|
Day 1 Sat Arrive in Amsterdam. Cruise to Oude Wetering.
Join your fellow guests aboard your floating hotel. In the afternoon the barge will cruise to Oude Wetering.
Day 2 Sun Oude Wetering to Gouda 16 miles.
Early in the morning the cyclists pedal through the reclaimed land of the Haarlemmer Meer to the flower park of Keukenhof. Walkers go by bus (public transport) to the Keukenhof. After having seen the tulips and daffodils everyone returns to the barge. At about 2.00pm your barge will leave and cruise to the cheese town of Gouda.
Day 3 Mon Gouda to Willemstad 25 miles.
The cyclists mount their bikes and ride to the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk where they will meet the non cyclists and visit one of the mills. After the visit the cyclists head for Dordrecht, and partially through the natural reserve Biesbosch to Moerdijk. The night will be spent in the walled town of Willemstad, a real Dutch beauty!
Day 4 Tues Willemstad to Antwerp 0 miles.
Right across the impressive waterways of Zeeland the barge will take you to the lively town of Antwerp in Belgium. After arrival there is free time to explore this old port. Antwerp is not only known as 'diamond city', but also as the native city of the artist Rubens. In the Rubens House, where he was born, you can admire his work. In the middle of the city is the Cathedral of Our Lady and around the Market Square beautiful town houses from a rich past.
Day 5 Wed Antwerp to Dendermonde 22 miles.
The day starts with a sailing trip to the outskirts of Antwerp. The cyclists cross the riverland of the river Schelde. In the charming provincial town of Dendermonde you'll spend the night aboard the barge.
Day 6 Thu Dendermonde to Ghent 19 miles.
The barge leaves Dendermonde for a sailing trip on the tidal river Schelde to Ghent. The cyclists enjoy the flat Flemish countryside to Ghent, a lively university city, again one with a rich past. The city has its origins in Roman Times, at the place where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. This favourable situation brought a great deal of prosperity over the years, which peaked in the late 13th and early 14th century. The textile industry brought great wealth and in the city centre you will see many old patrician houses that have been preserved. The owners of these houses, the textile merchants, used to meet in the Clothmakers’ Hall. The major church is St. Baafs’ Cathedral, built in various ages and in various styles. In the cathedral you can admire a number of masterpieces of mediaeval painting, of which the ‘Adoration of the Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. In the evening your guide will take you for a walk around the city.
Day 7 Fri Ghent to Bruges.
Everybody makes the train ride to Bruges. After arriving there is a horse carriage ride and a short guided walk past the many historic monuments in the centre of Bruges. From midday you are free to visit Bruges until you are ready to return by train to Ghent.
Day 8 Sat Depart from Ghent.
It is the end of the tour and so it is time to say farewells, exchange contact details and make your way by bus back to Amsterdam airport. |
Cruise and Cycle
