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

Boarding, check-in and reception of the crew until 2 p.m. Explore the city after dropping off your cabin baggage. Possibility to visit one or more museums or go shopping. Return on board at 5.30 p.m. First dinner and first night on board!

Day 2 - Amsterdam - Vianen (36 or 46 km)

First bicycle tour of the historic city of Amsterdam. You cycle along the Vecht and discover the mansions, castles, typical houses and beautiful gardens. Possibility of visiting a cheese factory in Vreeland. Visit of the villages of Loenen and Nieuwersluis. You arrive in Breukelen to join the boat. Departure for Vianen at 5 p.m. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 3 - Vianen - Schoonhoven - Kinderdjik (32 km or 56 km)

Navigation: Kinderdjik - Dordrecht

Today you take a beautiful road to Schoonhoven - nicknamed Zilverstad ("Silver City") - a town renowned 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 classified as a UNESCO cultural heritage. From nearby Alblasserdam you will take the 'Waterbus', a fast ferry, which will take you with your bike about 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of Holland's oldest towns.

Day 4 - Dordrecht - Willemstad - Tholen (36 or 44 km)

Navigation: Tholen - Kreekrak Lock - Antwerp (Antwerp)

While you enjoy your breakfast aboard the ship, the ship will sail to Willemstad where you will begin your bike ride. Willemstad is a beautiful old walled town on the Haringvliet Waterway. Your bike ride goes to Tholen, once an island among the great Zeeland streams, where many people used to fish for a living. Today, Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it is still a picturesque village with many vestiges of a checkered past.

In the afternoon, you will board the boat again which will sail to the port city of Antwerp, located on the River Scheldt. Antwerp is famous for processing up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds and is a city with many attractions. Visit the Town Hall, one of the many stately buildings built during the Renaissance period, the historic City Square Grote Market, Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and medieval Steen Castle. After dinner you can visit the beautiful historic city center.

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

This morning you will leave Antwerp by bicycle along a scenic section of the Schelde River to Saint-Amands, where you will spend the night. There is only one way to describe the landscape around the Scheldt and it is "magnificent". This is without a doubt one of the highlights of the stay.

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

Today you will continue to follow the Schelde river to Ghent where the ship will moor overnight at a lock at the exit of the city. Ghent is a vibrant university city with a rich history. Since Roman times, Ghent's position at the junction of the Lys and the Scheldt has enabled 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 historic buildings. The main attractions are Saint Bavo's Cathedral, where a number of masterpieces of medieval art are kept, including the famous 'Adoration of the Mystic Lamb' by Jan van Eyck and the 91-meter belfry. high of Ghent.This is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center.Before dinner, a small river boat will take you on a guided tour of the historic city.

Day 7 - Ghent - Brugges (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 over two million visitors annually who come to see its UNESCO-listed medieval city center and many historic attractions. 

Bruges has managed to maintain its historic fabric over the centuries, so that today the city's original Gothic buildings are an integral part of its identity. While you are here, you can visit one of Bruges' many museums or simply take in the amazing beauty and culture of this unforgettable city over a terrace cafe.

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 15 km | Bruges - Ghent

Boarding between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the port of Bruges. After a welcome meeting with the crew, the boat departs at 2:00 p.m. First test of the bike in the countryside around Bruges. During dinner, the Magnificent sails to Ghent. Visit the Saint Bavo Cathedral in particular, where you can admire many masterpieces of medieval painting, including Jan van Eyck's "Adoration of the Lamb" which is the most famous.

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

Take the time to visit Ghent and then cycle tour through a varied landscape along the Schelde River to Dendermonde. The scenery here is magnificent. Route between Dendermonde and Saint-Amands by bike or barge depending on the tides. Your boat will be moored for the night in Saint-Amands

Day 3 : Saint-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 to process up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds, it is also the city where the famous painter Paul Rubens was born. To visit: the town hall, the historic City Square Grote Markt, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe cathedral and the medieval Steen castle.

Day 4 : Antwerp

Today your ship remains in Antwerp. So you have a whole day to visit this beautiful Flemish city. You can visit the Rubens House, the palace where the artist lived with his family. You will find some of his works to admire in the “Onze Lieve Vrouwe (Notre-Dame)” cathedral.

Visit possible of the famous beer brewery of 'de Koninck' with tasting and explore the fascinating Museum on the Scheldt (MAS - Museum aan de Stroom) or go shopping. Evening dinner is not included but you can dine in the restaurant of your choice. The crew can provide restaurant recommendations.

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

The boat will sail along the Schelde-Rhine Canal and the huge Kreekrak lock system. Here your cycling tour starts through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” forest to Tholen, which was once an island in the middle of the great Zeeland streams. From Tholen you will join the boat for an afternoon sailing to Dordrecht. Halfway through you will be able to see the impressive Volkerak locking system.

Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands is your destination for the day. The guide will accompany you on a night 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 UNESCO cultural heritage. You then cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small and pretty walled town on the Lek (Bas-Rhin) river. You will spend the night here, possibility to walk after dinner.

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

During breakfast, the boat sails to Breukelen where you disembark to start your last day of cycling. Drive 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 find the Magnificent for the last time in the port of Amsterdam.

Day 8 : Amsterdam

End of your visit: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:30 am.

General informations :

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

The dates :

Departure from Amsterdam on Tuesdays:

• High season: 11/05, 25/05, 08/06, 22/06, 31/08, 14/09, 28/09
• Mid season: 06/07, 20/07, 03/08, 17/08
• Low season: 12/10

Departure from Bruges, on Tuesdays

From 01/06 to 19/10

• Low season : 19/10
• Mid season : 06 and 20/07, 03 and 17/08
• High season : 01, 15 and 29/06, 07 and 21/09

Included :

• Full board stay (picnic lunch)
• Travel diary: We will provide you with information about the progress of your stay as well as the itinerary, subject to change.
• Guided loop circuit
• Helmets

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.