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Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Boat – Magnifique III

Tour: BBNBA8-M3
Bike & Boat Holiday
Linear Cycling Holiday

Add a certain sparkle to your time on two wheels. Simply sit back and relax along glistening waterways on board the brand new premium Dutch barge, MS Magnifique III, and pedal out to explore a great array of local gems. From Bruges, the ’Pearl of Flanders’ to the gilded riches of the Golden Age in Ghent and Dendemonde; from Antwerp, ‘City of Diamonds’ and ‘Silver City’  Schoonhaven to the countless canals of historic Amsterdam, there are just so many treasures to discover. Pedal out across emerald polders; at Kinderdijk see windmill jewels by the score. Even your barge is a real beauty - the latest and largest addition to the superb Magnifique premium Dutch barge fleet, offering an even more impressive service and bikes. Enjoy! 2024 prices now available.  Read More

Destination

Europe, Holland

Start Day

Tues

Board Basis

Half Board

Prices from

£1,555.00

Duration

8 Days, 7 Nights

Availability

May - Aug

Tour Grade

Grade 1 (Very Easy)

Read Overview
Home > Europe > Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Boat – Magnifique III

Overview

A linear cycling holiday featuring accommodation on board the brand new premium Dutch barge, MS Magnifique III, packed full of classic city and countryside treasures including Bruges, Ghent, Dendermonde, Antwerp, historic Dordrecht, Kinderdijk’s row of time-honoured windmills and cosmopolitan canal city, Amsterdam. When it comes to experiencing the jewels of Holland and Flanders from a different perspective, nothing beats the combination of pedalling the polderland paths and taking in the lowland views from on board your luxurious floating home.

Tour Code:
BBNBA8-M3
Activity:
Bike & Boat, Cycling
Type:
Bike & Boat Holiday, Linear Cycling Holiday
Country:
Europe, Holland
Area:
Holland
Duration:
8 Days, 7 Nights
Board Basis:
Half Board
Availability:
May - Aug

Itinerary

Please note: 

Due to navigation conditions, the exact details of itineraries/embarkation points may be modified at the discretion of the boat’s Captain. All overnights are on board your floating accommodation, the MS Magnifique III. Details of the transits to the next destination are outlined in the itinerary below but may be subject to change. 

Day 1 All aboard in Bruges! 

Join the MS Magnifique III moored in central Bruges and settle in to your floating accommodation on board this classic premium Dutch barge in the early afternoon, before heading out to explore the extensive sights of beautiful Bruges, the ‘Pearl of Flanders’, the ‘Venice of the North’ and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Graze the fine art offerings at the Groenigemuseum or climb the 83m tower of the famous belfry, the ‘Belfort’, to drink in the views. There’s time to shop for lace, fine chocolate or even take in the ‘Choco Story’ museum or ‘Frietmuseum’ (yes, a whole museum dedicated to chips!). To help you get the most out of your afternoon and evening in this enchanting city, there is a guided visit included in the tour price. You are free to take supper at your leisure in Bruges.

Overnight mooring – Bruges

Day 2 Eastward ho! En route to glorious Ghent

Your floating accommodation heads out early along the canals of Bruges to stop off outside the city. Here’s where you saddle up and your first gentle cycling adventure begins, as you pedal away across the flat West Flanders terrain towards the historic university city of Ghent. Although more modest than Bruges, Ghent is a vibrant place which combines wonderful flourishes of medieval architecture with refreshing contemporary culture and even has Roman roots. Climb up the ‘Gravensteen’ – the 12th century ‘Castle of the Count’ built by Phillip of Alsace – for great city and River Leie from its round towers and battlements. There’s plenty of time to explore the wonders of city centre including the impressive façades of the ‘Graslei’ area and the fine works by Van Eyck in St Bavo’s Cathedral before you meet back up for dinner with the MS Magnifique III at Merelbeke lock in the city suburbs.

Overnight mooring – Ghent (Merelbeke)

Miles 28  Kms  45

Day 3 Going with the flow to Dendermonde

The tidal River Schelde sets the pace today, with the barge’s progress governed by the river’s ebb and flow, so you may cycle off to meet MS Magnifique III in your main destination of the day – historic down of Dendermonde – or need to pedal just a few extra kilometres to catch up with the vessel in St Amands. The stretch of the Schelde downstream from Ghent makes for some super scenic cycling, so it’s a pleasure to just go with the flow and where it meets the River Dender, there are more beautiful treasures in store. Fill your panniers from the little shops here or just relax in a market place café and enjoy history’s patchwork of gabled architecture from the town hall to the belfry and the famous ‘Vleeshuis’.

Overnight mooring – St Amands.

Miles  24 – 32  Kms 40 – 53

Day 4 Onwards to Antwerp

More scenic cycling along the Schelde today as you head out via the old shipbuilding town of Temse to the impressive harbours and historic heartlands of  the ‘City of Diamonds’ itself, Antwerp. Meet back up with MS Magnifique III in the centre and enjoy an afternoon and evening exploring the city with supper in town at your leisure. The capital of the province of Flanders is Rubens’ birthplace, so don’t miss the paintings by this local Grand Master in the gothic ‘Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal’ built in 1351. There are more works by Rubens as well as Van Dyck and Brueghel the Younger at the Rockoxhuis, and the Platin-Moretus Museum is a must too, featuring the world’s oldest printing press. On top of all this, there are the medieval guildhouses around the marketplace, the charming cobbled streets and glittering prizes of the Diamond Quarter to discover too.

