Amsterdam and Brugges bike and boat - Magnifique III

Bike and boat route between the Netherlands and Belgium on Magnifique III

This route takes you from Holland to Belgium between Amsterdam and Bruges. Go to world famous destinations like Dordrecht, Ghent or Antwerp. Pedal by day and sail by night on the Magnificent III boat that perfectly bears its name.

Main points of interest :

• Tours of Amsterdam, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp
• Discovery of the Kinderdijk mills
• 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.

Bike cruise between Bruges and Amsterdam aboard the Magnifique III

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 informations :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Boat comfort level: Deluxe
• Child rates: contact us

The dates :

Departure dates 2024 :

Departures on Tuesdays

• Mid-season: 06/08
• High season: 11/06

Departures on Tuesdays

• Mi-saison : 30/07,13/08
• High season: 18/06

Included :

• Full board (picnic lunch)
• Travel book
• Coffee and tea on board
• Welcome cocktail
• air conditioning
• Wifi
• Daily itinerary explanations
• Some guided walks
• Carbon tax
• Admission to the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp
• Canal walks in Ghent
• Tastings of local products 
• Fully guided tours: 2 guides and 2 groups

Not included :

• Transportation to the starting point
• Personal expenses
• Visits

The options :

- Bike rental
- Additional night in Amsterdam at the start or end of the tour

Levels:

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 close to the temperature in France. Near the coast there may be wind.

Technicality :

0 to 40 km of hiking per day, or about 3 to 4 hours of cycling.
Easy to follow route. No difficulties, accessible to all.

Bibliography :

- Guide and maps on the Netherlands on cartovelo.fr
- Guide and maps on Belgium on cartovelo.f

The participants :

On board you 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.

Support :

Here are the people responsible for your bike and boat holidays:
On board, the captain and his boy. They are responsible for the smooth running of the holidays (on the boat) and take 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 and will advise you on the route to follow and give you the necessary tourist information. He or she is multilingual.

Meals :

- Breakfasts : on the boat, you will find a substantial and Dutch breakfast, worthy of a cyclist.
- Lunches : after breakfast you will prepare a 'lunch' yourself (sandwiches, fruit, snack, drink).
- Snack : After the daily trip you will find, when you arrive on the boat, various drinks, such as tea and coffee prepared for your return, with a cake.
- Dinners : minimum three dishes of very good quality. After dinner you have the choice between coffee and tea.
Other drinks, such as wine, beers, lemonades and mineral water are not included but can be purchased on board at a reasonable price.

The bike :

On departure on Saturday afternoon, you will be assigned a bike corresponding to your size. After a test run, you sign a receipt. The bike (a 21-speed bike, VTC) is at your disposal all week until Friday afternoon, when the bike is handed over.
The bikes are equipped with saddlebags as well as an anti-theft device, a container and a tire repair kit. If you prefer a 4-speed bike let us know! (This must be specified when booking). It is not possible to order a 4-speed 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. Don't forget your anti-theft device! The return of your bike will be at your expense.

Transport: Location

- By train : The departure towns for the bike and boat circuits are served by the railway.
Amsterdam station is very well served, every day several trains come and go to France.
The Thalys is the fastest.
- By plane : AMSTERDAM international airport.

Your vehicle :

We strongly advise against parking cars on the streets in Amsterdam. Information about guarded parking lots in the city can be found on the following website: http://www.naaramsterdam.nl

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

Boat description : click here.