Between Holland and Belgium aboard the Magnifique IV
Embark on a unique bike and boat experience aboard the Magnifique IV. Discover the picturesque Flemish countryside and the beautiful medieval towns of Holland and Belgium.
Main points of interest :
- Utrecht and Amsterdam
- Antwerp, the city of Rubens
- The Golden Age of the Netherlands
Day 1 : Amsterdam - Vianen
Boarding, check-in and welcome by the crew between 1 and 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 as dinner is not included.
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.