Holland and Flanders: from Amsterdam to Bruges by bike and boat

Day 1: Amsterdam – Weesp by boat + test ride (11 km)
Boarding in Amsterdam between 13.00 and 14.00. Check-in and welcome by the crew. Around 14.00, the boat will sail towards Weesp, a small town on the banks of the Vecht river with a historical centre rich in canals and buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as some beautiful windmills. In the late afternoon, delivery of the bicycles and a short test ride. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 2: Weesp – Utrecht (47 km) | Utrecht – Vianen by boat
Your bike tour starts in Weesp: you will cycle along the beautiful Vecht river, admiring the magnificent palaces on its banks. Along the way, you will visit a real Dutch cheese factory, where cheese is still produced using traditional methods. You will then meet your boat in the city of Utrecht and from there, you will sail on the Amsterdam-Rhine canal up to Vianen, a small fortified town on the Lek river.

Day 3: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk – Alblasserdam (22 or 57 km) | Alblasserdam – Dordrecht by ferry
After breakfast, you will cycle along a pleasant bike path to Schoonhoven, also known as the Silver City. You will then continue towards the Alblasserwaard polder and Kinderdijk Park, where you will be welcomed by an impressive line of 19 perfectly preserved large windmills, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. From nearby Ablasserdam you will then take a fast ferry that in just 10 minutes will take you to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, crossroads of river traffic. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 4: Dordrecht – Willemstad by boat | Willemstad – Tholen (44 km)
While you enjoy a tasty breakfast on board, your ship will set sail for Willemstad, where you will start your day on the bike. Willemstad is a beautiful fortified city on the Haringvliet waterway. From here, your bike tour will lead you to Tholen, former island of Zealand, today connected to the mainland through various communication paths, but still preserving its picturesque charm thanks to the many testimonies of a turbulent past.

Day 5: Tholen – Kreekrak lock (20 or 36 km) | Kreekrak lock – Antwerp by boat
The day starts with a nice sailing stretch to Tholen, from where the bike itinerary begins during which you will cross the border between Holland and Belgium. You will then cross Wouwse Plantage forest and continue in the direction of Bergen, up to the Kreekraksluis wind park. You will find the boat anchored beyond the Kreekrak dam and from here it will set sail toward the city of Antwerp, which in the 16th century was the hub of trade between Europe and the Indies; the extraordinary interchange of cultures over the centuries has made unique the aspect of the places. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 6: Antwerp
Today your boat will remain docked at the port of Antwerp, giving you the entire day to discover this elegant city with irresistible charm. You can visit the Rubenshuis, home museum of the famous Flemish painter Pieter Paul Rubens, some of his paintings can also be found in the nearby Cathedral of Our Lady. Alternatively, you can visit the famous De Koninck brewery and finish with a tasting, or the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) the largest museum in Antwerp, which with over a million pieces tells the story of the city. This evening's dinner is not included, but it gives you the chance to choose a restaurant at your leisure. The crew, if you wish, will definitely be able to advise you.

Day 7: Antwerp – Temse – St. Amands (34 or 49 km)
After breakfast, you will leave the port by bike heading towards the Scheldt river. As you go up its capricious course (it is a tidal river) and cycle along the beautiful bike path that runs along its edge, you can enjoy magnificent views of one of the most beautiful natural stretches of the tour. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 8: St Amands – Dendermonde by boat | Dendermonde – Ghent (52 km)
The bike itinerary continues along the Scheldt towards Ghent, a lively university city with an important past, founded by the Romans at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers. In the afternoon you can visit the city or, why not, do some shopping. Ghent's excellent location has provided great prosperity throughout the centuries, culminating between the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th. The Saint Bavo's Cathedral was built in different ages and styles; inside there are several works of art from the medieval period such as Jan van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. The boat will be anchored near a lock on the outskirts of Ghent. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 9: Ghent – Bruges (22 or 45 km)
The bike stage starts in Ghent: you will cross the beautiful Flemish countryside towards Bruges, also known as the Venice of the North, due to the many canals that intertwine in the historical center. Its ancient center, practically intact to this day, dates back to the Middle Ages, a time when the city was a major center of art and commerce. The beautiful buildings are a remarkable testimony of this glorious past. But Bruges is also the city of chocolate, don't forget to enter (and taste) inside its many chocolateries.

Day 10: Bruges and the North Sea – circular tour (38 km)
The last bike stage will follow a quiet canal along the river flanked by poplars that, offering you a pleasant panorama of the small farms, will lead you to the coasts of the North Sea. Once here, you can choose to take a walk on the long sandy beaches, or relax in one of the many cafes enjoying the beautiful panoramic view of the dunes. Return to Bruges along a picturesque canal. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 11: Bruges
Breakfast on board and disembarkation by 09.30.