Day 1: Amsterdam
Individual arrival in Amsterdam and hotel accommodation. Free time to visit the Dutch capital, famous for its canals, museums (the new Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Anne Frank) and much more. The city offers an infinite number of things to do and see and is certainly a stimulating first stop.
Day 2: Amsterdam – Gouda (68 km)
After breakfast, you will leave lively Amsterdam to immerse yourself in the peace and serenity of the Groene Hart, the Green Heart of Holland, a pleasant rural area where cows graze among polders and peatlands. A flat landscape where steeples and windmills seem to touch the sky and the clouds are reflected in the lakes and canals. You will cross Oudwater, a charming medieval village with houses dating back to the 18th century, where one can still find the “witches' weigh house”: from the late 1500s to 1700s, women from all over Europe accused of witchcraft came here to prove their innocence. Your destination for the day is Gouda: we suggest an afternoon walk in the old part of the city, to savor the traditional atmosphere and admire the vast and interesting market where the magnificent 16th century city hall stands. Don't forget to taste a freshly made waffle, Gouda is the home of syrup waffles!
Day 3: Gouda – Papendrecht (51 km)
You will get back on your bike to reach the renowned Kinderdijk: here are 19 magnificent windmills that, using wind power, drained the water from the below sea level polder – raising it up to the Lek river. Continuing your ride, you will reach Papendrecht, accessible with a brief ferry crossing. Papendrecht is only 3 km from Dordrecht, one of Holland's oldest cities, completely surrounded by water. The area around the marina is truly splendid. The city's oldest section boasts more than a thousand historic buildings and three romantic canals.
Day 4: Papendrecht – Bergen op Zoom (69 km)
In the morning, you will cross the Biesbosch National Park: one of the largest marshland complexes in Europe, a wild and unspoiled space, traversed by a vast network of rivers and creeks and characterized by lush vegetation. After crossing the Diep bridge, you will find yourself in the southern region of the Netherlands and, village after village, you will be greeted by the hospitality of the Brabant population. Today's destination is Bergen op Zoom, a town whose rich past is evidenced by the ancient squares and hundreds of monuments; don't miss the Markiezenhof, an old manor house now transformed into a museum, which is the pride of the town.
Day 5: Bergen op Zoom – Antwerp (57 km)
The landscape along today's route is predominantly wooded. On the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, rest at De Zoom – Kalmthoutse Heide, a pleasant transborder nature reserve. The route winds along the Scheldt river and leads you right into the historic and tourist heart of Antwerp, the largest city of Flanders and Belgium's most important port city. Thanks to its impressive architecture, its wonderful museums and its magnificent churches, Antwerp is a source of cultural inspiration. After visiting the historic center, venture into the city's trendiest areas: 't Zuid and Het Eilandje. If you are thirsty you can visit the De Koninck beer factory, just order a bolleke and you will be served a beer signed De Koninck. The term indicates the typical glass, a kind of “hemisphere” in which De Koninck is traditionally served but, the most significant thing is that just by asking for that glass you get the beer.
Day 6: Antwerp – Leuven (68 km )
Through the countryside south of Antwerpen, you will arrive at Rumst where the rivers Nete and Dijle together form the river Rupel, the shortest river in the country (about 10 km). Cycling along the Dijle river, you enter the ancient city of Mechelen reaching all the way up to the bell tower of St. Rumbold's Cathedral. A pleasant stop for a lunch break. By the way, the Belgian fries are the best in the world. Following the course of the Dijle river, you will then reach the university town of Leuven, where you will spend the night. Here the oldest houses date back to the XIV and XV centuries, don't miss the Grand Beguinage, a complex made up of a hundred houses established in 1234 as a community for spinsters and which is now part of the university campus. You could also go and see the Gothic style church of St. John the Baptist (1304). End your explorations at the Oude Markt (Old Market Square), also known as the longest bar counter in the world due to the enormous number of bars and cafes facing the square.
For this stage you can alternatively choose a shorter (but perhaps less panoramic) route of 63 km along the Leuven-Dijle canal.
Day 7 : Leuven – Brussels (40 km )
Today you cycle in Belgian Brabant to reach Brussels (if you prefer, you can also take a train from one of the stations situated along the route). The main attraction in the Belgian city is certainly the Grand Place, with its set of public and private buildings, most of which date back to the late 18th century. Nearby is the little Manneken Pis statue. You will discover galleries, sumptuous palaces, blossoming squares, and museums, and at the end of the day indulge in the local delicacies, from waffles, to chocolate, to beer.
Day 8: Brussels
After breakfast, the services end and individual departure.