Amsterdam-Bruges / Bruges-Amsterdam - Description

Flemish hospitality and history: From Amsterdam to Bruges*
During this tour, the beautiful historical Flemish cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges are highlighted. But before we arrive there, you will get to know a very beautiful part of the Netherlands. After embarkation in Amsterdam, you bike along the winding river Vecht with its impressive castles on its banks, you visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods and you visit the Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk. From the fortified town Willemstad, which is situated on the impressive wide Zeeland streams, we head for Belgium. There we spent the night in Antwerp, the city of Rubens, whose paintings you can admire in the cathedral. You bike from Antwerp to Ghent along the beautiful tidal river Nederschelde, in order to breathe in the atmosphere of the days of old in the town center, with its impressive Belfort and the St. Baafs-cathedral, where you can admire the famous triptych of painter Jan van Eyck. Final destination is Bruges, with its picturesque town center probably the most beautiful of the historical Flemish cities.

*: depending on the departure date; otherwise from Bruges to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam-Bruges - Programme

Day 1 (Sat)

Amsterdam - Vianen (ca. 15 km / 9 miles)

Starting 01:00 PM: Embarkation on the MAGNIFIQUE. Around 2 PM we take off to Nichtevecht by barge. From there we make a short bike trip to Breukelen along the winding river Vecht. We visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods. By the end of the afternoon the barge takes you to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek.

Day 2 (Sun)

Vianen – Kinderdijk (ca. 50 km / 30 miles) | Kinderdijk – Dordrecht

After breakfast you will cycle via silver city Schoonhoven then through the Alblasserwaard to Kinderdijk. There an impressive row of19 large windmills appears. Then the barge takes us further to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland. There we spend the night in the historic port of Wolwevershaven.

Day 3 (Mon)

Dordrecht – Willemstad | Willemstad – Tholen (ca. 35 of 50 km / 21 or 30 miles)

During breakfast the ship cruises to Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. From there by bike along the impressive complex of locks ‘de Volkerak’ to Tholen, once an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living.

Day 4 (Tue)

Tholen – Kreekraksluis (ca. 35 km / 21 miles) | Kreekraksluis – Antwerpen

After breakfast a bike tour through a forest area, “the Wouwse Plantage“, towards the south to the impressive Kreekraksluis (lock). From there we cruise through the impressive port of Antwerp to the centre of the city. Antwerp is not only known as diamond city, but also as native city of painter Rubens. After diner: a visit to the beautiful old city centre.

Day 5 (Wed)

Antwerpen – Temse – Dendermonde / St. Amands (ca. 30 - 55 km / 18 – 33 miles)

After breakfast we cycle out of the port to the Zeeschelde. We follow this beautiful but capricious tidal river upstream to Dendermonde. There is a beautiful bike path along the river, and the landscape around the Schelde is magnificent. You can join the barge again halfway in Temse or continue all the way to Dendermonde, a friendly little town along the river. Night in St. Amands.

Day 6 (Thu)

Dendermonde / St. Amands – Ghent (ca. 35 km / 22 miles)

From Dendermonde the bike tour follows again the river Schelde in the direction of Ghent. Ghent is a lively university city, again one with a rich past. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to discover the city some more, or to shop in the lively centre. The ship is docked at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent.

Day 7 (Fri)

Ghent – Bruges (ca. 45 km / 28 miles)

Our bike tour through the pleasant country side of Western Flanders to Bruges, also called the Venice of the North, is maybe the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact.

Day 8 (Sat)

Bruges

After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation till 10:30 AM.

In italics printed parts will be covered by ship.
**: Both possibilities are being offered: the guest can choose.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
Program + details barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.

Amsterdam-Bruges / Bruges-Amsterdam - Details

Included:

- Tour and accommodation on board 8 days / 7 nights (Sat.-Sat.) from/to Amsterdam or Bruges, cabin in the booked category on board of the MS Magnifique;
- Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x picnic lunch during bike tours, 7 x three course dinner incl. 1 glass of wine);
- Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible); daily short cleaning of the cabin;
- Welcoming drink and -speech on the first evening;
- Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours, daily guided bike tours: the tour leader is cycling with the group;
- Maps and info material on board;
- daily coffee and tea till 4 PM.

Not included:

- Transfers to/from the docking places in Amsterdam and Bruges;
- Reservation costs €15,00 (obligatory surcharge);
- Rental bicycle, other transfers, parking fee, entrance fees & excursions, fees for ferries;
- Drinks on board, personal insurances, gratuities (at your discretion).

Bicycles:

The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring or. trekking bikes with normal mount (ladies model), 7 gears, hand brake and/or pedal brake and pannier bag. Other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children’s bikes, tandems etc.) are unfortunately not available on this tour.
Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at no extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles. In the Netherlands bikers are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. Bike helmets are not available on board.

Background information:

The General Conditions (travel conditions) of CCH Tours B.V. (incl. Boat Bike Tours) apply to cycling cruises, as well as to confirmation and cancellation of such tours. We would be pleased to send a copy of these conditions on request. These conditions constitute an essential part of the travel agreement when booking a tour.
In principle, children are very welcome on board. However, before booking, we advise you to satisfy yourself that your child is able to manage a cycle trip of 30-60 km. Children’s bikes, tandems, parent-and-child tandems, slip streamers etc. or child’s saddles are available on request. Of course you may stay one or more days longer on board (children under the age of18 years must be under supervision).

The interior of the ship is a no-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck. As a safety measure, a statutory smoking ban applies in all cabins; this means that all cabins and rooms on board are no-smoking zones

Magnifique | Luxury ship

In February, the very well-equipped canal barge MAGNIFIQUE has been launched after having been refurbished and restyled. The 49 meters (161 ft.) long vessel offers 22 to max. 32 guests very comfortable accommodation in 12 cabins. Until 2008, the barge was operated under her former name "PRINCESS ROYAL" for river and canal cruises with guests from the USA.
In the period May through September, the MAGNIFIQUE will be offering various tours, for which you can book on an individual basis (per cabin): several "active cruises - highlights of Holland", various cycling cruises between Bruges an Brussels (Belgium) and between Bruges and Amsterdam. Click the link CYCLING CRUISES on top of this page for tour descriptions, departure dates and rates.
The MAGNIFIQUE is also available in full charter for groups and tour operators in periods throughout the year for shorter and longer tours in Holland and belgium, for events and as accommodation on location; tour programme, itinerary and catering can be offered customized, according to the wishes of the group.

On the main deck you wil find the spacious salon with large windows all around, accommodating a restaurant area, a bar, a lounge with cosy seats, as well as the partially roofed sun deck with tables, chairs, deckchairs and a whirlpool / jacuzzi. Bicycles can also be stored on deck. On the lower deck you will find 8 twin cabins (approx. 11 M² - 118 sq.ft. -, 2 single beds next to eachother), 2 suites (approx. 14 M² - 150 sq.ft. -, 2 single beds) and 2 single cabins (approx. 9 M² - 97 sq.ft.). All cabins have beds 90x200 cm, a flat screen TV, portholes (all windows can be opened), private facilities (bathroom with shower + toilet) and air conditioning. In some twin and both single cabins an additional bed as a bunk bed can be provided on request.