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Home , Antwerp, Bruges

- - Route – Holland Bike and Tour

Two famous in Belgium and the are the first and last stops on this fascinating Bike and Boat holiday. You will enjoy Bruges, one of the most beautiful, historic cities of Belgium, and Amsterdam, the architecturally and culturally wonderful capital of the Netherlands. You will also visit the architecturally and cultural wonderful Antwerp, where you can visit the famous Rubens House, and Utrecht in Holland. You will notice subtle differences between the green Dutch polder landscape with water aplenty, quiet roads, and villages, the old island world of with fields, creeks, winding dikes and dams, and the picturesque but drier countryside between the cities of and Bruges in Belgium. These two Belgian cities experienced their golden age long before the emergence of the Dutch as a mercantile powerhouse. The mighty rivers in this part of the Netherlands and Belgium are prominent features along the route, and you will be mesmerized by the Netherlands' own world wonder, the , which bear witness to Holland’s on-going battle against the sea.

Included in the Tour Price • 7 nights on board the ship (sheets, blankets, and two towels) • 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches and 7 dinners • and tea on board • 24-speed bicycle, incl. helmet, pannier bags, & water bottle • Tour guide (multilingual) • Route information and road book • Reservation costs • Ferry fares on the route

Daily Itinerary

Saturday: Bruges – Ghent - 13 miles (21 km) When you arrive on board the ship in Bruges at 2 p.m. you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It's also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper, and crew - and of course your fellow passengers. Very soon we will head away from the walls of Bruges for a trip to Ghent. We will mostly follow the between Bruges and Ghent to Aalterbrug, which offers a beautiful, peaceful cycle route with an unexpected variety of experiences. After dinner we will have time to discover the character of the old city center of Ghent, easily reached from our berth. Ghent was a major trading center during the and still one of ’

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] most important cities today. Its origins lie in Roman times, at the junction of the Leie and Schelde Rivers. The city center has many surprisingly well-preserved patrician mansions and architecturally delightful civic and commercial buildings. Especially noteworthy is the impressive St. Baafs , built over various periods in a variety of styles. In the cathedral you can admire a number of masterpieces of medieval , including the renowned ‘Adoration of the Lamb’ by .

Sunday: Ghent - St. Amands – 30 miles (47 km) This morning we will take our bikes out on a peaceful ride through the old center of Ghent, which will still be covered under a blanket of Sunday morning quietness. After a tasty cup of coffee we will depart for a day trip along one of the most beautiful rivers of Europe: the Schelde. This tidal river meanders all the way to Antwerp where it meets the sea. In Wetteren, we’ll have a break in a real Flemish bar, and in Berlare you can enjoy a tasty Belgian monastery beer with your lunch. We will reach , city of the legend of the royal children and the horse Bejaart, where we'll marvel at the large market square and the city hall. We will board the barge again, and from Dendermonde we will sail into the sleepy village of St. Amands, where we'll spend the night.

Monday: St. Amands – Antwerp – 25 miles (40 km) Today we will cycle along the river Schelde, whose banks are connected by several small ferries. Via Temse, we'll bike through a peaceful nature reserve to Steendorp. Here we will board the barge to cruise over to the historic center of Antwerp, where we will hop off the boat to take a stroll through the city. You can marvel at the beautiful Onze-Lievevrouwen Church, the impressive market square, and the famous Rubens House. At the end of the afternoon we will make our way to the Willems Quai where the barge will be docked close to the stunning new Modern-Art museum, the MAS.

Tuesday: Antwerp – Willemstad – 35 miles (56 km) This morning we will sail through the big of Antwerp, a big contrast to the nature reserves and quiet villages of yesterday. The big sea-going vessels and large harbor cranes make it a fascinating journey. The boat will bring us to Holland, where we will start our bike ride at the Kreekrak locks. We will take a beautiful route over the "Brabantse wal," a sand wall dating back from the times when mammoths roamed the area. Today you won't find any prehistoric elephants, but the area is filled with strawberry and asparagus fields. From the woodlands around op Zoom, we will continue through a polder landscape to the old fortified town of Willemstad, a charming next to the busiest locks in Europe, part of the Delta Works.

Wednesday: Willemstad – Gorinchem – 28 miles (45 km) Our barge will depart early in the morning to Werkendam, from where we will take an exciting cycle trip through the land of Heusden and Altene. We will pass the to the rustic settlement of Heusden. We'll continue our tour over the pleasant cycle lanes through the nature reserve and along the Maas river. During our trip, we will also pay a visit to the picturesque town of Woudrichem. Here we will ferry across to reach Gorinchem, where our barge will be waiting for us.

