Cycling holiday Bruges to Amsterdam

Bruges to Amsterdam

Two countries, Belgium and Holland

Starting at € 1.130,-
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Summary
  • 8 Days Thursday to Thursday
  • 50 km average per day
  • Arrival Bruges Zaventem Airport Brussels
  • Departure Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Highlights
  • Bruges and Ghent
  • Dutch Brooklyn and river Vecht
  • Amsterdam
  • Dutch rivers canals and polders
Characteristics
  • Guided Tour
  • Group Tour
  • Bike & Barge
  • Cycling level 2

    Suitable for people of all ages. On some days you will be cycling through a windy area or (depending on the tour) may encounter short slopes with differences in heights up to 75 m. or (gently rolling terrain); with distances to 60 kilometers per day. You spend about 5 hours on your bicycle.

Two countries, Belgium and Holland

Two countries, Holland and Belgium, united in one bike and barge route. Combining the highlights of Holland’s Golden Age and the heydays of the Flemish trade cities in the Middle Ages.

Variety is the keyword in this tour. Cycling and sailing you will cross different landscapes: the green Dutch polder landscape with water aplenty and quiet roads and villages, the picturesque countryside between the Flemish cities and of course the rich history of the old city-centers of Amsterdam, Ghent and Bruges. The large rivers in this part of the Netherlands and Belgium are a prominent feature along the route.

  • Day 1 Bruges, cycling to Aalterbrug, sailing to Ghent, 21 km

    The barge is moored near Bargeweg on just outside of the Bruges city center and near the Bruges train station. You are expected to arrive at our barge on Thursday between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM. When you arrive on board, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the tour leader, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers. The barge leaves dock at 2 PM. Your first bike ride is along the canal from Bruges to Ghent. Easy riding on towpaths and quiet roads. At Aalterbrug the barge picks you up and sails to the bustling city Ghent. During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the global planning of the week are discussed. Instructions on cycling and safely procedures will also be given.

  • Day 2 Ghent

    Today you will have the day at your free disposal. The city of Ghent is proud of its rich past, the many well-preserved guild’s and patricians’ houses as well as old warehouses, Gravensteen (a mediaeval castle), St Nicholas Church (with 13th century foundations), St Bavo’s Cathedral and the ‘Belfort’ (Belfry;14th century). But Ghent 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. You can also choose to go cycling with your guide. The castles and luxurious villas in and around Destelbergen, at a stone’s throw from Ghent, are silent witnesses of the rich history of this municipality along the banks of the river Scheldt.

  • Day 3 Ghent – Middelburg, 45 km

    Today you will leave Belgium and arrive in the Netherlands. During breakfast you will sail to Sas van Gent and cycle through Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Dutch-Flanders). With a short ferry trip from Breskens to Vlissingen (Flushing) you cross the Westerschelde. From Vlissingen it’s just 30 minutes cycling to Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland. Modern Middelburg has preserved and regained much of its historic and picturesque character. There are lavish 17th and 18th century merchant houses and storehouses standing along canals. The medieval abbey is still in use today, as a museum and as the seat of the provincial government.

  • Day 4 Middelburg - Zierikzee, 50 km

    First you will ride to the town of Veere, formerly an important trading place. From Veere you will cycle over the Veersgatdam (here you have the possibility of a beach visit) to North Beveland. Soon you will reach the Oosterscheldedam. The enormous locks are built in this embankment and can be closed during storms and high tides protecting the south-west of the Netherlands against the sea. This embankment was one of the last in a series of barriers against the sea. When cycling along the embankment, one will realize why this has been one of the most difficult and costly challenges to protect the country now and in the future and to let seawater into the widespread Delta area. It is precisely why the Deltaworks are referred to as the one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. After this dam you will peddle to Zierikzee.

  • Day 5 Zierikzee - Willemstad, sailing to Dordrecht, 55 km

    A nice ride on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland is on the program. You ride to Bruinisse. The village is known as a very isolated community. The main source of income is the mussel fishery, on the dike to the Grevelingen you will find a statue of an opened mussels. You will ride on to Willemstad (an old fortified town) and go on board there. Sailing to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities of Holland and located at the crossroads of busy waterways.

  • Day 6 Dordrecht, sailing to Gorinchem, cycling to Vianen, 50 km

    From Gorinchem you will visit Woudrichem (an old fortified town) and most famous castle in the Netherlands, Loevestein. You follow the meandering river Linge through the Betuwe. This area is known for the large amount of orchards and therefore will be covered with blossoms in may. Along the city of Leerdam, famous for its glass, you continue your tour in northern direction towards Vianen.

