Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Boat – Magnifique II (& IV)

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 II / IV at Merelbeke lock in the city suburbs.

Overnight mooring – Ghent (Merelbeke)

Miles 28  Kms  45

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 II 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

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 II 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

Another day to go with the flow, with the Skipper of the MS Magnifique II /IV 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 II 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

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 II / IV 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

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 II / IV 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

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.