Amsterdam and Bruges in bike and boat - Liza Marleen 2025

Bike cruise in Netherlands and Belgium from Amsterdam 

This unique and original journey by bike and boat takes you to discover the flat countries: Holland and Belgium. Visit the beautiful cities of Amsterdam and Bruges and the prettiest Flemish cities. The landscape is diverse between polders, Zeeland islands, coves and winding dikes. Come aboard the Liza Marleen for an unforgettable stay.

Main interests of the stay :

• Gouda
• The windmills of Kinderdijk
• Delta works
• Ghent, Bruges and Amsterdam

Day 1 - Amsterdam - Oude-Wetering - 10 km

Boarding between 12:30 pm and 1:30 p.m. aboard the Liza Marleen. The boat must leave the port at 2.15pm due to the opening hours of the bridges and / or locks. You can settle into your cabin and then meet the crew and other passengers.

Day 2 - Oude-Wetering - Gouda - 45km

From Oude Wetering, the journey continues through the Green Heart along canals and polders towards the cheese town of Gouda.
You will also be able to discover a local craft industry of pipes, syrup wafers, earthenware, painted stained glass, as well as a town hall with fairy architecture without forgetting of course, the canals.

Day 3 - Gouda - Alblasserdam, boat to Dordrecht - 40km

Ride along the Dutch IJssel and the Krimpenerwaard, the lowest polder in the Netherlands, on narrow cycle paths towards the Lek river, which you cross to continue to Kinderdijk by taking the ferry. You will then discover the famous windmills of Kinderdijk, this is the largest concentration of historic windmills.
After a nice walk through the Alblasserwaard polder, you reach the "Merwede" river (Beneden-Merwede).

Day 4 - Dordrecht, navigation to Willemstad / Bruinisse and bike to Zierikzee - 54km

This morning you will sail for breakfast to the Delta of the great rivers. You can reduce this stage by sailing to Bruinisse where you can join the group. Continue the cycle route to Zierikzee and visit the "Watersnoodmuseum" (Flood Museum).
Zierikzee is a beautiful city and the center of mussel culture. Zeeland mussels are known around the world.

Day 5 - Zierikzee - Middelburg - 51km

You cycle towards the North Sea, up to the Eastern Scheldt dam which has huge slides that can be lowered in the event of strong storms or high tide and thus protect the south-eastern Netherlands from the sea .

The Oosterscheldekering is also called the eighth wonder of the world.

After the dam, your tour continues to Middelburg, passing the picturesque town of Veere with its old houses and churches and a Gothic-style town hall. You can also see the Roosevelt Academy.

Day 6 - Middelburg - Sas van Gent and navigation to Ghent - 45km

It's the day of the great crossing!
You arrive in Belgium through a region of small villages, coves and winding dykes, to the Belgian-Dutch border at Sas de Gand (Sas van Gent), the old gateway to the port of Ghent.
If you choose the shorter bike route, you board here. As you cruise, observe the bustling traffic in the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal and the huge industrial complexes on the banks before arriving in Ghent. From the quay, you can go by tram to the medieval center of this resplendent city.

Day 7 - Ghent - Bruges - 45km

In the morning, drive through Ghent city center to the scenic Leie River region and peaceful East Flanders countryside.
The region is characterized by forests and meadows, small villages and castles.
The last part of the route takes you from Aalterburg (the short stage) to Bruges via the old towpath along the Ghent-Ostend canal, the oldest canal in Belgium.
The superble city of Bruges marks the end of your bike and boat trip. In the afternoon and evening you can visit the old medieval center. Do not hesitate to stay one more day!

Day 8 - Bruges, end of the trip after breakfast, before 10:00 am.

Due to the navigation plan, the route may be reversed or changed.

Bike cruise in the Netherlands and Belgium from Bruges

Come aboard the Liza Marleen for an unforgettable cycling trip through Holland and Belgium, discovering the cities of Amsterdam and Bruges. You'll ride and cruise through a diverse landscape of polders, Dutch Flanders, creeks and winding dikes. 
An original, unique and warm holiday awaits you, made up of sharing, encounters and discoveries. 

Highlights : 

• The Delta works
• Ghent, Bruges and Amsterdam
• Flemish cities

Day 1 - Bruges to Ghent, 21 km 

The boat is moored near the Bargeweg, a stone's throw from downtown Bruges and the train station. Settle into your cabin between 12:30 and 1:30 pm.
You can then share a cup of coffee or tea while getting to know the guide, skipper, crew and other passengers.
The Liza Marleen leaves the dock at 2 pm. You can take your first bike ride along the canal. It's a gentle discovery on towpaths and quiet roads. At Aalterbrug, the barge picks you up and sails for Ghent. Over dinner, you'll discuss the next day's program and the week ahead.
Instructions on the bike and safety procedures will also be given.

Day 2 - Ghent

Free day to discover this city proud of its past, with its many well-preserved guild and patrician houses and former warehouses. Take a step back in time with a visit to the Gravensteen (a medieval castle), St. Nicholas Church (with 13th-century foundations), St. Bavo's Cathedral and the "Belfort" (belfry; 14th century). Ghent is packed with squares and cosy pubs.
Take advantage of the lively little squares where regulars come to eat and drink until the early hours of the morning on warm summer nights.
On this day, you can choose the cycling option with your guide. The bike route takes you to the castles and luxurious villas of Destelbergen, around this lively town on the banks of the Scheldt.

Day 3 - Ghent to Middelburg, 45 km 

You leave Belgium and enter Holland. Over breakfast, you'll sail to Sas van Gent before driving to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Dutch Flanders). You'll embark on a short ferry trip between Breskens and Vlissingen (Flushing), crossing the Westerschelde. From Flushing, it's a 30-minute bike ride to Middelbrug, the capital of Zeeland.
The town of Middelburg is both historic and picturesque. Beautiful 17th- and 18th-century merchant houses and warehouses line the canals. The medieval abbey is still used today as a museum and seat of the provincial government.