Overnight mooring – Antwerp.

Miles  25  Kms  42

Day 5 More secrets to unlock

Another day to go with the flow, with the Skipper of the MS Magnifique III deciding on the cycling stretches of the day, according to the dictates of the waterways for today it is time to wonder at the amazing engineering behind the canals and flatlands of Flanders and Holland. For starters, the MS Magnifique III cruises along the Schelde-Rhine Canal to negotiate the mighty Kreekrak lock complex en route to the former fishing village of Tholen in the province of Zeeland.  From here, there’s a cycling stretch along the impressive Volkerak locks to Willemstad in North Brabant, a fascinating town enclosed in a star-shaped layout of Napoleonic-style fortifications. Look out for the Mauritshuis, once the hunting lodge of Maurits of Orange; the ‘d’Orangemolen’ a charming windmill by the marina and the round Koepelkerk, as well as the old arsenal and gunpowder stores. Dordrecht is the final destination of the day – to be reached perhaps by bike or by barge from Willemstad. One of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and known as the ‘Island on the Dort’, it is bordered by no less than five rivers and is a great place for the night’s mooring.

Overnight mooring – Dordrecht

Miles  15-28  Kms  25-45

Day 6 Well, blow me down!

It wouldn’t do to think that if you’ve seen one windmill, you’ve seen them all…nothing can prepare you for the Kinderdijk, the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site where there are nineteen of them in a row! MS Magnifique III will deliver you right into this amazing windmill country, so you can disembark and visit one of these mighty mills which have been pumping out the water from the low Ablasserwaaard polder since the 18th century. Saddle up next and pedal off to Schoonhaven with its majestic medieval town hall, city walls and rows of narrow gabled houses lining the waterside. A super-wealthy place to be in the 17th century, home to skilled silversmiths and clockmakers, it’s still known locally as ‘Silver City’ today. Don’t miss the impressive town clock or the glittering prizes in the museum dedicated to the Dutch silvertrade before pedalling on to Vianen, an attractive small town on the River Lek with fortifications and a 15th century brick gateway.

Overnight mooring – Vianen

Miles  30  Kms  50

Day 7 From country mansions to the canals of Amsterdam

From Vianen, the day starts with a cruise to Breukelen in the province of Utrecht, where you pedal off along the little River Vecht through an area renowned for fine country mansions and castles with extensive gardens and parkland, built by wealthy 17th century merchant families from Amsterdam. Get a taste for the small villages, like Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland or the local cheese museum perhaps at Nigtvecht. Your final cycling stretch into Amsterdam to meet MS Magnifique III in the harbour, takes in the charming towns of Abcoude and Ouderkerk on the River Amstel. Finally enjoy some time in the lively city of Amsterdam itself, choosing from galleries and museum, great shopping opportunities, time taking in the atmosphere along the canals and cobbled streets.

Overnight mooring – Amsterdam.

 

Miles  21  Kms  35

Day 8 Depart after breakfast

Following your final breakfast on board your floating home, you might choose to stay a while longer in Amsterdam, return to Bruges by train or plan a different route for your onward journey.

Extra nights in hotel accommodation can be booked to allow more time to explore Amsterdam at your leisure.

Programme of activities included in the price:

•    Welcome drink and briefing on the first evening
•    Daily briefings regarding the bike tours from the multi-lingual tour lead who will be cycling the daily tour route and contactable by phone.
•    Short guided city tours with the tour leader as specified
•    Tea and coffee on board daily until 4pm
•    Free wifi (unlimited use of data) on board in lounge area.

Dates & Prices

Download Prices

For tour start days/dates, seasons and all prices, please click on the PRICES button above

PRICE INCLUDES

En suite individually air-conditioned twin cabin, 12 sq m (upper deck suites 16 sq m), shower/WC, flat screen TV, porthole (not openable on lower deck). MS Magnifique III has a panorama saloon and bar (unlimited free wi-fi available) with two screens, restaurant and upper sundeck with jacuzzi

Buffet/continental breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner

Tea and coffee on board

Hire of hybrid bicycle with 7 gears and hand/pedal brakes and single pannier bag. Free cycle helmet hire and water bottle

Instructions and route maps provided on arrival (1 per cabin)

Multilingual tour guide who will be cycling the daily routes. When there are sufficient numbers on board (min. 18 guests) there will be two guided groups offering longer/faster and shorter/slower rides.  Please note not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the shorter route option

Other services, items and local experiences:

  • Welcome drinks and briefing on the first evening
  • Some short guided town walks
  • Fees for ferries and waterbuses in the itinerary
  • Entrance to Antwerp Red Star Line Museum
  • Canal cruise in Ghent
  • Tasting Belgium products

The detailed itinerary may be affected by navigational issues such as unfavourable weather, floods or low tides. These will be decided by the boat’s captain

Please note that the price EXCLUDES

Drinks on board (except tea/coffee)

Dinner in Antwerp (Friday)

Excursions, entrance fees and any ferry fees during the tour

Costs of getting to and from the tour area and transport to and from the dock in Bruges and Amsterdam.

Accommodation Options

On board the Premium barge MS Magnifique III  in an outside-facing 2 bed cabin with private facilities and air-conditioning on the lower deck. We are pleased to discuss details on request.

The barge has 20 cabins and can accommodate up to 40 passengers.

Cabin Upgrades:

  • Upper deck suite

Boat Plan & Details 

More Information

Useful websites, travel information and tips to help you plan your journey to and from the country and location of your holiday.

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