Between Netherlands and Flanders: from Amsterdam to Bruges by bike and riverboat Fluvius

Day 1: Utrecht – Vianen
After boarding at the Utrecht pier scheduled for 1:00 PM (possibility to leave your luggage on board from 12:00 PM), the boat will set sail towards Vianen, a small fortified city on the Lek river.
In the late afternoon, bicycles will be delivered and a short trial ride will take place.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 2: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk (56 km) | Kinderdijk – Dordrecht by boat
After breakfast you will cycle along a pleasant bicycle path until Schoonhoven, also known as the Silver City.
Then you will continue towards the Alblasserwaard polder and the Kinderdijk Park where you will be welcomed by the impressive row of 19 large, perfectly preserved windmills, which have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
From the nearby Alblasserdam you will take a water bus, a fast ferry which in just 10 minutes will take you to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland and a river traffic junction.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 3: Dordrecht – Tholen by boat | Tholen – Kreekrak lock (20 or 36 km) | Kreekrak – Antwerp by boat
The day begins with a fine stretch of sailing towards Tholen, from where the cycle tour starts, which will cross the border between Holland and Belgium.
You will then cross the forested area of Wouwse Plantage and continue towards Bergen up to the Kreekraksluis windfarm.
You will find the boat anchored beyond the Kreekrak dam and from here it will set sail for the city of Antwerp, which in the 16th century was the hub for commerce between Europe and India; the extraordinary intercultural exchange throughout the centuries has given the place a unique look.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 4: Antwerp – Temse – Dendermonde (48 or 64 km)
After breakfast, you will cycle out of the port and head towards the Schelde river. Tracing its capricious course (this is a tidal river) and cycling on the beautiful bike path that runs along it, you will enjoy magnificent views of one of the most beautiful natural stretches of the tour.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 5: Dendermonde – Ghent (52 km)
The bike route continues along the Schelde river towards Ghent, a lively university city with an important past, founded by the Romans at the confluence of the Leie and Schelde rivers.
In the afternoon you can visit the city or, why not, do some shopping. Ghent's excellent location has brought it great prosperity through the centuries, culminating between the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th. The St. Bavo's Cathedral was built in different eras and styles; inside it houses several works of art from the Middle Ages such as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck.
The boat will be anchored near a lock on the outskirts of Ghent.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 6: Ghent – Bruges (45 km)
The bike stage will take you through beautiful Flemish countryside towards Bruges, also known as the Venice of the North, because of the many canals that crisscross the historic center. Its ancient center practically intact, dates back to the Middle Ages, when the city was a large center of art and commerce. The beautiful buildings represent a considerable testimony of this glorious past.
But Bruges is also the city of chocolate, don't forget to peek (and taste) inside one of its many chocolate shops.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 7: Circular route around Bruges to the North Sea (38 or 51 km)
The final bike stage will follow a quiet canal along a riverside lined with poplars and offer a pleasant view of small farms, leading you to the North Sea coast. Once there, you can choose one of the long sandy beaches to swim in, or relax in one of the many cafes while enjoying the beautiful view of the dunes.
Return to Bruges along a picturesque canal.
Dinner and overnight stay onboard.

Day 8: Bruges
Breakfast onboard and disembark by 09.30.

Due to the nature of this tour and the characteristics of the territory, the itinerary may be subject to changes due to weather conditions or the opening times of locks and movable bridges. The guide and the captain will be able to decide day by day if and how to modify the tour.

Depending on the boats used, the opening of the locks, and confirmed docking points along the route, the length of the daily stages may vary by 15 km, while keeping the total km travelled in the week of travel constant. Those who wish can always decide to stay onboard.