Day 1: Saturday: Amsterdam
Arrive at barge at 4:00pm. Meet the captain, crew and guide. Your guide will have a cabin list and after having stowed your luggage you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and meet the other guests. In the afternoon you can take a short cycle tour through the northern part of the city and maybe a little outside the city (15km). Day 2: Sunday: Amsterdam - Vianen, 46km
First the route takes you through the center of Amsterdam, which is still peacefully quiet on Sunday morning, following a route that takes you past several well-known landmarks in the city. Then you continue cycling along the winding river Amstel. Via the villages of Abcoude and Baambrugge, you arrive at the river Vecht, which you then follow all the way to Utrecht, letting the river lead you past panoramic views of low-lying meadows and the magnificent country mansions. The route continues via Breukelen and Maarssen to the center of Utrecht and then on to Vianen. Day 3: Monday: Vianen - Dordrecht, 50km
From Vianen, follow the river dike along the Merwede canal to Meerkerk. You have arrived in the region between the large rivers called "Vijfheeren landen". Further on to the west lies Alblasserwaard. It is a region with villages built in long ribbons along the waterways. Here you will find the peace of the countryside, with sheltered roads, broad views over pastureland and the inevitable windmills that are so natural to the Dutch landscape. On a modern, fast-moving ferry, cross over to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland, which lies at the intersection of busy waterways. Day 4: Tuesday: Dordrecht - Zierikzee, 60km
During breakfast, the ship sails to Krammersluizen. From Dordrecht, you are taken to the delta region of large rivers. The many tributaries here used to have an open connection with the sea. But after the flood of 1953, large civil engineering works were carried out as a part of the Delta Plan, whose dams closed most tidal inlets off from the sea. Revised plans have produced a number of dams and bridges in a second line of defense. A scenic tour around the island of Schouwen Duiveland is a part of the itinerary. At the end of the route, the well-preserved city of Zierikzee awaits your arrival. Day 5: Wednesday: Zierikzee - Middelburg, 53km
Today the ship sails to Middelburg. The cycle route takes you from Zierikzee to the western side of the island Schouwen, where at Westenschouwen you begin the leg that takes you over the Oosterschelde Dam. All islands of the province have been linked by bridges since the completion of the Delta Plan, which means they are no longer real islands, but they have retained their original character. You can also choose to cross by ship. Bike over the island Noord Bevelandand the island of Walcheren to the city of Veere, formerly an important trading city. Cycling on back roads, you head for Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland, a small city with a beautiful old center. Day 6: Thursday: Middelburg - Ghent, 67km
Bike along the canal to Flushing, an important port at the mouth of the Westerschelde. Here you can take the ferry to Breskens, which takes approximately 20 minutes to cross. Breskens lies in Zeeland Flanders. Belgium is just a stone's throw away. Cycling through the expansive landscape, sparsely dotted with villages, without noticing cycling across the border into Belgium to Ghent. Day 7: Friday: Ghent - Bruges, 52km
Cycle straight through the beautiful center of Ghent on a peaceful route. Outside the city, you enter the Leiestreek region. St. Martens-Latem nestles in the green landscape, once a center for artists. You cycle past the Leiebrug Bridge and enter the tranquil countryside of East Flanders. Traveling down winding roads, through patches of woodland, you head in the direction of Bruges. The last part of the route takes you alongside the towing path next to the canal running from Ghent to Oostende. Day 8: Saturday: Bruges
End of tour after breakfast at 9:00am. |
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