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Thursday: Gorinchem – Vianen – Utrecht – 31 miles (50 km) Today we will set off along the scenic, meandering river that flows through the Alblasserwaard towards the city of glass, Leerdam. We will continue our journey past Culemborg, idyllically situated on the shores of the river , and carry on to Vianen where we'll visit the impressive historic center. The barge will eventually cruise via the Canal and the Amsterdam-Rijn canal to Utrecht. After our delicious dinner, you'll be free to take the bus to the center for a city stroll.

Friday: Utrecht – Amsterdam – 25 miles (40 km) Today we will sail on the river to Breukelen (the U.S. Brooklyn is named after this quaint village). We’ll bike along the river banks from here, admiring handsome mansions on our final ride back to Amsterdam. After arriving in Holland’s capital city and returning your bike, you can rest or perhaps visit the town center, which is close by. Amsterdam began as a simple village at the mouth of the River Amstel but expanded rapidly with its famous rings of during its Golden Age. The on the Dam Square is sometimes called the 8th Wonder of the World because it's built on 13,659 wooden piles. Amsterdam as we know it today is a cosmopolitan city with 40 museums, close to one million inhabitants, and a thriving . In the evening you might like to take a sightseeing round trip on a lively Dutch canal boat.

Saturday: Tour Ends Our tour concludes in Amsterdam, near the Central Station, after breakfast. Departure is before 10 a.m..

Starting Point Bruges The barge embarks from Bruges, near the Buiten Kateliknevest. Departure time on Saturday is at 2 p.m.. A map and the name of your boat will be provided after your final payment is received.

Difficulty and Daily Mileage This tour is rated “easy” for its flat terrain and low mileage. All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances (such as mooring requirements).

Travel Guidance The skipper and his mate are responsible for the smooth running of the barge. An experienced, multilingual guide will indicate points of interest along the way, accompany the group when biking, and can assist in case of flat tires or breakdowns. The guides have the tough job of keeping the group moving while also not exhausting the slower riders. If riding in a big group doesn’t sound appealing to you, you could take the route directions and bike on your own. Also keep in mind that this tour covers a lot of great sites! While this means you get to see a lot, it also means that during the daily bike ride you won’t have lots of extra time to shop or stop to take a picture of every lamb or field. Your guide will generally keep you moving so you're back to the barge around 5 p.m., giving you some time before dinner to relax or walk around the town where your barge is moored. Note that in the Netherlands and Belgium, many shops close at 5 or 6 p.m..

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] The Bicycles A well maintained, comfortable 24-speed hybrid bicycle is available free of for each participant. Men and women’s models are available in sizes appropriate to your height. The bikes come with helmets, grip shifters, hand brakes, carrier bag, lock, repair kit, water bottle holders, water bottle, and bike insurance. If you prefer to bring your own bike you're welcome to do so at a discount of $85 each. Electric bikes can be rented for this tour ($115 per person). We advise you only to rent an electric bike if you have first tried one at home. They're heavier than regular bikes and therefore can be difficult to maneuver.

Meals The cook prepares all meals: a substantial breakfast and a three-course dinner of very good quality. A packed lunch may be prepared after breakfast. Tea and coffee will be ready when you arrive on board in the afternoon. There's a bar on board with reasonably-priced beer, , and soft drinks. If you have special meal requirements, please mention this when booking. In the case of a gluten-free diet there is an additional charge of $60 per week.

The Barge Our motorized passenger vessels, about 35 - 40 meters in length, are former river vessels especially converted for this kind of holiday. On board you'll find a cozy dining room, a sun deck/a deck for the bicycles. All cabins are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower and toilet, 220 voltage, central heating, and air conditioning. There's limited storage space in the cabin so we recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under your bed. Bike & barge vacations are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.

WiFi WiFi is available on a limited basis on board, only in the lounge and on deck. Up to 50 MB is free. For more than 50 MB there’s a surcharge.

Insurance The bicycle insurance included with this tour covers damage and theft but not deliberate negligence such as riding over curbstones, or theft due to negligence. We highly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Not Included in the Tour Price • Airfare • Drinks from bar on board or when cycling • Admission fees to the various museums or places of interest (about €15) • Trip cancellation insurance

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected]