Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique III (and reverse)
Guided from EUR € 1548
Bike and Boat Tour aboard MS Magnifique III
Countries: Belgium and Holland
Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour
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Cycle and cruise between two iconic canal cities
This brilliant bicycle tour takes you to some of the most beautiful cities in Holland and Flanders (Western Belgium), including: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, cities where you can still feel the charm of days long gone.
After embarking from Amsterdam, you will cross through a beautiful part of the Netherlands before biking along the winding Vecht River, known for the impressive mansions and country houses sitting commandingly on its banks. You'll reach Kinderdijk, with its UNESCO World Heritage windmills and real Dutch cheese farms for a dose of iconic Dutch culture.
Discover the Dutch province of Zeeland, essentially one large river delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt Rivers, known for its fantastic beaches, water activities, and Delta works. Cycle through the Flanders region of Belgium where superb food and drink are the order of the day! The destination of your tour is Bruges, the 'Pearl of Flanders', with its magnificent medieval town center.
You will stay onboard a premium barge - your floating hotel. You will experience daily guided bike tours, but it is also possible to ride the bike tours individually as tour descriptions and maps are available on board.
In 2022 the boat will have two tour guides for guided cycling in smaller groups; guests can opt for longer/shorter of quicker/slower cycling tours (depending on the route) with a minimum of 22 guests on board.
The Amsterdam - Bruges (and reverse) itinerary is available on a number of boats on various dates. Please check the following tours for different boats and dates:
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique II (and reverse)
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique III (and reverse)
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique IV (and reverse)
Amsterdam – Gouda – Bruges by Bike and Boat
Bruges – Antwerp – Amsterdam by Bike and Boat
Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Fluvius (and reverse)Highlights
- Amsterdam
- Utrecht
- Vecht River and Vianen
- The 'Silver City' of Schoonhoven
- UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk and its windmills
- Antwerp
- Ghent
- The 'Pearl of Flanders', Bruges
Learn More
Learn more about guided tours.
Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Amsterdam and Bruges. -
CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium. CC:Michielverbeek' data-type='image'>CC-BY-3.0 - Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Nikolai Karaneschev@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Altstadt in Utrecht, the Netherlands. CC:Zairon' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Dendermonde, East Flanders, Belgium. CC:Michielverbeek' data-type='image'>CC-BY-ND-2.0 - Tulips! Llee_wu@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-ND-2.0 - Waalseilandgracht in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Steven dosRemedios, Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Lys River in Ghent, Belgium. CC:Graham Richter' data-type='image'>CC-BY-ND-2.0 - Magna Plaza in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Steven dosRemedios, Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Antwerp, Belgium CC:Maros' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium. CC:Demeester' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Tulips in Holland, of course! Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. CC:© Rolf Kranz' data-type='image'>CC-BY-2.0 - Yellow tulips! Pug Girl@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-2.0 - Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. ContextTravel, Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-4.0 - Belfry Tower in Dendermonde, East Flanders, Belgium. CC:Trougnouf' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Frikandel with fries, a favorite Dutch delicacy. CC:Guusbosman' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Sergey Galyonkin@Flickr' data-type='image'>
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Daily program
This tour departs from both Amsterdam and Bruges. Please see itineraries for each departure below.
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Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam | Cruise to Vianen
Embarkation and check-in is at 2:00 pm, around which time the ship will depart for the small fortified village of Vianen, beautifully situated on the Lek River. After dinner, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a short test ride around town.
The city of Amsterdam is an icon of Europe, and if you're arriving the day before the tour, we strongly recommend taking one of our exciting day tour adventures!Overnight in Vianen.
Day 2: Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk | Cruise to Dordrecht (19 miles/32 km or 34 miles/56 km)
Today you will cycle along a beautiful route to Schoonhoven, nicknamed Zilverstad ('Silver City') – a city renowned for its talented silversmiths since the 17th Century. Later in the day, as you cycle through the Alblasserwaard region, you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills. All 19 windmills have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight – you will have the opportunity to visit one so don’t forget to bring your camera! From nearby Alblasserdam you will take the 'Waterbus' - a fast ferry - that will take you and your bicycle in approximately 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.Overnight in Dordrecht.
