Discover Belgium and Flanders by bike
Do you want to take an unforgettable cruise? This tour invites you to discover the most beautiful cities of Belgium and the Netherlands by bike. Depart from the city of Bruges aboard the Wending and cross Belgium and then Flanders on a boat at night and on a bicycle by day.
Day 1 - Bruges
Once on board the boat, you can store your luggage in your cabin. In a relaxed atmosphere, get to know the guide, the skipper, his crew and the other passengers.
The Wending takes you to Aalterbrug, where you take a cycle path to Ghent. This city is more than a city-museum. Ghent has many well-preserved patrician houses, as well as old warehouses, the Gravensteen (medieval castle), Saint Nicholas Church (with 13th century foundations), Saint Bavo Cathedral (14th century), and Belfort (16th century belfry).
This bustling city with its many squares and cozy bars is a mix of medieval buildings, elegant shopping streets, splendid mansions and small lively squares.
Day 2 - Ghent, Cycling to Dendermonde and navigation from Saint-Amands 47 km
Early Sunday morning you drive through the old center of Ghent. Then off to a great day along the Scheldt. After about 20 km you arrive in Wetteren, a town with a real Flemish tavern. You follow the road to Berlare. It is the last village before Dendermonde, your boarding point, and the perfect place to taste a Belgian beer before getting back on the boat.
Dendermonde (Termonde in French) is famous as the town of the horse Bayard and the four sons of Aymon. Troubadours, folk tales and processions in the 15th century contributed to the fame of this city. You sail from Dendermonde to the peaceful village of Saint-Amands.
Day 3 - St. Amands - Antwerp 40km
From St. Amands, the cycle path takes you along the Scheldt and the nature reserves of Durme and Schausselbroek. Here, the mudflats form a freshwater marsh along the river. Here you will find unique flora and fauna. Continue your route through Bazel, one of the most beautiful villages in Belgium.
Passing under the Scheldt through the Sainte-Anne tunnel, you arrive in Antwerp. The tunnel is reserved for pedestrians and bicycles. Built in the 1930s, it is a listed historical monument.
The city of Antwerp is well worth a visit. We find the history of this city in the centuries-old facades of the narrow streets, on the impressive Grand-Place, in the Notre-Dame Cathedral… The Rubens House is worth visiting, as is the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the only museum in the world. world listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The boat is moored in the Willemsdok, near the Museum of Modern Art (Museum Aan de Stroom, closed Mondays).
Day 4 - Antwerp, navigation to Kreekraksluizen - bike ride to Willemstad 56 km
In the morning, you sail in the large port of Antwerp towards the Netherlands. Large seagoing ships and harbor cranes form a fascinating backdrop. In the Netherlands you get on the bike at the Kreekrak locks. Take a ride on the Brabantse Wal, a nature reserve with a steep transition from high sandy soils to clay soils lower in the polders. There are quite a few fields of strawberries and asparagus there. Take advantage of it at harvest time (depending on the weather: around June). Then drive through polders to the ancient walled city of Willemstad, near the Volkeraksluizen (Volkerak locks). These locks are a complex of four lock systems, three for commerce and one for pleasure. This passage is an essential link between the Scheldt and the Rhine. The locks are the largest in Europe by cargo tonnage and the largest inland locks in the world by size.
Day 5 - Willemstad - Gorinchem 45 km
You are sailing this morning towards Werkendam. There you cycle through the Land van Heusden en Altena region. You will follow an arm of the Meuse to the fortified town of Heusden. It was one of the first Dutch towns to be surrounded by fortifications. In the typical and narrow streets, you will find many secular buildings, well preserved, and beautiful facades. The sight of these fortified works is really worth it.
A little further on, on the banks of the Waal river, you will find another fortified town, Woudrichem. A ferry takes you across the river, where the boat awaits you.
Day 6 - Gorinchem - Cycling to Vianen - navigation to Utrecht 50 km
You follow the meanders of the Linge river passing through the Betuwe. This area is known for the large amount of orchards and will therefore be covered in flowers during the months of April and May. Then you pass through the town of Leerdam, famous for its glass. From Culemborg, a small peaceful town located on the Lek, you follow the river to Vianen.
Sail to Utrecht. After dinner you can visit old Utrecht by public transport. The city has very beautiful canals with small warehouses by the water, where there are now bars and terraces. In addition to the Dom Toren Tower, Utrecht still has hundreds of other monuments which contribute to the special atmosphere of this city.
Day 7 - Utrecht - Amsterdam 40km
During breakfast you cruise to Breukelen, from where you set off by bike following Holland's two most beautiful rivers, the Vecht and Amstel. You can admire magnificent 18th century houses and residences, with their splendid gardens.
Arrived in Amsterdam, it's time to say goodbye to your bike. Perhaps you fancy a stroll around town or take a canal boat trip? It's entirely possible. There is so much to discover in Amsterdam! The Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, Dam Square and its royal palace. You will probably want to stay one more day!
Day 8 - Amsterdam, end of the trip after breakfast, before 10:00 am.
Due to the navigation plan, the route may be reversed or modified.
