Itinerary

Bike and Barge Netherlands & Belgium: Amsterdam – Antwerp /Antwerp – Amsterdam

Premium Tour

4 or 5 days | Ship: Magnifique II, III, IV | Bike and Barge Netherlands

Discover the charms of the Dutch countryside on this delightful tour as you explore the best of what Holland has to offer. During the day you’ll cycle to iconic Dutch destinations such as the windmills at Kinderdijk, the merchant city of Dordrecht and Belgium’s lively cultural hub Antwerp, while at night you’ll relax in the comfort of your floating hotel. On this tour you’ll ride along the picturesque Vecht and Lek Rivers through beautiful – and flat – green landscapes. Sights along the way include countless charming villages, a visit to a working Dutch cheese farm, the 19 windmills at Kinderdijk and historic fortress towns such as Tholen and Vianen. Enjoy a coffee or a refreshing beer with the locals in an authentic Dutch pub, where you’ll receive a friendly nod as you arrive by bike.

Highlights of this tour:

• See Kinderdijk’s majestic windmills
• Cycle along beautiful peaceful rivers
• Explore cultural treasures in Antwerp
• Barges with max. 40 passengers

Route Amsterdam – Antwerp (4 days)

Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Vianen

Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is at 1 p.m.. At around 2 p.m. the ship will depart from Amsterdam for Vianen, a small fortified village on the Lek River. After dinner you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a short first test ride through the surrounding area.

Day 2: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk (32 km/19 mi. or 56 km/34 mi.)| Kinderdijk – Dordrecht

Today you will cycle along a beautiful route to Schoonhoven – nicknamed Zilverstad (“Silver City”) – a city renowned for its talented silver smiths since the 17th century. Later in the day as you cycle through the Alblasserwaard region you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills. All 19 windmills have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight – you will have the opportunity to visit one so don’t forget to bring your camera! From nearby Alblasserdam you will take the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry, that will take you and your bicycle in approx. 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.

Day 3: Dordrecht – Willemstad | Willemstad – Tholen (36 km/23 mi. or 44 km/28 mi.) | Tholen – Kreekrak lock – Antwerp

As you enjoy your breakfast aboard the ship, the ship will sail to Willemstad where you will start your day’s cycling. Willemstad is a beautiful old fortified town on the Haringvliet waterway. Your bicycle ride goes to Tholen, once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Nowadays Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it is still a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past.
In the afternoon you will once again board the ship which will sail to the port city of Antwerp, situated on the river Schelde. Antwerp is famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and is a city with a long list of attractions including: the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle. After dinner you can visit the beautiful old city center.

Day 4: Antwerp

Today is the last day of this short but sweet cycling cruise. You’ll still have an entire day to discover this city of culture, cobblestones and Baroque Flemish masterpieces. In the morning your tour leader will take you for a walk through the center of Antwerp to visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady. Here you can admire paintings by the famous painter Rubens. In the afternoon you can explore this multifaceted city on your own. Visit the Rubens House, the palazzo where the brilliant and versatile artist lived with his family. Other ways to spend a pleasant afternoon are a tasting tour at the famous ‘de Koninck’ beer brewery; exploring the fascinating and modern MAS Museum on the Scheldt River; or going shopping on Antwerp’s fashionable Nationalestraat.

As it’s the last day, we’ll ask you to check out of your cabin straight after breakfast. Your luggage can stay on board and can be picked up at any time.

Good to know
Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way.
On this Tour with more than 22 guests the daily cycling tours will be accompanied by 2 knowledgeable and multi-lingual tour leaders. On most days the tour leaders will offer a long and a short (or a quicker and a more relaxed) bicycle option.
Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bicycle option.
You can also choose to ride individually with the help of a map and route notes (available on board). GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the start date of the tour.
In case you prefer a day of rest, you can skip the bicycle tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.
On the arrival day is it possible to bring your luggage on board from 11 a.m..

Route Antwerp – Amsterdam (5 days)

Day 1: Antwerp

Embarkation and check-in at 2 p.m., where the crew will welcome you on board. In the afternoon there’s time to select your bike and take a short test ride.
The ship is moored in the port city of Antwerp, situated on the river Schelde. Antwerp is famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and is a city with a long list of attractions including: the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle.

Day 2: Antwerp – Kreekrak locks | Kreekrak locks – Tholen (36 km/23 mi. or 20 km/13 mi.)| Tholen – Willemstad – Dordrecht 

This morning, the ship will sail along the Schelde-Rhine Canal and over the huge Kreekrak lock system. Here your bicycle tour starts through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” forest to Tholen, Tholen once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Nowadays Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it is still a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past. From Tholen you will join the ship again for a nice afternoon sail to the city of Dordrecht. Halfway the ship will pass the impressive Volkerak lock system.

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

Day 3: Dordrecht – Kinderdijk | Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Vianen (32 km/19 mi. or 57 km/36 mi.)

Today you will start your tour with the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry that will take you and your bicycle in just 10 minutes to Alblasserdam. After just a few minutes of cycling you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 UNESCO cultural heritage-listed windmills – one of which you can visit (don’t forget your camera!). The windmills were constructed in the 18th century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments). You will then continue to cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek (Lower Rhine), where you will stay for the night and where you can explore at your leisure after dinner.

Day 4: Vianen – Breukelen | Breukelen – Amsterdam (36 km/23 mi. or 46 km/28 mi.)

During breakfast the ship will cruise to Breukelen where you disembark to start your final day of cycling. Ride along the Vecht River in an area famous for its beautiful mansions, small castles, impressive houses and their large gardens. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland you will arrive at Nigtevecht where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden and on to Amsterdam where you will meet the barge for the final time in the Amsterdam harbor.

Day 5: Amsterdam

Last day of your tour: disembarkation after breakfast and goodbyes until 9.30 a.m..

Good to know
Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way.
On this Tour with more than 22 guests the daily cycling tours will be accompanied by 2 knowledgeable and multi-lingual tour leaders. On most days the tour leaders will offer a long and a short (or a quicker and a more relaxed) bicycle option.
Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bicycle option.
You can also choose to ride individually with the help of a map and route notes (available on board). GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the start date of the tour.
In case you prefer a day of rest, you can skip the bicycle tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.
On the arrival day is it possible to bring your luggage on board from 11 a.m..