Day 3: Cruise Dordrecht – Willemstad | Cycle Willemstad – Bergen op Zoom (26 miles/42km or 31 miles/50km)
As you enjoy your breakfast aboard the ship, you'll sail to Willemstad where you'll start your day’s cycling. Willemstad is a beautiful old fortified town on the Haringvliet waterway. Your bicycle ride continues on to Tholen, once an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Nowadays, Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways, but remains a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past.In the afternoon you'll cycle to the destination of this evening - Bergen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom is a historic fortified town that once lay on the open waters of Oosterschelde. After dinner, you can take a walk through the old town. Enjoy narrow streets, the old town market, church squares, and the idiocyncratic monumental buildings that show the history of a rich and eventful dating back over eight hundred years.
Overnight in Bergen op Zoom.
Day 4: Cycle Bergen op Zoom – Kreekrak lock | Cruise Kreekrak lock – Antwerp (13 miles/21km or 21 miles/35km)
In the morning, you will enjoy a short bike ride through the beautiful 'Wouwse Plantage' surrounding Bergen op Zoom. In the early afternoon, you will once again board the ship which will sail to the port city of Antwerp, located on the Schelde river.Antwerp is famous for handling up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds and is a city with a long list of attractions including: the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Marker, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, and the medieval Steen Castle. Dinner tonight will be in Antwerp at restaurant of your choosing (not included; recommendations available on board).
Overnight in Antwerp.
Day 5: Antwerp – Temse – St. Amands (21 miles/34 km or 31 miles/49 km)
This morning you will cycle out of Antwerp along a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St. Amands, your home for the night. 'Magnificent' is the only way to describe the landscape around the Schelde - it is without a doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour.Overnight in St. Amands.
Day 6: Cruise St. Amands – Dendermonde | Cycling Dendermonde – Ghent (32 miles/53 km)
Today you will continue to follow the river Schelde to Ghent where the barge will moor at a lock in a town suburb. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich history. Since Roman times, Ghent's position at the junction of the Leie and Schelde Rivers has ensured its success as a trading port.In total, the city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more than 100 churches, and over 400 historical buildings. A key attraction is the St. Bavo Cathedral, where a number of masterpieces of medieval art, including the world famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck are kept, and the 91-meter-tall belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city center.
Overnight in Ghent.
Day 7: Ghent – Bruges (13 miles/22km or 28 miles/45 km)
Today you will cycle from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish countryside of western Flanders to Bruges, widely described as the 'Venice of the North' and arguably the most beautiful of all the Flemish cities. Bruges attracts more than two million visitors every year who come to see the picturesque medieval center, which has received UNESCO World Heritage Site status.An outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain its historic fabric even as it has evolved over the centuries, with the city's original Gothic buildings still forming an integral part of the town's identity. While you are here you can visit one of Bruges' many museums or simply take in the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk café.
Overnight in Bruges.
Day 8: Bruges
After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30 am. If you feel like getting more out of the city, try one of our exciting Bruges day tours!All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours.
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Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Bruges (9 miles/15 km)
Arrival and embarkation is between 1-2:00 pm in the beautiful city of Bruges, nicknamed the 'Pearl of Flanders'. The crew will welcome you to the ship, which departs at 2:00 pm from Bruges to a suburb where there is time for bicycle a fitting and test ride through the surrounding countryside. After dinner, the guide will take you for a short walk through the center of town.We advise you to come to Bruges one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city. If you want to get into the rhythm of riding early, we recommend taking one of our wonderful biking day tours in Bruges! While you're in town, make sure to visit one of Bruges' many museums, or simply take in the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city from the comfort of a sidewalk café.
Overnight in Bruges.
Day 2: Bruges – Ghent (21 miles/35 km or 36 miles/57 km)
You will start your first day of cycling by pedaling towards Ghent through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. Upon arrival in Ghent, consider an afternoon stroll - Ghent’s medieval center features lovely illuminated streets that are a 'must' to explore, while the architectural richness in the center has to be seen to be believed. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was the second-largest European city after Paris!The ship will dock for the night at a lock, in a suburb of Ghent and approx. 30 cycling minutes from the city center. Before dinner, a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.
Overnight in Ghent.
Day 3: Ghent – Dendermonde / St. Amands (24 miles/40 km or 32 miles/53 km)
After breakfast in Ghent you will cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde, located at the confluence of the Dender and Schelde rivers. There is only one way to describe the landscape along the Schelde and that is 'magnificent'. It is without doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour. During this section of the Schelde, the speed of the ship will be determined by the height of the tide. You will travel from Dendermonde to St. Amands by either bicycle or barge depending on the tides.Overnight in St. Amands.
Day 4: St. Amands – Temse – Antwerp (19 miles/32km or 31 miles/49km)
Today you will follow the Schelde river further downstream through the Temse region to Antwerp. Over the centuries, the Schelde River has held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon. Today, it is a beautiful waterway just perfect for bike and barge holidays! Antwerp, your destination for the day, is a harbor city famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and as the birthplace of the famous painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens. There are many highlights in the city to discover including: the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, and the medieval Steen Castle.Overnight in Antwerp.
Day 5: Cruise Antwerp – Kreekrak locks | Cycle Kreekrak locks – Tholen | Cruise Tholen – Willemstad – Dordrecht (23 miles/36km or 13 miles/20 km)
The barge will cruise this morning along the Schelde-Rhine Canal, over the huge Kreekrak locks to Tholen, a former fishing village amidst the large streams of the province of Zeeland. From Tholen you will cycle along the impressively large Volkerak locks to the fortified town of Willemstad, then cycle further to end in Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Today, the skipper will discuss with you which part of the tour will be covered by bicycle. You will enjoy an evening walk in Dordrecht with the guide to learn a little more about the history of the Netherlands. Dinner tonight will be in Dordrecht at restaurant of your choosing (not included; recommendations available on board).Overnight in Dordrecht.
Day 6: Cruise Dordrecht – Kinderdijk | Cycle Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Vianen (19 miles/32 km or 36 miles/57 km)
Today you will start your tour with the 'Waterbus', a fast ferry that will take you and your bike to Alblasserdam in just 10 minutes. After just a few minutes of cycling you will reach Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 UNESCO cultural heritage-listed windmills – one of which you can visit (don’t forget your camera!). The windmills were constructed in the 18th Century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments).You will then continue to cycle via Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek (where you will be moored for the evening and can explore after dinner).
Overnight in Vianen.
Day 7: Cruise Vianen – Breukelen | Cycle Breukelen – Amsterdam (23 miles/36km or 28 miles/46 km)
During breakfast, the ship cruises to Breukelen, where you disembark and your cycling tour starts. Ride along the small Vecht river, an area known for its beautiful mansions, small castles, and beautiful houses with large gardens. After cycling through the villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen, and Vreeland, you'll arrive in Nigtevecht, where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling through Abcoude and Ouderkerk beside the Amstel River to reach Amsterdam, where your barge will be waiting for you in the harbor.Overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30 am. If you wish, you can explore Amsterdam and one of its numerous museums, do some shopping, or make a canal tour (not included). As an icon of Europe, Amsterdam is a worthy destination for some serious exploration! If you'd like to stay in the city for a few more hours or days, we strongly recommend taking one our insightful and enjoyable day tours!All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours.
Surface and terrain
The tour follows flat terrain routes with occasional hills. The route is on dedicated bicycle paths around 50% of the time and follows roads shared with traffic around 30% of the time. The remaining 20% of the route follows quiet roads.
You will have an option to remain aboard if you wish not to cycle some days.
