Two countries, Holland and Belgium
Suitable for people of all ages. On some days you will be cycling through a windy area or (depending on the tour) may encounter short slopes with differences in heights up to 75 m. or (gently rolling terrain); with distances to 60 kilometers per day. You spend about 5 hours on your bicycle.
Two countries, Holland and Belgium, united in one Bike & Barge holiday. Combining the highlights of Holland’s Golden Age and the heydays of the Flemish trade cities in the Middle Ages. And last but not least, Holland’s own world wonder: the Delta Works.
The Dutch 17th century Golden Age and the heyday of the Flemish trading cities of the Middle Ages are united in this route. Notice the big difference between the green polder landscape abounding in water, with its tranquil roads and villages and the old world of islands in Zeeland with its pastures, creeks, winding dikes and dams. On top of that the often so picturesque Flemish countryside between the Belgian monumental cities of Ghent and Bruges. The great rivers are a prominent feature in this part of the Netherlands and Belgium. Of course you will get to know our own, Dutch Wonder of the World: the Delta Works, evidence of the eternal battle against the waters of the sea.
Arrival at the ship between 12.00 and 14.00 PM, moored near Amsterdam Central Station.Around 2.30 PM we will go to Kudelstaart. You will cruise through Amsterdam to the pointwhere you will try your bikes and ride to the mooring place.
Nice ride in the countryside, various landscapes, scenic cycling through bulb fields.You will cycle through the heart of the bulb fields. Exact route for today depends on whichbulbs bloom. Today you will visit the Keukenhof, the very centre of the bulb fields, with a great variety of bulb flowers. You will have your lunch here and after the Keukenhof you’llbike along biking paths and narrow roads. Stopover in Gouda, one of the cheese cities of Holland.
A day in the green heart of Holland, following minor roads along winding waterways.
In the morning you are cycling along narrow waterways, in the midst of pastures. We moor inWillemstad, a small fortress town in the Southern Netherlands. Walking distance from thecentre.
To Zierikzee, across and along rivers
From Willemstad you will bike in the quiet world of the “polders” along pastures and marshyareas. A few villages, polders and bridges and then you will arrive in Zierikzee, an ancientharbour but still in use. Before your arrival you are on the Dutch “Zeeuwse” Islands, and visitOude Tonge and Bruinisse, both fishing villages. Near the coast you can find the newlyexpanded Floodmuseum, in a special housing: in 4 former caissons, big floating concreteboxes which were used to fill the gaps in the broken dikes.
Today we go from Zierikzee in Zeeland (which actually means “Sealand”) to eitherMiddelburg, the capital of Zeeland or Vlissingen across the biggest island “Walcheren”.Middelburg is a beautiful old city, Vlissingen (in English known as Flushings) is the entranceport of the Westerschelde, the estuary of the river Schelde and the port of Antwerpen.
Luctor et Emergo, (I struggle and I will get up) is the motto of the Isles of Zeeland.
We’llleave the land that has struggled so long against the force of the sea. Today we head for thewaterway Westerschelde, which is the main estuary connecting the port of Antwerp with thesea. We will leave the isles of Zeeland and cross the Westerschelde to the most southernpart of Western Holland, Zeeuws Vlaanderen. But first you’ll do a nice tour along winding(inner)dykes with trees on top in a very scenic landscape. After crossing the Westerscheldeby boat you either cycle or sail to the city of Gent. It had its economic peak later than Bruges.It has a cosy, thriving town centre with squares with interesting buildings, amongst which arethe castle ‘Gravensteen’, churches and St. Baafs cathedral. We will moor in Ghent. Of coursean evening walk in town belongs to the possibilities.
Two medieval cities: from Ghent to Bruges.
Today you cycle from one medieval city to another. You can stay aboard the Feniks and startbiking from midway or cycle the whole trip. It’s worthwhile to make a visit the town centrebefore the ride to Bruges if you didn’t have the time for that yesterday. Between the twotowns you will cycle on quiet roads in the typical small scale fields pattern of Flanders withfarmhouses and small villages. If you stay aboard part of the day the biking distance isaround 35 Km. If you do the whole tour it’s ca. 60 Km.
End of the tour after breakfast, before 10 AM. If you have an early flight you can ask the the tourlguide to arrange a taxi to the airport.
