Amsterdam Bruges 2026

Boat and Bike Amsterdam to Bruges

During this boat and bike tour you will cycle and sail through two different countries The two countries, Holland and Belgium, united in one route.

Combining the highlights of Holland's Golden Age and the heydays of the Flemish trade cities in the Middle Ages. And of course Holland's own world wonder: the Delta Works. The Dutch 17th century Golden Age and the heyday of the Flemish trading cities of the Middle Ages are united in this route.

Notice the big difference between the green polder landscape abounding in water, with its tranquil roads and villages and the old world of islands in Zeeland with its pastures, creeks, winding dikes and dams.

On top of that the often so picturesque Flemish countryside between the Belgian cities of Gent and Bruges. The great rivers are a prominent feature in this part of the Netherlands and Belgium. Of course you will get to know our own, Dutch Wonder of the World: the Delta Works, evidence of the eternal battle against the waters of the sea.

Day 1 Thursday | Amsterdam, sailing to Oude Wetering, cycling around Oude Wetering, 10 km

The barge is moored at the Oosterdok in central Amsterdam, near the 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. You will first cruise through Amsterdam before reaching the wetlands south of the city and the mooring place of today, the village of Oude Wetering. A relaxed way of starting your trip and get used to life on the barge. 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. After dinner the tour leader will escort you on the first kilometers on your bike during a short ride around the village.

Day 2 Friday | Oude Wetering – Gouda, 45 km

From Oude Wetering, we will continue our tour over country roads, banks and channels through the Green Heart and polders to the city known for its cheese: Gouda. Today is Sunday, the day on which most Dutch take out their bikes for a ride. Your ride takes you through a typical Dutch landscape filed with green meadows, wetlands, canals, rivers and small villages. You will cross waterways on small ferries and over bridges. Before we reach Gouda you ride through the Reeuwijkse Plassen, a nature reserve and renowned wetland. Who thinks of Gouda, not only thinks of cheese, pipes, ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle-waffle) and pottery, but also of stainedglass windows, a fairy-like town hall and atmospheric canals. Gouda is beautiful Old-Dutch city with a mostly intact city center. The ‘St. Janskerk’, Gouda’s 123-metre-long church, with its renowned ‘Goudse Glazen’ (leaded light windows), the beautiful gothic town hall and the ‘Waag’ (a building once used for weighing cheese) are absolutely worth a visit. As on most evenings after dinner the tour guide will take you on a walk through the city.

Day 3 Saturday Gouda – Dordrecht, 40 km

From Gouda you will cycle over quiet countryroads and narrow cycling paths to Dordrecht. You ride past scenic polders and through the deepest lying polder of the Netherlands, Krimpenerwaard. After arriving on the dyke of the river ‘Lek’ you cross by ferry to Kinderdijk. From the embankments of the river Lek, you will witness an amazing view of the 19 windmills, which are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The windmills at Kinderdijk were still actively used until 1950. These days, a large pumping station is responsible for controlling the water level in the polder. This is where you will take a break and can visit the interior of a windmill. An impressive piece of centuries old technique that is still functional today. After a beautiful tour through the Alblasserwaardpolder we will arrive at Alblasserdam. A modern, fast ferry will take us over to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities of the country, situated at a busy crossing of waterways. Dordrecht is also the birthplace of independance of the Netherlands as this is the town where in 1572 the first free State assembly was held. This assembly can be seen as start of the Netherlands as an independent country as the resistance against Spain was formed here.

Day 4 Sunday: Dordrecht sailing to Willemstad, cycling to Kreekrak, sailing to Antwerp, 56/65 km

From Dordrecht you sail to the 17th century fortified town of Willemstad. After a short stop to explore this nice litte town you continue past the Volkeraksluizen (locks), one of the busiest locks in Europe. You continue through a flat polder lands- cape to the woodlands surrounding Bergen op Zoom. After this lively town you will bike over the “Brabantse Wal”, a wooded sand wall, a deposit dating back tot the Ice Ages. This area is famous for its delicious strawberries and asparagus. You board the barge again at the huge Kreekrak lock for a cruise to Antwerp. This is a fascinating journey along the river with its big sea going vessels. The entrance to the harbour of Antewerp is spectacular as you sail past the impressive new Havenhuis (Harbour House).The historical centre of Antwerp is worth a visit, here you'll find: the Onze-Lievevrouwenkerk and the Rubenshuis. In the Willemsdok, near the Museum for Modern Art (Museum Aan de Stroom) you will find the barge.

