On even trails from highlight to highlight

Amsterdam – Bruges by bike and ship

A dream cycling holiday by ship and bike. On completely even and well indicated bike tails you will find your way from the metropolis of Amsterdam to the town centre of Bruges, whose medieval Old Town was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2000. On your way, one highlight is followed by another: Among them are Holland’s impressive country residences, a cheese dairy and the 19 windmills in Kinderdijk. In Belgium, beautiful Flemish towns of historical flair will be visited. Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges overbid each other in their overwhelming beauty. Gabled and Patrician houses, narrow streets and ostentatious churches equipped by Peter Paul Rubens, Jan van Eyck and Michelangelo will seam your way with the charm of past times.

MS Magnifique

With a length of 62 metres and a maximum capacity of 42 guests, the MS Magnifique was rebuilt in 2012 / 2013 especially for combined bike- and boattrips. 17 cabins offer sleeping space: 13 double cabins of 9m² or 12m², 2 junior suites of 14m² and two single cabins of 8m². Each of them is equipped with shower, toilet, flat-screen TV and air-condition that can be adjusted individually. The living area composed of lounge and bar supplies a cosy flair, just like the dining area with its huge windows. The sundeck is partly canopied and offers enough space. On the quarterdeck you find a whirlpool.

1. day  Arriving in Amsterdam + 15 km bike trip

Individual journey to Amsterdam. Embarkation starts at 1 p.m.. At 2. p.m., the ship leaves Amsterdam for a panorama trip to Nigtevecht. Your first bike trip leads along the winding Vecht. A traditional Dutch cheese dairy gives occasion for a first stop. Here, cheese is still produced in the traditional manner Today’s destination is Vianen by the river Lek, it will be reached comfortably by ship.

2. day  Dordrecht 50 km

A day full of highlights! A lovely route takes you to Schoonhoven. Through the impressive polder landscape, you will arrive in Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills lined up in a row wait to be marveld at (UNESCO World Heritage Site). After an interesting visit, your ship takes you to Dordrecht, one of Holland’s oldest towns. Its historical town centre lies impressively embedded between mighty rivers. Enjoy a view over Europe’s most frequented river intersection! This wide divide with the cloudy Dutch sky served as a popular source of inspiration for paintors and poets for several hundred years. You will spend the night in the historical harbor Wolwevershafen. A worthwhile walk around town will you’re your evening after dinner.

3. day  Antwerp 35 km

During breakfast, you will be shipped to Tholen. Here you start your cycle tour through the forrests of "Wouwse Plantage " to Bergen op Zoom and on to the impressive
watergate construction "Kreekrakschleuse". By ship you pass Antwerp harbour and continue to the old city centre.The town is known as the birthplace of the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens. Discover Antwerp on your own, marvelling at the manorial houses around the Grote Markt and make sure to visit the cathedral “Onze Lieve Vrouwe" with works by Rubens. After dinner, you are invited to participate in our walk around town

4. day  Dendermonde 42 - 56 km

After breakfast, you will first of all be shipped to the mouthing of the Schelde. Here, you will get on your bikes to follow this beautiful but moody tidal river up-stream. Enjoy the bike trail on the Scheldedam and let your glances wander around the varying landscape. If you wish so, you can return onboard in Temse after having spent about 30km in your saddle, but the cycling route gets more and more worthwhile! Passing nice inns and small ferry harbors, you will soon reach Dendermonde. Here, the medieval market place is a must-see, also hosting the town hall built in the 14th century as a cloth hall. Marvel at the town’s belfry, part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Belfries in Belgium and France” since 1999 as well as at the Sint-Alexius-beguinage (1288). 61 houses and a chapel are grouped around it’s inner zone. It is among the oldest buildings of its kind and was declared UNESCO Wolrd Heritage “Flemish Beginenhöfe” in 1998. You can finish this day with a beer tasting.

5. day  Dendermonde 30–55 km

You will accomplish the 35km along the Schelde to Ghent in no time. You can be looking forward to visiting this lively university town with its rich past. In Roman times, Ghent emerged at the confluence of the rivers Leie and Schelde. This fortunate situation brought wealth into the town over many years, primarily during the 13th and 14th century when the cloth industry boomed. On a walk around town, you will discover the numerous Patrician houses, the belfry, the count’s residence, which is one of the most meaningful Roman castles of Belgium, and of course the St.-Bavo-cathedral (1300-1538) with the famous altar of Ghent, designed by Jan van Eyck.

6. day  Bruges 45 km

In Merelbeke you will get back on your bikes to cycle comfortably through the even landscape from Western Flanders to Bruges. Here, one of the trip’s higlights will already be waiting for you: Bruges, also called the Venice of the North, is often designated the most beautiful Flemish town. Its Old Town, dating from the Middle Ages, has almost not been touched and presents itself today with the flair of a dollhouse. The medieval town centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Discover the great market place, the town hall, the cloth hall, the belfry, the beguinage and the church of Our Lady with the Madonna by Michelangelo. After dinner, you are welcome to join our walk around town. Bruges is worth every minute of the stay.

7. day  Circle tour to the North Sea 45 km

On your last stage you cycle along a smooth channel bordered by poplars. Through the polder landscape you approach the North Sea and a sandy beach with a length of 12 km. In the afternoon you return to Bruges along the dunes of nature reserve "Het Zwin".

8. day  Departing from Bruges

Your trip ends after breakfast at 10.00 a.m. with debarkation.

Please note:

Depending on the date the tour either starts in Amsterdam or in Brügge.

If you start the tour from Bruges, there is no circle tour to the North Sea. Instead of this you have an overnight stay at Amsterdam and enough time for sightseeing.

Dates Amsterdam - Bruges:
2013.04.27./ 05.11/ 05.25./ 06.08./ 06.22./ 07.06./ 09.14

Dates Bruges-Amsterdam:
2013.05.04./ 05.18./ 06.01./ 06.15./ 06.29./ 09.07./ 09.21.