Amsterdam to Bruges, the classic way

Amsterdam to Vianen

Your trip starts at around 1 pm with your arrival at the IRIS. Earlier drop off of luggage is possible after 9.15. Our IRIS will start sailing right away through some narrow bridges onto the IJ and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. After a few hours on board, you will have your first ride along the canal and the river Vecht. This short ride is already a nice introduction to the beautiful countryside, windmills and cheese farms. We will offer you a nice sailing dinner from Breukelen and a restful stay on board. Or you can join the guide(s) for a short walk in Vianen, where we will dock for the night.

Vianen - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht 30 miles / 48 km

Today’s ride is rural to the max!, and we follow a small stream with farms and windmills along  it. The later will be even more the theme of the last stretch of the day when we enter the area of Kinderdijk, this land reclamation project of the 18^th century has 19 windmills standing together. There is the possibility of going all the way up into one or having coffee overlooking this UNESCO World Heritage site. After this, a short sail will lead us to the oldest town of the Netherlands: Dordrecht. With bridges, canals and a slanting church, Dordrecht is full of history.

Dordrecht to Tholen 25 miles/ 40 km

A sailing breakfast leads us to Willemstad. This star-shaped fortified town was once an important defensive position and to named after the founding father of the Netherlands, William of Orange.

From there we bike alongside the impressive complex of locks ‘de Volkerak’ to Tholen. Tholen was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, otherwise known as the Rhein Delta on the North Sea where many fishermen lived. Today Tholen is connected to the mainland, but it retains its picturesque charm and boasts many fishing and boating relics of its colourful past.

Tholen to Antwerp, entering Belgium 20 miles / 32 km

There aren’t many forests in Holland, but you will have the unique thrill of biking through the Wouwse Plantation, an otherworldly landscape of sand dune forests alternating with fields of heather and moorlands. Along the way, we visit a Canadian and British World War Two Cemetery to pay our respects and have a quiet walk. After this short ride, it’s a cruising lunch to Antwerp, the city of Diamonds. Antwerp was home to the famous Painter Peter Paul Rubens and many of his paintings are still in the city to be admired. Antwerp’s Golden age was the 16th century when it’s trade blossomed and it became the sugar capital of Europe. Many of the buildings in the centre still originate from that time and while walking the streets you can feel as if you are 500 years ago. From the 19th century until recently, Antwerp was the world centre for diamond refining and trade.

Antwerp to Dendermonde 32 or 20 miles / 52 or 32 km

In Antwerp, we will make use of an iconic way of crossing the river: a tunnel and elevators ONLY for pedestrians and bicyclists! And there we are on the other side, from where we make our way up the Scheldt river. This will not be our last ferry of the day as we want to cross the river a few times. We eat our lunch in the garden of Castle Wisselkerke. This also won’t be the last castle of the day because this region is full of them. Another thing our bike path crosses many times are the flood zones of the river which attracts a wide variety of waterbird to the area. Our docking for the day is in Dendermonde, a small but historic town with a great town square for us to enjoy a real Belgian beer.

Dendermonde to Gent 25 miles/ 40 km

The Belgian country roads take us along small towns, lakes, castles and lead us to Gent. As the birthplace of Charles V and the biggest city in the 13^th century in Northern Europe after Paris, this city has many historical sights to see and, by many, regarded as prettier than even Bruges. In the evening a small boat will pick us to see the city as most traders would have, from the water.

Gent to Bruges 25 miles / 40 km

Today we will have some more time to explore Gent before we continue our path to the destination of our trip: Bruges.

From Gent, we go into the woods where we eat our lunch at an old estate. Taking an old rail to trail form the last bit, we enter Bruges, dubbed the Venice of the North. Docked right up against the centre we can easily explore the city with its criss-cross of canals and medieval alleys.

Bruges, departure day

Oh, alas! This morning, your guided tour ends after breakfast. It is time to say goodbye and see you again soon. You can leave your luggage until 12.00 and spend more time in Bruges. Cabs can be arranged by the ship. Would you like to enjoy some more time in Bruges? Additional hotels can be found using www.booking.com.