Boats
How to get there
Tour start
Amsterdam
Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Nearest train station: Amsterdam CentraalTour end
Bruges
Nearest airport: Ostend-Bruges International
Nearest train station: BrugesTips for getting to and from your tour.
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Dates
From Amsterdam: Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 2024.
From Bruges: May 21; Jun 4, 18; Jul 2, 16, 30; Aug 13, 2024.Season A: May 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2024
Season B: Jul 1, 2024 - Aug 30, 2024
Prices
Magnifique III
Per person, double occupancy Season A Season B Main deck, Standard cabin €1699 €1549 Upper deck, Suite €2299 €2149 Single use cabin (1 person/1 cabin) Main deck, single cabin €2549 €2324 Bike Rentals
Standard touring bike, 21-speed €104 Electrically assisted bike (limited number, only on request) €270 Included services
- 7 nights accommodation on board in the booked category from/to Amsterdam or Bruges; climate-controlled cabin
- Full board - 7x breakfast, 6x picnic lunch during bike tours, 6x three-course dinner (dinner excluded in Antwerp or Dordrecht)
- Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
- Daily short cleaning of the cabin
- Welcome drink
- Daily briefings
- Fully guided cycling tours (2 guides/groups)
- Some short walking tours
- Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily bike tours (1 set per cabin); GPS tracks
- Fees for ferries
- Entrance Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp
- Tasting Belgium products
- Canal trip through Ghent
- Wifi on board
- Coffee and tea on board
Please note special diets may be accommodated upon request, although surcharges may apply.
Bike rentals
Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:
- Standard touring bikes, 7-speed
- Electrically assisted bikes (limited number, upon request)*
- Children's equipment and tandems, in limited quantities (please inquire for pricing)
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
Equipment included with bike rental:
- Pannier bag
- Helmet
- Water bottle
- Bike locks
You can bring your own bicycles for an additional charge. Standard bikes are an additional € 10 and E-bikes are an additional € 25. The crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles.
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. At this time, it is not possible to change the pedals.Saddle:
At this time, it is not possible to change the saddle. We recommend a universal padded saddle cover which can be pulled taught around the provided saddle.Helmets:
Please note that helmets are available on this tour (for free, included with bike rental). We recommend that you bring your own, or purchase one when you arrive at your destination. In the Netherlands and Belgium, cyclists are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet, but we strongly recommend everyone to wear a helmet.Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Dawn Richardson November 8, 2022
Unique Vacation Experience
We had a great time on our first Boat Bike Tour and enjoyed the new traveling experience. I've never been on a cruise and was slightly intimidated by the prospect, but the small boat/barge and biking all day was a great way to see from a new perspective. I enjoyed the guided biking all day and the food on the boat was exceptional. The whole crew was great and it was fun being with folks from all over the world. Definitely considering another tour in the future! We had to postpone twice with the pandemic and were thankful to be able to go and feel safe a couple of years later. Thank you!
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★★★★★ Donna Turner September 29, 2022
Great Trip In Every Way
We had a great time biking from Amsterdam to Bruges. For those concerned about biking so much, this is a very flat ride; easy on a road bike in my estimation, though many had E Bikes. The Magnifique III was beautiful, comfortable, and offered a great team of guides and hospitality professionals who took great care of us. A few of the days of the tour were not as exciting of a ride as far as what you see, but most days were beautiful, varied and offered unique experiences such as a bike museum where we got to ride some crazy bikes, a canal tour in Ghent, a city tour in Antwerp, a visit to an incredible workshop of a local craftsman. It rained a few days but we were prepared and it didn't bother us. So much fun. Get out there and enjoy an active vacation on a bike; you will not be sorry!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Eileen Provost September 28, 2022
Fantastic trip!
The crew, barge and guides were all top notch and the food was really good. Beautiful bike routes took us through lovely local scenery! Enjoyed walking tours in Antwerp and Bruges. Guides were super flexible and offered different options on a day with bad weather. Highly recommend!
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