Arrival info
Boarding is between 1 PM and 2 PM. You are expected on our barge on Saturday at the latest at 2 PM.
You can recognise the barge by the banner with Cycletours written on it. The name of your barge is printed on the voucher, which you will receive separately.
After arrival there’s coffee and tea on board. Other drinks are also available on cash payment. If you want you can bring your luggage in advance: from noon onwards.
The mooring place of the barge in Amsterdam is Oosterdok Zip-code 1011 VX (near the Science Center: ‘Nemo’, Oosterdok 2).
Airport
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
There is a direct train that leaves 6 times per hour from the airport to Amsterdam Central Station. It takes about 16 minutes. The price for a train ticket Schiphol-Amsterdam Central is € 4,30 per person for a single journey. Walking distance to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes.
A taxi from the airport to the barge in Amsterdam takes about 30 minutes. It costs about € 45,-.
The tour ends one week later in Bruges, so another possibility is to fly to Brussels Airport (BRU). By train it is about 1½ hours from the airport to the railway station in Bruges. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes.
A taxi from the airport to the mooring place will take about 25 minutes and costs about € 45,-.
Train
The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is Amsterdam Central Station. Walking distance to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes.
A taxi from the station to the barge takes about 5 minutes: Costs about € 10,-.
Car
If you arrive by car, we recommend to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. You can find more information about parking possibilities at I amsterdam.
The nearest parking is Parking Oosterdok (about € 150,- per week, it is not necessary to reserve in advance; 500m walking distance to the barge).
End of the tour
The tour ends one week later on Saturday morning after breakfast before 10 AM. You will spend the night from Friday to Saturday on board in Bruges. The mooring place of the barge in Bruges: near the ‘Bargeweg’ (nearly 1 km/o.6 miles from the train station).
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Brussels Airport. By train it is about 1½ hours from Bruges to the airport. A taxi to the airport will take about 25 minutes and costs about € 35,-.
Should you need to travel to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), you can take the international train. Travel time is about 3½ hours (changing trains two times) and a one-way ticket (2nd class) costs about € 45,-.
Our ship, your hotel
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck.
Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.
What are the cabins like?
Most cabins are 2-person cabins, but some barges also have triple cabins. There are four categories: Standard Plus (cabins with private shower/toilet; bunk beds), Comfort (cabins as StandardPlus but with twin beds), ComfortPlus (cabins as Comfort, small ship or with air-conditioning) and Comfort DeLuxe (a very comfortable and tastefully furnished 5-star ship; cabins have twin beds and air-conditioning).
In all categories the cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 22o voltage. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
The team, hospitality comes first
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing.
The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (Dutch/English, some speak German and/or French).
The meals
Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit will be waiting for you.
If you have special meal requirements we ask you to mention this when booking, but at the latest until 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus. In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 50, – per week.
You and the group,new friends from around the world!
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, France and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays). Most groups are made up of 12 to 26 people.
The most beautiful cycling routes
Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the country. The average daily distance is around 45 kilometers. Most participants prefer riding in a group with the cycling guide, but you can also ride individually. A road book is included (1x per cabin). Bike maps can be purchased when booking and will be handed over to you on board.
What others think of this tour
5 reviewsWe took our grandchildren (ages 16&14) on this tour. We sailed on Sailing Home and her crew of 4. We can't say enough about their hospitality and grace during the entire week. Our tour guide Hugo was fantastic and took videos of the bike adventure every day and then sent them to us after we returned home. We were a bit concerned about the distances for the grandkids but it was managed so well by Hugo that it was absolutely not an issue. We had a minor issue at one of our stops and our Captain Willie got us to the doctor quickly (by bicycle, of course). I can't think of a thing I'd change about this wonderful adventure.
Jack & Margie Stratford - 20/07/2018
Wonderful experience! My husband and i just returned home from our trip -- Cycling from Amsterdam to Bruge with the crew of the Zwaan. Our guide, Karline, was extremely knowledgable; meals prepared by René were delicious; the mate Sven and the captain Ilya were delightful. Going in, we were not big bicyclists, but the pace and camaraderie made the trip not only do-able, but enjoyable and memorable!
Jeanie Riddell 6/20/18 - 21/06/2018
My wife, Shirley, and I really enjoyed this biking adventure. It was a very comfortable pace, and took us to some amazing sites. The barge and crew were excellent, very comfortable and the meals were top notch. Our tour guide, Wieger, was outstanding. He was very well knowledged, and we especially enjoyed the after supper walk-about tours learning more about the communities we were moored at. Thanks Cycle Tours for making this holiday so memorable.
John Wagemakers - 26/08/2017
My son and I just came back from this tour sailing on the barge Liza Marleen.We had great time. Everyone from the crew was wonderful. Thank you Marcel, Arnold, Marye, Peter and Agnes.You all are the best. And of course people in the group made this vacation very special.26/08/2017
Ilana Zukerberg - 04/09/2017
Good way to explore the Netherlands and Belgium. Relaxed and friendly
Mr. Howard - 26/05/2017
Leave your review