Belgium & Netherlands Bike & Barge - Amsterdam to Bruges

DAY 1: We meet at 2:00pm onboard our boat, the Lena Maria, docked in the wonderful city of Amsterdam. Try to arrive a day or two early to this vibrant city, so you can visit the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh museum, or the Rijksmuseum full of paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer. You’ll see more bicycles in this city than you’ve probably seen in your life!

Renovated during the pandemic with a clean modern look, the Lena Maria has 12 rooms, each with two twin beds and a bathroom. Meet your guides and crew for an orientation while our barge heads to Vianen, a medieval town on the Lek River. After dinner, we will take our bikes for a short test ride to explore some of the city’s many historic charms, from the Grote Kerk (Grand Church) to the city wall. 5 miles.

DAY 2: Today we will start our ride through the town of Schoonhoven, historically famous for its community of silversmiths. Then we’ll bike to the famous Kinderdijk windmills. Listed as UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites, these windmills were originally built to pump water out of low-lying land tracts known as polders. We’ll finish the route with a  quick “waterbus” ferry to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland where we’ll meet our barge for the night. 19 or 34 miles.

DAY 3: While we’re enjoying breakfast, the Lena Maria will head to Willemstad for the start of our bike ride. We'll cycle through Tholen, a pretty village and popular fishing desination as we make our way to the historic town of Bergen op Zoom. With a history spanning more than 800 years, its center square is as vibrant today as it was during the 1400s. Known as a major trading hub, merchants would come from all over Europe to sell their wares during the semiannual fairs held here centuries ago. 31 miles.

DAY 4: We’ll start our morning with a beautiful bike ride through the wooded region of Wouwse Plantage that surrounds Bergen op Zoom. Then we’ll meet back up with our barge and sail across the border into Belgium to the port city of Antwerp.

Known for nearly five centuries as the diamond trading capital of the world, Antwerp is the largest city in Belgium by area. Baroque artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens worked and lived here and his home is now a museum. You’ll have time in the evening to see this and other highlights, such as the towering Cathedral of our Lady and the medieval Steen Castle, as dinner is on your own. 21 miles.

DAY 5: We will bike along the River Scheldt today on what is probably the week’s prettiest ride. The river has been a vital commercial waterway since Roman times. You’ll see landscapes of farm fields and grazing sheep as we make our way to the quiet village of St. Amands, birthplace of the esteemed Belgian poet Emile Verhaeren. 32 miles.

DAY 6: After breakfast it’s back on the bikes as we continue to follow the Scheldt River to Dendermonde, and then to the lively university hub of Ghent. This port city is known for its authentic medieval castles, canal houses and church towers.

During the Middle Ages, Ghent ranked among Europe’s largest and most prosperous cities, second only to Paris. Today its entire city center is open to pedestrians only. Be sure to try the local cone-shaped Flemish delicacy called a cuberdon in Flemish or neus for “nose” in Dutch. Just before dinner, a small canal boat will take us for a guided tour through the historic city center. 32 miles.

DAY 7: Our last day on our bikes finds us in Bruges, sometimes called the “Venice of the North.” Today the lovely medieval town center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Be sure to snack on a waffle, sip a local brew and taste a piece of chocolate like a Belgian in the town’s charming main square – the Grote Markt. Later, we’ll enjoy our last dinner together on the barge. 13 or 28 miles.

DAY 8: We’ll say our good-byes after breakfast. It’s a short journey to the train station for your trip to an airport. Tot ziens! 0 miles.