Itinerary

Highlights of Holland and Flanders: Amsterdam to Bruges

8 days / 7 nights | MS Magnifique II | Guided bike tours 

Experience the charm of a bygone era on this exciting 8 day, 7 night tour where you will discover the best of what Holland and Belgium have to offer.
During the day you will cycle to world famous destinations such as Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, while at night you will relax in the comfort of your floating hotel.
Cycling on this tour is through the beautiful – and flat – Dutch countryside of Zeeland and the western Flanders region of Belgium. Attractions along the way include many charming villages, a visit to a real Dutch cheese farm, the 19 famous Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk and the world famous cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges in the western Flanders region of Belgium. You will cycle through and discover the Dutch province of Zeeland, which is essentially one big river delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt Rivers famous for its fantastic beaches, water sport activities and Delta works and the Flanders region of Belgium famous for its medieval towns and a reputation for superb food and drink. As well as being able to discover many picturesque villages each day – both on your bicycle and on foot – you will:

The Magnifique III tours start and end on TUESDAY, the Magnifique II and Magnifique IV tours start and end on THURSDAY and the tours with the other ships start and end on SATURDAY.

Highlights of this bike and boat trip

✔ Colourful Holland and Flanders

✔ World famous cities of Amsterdam, Antwerpen and Ghent

✔ Visiting the windmills of Kinderdijk

✔ The premium barge MS Magnifique III

 

Itinerary from Amsterdam to Bruges

Day 1: Amsterdam – Vianen 

Embarkation and check-in is at 2 pm, where your crew for the week will be waiting to welcome you on board. At around 2 p.m. the ship will depart from Amsterdam for Vianen, a small, fortified village on the Lek River. After dinner you 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 – Bergen op Zoom (42 km/26 mi. or 50 km/31 mi.)

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. Then you cycle on to the destination of this trip, Bergen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom is a historic fortified town that once lay on the open waters of the Oosterschelde. After dinner you can take a walk through the old town. Narrow streets, old town, market and church squares and idiosyncratic monumental buildings show the history of a rich and eventful past that goes back more than eight hundred years.

Day 4: Bergen op Zoom – Kreekrak lock (21 km/13 mi. or 35 km/21 mi.) | Kreekrak lock – Antwerp

In the morning you will enjoy a small bike ride through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” surrounding Bergen op Zoom. In the early 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. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).

Day 5: Antwerp – Temse – St. Amands (34 km/21 mi. or 49 km/31 mi.)

This morning you will cycle out of Antwerp along a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St. Amands your home for the night. There is only one way to describe the landscape around the Schelde and that is “magnificent”. It is without doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour.

Day 6: St. Amands – Dendermonde | Dendermonde– Ghent (52 km/32 mi.)

Today you will continue to follow the river Schelde to Ghent where the ship will moor for the night at a lock in a suburb of town. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich history. Since Roman times Ghent’s position at the junction of Leie and Schelde Rivers has ensured that it has been a successful trading port. In total the city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more than 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. Major attractions are St. Bavo Cathedral where a number of masterpieces of medieval art including the world famous ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck are kept and the 91-meter-tall belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center.

Day 7: Ghent – Bruges (22 km/13 mi. or 45 km/28 mi.)

Today you will cycle from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish countryside of western Flanders to Bruges, widely described as the ‘Venice of the North’ and arguably the most beautiful of all the Flemish cities. Bruges attracts more than two million visitors every year who come to see the picturesque medieval town center of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic city and a long list of historic attractions. An outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain its historic fabric as it has evolved over the centuries, with the result that today the city’s original Gothic buildings form an integral part of the town’s identity. While you are here you can visit one of Bruges many museums or simply take in the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk café. 

Day 8 (Sat): Bruges

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

Good to know

  • Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
  • On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
  • If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
  • The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
  • On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
  • Detailed cycling maps, route tips and a GPS app are available for guests who wish to cycle individually and at their own pace. The tour guide is always available via cell phone in case of questions, breakdowns or emergencies.