Amsterdam and Bruges bike and boat - Magnifique II

The Netherlands by bike and boat from Amsterdam aboard the Magnifique II

This exceptional route takes you by bike between Holland and Belgium between Amsterdam and Bruges. Sail to the most beautiful cities in Flanders and the Netherlands like Dordrecht, Ghent or Antwerp. Pedal by day and cruise by night on the Magnifique II, a comfortable cruise ship.

Main interests:

• Amsterdam, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp
• the mills of Kinderdijk
• Explore the region of Flanders and its medieval towns
• Discovery of the Delta plan

Day 1 - Amsterdam - Vianen

Boarding, check-in and welcome by the crew until 2pm. 
At 2pm, departure from Amsterdam to Vianen, a beautiful fortified village on the river Lek. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area by bicycle. 
 

Day 2 - Vianen - Schoonhoven - Kinderdjik (32 km or 56 km) 

Navigation : Kinderdjik - Dordrecht

Today you take a beautiful route to Schoonhoven - nicknamed Zilverstad ("Silver City") - a town famous for its talented silver smiths since the 17th century. Later in the day, driving through the Alblasserwaard region, you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills. The 19 windmills are a UNESCO cultural heritage site.  From nearby Alblasserdam, you will take the "Waterbus", a fast ferry, which will take you and your bike about 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland.

Day 3 - Dordrecht - Willemstad / Willemstad - Bergen op Zoom (42 km or 50 km)

While you enjoy your breakfast on board, the ship will sail to Willemstad where you will start your bike ride. Willemstad is a beautiful old walled town on the Haringvliet waterway. Your bike ride goes to Tholen, once an island in the middle of the big Zeeland streams, where many people fished for a living. Today, Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it is still a picturesque village with many remnants of a turbulent past.

In the afternoon, you will board the boat again and sail to Bergen op Zoom, a fortified village on the Scheldt. 

Day 4 - Bergen op Zoom - Kreekrak Lock (21 km or 35 km) / Kreekrak lock - Antwerp

Start your day with a bike ride through the beautiful landscape around Bergen op Zoom. In the afternoon you sail to Antwerp. 

Antwerp is famous for processing up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds and is a city with many attractions. Visit the City Hall, one of the many majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historic City Square Grote Market, the Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle. After dinner, you can visit the beautiful historic city center. This is without a doubt one of the highlights of the trip. 

This evening you can have dinner in a restaurant of your choice. 

Day 5 - Antwerp - Temse - St Amands (34 km or 49 km)
 

Today's cycling stage takes you along the Schelde river through picturesque countryside towards St. Amands. There is only one way to describe the landscape around the Schelde and that is "beautiful". It is without doubt one of the most incredible landscapes of the trip. 

Day 6 - St Amands - Dendermonde - Ghent (52 km)
 

Today we will continue to follow the Schelde River to Ghent where the ship will dock for the night at a lock just outside the city.

Ghent is a lively university city with a rich history. Since Roman times, Ghent's position at the junction of the Leie and Scheldt rivers has allowed it to be a prosperous trading port. In total, the city has an opera house, 18 museums, more than 100 churches and more than 400 historical buildings. The main attractions are St. Bavo's Cathedral, where a number of masterpieces of medieval art are preserved, including the famous "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck and the 91-meter-high Ghent Belfry.

This is one of the three medieval towers overlooking the old city center. Before dinner, a small river boat will take you on a guided tour of the historic city.

Day 7 - Ghent - Bruges (22 or 45 km)
 

Today you will cycle from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish countryside of West Flanders to Bruges. It is described as the "Venice of the North" and arguably the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Bruges attracts more than two million visitors each year who come to see its medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many historical attractions. Bruges has managed to maintain its historical fabric over the centuries, so that today the city's original Gothic buildings are an integral part of its identity. While you're here, you can visit one of Bruges' many museums or simply admire the amazing beauty and culture of this unforgettable city over a terrace café. 

Day 8 - Bruges
 

End of the tour after breakfast. Disembarkation until 9:30 am.

The Netherlands by bike and boat from Brugges aboard the Magnifique II

Day 1: Bruges

Boarding between 13:00 and 14:00 in the port of Bruges. After a welcome meeting with the crew, the boat leaves at 14h00. First test of the bike in the countryside around Bruges. 

