Bruges-Amsterdam, tour2

Saturday Bruges - Ghent, 30 km
At 2 PM we will board our comfortable barge and then quickly set off on our bikes for a short ride along the oldest canal of Belgium: the canal from Oostende to Ghent. After we warmed up our legs we will board the ‘Zwaan’ again and make our way to Ghent. After our dinner you will have a chance to visit this stunning medieval city. From our berth you can easily reach the city centre. This lively city with its numerous squares and cozy pubs is an excellent mixture of mediaeval edifices, stylish shopping streets, splendid mansions, working-class quarters from the beginning of the 20th century that now often house students and busy little squares where people eat out until the wee hours on a sultry summer night.

Sunday Ghent - St. Amands, 60 km
This morning we will take our bike out on a peaceful ride through the old centre of Ghent which will still be covered under a blanket of Sunday morning quietness. After a tasty cup of coffee we will depart for a daytrip along one of the most beautiful rivers of Europe: the Schelde. This tidal river meanders all the way to Antwerp where it meets the sea. In Wetteren we’ll have a break in a real Flemish bar and in Berlare you can enjoy a tasty Belgian monastery beer with your lunch. En-route we will pass Dendermonde, the city of the legend of the royal children and the horse Bejaart, where we will marvel at the large market square and the city hall. In a beautiful turn in the river the Schelde we will come across the sleepy village of St. Amands where we will spend the night.

Monday St.Amands - Antwerp, 35 km
Today we will take off to cycle along the river banks of the river the Schelde, which are connected by several small ferries. Via Temse we will cycle through a peaceful nature reserve to Steendorp. Here we will board the barge (the Zwaan) to gently cruise over to the historic centre of Antwerp where we will hop off the boat to take a stroll through the city. You can marvel at the beautiful Onze-Lievevrouwenkerk (church), the impressive market square and the famous Rubenshuis. At the end of the afternoon we will make our way to the Willemsdok where the Zwaan has been docked within a stone’s reach of the stunning new Modern-art museum: Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS).

Tuesday Antwerp - Willemstad, 50 km
After you have enjoyed your delightful breakfast we will take our bikes and visit the famous and photogenic Cogels-Osybuurt. This neighbourhood is home to many gracious and historic houses that were built in Art-Deco style, Art Nouveau and the artistic Jugendstil style. Around 12 in the afternoon we will board the Zwaan and make a cruise through the impressive harbours of Antwerp. After we have crossed the border by sailing via the Schelde-Rijnkanaal to the Zandkreeksluizen we will tour through the stunning forest area of the Wouwse Plangtage in West-Brabant to eventually arrive in Tholen. Tholen is a quaint little fishermans village that has been severely damaged during the flooding disaster of 1953. We will continue our tour to the stronghold of Willemstad situated next to the busiest lock chambers in Europe: the Volkeraksluizen in the Haringvliet.

Wednesday Willemstad - Gorinchem, 50 of 20 km
Our barge the Zwaan will depart early in the morning to Werkendam from where we will take an exciting cycle trip through the land of Heusden and Altene. We will pass the Bergse Maas to the rustic settlement of Heusden. When we continue our tour over the pleasant cycle lanes through the nature reserve and along the river the Maas we will cycle passed the charming castle of Loevestijn. At this stop we will pick up the guests who prefer riding the short route to this wonderful castle. During our trip we will also pay a visit to the picturesque town of Woudrichem. Here we will ferry across to reach Gorinchem where our barge will be waiting for us.

Thursday Gorinchem – Vianen - Utrecht, 50 km
Today we will set off over the meandering river the Linge that flows through the Alblasserwaard towards the city of glass: Leerdam. By visiting a company specialised in glass works you will get more information on this unique handicraft. We will continue our journey to Culemborg that is idyllically situated on the shores of the river the Lek and carry on to Vianen where we will visit the impressive historic centre. The barge will eventually cruise via the Merwedekanaal and the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to Utrecht. After our delicious dinner you are free to take the bus to the centre for a delightful stroll through city.

Friday, Utrecht - Amsterdam, 40 km
While you are enjoying your breakfast the Zwaan will set off to Breukelen. From Breukelen we will ride in the direction of Amsterdam cruising alongside the most beautiful rivers of Holland: the Vecht and the Amstel. En-route we will pass impressive country cottages and mansions that are built by the merchants from Amsterdam in the 18th century. The charming cycle lanes will lead us to the heart of Amsterdam where we will be reunited with our barge the Zwaan in the Oosterdok. After our celebratory dinner you can take a stroll through the city or take a cruise over the canals with one of the tourist boats.

Saturday Departure
Amsterdam, end of the tour after breakfast.