Belgium by bike and boat: from Bruges to Brussels

Day 1: Bruges
Individual arrival in Bruges and boarding between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The boat will be anchored at the port of Bruges, where you can leave your luggage on board from 11:00 am. Take some time to explore the Venice of the North, so named for the dense network of canals in the historic centre where houses and stately buildings overlook. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 2: Bruges (55 km)
Today's stage will take you through the town of Damme before reaching the North Sea coast and the seaside resort of Blankenberge. Relax in one of the many cafes or take a swim in the sea. After a break of a couple of hours, you will depart by bike to return to Bruges. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 3: Bruges – Moerebrugge by boat | Moerebrugge – Ghent (40 km)
During breakfast, we will sail to Moerebrugge. From here, today's stage begins along the canal that connects Ostend to Ghent, crossing the sublime Flemish landscape. You will arrive at Ghent, a beautiful city that combines ancient and modern, with a historic center rich in architecture. At the end of the day, the boat will be waiting for you at the Merelbeke lock, on the outskirts of Ghent, about 30 minutes by bike from the center. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 4: Ghent – Dendermonde (48 km) | Dendermonde – Sint-Amands by boat
After breakfast, you will cycle to the mouth of the Dender River, which flows into the Scheldt at Dendermonde. Don't miss the opportunity for a coffee break on the Market Square. In the evening, we will sail to Sint-Amands, one of the most picturesque stretches of the route along the Scheldt River. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 5: Sint-Amands – Temse – Antwerp (42 km)
Leaving Sint-Amands, you will first cross the maritime canal that connects Brussels to the Schelde river, then continue beyond the area of ​​brick factories between Boom and Niel, where production started in the Middle Ages and continues today. From Rupelmonde, you will cycle pleasantly to Hemiksem and towards the final destination of the day: Antwerp, a port city nestled on the Scheldt River and one of the most important centers for diamond processing. Here the trade between Europe and the Indies, thanks to the extraordinary cultural exchange that has taken place over the centuries, has made the city's appearance unique. To see: the Town Hall, one of the most beautiful buildings built during the Renaissance, the historic Market Square, the medieval Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouw) where Rubens' works are housed. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 6: Antwerp – Lier – Willebroek (45 km)
The day will begin cycling in the quiet outskirts of Antwerp, among beautiful villas with well-kept gardens until you reach Lier. From here, you will follow the course of the small river Nete until you reach Willebroek where the boat will be waiting for you. You can participate in a beer tasting on board the Gandalf boat (payment on site). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 7: Willebroek – Mechelen – Vilvoorde (40 km) | Vilvoorde – Brussels by boat
While the boat sails along the Willebroek canal, your final bike stage will take you through a green and soft hilly landscape until you first reach Mechelen and finally Vilvoorde. The city of Mechelen hosts over 300 historic buildings, 8 of which are churches and are all located in less than 3 km2. From Vilvoorde, you will reach Brussels by boat. Once there, enjoy a walk in the historic center and on the Grand Place, one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Explore this enchanting city, modern but also rich in history and art, and let yourself be tempted by one of the typical beers or the incomparable Belgian chocolate. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 8: Brussels
Disembarkation by 09:30 am and end of services.