We advise you to come to Bruges one or more days earlier, in order to have time to discover the city, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 2: Bruges - Ghent

Your first day on the bike takes you through the Flemish countryside along the canal to Ghent. Enjoy your afternoon exploring the city's historic center. The ship will dock for the night at a lock about 30 minutes by bike from downtown Ghent. Before dinner, you can enjoy a guided tour on a small boat through the historic center. 

Day 3: Ghent - Dendermonde / St. Amands (40 km or 53 km )

Take time to visit Ghent and then cycle through a varied landscape along the river Schelde to Dendermonde. The landscape here is beautiful. Ride between Dendermonde and Sint-Amands by bike or by barge depending on the tides. Your boat will be moored for the night in Sint-Amands.

Day 4: Sint-Amands - Temse - Antwerp (32 km or 49 km)
 

Today, follow the Schelde River through the Temse region to Antwerp, your destination for the day. This port city is known for processing up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds and is also the birthplace of the famous painter Paul Rubens. To visit: the city hall, the historic City Square Grote Markt, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe cathedral and the medieval Steen castle.

Day 5: Antwerp - Kreekrak Locks | Kreekrak Locks - Tholen (36 km or 20 km) | Tholen - Willemstad - Dordrecht

The boat will sail along the Schelde-Rhine Canal and through the huge Kreekrak lock system. Here, your bike tour starts through the beautiful "Wouwse Plantage" forest to Tholen, which used to be an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams. From Tholen, you will join the boat for an afternoon sail to Dordrecht. Halfway there, you can see the impressive Volkerak lock system.

Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands is your destination for the day. The guide will accompany you on an evening walk and tell you about the history of the Netherlands.

Day 6: Dordrecht - Kinderdijk | Kinderdijk - Schoonhoven - Vianen (32 km or 57 km)

Today, visit with the Waterbus, a fast ferry to Alblasserdam. Arrival in Kinderdijk, the village famous for its impressive row of 19 windmills classified as a UNESCO cultural heritage site. You then cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small and pretty fortified town on the river Lek (Lower Rhine). You will spend the night here, with the possibility to walk around after dinner.

Day 7: Vianen - Breukelen | Breukelen - Amsterdam (36 km or 46 km)

During breakfast, the boat sails to Breukelen where you disembark to begin your last day of cycling. Ride along the Vecht River in an area famous for its beautiful homes and large gardens. After passing through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland, you will arrive in Nigtevecht where you can visit a traditional cheese factory. Pass through the historic town of Muiden and meet the Magnificent for the last time in the port of Amsterdam.

Day 8: Amsterdam

End of your tour: Disembark after breakfast until 9:30am.

General information :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Comfort level of the barge : Deluxe
• Spoken languages on board : English, Dutch and notions of French
• Child prices : please contact us

Dates :

Departure dates 2024 :

Departures from Amsterdam on Thursdays 

• Mid-season: 11/07,25/07,22/08,03/10
• High season:02/05,16/05,30/05,13/06,05/09,19/09

Departures from Bruges on Thursdays 

• Low season: 10/10
• Mid-season: 18/07,01/08
• High season: 09/05,23/05,06/06,20/06,29/08,12/09,26/09

Included :

• Full board (picnic lunch)
• Online guided tour
• Coffee and tea on board
• Welcome cocktail
• bed linen and towels 
• daily cabin cleaning
• air conditioning
• wifi
• Daily itinerary explanations
• some guided walks
• carbon taxes

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Visits

Options :

• Bike rental
• Personal bike location (mandatory if no rented bike)
• Theft insurance for rented bikes
• Cancellation insurance
• Extra night(s) at the start or end of the tour in a hotel in Amsterdam

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat, very smooth roads and paths. 90% 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 4 hours of cycling.

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.

Accompaniment :

People responsible for your bike and boat holidays are : 
On board, the captain and his mate. 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.
Each morning, if you wish, you can get benefit from advice on the route to follow and on additional tourist information.

Meals :

Breakfast : on board, you will find a substantial and dutch breakfast, worthy of a cyclist.
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, with a cake.
Dinner : at least three very good quality 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, on Saturday afternoon, 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 until Friday afternoon, when the bike is handed over. The bike will be fitted with panniers as well as an anti-theft device, a container and a tire repair kit. There is no helmet on board.
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.

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.

Boat description : click here.