Day 5 Monday: Antwerp cycling to Sint Amands, 40 km

This morning you first cross the Scheldt river via the old St. Anna tunnel using the escalator with moving wooden stairs, a special experience. Cycling along the Scheldt river you pass Basel, one of the most beautiful villages of Belgium, and Rupelmonde the birthplace of famous 16th century cartographer Gerardus Mercator. On the way to Sint Amands the cycle route leads you along nature reserves and wetlands like Durme and Schausselbroek. Especially the mudflat of Durme is worth mentioning because it's one of the last fresh water marshes along this tidal part of the river and therefore has a unique flora and fauna. Sint Amands is a sleepy village in a bend of the Scheldt river.

Day 6 Tuesday: Sint Amands, sailing to Dendermonde, cycling to Ghent, 47 km

This days starts with a leisurely sail to Dendermonde. After disembarking you will visit the beautiful market square with its impressive 14th century town hall and belfry. From here you cycle again along the Scheldt river to Berlare and later on Wetteren, with its rose nurseries. This is the last place before Ghent, so it's a perfect place to taste some Belgian beer before you reach the city and board the ship again. Ghent is proud of its rich past but the role of the city is not restricted to a museum-city. The city is a stunning mixture of medieval buildings, chic shopping areas with beautiful mansions, old workers districts from the early twentieth century which now house hundreds of students and busy squares where one can sit and enjoy warm summer nights until the early hours.

Day 7 Wednesday: Ghent – Bruges, 45 km

This morning you will cycle through Ghent and through the scenic countryside of Oost-Vlaanderen (East-Flanders). Characteristic for this area are the woods, fields, small villages and castles. From the Aalterbrug the last part of this route takes us over the former tow path along the canal of Oostende-Gent, the oldest canal of Belgium, to Bruges. The impressive city of Bruges is the end destination of this bike and barge trip. This evening you can enjoy the medieval city of Bruges and many of you are likely to stay another day in this beautiful city.

Day 8 Thursday: Bruges, end of the tour after breakfast. Disembarkation before 10 AM

Inclusive:

• All nights on board (incl. bedding, towels, soap)
• Breakfast and dinner on board
• Lunch packages when on the road
• Coffee and tea on board
• Tour guide, cycles with the group (speaks Dutch/English; some speak German/French)
• Min. 3 city walks with tour guide
• Free WiFi (limited available in lounge and on deck)
• Roadbook, 1x per cabin
• Travel documents + cycling guide app incl. GPS-tracks
• Ferry fares on the route

Exclusive:

• Bicycle rent
• Entrance fees to museums; approx. € 25,- per tour
• Personal insurance/ Cancellation insurance (optional)

Extra options 2026

Rental touring bike per week € 120
Rental E-bike per week € 235

special meal requirements (vegetarian/ pescatarian, or if they are on a medical diet), please indicate this when booking.

In case of gluten free or lactose free diet there is an additional charge of € 100,- per diet per week. When ordered upon arrival the additional charge is € 150,- per diet per week, to be paid on site.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer vegan meals. The space in the kitchens on our ships is limited (for storage and preparation) and therefore we cannot guarantee that the meals are completely vegan.

We do not allow private e-bikes on board (due to safety regulations).

The program is subject to change without notice due to weather, nautical reasons like bridges and locks, technical issues and other unforeseen circumstances .

Please note that the tour prices are based on the current fuel price. Should the fuel price increase more than 5% (reference date March 2025), then we need to ask a supplement. Even for reservations already made.

The program is subject to change without notice.