Hanseatic Rhine, IJssel and IJsselmeer Tour

Day-to-day

1. 

   Arrival at Amsterdam

   On our first day, you are welcome to board at around 1.30 pm. Today there is no sailing and no biking yet! You can drop off luggage after 9.15 am and explore the city centre that is pretty close to the docking in the Oosterdok.

   In the afternoon we will have a welcome meeting and a guided walk through Amsterdam.

2. 

   Amsterdam to Wijk bij Duurstede

   During breakfast, we will start sailing on the Amsterdam Rijn Channel and follow that for an hour or so. We start our cycling from there and see if we arrange for a pick-up or if you cycle all the way to Wijk Bij Duurstede.

   Wijk Bij Duurstede is an old crosspoint of waterways and has a castle ruin and walled inner historic city. And a windmill YES!

3. 

   Wageningen to Arnhem

   Today is a special day, for we will cycle through the largest National Park of the Netherlands: de Hoge Veluwe. In this park we will pay a visit to the Museum, which holds the largest collection of Van Gogh Paintings outside of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

   A private collection, now belongs to a foundation. After this great break, we will down to the Rhine Valley where the IRIS is docked. Next to the John Frost bridge, known from the Allied Operation Market Garden in 1944.

4. 

   Arnhem - Deventer

   After a nice sail on the Rhine, we enter the IJssel, a side arm of the Rhine, ending in the former Zuiderzee, now the IJsselmeer (IJssel Lake).

   Doesburg is the first of many lovely towns along the IJssel where we will start cycling. We will have a break in Zutphen and continue to Deventer, with its narrow streets that put us right back in past times. What a great city. Enjoy a drink at the town square. The ship is docked on walking distance!

5. 

   Deventer Kampen

   Our route takes along beautiful countryside, dikes and meadows, and the meandering IJssel river. Our destination is Kampen, once the biggest and most important town of the Dutch Hanze Cities, and still a regional center. We are now close to the place where the IJssel flows into the IJsselmeer.

6. 

   Kampen - Spakenburg

   Today we will sail a while, before we drop you of to go cycling! We might also sail a bit after you come on board again. Our docking for the night will be in Spakenburg, where there is a big harbour with traditional wooden ships, once used as Fishermans boats. These boats are called Botters. Spakenburg still is a centre with fish everywhere! We will taste some, if you like!

7. 

   Spakenburg - Amsterdam

   Although it seems like we are far away from the hectic city life, we are nearly back in Amsterdam!

   We will ride into the town, on cycle paths and with a last stop at a local brewery on our way.

   Before that we will visit the Muiderslot, an important castle in Dutch history.

8. 

   Amsterdam

   Time to say goodbye!

    

Photos

Accommodations

• 

  the IRIS

  In 2023 we will have installed a brand-new main engine, a MAN, 400 PK, with brings a huge reduction of CO2 output.

  This investment brings us amongst only a few passenger barges that make a difference by truly striving to have a lower footprint.

   

• 

  our new cabins, separate beds

  picture says it all

• 

  or rather a double bed?

  picture says it all

• 

  view into the modern bathroom

  picture says it all

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  to the left...

  picture says it all

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  to the right!

  picture says it all