Day 4 - Middelburg to Zierikzee, 50 km

Take your bike to Veere, a former trading center. From Veere, you cross the Veersgat dam to North Beveland and the Oosterschelde. Huge locks are built into this dam and can be closed during storms and high tides. These dikes protect the southwest of the Netherlands from the sea. It is one of the most difficult and costly challenges to protect the country and allow sea water to enter the vast Delta area.
The Delta works are considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 
After the dam, you reach Zierikzee.

Day 5 - Zierikzee to Willemstad by bike and sail to Dordrecht, 55 km

Today you'll cycle to the island of Schouwen-Duiveland and the village of Bruinisse. Bruinisse's main source of income is mussel fishing. On the Grevelingen dike, you can admire a statue of an open mussel. Continue on to Willemstad, a former fortified town, where you meet up with the Liza Marleen. Sail on to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands, situated between several busy waterways.

Day 6 - Dordrecht - sail to Gorinchem, cycle to Vianen, 50 km

From Gorinchem, you sail to Woudrichem, where you can visit the Netherlands' most famous castle: Loevestein. You follow the River Linge through the Betuwe. This region is known for its many orchards, and you can admire it covered in flowers in May. After Leerdam, famous for its glass, you drive north to Vianen.

Day 7 - Vianen - sail to Breukelen and cycle to Amsterdam, 40 km

Over breakfast, the Liza Marleen sails to Breukelen (Brooklyn). You'll cycle to Amsterdam along Holland's two most beautiful rivers, the Vecht and Amstel. On this leg, you'll be able to admire pretty country houses and 18th-century mansions with their magnificent gardens. The name Amsterdam derives from Amstelredamme. This means that the city grew out of a dam on the Amstel River.
Enter the Dutch capital by cycling along the Amstel River. Holland's extensive network of cycle paths guarantees a relatively easy ride through the city, passing a number of remarkable landmarks.
In the evening, after your farewell dinner, you can stroll along the canals or through the city center.

Day 8 - Amsterdam, end of bike and boat trip

Your bike and boat trip aboard the Liza Marleen ends in Amsterdam after breakfast, before 10am. 

Due to the navigation plan, the route may be reversed or modified.

General information :

• 8 jours et 7 nuits
• Comfort level of the barge : Comfort
• Child prices : please contact us
• languages spoken on board: Dutch and English

Dates 2025 :

Departures from Amsterdam on Thursdays : 

• Low season : 26/06
• High season : 15/05, 12/06

Departures from Bruges on Thursdays : 

• High season : 22/05, 05/06 and 19/06

Included :

• Full board (picnic lunch)
• coffee and tea on board
• accompanying guide
• minimum 3 city walks with the guide
• GPS tracks on request
• free wifi (limited to the deck and the lounge)
• Travel log: we will provide you with information about the course of your stay and the itinerary upon validation of your reservation, subject to change.
• Online guided tour

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Visits
• All that is not mentioned in the section “included”

Options :

• Bike rental
• Theft insurance for rented bikes
• Cancellation insurance
• Special meal supplement

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat, very smooth roads and paths. 70% program on cycle paths.

Weather :

Contrary to popular belief, the temperature in the Netherlands is similar to the temperature in France. Near the coast, the weather is sometimes windy.

Technicality :

0 to 55 km of cycling per day, or about 3 to 6 hours of cycling. Easy route. No difficulties, accessible for anyone.

Bibliography :

Guide and maps about the Netherlands on cartovelo.fr
Guide and maps about Belgium on cartovelo.fr

Participants :

On board, you will meet an international community of all ages, men, women, singles and couples with children. We offer boats with 20 to 26 places in cabins of 2 and 3 people.

Accompaniment :

People responsible for your bike and boat holidays are : 
On board, the captain and his crew. They are responsible for the smooth running of the vacation on the boat, and bring the boat from stage to stage. The cook prepares the meals.
Participants are accompanied by a guide. This will help you in the event of a breakdown, advise you on the route to follow and give you the necessary tourist information. He or she is multilingual.

Meals :

Breakfast : on board, you will find a substantial and dutch breakfast.
Lunch : after the breakfast, you will prepare by yourself a “lunch” (sandwich, fruit, snack, drinks).
Snack : after the daily route, you will find, when you arrive on the boat, various drinks such as tea and coffee prepared for your return.
Dinner : at least three dishes. After dinner, you will have a choice of coffee and tea.
Other drinks, such as wine, beer, lemonade and mineral water, are not included but can be purchased on board at a reasonable price.

Bike :

At the beginning, a bike corresponding to your height, will be assigned to you. After a test ride, you will sign a receipt. The bike (21-speed bike) will be at your disposal all week. The bike will be fitted with panniers as well as a bike lock and a tire repair kit. If you prefer a 4-speed bike, please let us know (this must be specified when booking). It will not be possible to order a bicycle once on the boat. If you take your own bike, it cannot be insured against theft by our company, you will have to make the necessary arrangements with your usual insurer. Do not forget your anti-theft. The return of your bike will be at your expense.

Personal electric bikes not allowed on board.

Transport :

By train : the departure towns for the bike and boat tours are served by the railway.
Amsterdam train station is very well connected : several trains daily run to and from France.
Thalys is faster.
By plane : AMSTERDAM international airport.

Your vehicle : 

We strongly advise against parking cars on the streets of Amsterdam. Information on guarded parking lots in the city can be found on the website Parking Centrum Oosterdok.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the refund of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more, please click here.

Boat description : click here.