Cycling in cycle countries
Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of both countries. The average daily distance is around 45 kilometers. Most participants prefer riding in a group with the cycling guide, but you can also ride individually. A road book is included (1x per cabin). Gps-tracks can be provided by e-mail.
Boarding is on Monday between 12:00 PM and 2 PM. The name of your barge is printed on the voucher, which you will receive separately. After arrival there’s coffee and tea on board. Other drinks are also available for a fee. If you want you can bring your luggage in advance: from 11 AM onwards.
The mooring place of the barge in Amsterdam is harbour Oosterdok; zip-code 1011 VX (near the Science Center: ‘Nemo’, Oosterdok 2).
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). There is a direct train that leaves 6 times per hour from the airport to Amsterdam Central Station. It takes about 16 minutes. The price for a train ticket Schiphol-Amsterdam Central is € 6,- per person for a single journey. Walking distance to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the barge in Amsterdam takes about 30 minutes. It costs about € 60,-.
The tour ends one week later in Bruges, so another possibility is to fly to Brussels Airport (BRU). By train it is about 1½ hours from the airport to the railway station in Bruges. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the mooring place will take about 25 minutes and costs about € 60,-.
The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is Amsterdam Central Station. Walking distance to the barge is about 10 to 15 minutes.
A taxi from the station to the barge takes about 5 minutes: Costs about € 10,-.
If you arrive by car, we recommend to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. You can find more information about parking possibilities at I amsterdam.
The nearest parking is Parking Oosterdok (about € 375,- per week, it is not necessary to reserve in advance; 500m walking distance to the barge).
The tour ends one week later on Monday morning after breakfast. Disembarkation is before 10 AM. You will spend the night from Sunday to Monday on board in Bruges. The mooring place of the barge in Bruges: near the ‘Bargeweg’ (nearly 1 km/o.6 miles from the train station). The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Brussels Airport. By train it is about 1½ hours from Bruges to the airport. A taxi to the airport will take about 1 hour and costs about € 180,-. Should you need to travel to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), you can take the international train. Travel time is about 3½ hours (changing trains two times) and a one-way ticket (2nd class) costs about € 65,-.
On this tour the following barges are scheduled:
Rental bikes on this tour.
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.
All cabins are 2-person cabins (twin beds or bunk bed). The bunk bed cabins can be booked for single use. All cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 220 voltage. Some barges have airconditioning. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tourguide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tourguide accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (Dutch/English, some speak German and/or French).
Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit will be waiting for you.
f you have food allergies or food intolerance (such as lactose- or gluten- intolerance/-allergy) or if you have special meal requirements (vegetarian; pescetarian; gluten free meals etc.), please indicate this when booking. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus and special food requirements cannot always be met in all details.
In case of a gluten free/ lactose free, there is an additional charge.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer vegan meals. The space in the kitchens on our ships is limited (for storage and preparation) and therefore we cannot guarantee that the meals are completely vegan.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, France and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays). The group is made up of about 14 people.
Holland is a cycling country: 17 million inhabitants all with bikes. The number of cyclists necessitates a cycling infrastructure: cycle paths (30,000 km), cycle routes (long and short distance), cycle bridges, cycle tunnels, cycle ferries and special signposts for cyclists. Cycling is part of normal life in the Netherlands; parents bring their children to school by bike, people go to work by bike, factory workers, doctors, even the prime minister! Cyclists, of course, have to observe traffic rules and regulations. The most important rule is to remember that you are not alone on your bike and that you are sharing the road with your group and other road users. Your guide on board will tell you all you need to know about the traffic rules and regulations.
Yes, but you must indicate this when booking. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus.
On some trips, in case of a gluten-free diet/lactose-free diet/ vegan meals, a surcharge applies. This is stated per tour.
We recommond to wear a bike helmet on all tours. On our own tours (barges Anna Antal; Liza Marleen; Anna van Aemstel; Sailing Home and Clair de Lune) we provide a safety helmet with all our own rental bikes.
In some countries a helmet is mandatory. This is stated on the tour page.
You can bring your own standard bike on board.
Own e-bikes, tricycles, recumbent bikes and and special (custom-made) bicycles cannot be taken on board our ships.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (but that is almost never the case!), you can stay on board or your guide can organize an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours (at your own expense).
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.
No, the barge doesn’t take the same route as the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.
