Amsterdam-Bruges

Saturday Arrival at 4 PM
When you arrive on board the ship you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers.

Sunday Nigtevecht – Breukelen - Vianen, appr. 25 or 47 km
You take off to Nigtevecht by barge. From there you make a short bike trip to Breukelen along the winding river Vecht. You visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods. By the end of the afternoon the barge takes you to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek, or if you would like to you can cycle all the way to Vianen.

Monday Vianen – Dordrecht, appr. 50 km
In the morning your beautiful bike ride leads to Schoonhoven, the Silvertown. A visit to Schoonhoven means getting to know the rich past of the centuries-old traditional silversmith craft. From Schoonhoven you continue to Kinderdijk right across the Alblasserwaard. An impressive row of large windmills appears, built to drain the Alblasserwaard. You can visit one of the mills. Then the barge takes you further to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland, and an important junction for shipping traffic, where you spend the night in the historic port of Wolwevershaven.

Tuesday Dordrecht, sailing to Willemstad or Bruinisse, cycling to Zierikzee, 54 or 24 km
Today starts with a breakfast cruise to the delta of our great rivers. There used to be many open connections with the sea but after the big flood disaster of 1953 dramatic water works were carried out in the framework of the 'Delta plan' (Delta Works). As a result most tidal inlets are now closed off from the sea by dams.We recommend you to have a closer look at the interior and exterior of the storm surge barrier. You will find yourself surrounded by concrete that is to last for 200 years, by huge steel doors of 15 foot wide, with tidal waves storming and raging underneath. This is something not to be missed! A beautiful tour on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland comes next. Your destination for today is the well-preserved town of Zierikzee.

Wednesday  Zierikzee – Middelburg, 51 km or sailing to Zandkreekdam, cycling to Middelburg, 32 km
Today the barge sails to Middelburg. For the long route you take off towards the western part of the island, Schouwen. At Westenschouwen the crossing of the Oosterscheldedam is started. Halfway the dam the former artificial island Neeltje Jans offers an interesting exposition of the dangers of the sea and the construction work of the various dams. Although all the islands of this province, Zeeland, are now connected, and should therefore literally no longer be named as such, they have all retained their own character. With a strong headwind this trip can be very strenuous. In that case you may prefer to do the first part of today's route on board the ship and start cycling at Zandkreek. Quiet country roads take you into Middelburg.

Thursday   Middelburg – Ghent, 73 km or starting in Terneuzen, 41 km
By ship or on bike to Vlissingen (Flushing), an important port at the mouth of the Westerschelde. Here you can take the ferry to Breskens in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (Zeeland's Flanders), which takes about twenty minutes. Belgium is now getting close. While cycling through the spacious land with scattered villages, winding dike roads and remains of many old creeks you may not even notice that you are crossing the Dutch-Belgian border. The city of Ghent is proud of its rich past, but is much more than just a museum town. This lively city with its numerous squares and cosy pubs is an excellent mixture of mediaeval edifices, stylish shopping streets, splendid mansions, working-class quarters from the beginning of the 20th century which now often house students and busy little squares where people eat out till the wee hours on a sultry summer night.

 

Friday  Ghent – Bruges, appr. 45 km
A quiet road leads you through the beautiful centre of Ghent into the Leiestreek (Leie valley). You pass through St Martens-Latem, once an artists' centre. Then across the Leie bridge and into the peaceful countryside of East Flanders. The route follows winding roads in the open country and now and then a forestry region. The final part of the trip is along the towpath of the canal between Ghent and Oostende and leads you to the city of Bruges. The second half of the afternoon and the evening can be spent in this charming town.

 

Saturday Departure before 10 AM
Bruges, end of tour after breakfast.

1 km = 0.62 miles

One week not enough?

It is easy to combine the tours we offer. Even combining with a Bed & Bike tour is easy to do. These are self-guided biking tours staying at hotel accommodation. Duration of these tours is from 2 days up to 8 days.

Amsterdam City card
To people who would like to extend their bike holiday with a few days in Amsterdam, we offer in 2011 the 'I Amsterdam Card'. You can buy this card through us when reserving a bike tour.
The 'I amsterdam Card' consists of a chip-card, a public transport ticket,  a pocket guide and provides over 40 free and 50 discounted offers on major tourist attractions and restaurants. This card is comparable with a City Card offered in many European Cities.
Should you want more information about this card, please send us a message at information@cycletours.nl