Overview
Spend eight days on an aqua adventure, travelling from Amsterdam to Bruges by bike and boat, between two iconic cities in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Sail through the Netherlands’ Green Heart and Belgium’s Flanders countryside, exploring the Zeeland waterways, and Rivers Scheldt, Vecht and De Lek. Swap boat for bike in historic and culturally rich cities of Antwerp, Ghent and finally Bruges, as well as waterfront trails en route. A family favourite, spend each night on board a riverboat, with ensuite outward-facing cabins and all meals included. So all you have to do is sail, cycle and sleep.
- Antwerp
- Ghent
- Kinderdijk windmills
- Amsterdam
- Bruges
Itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam – Vianen
Spend the morning visiting Amsterdam before boarding the riverboat at 13.00 ready for a 14.00 departure. From Amsterdam, you sail to Vianen, a fortified town on the River Lek, where you can set off on a short, circular bike ride before settling in for the first evening on board.
- Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Vianen – Dordrecht | 56km
Begin the day by following a route to Schoonhoven, nicknamed Zilverstad which translates as Silver City, in honour of the talented silversmiths who have been based here since the 17th century. From here, the route then heads through the Alblasserwaard region before reaching Kinderdijk, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout, an impressive row of 19 windmills. From Alblasserdam, take the Waterbus to Dordrecht and explore the area before going back on board.
- Cycling for the day: 56km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Dordrecht – Antwerp | 20km
Sail to Tholen where today’s cycle begins. The route leads through Wouwse Plantage Nature Reserve before arriving at Kreekrak Lock, to re-join the riverboat. Sail to the port city of Antwerp which is located on the River Scheldt. An ancient port city, Antwerp is historical and hip, foodie and fun, with highlights including the now iconic Museum aan de Stroom in the dockside area of Eilandje, Grote Markt in the heart of the Old Town with its ancient guild houses and coffee houses, and Rubenshuis, where collections include work of the esteemed Flemish artist Peter Paul Reubens, to whom the gallery is dedicated, as well as a Renaissance garden.
- Cycling for the day: 20km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Antwerp – Dendermonde | 48-64km
Leaving Antwerp behind, cycle along the River Scheldt on a tranquil trail to Dendermonde, a traditional Flemish town with an elegant Grote Markt, or main square, and 13th-century City Hall and Belfry which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Cycling for the day: 48-64km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Dendermonde – Ghent | 52km
Spend the morning sailing along the River Scheldt before disembarking in Ghent, for a day of sightseeing in the city. This is a city that has revitalised itself from a little bit sleepy classical to contemporary cool. Classic sights include Gravensteen Castle, St Bavo’s Cathedral, or the famous coffee bars and roasteries, Mokabon or De Draak.
- Cycling for the day: 52km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Ghent – Bruges | 45km
From Ghent, cycle through the Flemish countryside of western Flanders toward Bruges. An outstanding example of a medieval settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain many of its historic features as it has evolved over the centuries, leading to its historic centre being classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the rest of the day visiting one of Bruges’s many museums or enjoying its cafe life. Dinner tonight (not included) is in one of the many restaurants the city has to offer with recommendations available from the on board guide.
- Cycling for the day: 45km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Day 7: Bruges and the North Sea | 38-51km
The final day of cycling follows a quiet canal through polder landscapes dotted with farmhouses, all the way to the North Sea Coast. You may want to take a dip the sea or just relax on the beach or in one of numerous cafés, before heading back to Bruges for the final evening.
- Cycling for the day: 38-51km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Departure from Bruges
Departure after breakfast at 09.30.
- Meals included: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in an outward-facing upper deck cabins on a charming riverboat, for the duration of the tour. Cabins on both riverboats have en-suite bathrooms, a window, air-conditioning, TV and a hair dryer. For more details see below. Upgrades available upon request. Discount for lower deck cabins.
Click to view default ships
- MS Fluvius: On board this ship, which caters for a maximum of 44 guests, there are 18 twins and four double cabins: 14 regular and one smaller twin on the lower deck, and three twins and four double cabins on the upper deck. All of these are equipped with the necessary facilities: beds, bathroom, air conditioning and a cabinet for your belongings.
- MS De Holland: On board this ship, which caters for a maximum of 66 guests, there are 22 lower deck cabins, all lower deck cabins have a window (80 x 40 cm – 31 x 16 inches) that – for safety reasons – cannot be opened. On the upper deck, there are nine twin cabins and one suite. All upper deck cabins have a French Balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors) instead of a regular window.All 32 cabins aboard De Holland have an individual climate control system, digital TV, mini-safe, small wardrobe, hair dryer, 230V sockets and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.
Meals
This is a full board tour, which includes breakfast, packed lunch, coffee and tea on board and dinner (excluding day six). If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know at time of booking. Please note that there may be a supplement to be paid locally for certain dietary requests. We regret that our local partner cannot offer vegan meals.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy due to the routes following mostly flat terrain, with daily cycling distances between 20-64km. Any cycling day can be skipped if you feel like having a rest day on the boat instead (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
This trip is available from April to September with departures on Sundays. See departure dates and ship types below.
This trip can also be done in the opposite direction – Bruges to Amsterdam by Bike and Boat.
Please note there is no single cabin availability on most 2026 departures.
- 03 May – De Holland
- 10 May – Fluvius
- 17 May – De Holland
- 24 May – Fluvius
- 31 May – De Holland
- 07 June – Fluvius
- 14 June – De Holland
- 21 June – Fluvius
- 28 June – De Holland
- 05 July – Fluvius
- 12 July – De Hollana
- 19 July – Fluvius
- 26 July – De Holland
- 02 August – Fluvius
- 16 August – Fluvius
- 23 August – De Holland
- 30 August – Fluvius
- 06 September – De Holland
- 13 September – Fluvius
- 20 September – De Holland
- 27 September – Fluvius
- 04 October – De Holland
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on the Netherlands and Belgium.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Amsterdam (AMS).
By train or bus
By train: If you are able to travel to the Netherlands and Belgium without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Amsterdam and Bruges. For more details, see the national rail operators Nederlandse Spoorwegen and SNCB.
From the UK, there is a direct train service with Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal (4h).
By plane: From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you can take a train to Amsterdam Centraal. For timetables and further information please visit Nederlandse Spoorwegen or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in outward-facing cabins with private facilities
- Full board consisting of seven breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners, with coffee and tea onboard
- Daily room cleaning
- Welcome drink
- Daily meeting for the cycle tours
- Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily cycling routes (one per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Onboard tour guide
- Use of a waterproof pannier bag
- Biodegradable water bottle
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Travel insurance (required get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Dinner on day six
- Helmet rental
- Water taxi fees
- Parking fees
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
*March 2026 update: due to increased fuel and energy costs, a small fuel surcharge is payable locally upon arrival.
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a cabin of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of cabins and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own cabins. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share cabins with other solo travellers.
- Cabin upgrades
- Discount for lower deck cabins
- Bike rental
- Helmet rental
- Cycling guide
Bike rental
Both trekking bikes and e-bikes are available to rent on this tour. Both are equipped with a lock and puncture-resistant tyres. Sample models listed below, note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
Touring bikes
- Lightweight aluminium frame
- Handbrakes
- Seven speed gears
- Gel seat
- Bike lock attached to frame
- Puncture-resistant tyres
E-bikes
- Handbrakes
- Seven speeds
- 400Wh battery
- Three levels of power-assistance
- Gel seat
- Bike lock attached to frame
- Anti-puncture tyres