  • Day 7 Vianen, sailing to Breukelen, cycling to Amsterdam, 40 km

    During breakfast you will sail to Breukelen (Brooklyn) from where you will cycle to Amsterdam along two of the most beautiful rivers of Holland, the Vecht and the Amstel. Along the route you will find the magnificent country houses and mansions from the 18th century with their splendid, well-kept gardens. Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Almost without noticing you enter Amsterdam, following the Amstel River. The extensive network of bicycle paths ensures a relatively easy way back into the city, showing you some remarkable sites in the centre. Then it is time to say goodbye to your bike. Before the fare-well dinner you may want to go for a walk in town. At night there you may want to take a canal trip or go on a city walk through the centre of the city

  • Day 8 Amsterdam, end of the tour

    Your tour ends in Amsterdam after breakfast, before 10 AM

Cycling in Holland and Belgium

Cycling in cycle countries

Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of both countries. 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). Gps-tracks can be provided by e-mail.

Barges in Bruges
Cycling to Ghent
Ghent, Gravensteen
Ghent, waterfront
Cycing along the Scheldt river
On the bike bridge
Taking the ferry
Castle and linden trees
Bike paths in Holland
Coffee break!
Riding past a castle
Self-service ferry!
Drawbridge and windmills
Amsterdam!

Travel Dates

Departure
End
Accommodation
Starting at
Availability
Departure
16 May 2024
End
23 May 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.535,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
23 May 2024
End
30 May 2024
Accommodation
Wending
Starting at
€ 1.250,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
30 May 2024
End
06 Jun 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.535,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
13 Jun 2024
End
20 Jun 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.535,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
20 Jun 2024
End
27 Jun 2024
Accommodation
Liza Marleen
Starting at
€ 1.350,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
27 Jun 2024
End
04 Jul 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.380,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
11 Jul 2024
End
18 Jul 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.380,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
18 Jul 2024
End
25 Jul 2024
Accommodation
Wending
Starting at
€ 1.130,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
25 Jul 2024
End
01 Aug 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.380,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
08 Aug 2024
End
15 Aug 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.380,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
15 Aug 2024
End
22 Aug 2024
Accommodation
Wending
Starting at
€ 1.250,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
22 Aug 2024
End
29 Aug 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.535,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
29 Aug 2024
End
05 Sep 2024
Accommodation
Wending
Starting at
€ 1.250,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
05 Sep 2024
End
12 Sep 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.685,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
12 Sep 2024
End
19 Sep 2024
Accommodation
Wending
Starting at
€ 1.370,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
19 Sep 2024
End
26 Sep 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.685,-
Availability
Fully booked
Departure
26 Sep 2024
End
03 Oct 2024
Accommodation
Wending
Starting at
€ 1.250,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
26 Sep 2024
End
03 Oct 2024
Accommodation
Liza Marleen
Starting at
€ 1.350,-
Availability
Available
Book
Departure
03 Oct 2024
End
10 Oct 2024
Accommodation
Sailing Home
Starting at
€ 1.535,-
Availability
Fully booked

What else do you need to know?

Prices per person in 2024

! Note: in 2024, the tour starts on Thursday!

Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)

Liza Marleen

20 June & 26 September
Twin cabin € 1.470,-
Single use € 2.110,-
Superior cabin (15 m2) for 2 pax € 1.700,-
Superior cabin (15 m2) for 3 pax € 1.350,-

Sailing Home

05 & 19 September
Twin cabin € 1.685,- 
Single use € 2.420,-

16 May - 13 June, 22 August & 03 October
Twin cabin € 1.535,-
Single use € 2.220,- 

27 June - 08 August
Twin cabin € 1.380,-
Single use € 1.995,-

Wending

23 May, 15 & 29 August & 26 September 
Twin cabin € 1.334,-
Single use € 1.695,-
Triple cabin € 1.250,-

18 July 
Twin cabin € 1.210,-
Single use € 1.530,-
Triple cabin € 1.130,-

12 September 
Twin cabin € 1.460,-
Single use € 1.840,-
Triple cabin € 1.370,-

Extra options:
Rental touring bike per week (bike insurance included) € 110,-
E-bike per week (bike insurance included) € 220,- (from 155cm)
Special diet (gluten free, lactose free, vegan) € 75,- per diet (to be specified when booking)

Included

  • All nights on board (8 days / 7 nights), cabin in the booked category;
  • Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x self-made picnic lunch for bike tours, 7 x three course dinner)
  • Use of bed linen and towels
  • Coffee and tea on board
  • Tourguide, cycles with the group
  • Min. 3 city walks with the tourguide
  • Free WiFi (limited availabe in lounge and on deck)
  • Road book, 1x per cabin
  • GPS-tracks (on request)
  • Ferry fares on the route

Not Included

  • Reservation costs 
  • Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund 
  • Bicycle rent (optional)
  • Entrance fees to museums; approx. € 25,- per tour
  • Other drinks on board
  • Personal insurance

Special details

  • This tour is operated by Cycletours
  • Please take good notice of Terms & Conditions.
  • Due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, the route/program may be changed without notice.
  • We do not allow private e-bikes on board (due to safetly regulations)
  • 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; lactose free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 75,– per week.
  • Cycletours Holidays reserves the right to cancel tours with fewer than 12 participants up to 21 days prior to the date of departure.

Info

Embarkation is between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM. The barge leaves dock 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.Then you can explore Bruges at your leisure. The mooring place of the barge in Bruges: at the ‘Buiten Katelijnevest’ near the Bargeweg (nearly 1 km/ 0.6 miles from the train station).

Airport

The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is 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 1 hour and costs about € 180,-. The tour ends one week later in Amsterdam, so another possibility is to fly to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). From the airport you can take the international train to Bruges. Travel time is about 3½ hours. Information about the time table you find on www.nsinternational.nl

Train

The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the Bruges railway station. Walking distance to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes. By taxi it takes about 5 minutes to the barge.

Car

Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. More information on parkings in Bruges: www.visitbruges.be.

End of the tour

The tour ends one week later on Thursday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from tWednesday to Thursday on board in Amsterdam. The mooring place of the barge in Amsterdam: at the Oosterdok (near Science Center NEMO, Oosterdok 2); 1.2 km/o.75 miles from the Central Station in Amsterdam.There is a direct train that leaves 6 times per hour from Amsterdam Central Station to Schiphol Airport . Travel time is about 16 minutes and a one-way ticket (2nd clas s) costs about € 6,-. Should you need to travel to Brussels Airport you can take the international train (Intercity). Travel time is 3 hours and a one-way ticket (2nd class) costs about  € 60,-.

Our barge, 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 (twin beds), but some barges also have single and triple cabins.  The cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 220 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

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 suffer from food allergies or food intolerance (such as lactose- or gluten- intolerance/-allergy) or if you have special meal requirements (vegetarian; pescetarian; vegan meals; gluten free meals etc.), we ask you to mention this when booking, but no later than 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 and special food requirements cannot always be met in all details.
In case of vegan meals, gluten free or lactose diet, there is an additional charge. This charge is € 75,- per diet/ per person/per week when you  order the diet when booking and € 100,- per diet/ per person/per week when ordering on spot.

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.

Cycling in Holland

Holland is a cycling country: 17 million inhabitants all with bikes. The number of cyclists necessitates a cycling infrastructure: cycle paths (30,000 km), cycle routes (long and short distance), cycle bridges, cycle tunnels, cycle ferries and special signposts for cyclists. Cycling is part of normal life in the Netherlands; parents bring their children to school by bike, people go to work by bike, factory workers, doctors, even the prime minister! Cyclists, of course, have to observe traffic rules and regulations. The most important rule is to remember that you are not alone on your bike and that you are sharing the road with your group and other road users. Your guide on board will tell you all you need to know about the traffic rules and regulations.

F.A.Q.

  • Do you accommodate for special diets

    Yes, this must be notified when booking, but no later than 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.
    On some trips, in case of a gluten-free diet; lactose-free diet or vegan meals, a surcharge of € 75,- per diet per week applies. This is stated per tour.

  • Do I have to wear a safety helmet

    We recommond to wear a bike helmet on all tours. On our own tours (barges Anna Antal; Liza Marleen; Wending; Sailing Home; Zwaan and Clair de Lune) we provide a safety helmet with all our own rental bikes.
    In some countries a helmet is mandatory. This is stated on the tour page.

  • What happens when it rains?

    Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (but that is almost never the case!), you can stay on board or your guide can organize an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours (at your own expense).

  • Which countries do the participants come from

    The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.

  • Can I rejoin the barge before the end of a stage

    No, the barge doesn’t take the same route as the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.