Overview
Spend eight days on an aqua adventure, travelling from Amsterdam to Bruges by bike and boat in comfort, between two iconic cities in both the Netherlands and Belgium. On a premium, luxury riverboat, 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.
- Bruges
- Antwerp
- Ghent
- Kinderdijk windmills
- Amsterdam
Itinerary
Day 1: Bruges
Embark the boat at 13.00, ready for a welcome meeting with the crew at 14.00. After dinner, take some time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical city of Bruges, aptly named Pearl of Flanders. Visit one of Bruges many museums, such as Groeninge Museum, or simply take in the beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a local café.
- Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Bruges – Ghent | 57km
The cycle tour starts early today in the outskirts of Bruges by pedalling towards Ghent through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent Canal. This is a city that has revitalised itself from classical to contemporary cool. Classic sights include Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, or some of the famous coffee bars and roasteries. The ship docks for the night at a lock in a suburb of Ghent, 30mins from the city centre. Before dinner a small canal boat takes you for a guided tour through the historic city.
- Cycling for the day: 57km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Ghent – Dendermonde – Sint-Amands | 40km
After breakfast in Ghent, cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal River Scheldt to Dendermonde, a traditional Flemish town with an elegant market square and 13th-century City Hall and Belfry which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By either bicycle or barge (depending on tides), travel from Dendermonde to Sint-Amands where your floating hotel docks for the night.
- Cycling for the day: 40km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Sint-Amands – Antwerp | 48-63km
Follow the River Scheldt further downstream through the Temse region to Antwerp, an ancient port city. Antwerp is historical and hip, foodie and fun, with highlights including the iconic Museum aan de Stroom, market square in the heart of the Old Town with ancient guild houses and coffee houses, as well as Rubenshuis, where collections include work of the esteemed Flemish artist Peter Paul Reubens, to whom the gallery is dedicated. Dinner tonight (not included) is in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).
- Cycling for the day: 48-63km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Day 5: Antwerp – Tholen – Dordrecht | 20-36km
Sail to Tholen where the cycle begins. The route passes through Wouwse Plantage Nature Reserve before arriving at Kreekrak Lock, to re-join the riverboat for an afternoon sail to the beautiful city of Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland. Halfway, the ship passes the impressive Volkerak lock system. In the evening, join your tour leader for a walk around Dordrecht and listen to some fascinating facts about the history of the Netherlands.
- Cycling for the day: 20-36km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Dordrecht – Vianen | 57km
A fast ferry brings you to Alblasserdam. Cycle to Kinderdijk, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout, an impressive row of nineteen windmills. Continue to cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small fortified town on the River Lek.
- Cycling for the day: 57km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Vianen – Breukelen – Amsterdam | 38-48km
Disembark in Breukelen and ride along the River Vecht in an area famous for its mansions, small castles and parks. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland, arrive at Nigtevecht for a visit to a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling to Amsterdam where you meet the barge for the final time in the harbour. In the evening, take some time to explore Amsterdam. As well as exploring the city’s unique network of canals, with their iconic bridges and elegant waterfront terraced houses, Amsterdam is a culture vulture’s arcadia. Highlights include the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the extraordinarily moving Anne Frank House is a must.
- Cycling for the day: 38-48km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
Departure after breakfast until 09.30.
- Meals included: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in an outward-facing, twin cabin on a premium, luxury riverboat for the duration of the tour. All cabins have en-suite bathrooms, a window, air-conditioning, a TV and a hair dryer. For more details, see below. Upgrades to cabins with double beds or suites available upon request.
Click to view default ships
- Magnifique I
- Magnifique II
- Magnifique III
- Magnifique IV
- MS Zwaantje
- MS La Mar
Meals
This is a full board tour which includes breakfast, packed lunch and dinner, as well as coffee and tea on board. 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 20-63km. 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 May to October, on the departure dates below.
This trip can also be done in the opposite direction – Amsterdam to Bruges by Bike and Boat in Comfort.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on the Netherlands and Belgium.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for arrival for this tour is Ostend–Bruges International Airport (OST) and our recommended airport for departure for this tour is Schiphol (AMS).
By train or bus
- 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 or use the Omio planner above.
- From the UK, there is a direct train service with Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Brussels (3h). Then take a connecting local SNCB train from Brussels to Bruges (1h).
- From Ostend-Bruges airport, you can take a train to Bruges central railway station. For timetables and further information please visit SNCB or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in outward-facing cabins with private facilities
- Full board consisting of seven breakfasts, seven packed lunches and six three course dinners
- Daily room cleaning
- Welcome drink
- Daily meeting for the cycle tours
- Helmet rental
- Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily cycling routes (one per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Onboard tour guide
- Cycling tour guide
- Use of a waterproof pannier bag
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Travel insurance (required get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Dinner on day four
- 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 rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Cabin upgrades
- Bike rental
Bike rental
Both touring bikes and e-bikes are available to rent on this tour. Both models are equipped with helmets, a lock and puncture-resistant tyres.
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
