World-class cities meet charming nature in Flanders and Holland, a landscape that feels quintessentially representative of these two countries. Windmills, tulip fields, cheese farms, and country houses accompany you from Bruges to Ghent, Antwerp, and finally Amsterdam. Not only that, but your accommodation is never far away. Aboard the MS Magnifique III, you’ll enjoy stylish and flexible lodging—the crew on board will make your holiday unforgettable.
Bruges is charming, captivating, and full of delights—both culinary and cultural. After boarding and a city tour, the first stage takes you to Ghent. A canal cruise is a special highlight in this historic city before the MS Magnifique III takes you to Dendermonde the following day. Beautiful nature accompanies you along the Scheldt as you continue to St. Amands and Antwerp.
On Day 5, the ship takes you first to the impressive Kreekrak locks before you explore the Wouwse Plantation on two wheels. A detour to Tholen leads you to spend the night in Dordrecht. The windmills of Kinderdijk await you as one of the main attractions, and you’ll reach Vianen via Schoonhoven. You’ll then travel to Breukelen and cycle to Amsterdam, enjoying the quintessential Dutch landscapes along the way.
beers at the De Halve Maan brewery, and visit the hidden St. Bonifatius Bridge for a romantic moment. Bruges captivates with its medieval old town, picturesque canals, and historic buildings. Art lovers can visit the Groeningemuseum, while cozy cafés and chocolate shops invite you to indulge.
Amongst fries and diamonds at the harbor: Antwerp impresses with its magnificent Gothic cathedral, the world-famous diamond district, and the Renaissance town hall. The MAS Museum brings together art and culture. Visit the chic rooftop terrace of Café Mombasa for a panoramic view, explore the trendy neighborhood of Het Eilandje, and sample delicious Belgian fries at the local frituurs.
The windmills of Kinderdijk were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 due to their historical significance and the unique engineering that contributed to the drainage of the area. Dating back to the 18th century, they were built to pump water from the lower-lying polder, keeping the land dry and preventing flooding.
The route is typically flat, making it wonderfully easy in Holland and Belgium. However, the itinerary crafted by our travel experts is anything but dull. Tastings, a canal cruise, and visits to renowned museums offer a delightful break from your athletic pursuits. Aboard the MS Magnifique III, you can expect stylish accommodations and full board service. Need a break? Skip a ride and relax on the sun deck or unwind in the hot tub!
Scenic highlights and historic cities await you on a bike & boat tour in Holland and Belgium, complemented by top-notch cycling paths on flat routes and relaxing hours on your floating accommodation.
Itinerary at a glance
Embarkation time in Bruges is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The ship awaits you in the Bruges harbor. After a welcome meeting with the crew at 2 PM there is time for bicycle fitting and a short test-ride through the countryside around Bruges. After dinner the guide will take you for a short walk through the center of town.
We advise you to come to Bruges one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical city of Bruges, aptly named the “Pearl of Flanders”. While you are there make sure you visit one of Bruges many museums or simply take in the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk café.
You will start your first day of cycling by pedaling towards Ghent through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. On arrival in Ghent make sure you make the effort to discover the best of what this historical city has to offer during an afternoon stroll. Ghent’s medieval center features lovely illuminated streets that are a must to explore, while the architectural richness in the center of the city has to be seen to be believed. During the Middle Ages Ghent was the 2nd largest European city, after Paris. The ship will dock for the night at a lock, in a suburb of Ghent and approx. 30 cycling minutes from the city center. Before dinner a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.
In the morning you will spend some time in Ghent. Later in the morning you will cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde located at the confluence of Dender and Schelde rivers. There is only one way to describe the landscape along the Schelde and that is: “magnificent”. It is without doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour. During this section of the Schelde the speed of the ship will be determined by the height of the tide. You will travel from Dendermonde to St. Amands by either bicycle or barge depending on the tides. Your floating hotel will be docked for the night in St. Amands.
Today we will follow the Schelde river further downstream through the Temse region to Antwerp. Over the centuries the Schelde river has held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon… Today it is a beautiful waterway just perfect for bike and barge holidays! Antwerp, your destination for the day, is a harbor city famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and as the birthplace of the famous painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens. There are many highlights in the city to discover including: the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle.
This morning, the ship will sail along the Schelde-Rhine Canal and over the huge Kreekrak lock system. Here your bicycle tour starts through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” forest to Tholen, Tholen once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Nowadays Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it is still a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past. From Tholen you will join the ship again for a nice afternoon sail to the city of Dordrecht. Halfway the ship will pass the impressive Volkerak lock system.
Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands is your destination for the day. The guide will take you for an evening walk and tell you about the history of the Netherlands.
Today you will start your tour with the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry that will take you and your bicycle in just 10 minutes to Alblasserdam. After just a few minutes of cycling you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 UNESCO cultural heritage-listed windmills – one of which you can visit (don’t forget your camera!). The windmills were constructed in the 18th century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments). You will then continue to cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek (Lower Rhine), where you will stay for the night and where you can explore at your leisure after dinner.
During breakfast the ship will cruise to Breukelen where you disembark to start your final day of cycling. Ride along the Vecht River in an area famous for its beautiful mansions, small castles, impressive houses and their large gardens. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland you will arrive at Nigtevecht where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden and on to Amsterdam where you will meet the barge for the final time in the Amsterdam harbor.
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
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