to the crew and the tour guides for giving us a wonderful week.
