Overview
Spend eight days on an aqua adventure, travelling from Bruges to Amsterdam by bike and boat, between two iconic cities in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Sail through Belgium’s Flanders countryside and the Netherlands’ Green Heart, exploring the Zeeland waterways, and Rivers Scheldt, Vecht and De Lek. Swap boat for bike in historic and culturally rich cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, 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 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 the famous coffee bars and roasteries, Mokabon or De Draak.
- Cycling for the day: 57km
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Ghent – Dendermonde – Sint-Amands | 40km
After breakfast, cycle downstream through diverse landscapes 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 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. 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 Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. 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.
- 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. 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 twin cabins, nine upper deck twin cabins and one double suite. All 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 and dinner (excluding day four), 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 April to September with departures on Sundays. See departure dates and ship types below.
This trip can also be done in the opposite direction – Amsterdam to Bruges by Bike and Boat.
Please note there is no single cabin availability on most departures.
- 04 May 2027 (Magnifique III)
- 06 May 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 11 May 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 13 May 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 18 May 2027 (Magnifique III)
- 20 May 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 25 May 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 27 May 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 03 June 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 08 June 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 17 June 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 24 June 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 29 June 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 08 July 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 13 July 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 15 July 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 22 July 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 27 July 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 29 July 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 10 August 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 12 August 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 19 August 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 24 August 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 02 September 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 03 September 2027 (La Mar)
- 07 September 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 30 September 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 05 October 2027 (Magnifique I)
- 07 October 2027 (Magnifique II)
- 14 October 2027 (Magnifique IV)
- 19 October 2027 (Magnifique I)
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on the Belgium and Netherlands.
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
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches and 6 dinners
- 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 four
- 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 room 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
- Discount for lower deck cabins
- Bike rental
- Helmet rental
- Cycling guide
Bike rental
Both touring bikes and e-bikes are available to rent on this tour. Both are equipped with 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
