Bike & Boat Bruges to Amsterdam Magnifique IV

Your first bike tour today takes you through the beautiful Flemish countryside along the Ghent Canal to Ghent. Upon arrival, you can explore this wonderful city with a pleasant afternoon stroll. Ghent's city center, with its fairytale-like illuminated streets, is absolutely worth seeing, and the abundance of historical architecture is a true feast for the eyes. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was the second largest city in Europe after Paris. The ship will moor for the night at the Merelbeke lock, a suburb of Ghent, about a 30-minute bike ride from the city center. Before dinner, you can join a guided canal cruise through the historic city.

After breakfast, you'll spend some time in Ghent. Later in the morning, you'll cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Scheldt River to Dendermonde, located at the confluence of the Dender and Scheldt rivers. The scenery around the Scheldt can be described in just one word: breathtaking! This part of the tour is undoubtedly one of the natural highlights. In this section of the Scheldt, the speed of the boat depends on the tides. You'll travel either by bike or boat (depending on the tide) from Dendermonde to St. Amands. Your floating hotel will dock in St. Amands for the night.

Today you will continue following the Scheldt downstream via TemsOur journey continues to Antwerp. This section of the Scheldt River was a strategically important point for the Romans, Vikings, Spaniards, and Napoleon for centuries… and today it's a beautiful waterway, perfect for a bike and boat trip! Your destination today is Antwerp, a port city on the Scheldt that made a name for itself as a diamond trading center as early as the 15th century and is now considered the world capital of the diamond trade. Antwerp is also the birthplace of the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens. There are countless highlights to discover in this fascinating city, including the City Hall, one of the many magnificent Renaissance buildings, the historic Grote Markt (Great Market Square), the Cathedral of Our Lady, and the medieval Stone Castle. Tonight's dinner is not included in the price. Take the opportunity to sample the renowned cuisine of Belgium in one of the many excellent restaurants. The crew will be happy to provide you with restaurant recommendations.

This morning, the ship travels along the Scheldt-Rhine Canal to the gigantic Kreekrak Locks. Here, your cycling tour begins through the Wouwse Plantage forest and takes you to Tholen, formerly a small fishing village on an island in the Dutch province of Zeeland, but now connected to the mainland since the completion of the so-called Delta Project. From Tholen, the ship continues through the impressive Kreekrak Lock System to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and your overnight stop for the night.

Today, you'll take the "Waterbus" to Alblasserdam, a journey of approximately 10 minutes. From there, it's just a short bike ride to Kinderdijk, famous for its 19 windmills standing in a row (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You can even visit one of these windmills, so don't forget your camera! The windmills were built in the 18th century to pump water from the low-lying Alblasserwaard (a polder is a low-lying, reclaimed land area enclosed by dikes). Your cycling tour continues via Schoonhoven (where you'll stop) to Vreeswijk, a charming historic village with a rich maritime past. The ship docks here for the night, and after dinner, you'll have time to explore the village on foot.

During breakfast, the ship sails to Breukelen, where you disembark for your final bike tour. Cycle along the idyllic Vecht River. Its banks are lined with numerous manor houses, small castles, and magnificent country homes with gardens stretching right to the water's edge. After cycling through Nieuwersluis, Loenen, and Vreeland, you'll reach Nigtevecht, where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue cycling via Muiden to Amsterdam, where you'll rejoin the ship for your final night in the port.

End of your journey. Disembarkation after breakfast, until 9:30 a.m.