BIKE & BARGE HOLLAND MEETS BELGIUM AMSTERDAM - BRUGES or VV STANDARD BARGE: MS GANDALF 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS Guided or Self Guided Cycling On this tour you not only explore the most beautiful cities of Holland and West Belgium(Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and UNESCO World Heritage listed centre of Bruges) you pedal through captivating villages, the 19 Dutch windmills of Kinderdijk and much more. Cycling through the beautiful and flat! Dutch countryside of Zeeland and the western Flanders region of Belgium is a pleasure, particularly when your floating hotel is there to greet you at the end of a ride. GRADE/TERRAIN: FLAT EASY CYCLING All distances are approximate for recommended bike tours. If you do not wish to cycle every day, you can relax on board during the day while cruising to the next harbour. Daily guided bike tours; for guests who want to cycle individually there are tour descriptions and maps on board available. The tour guide is cycling the daily bike tours and can always been reached on his cell phone in case of emergency or breakdown. On the arrival day is it possible to leave your luggage onboard from 9:30 am.
ITINERARY: AMSTERDAM - BRUGES The writing in blue italics is covered by boat Cycling is shown in green Day 1 (Sat): Amsterdam Vianen Cycle Vianen area Embarkation on board Gandalf starts at 1pm. Around 2pm the ship leaves Amsterdam and sails to Vianen, a small fortified village on the Lek River. From here enjoy an exploratory cycle through the surrounding area. Cycling: approx. 5-15km Day 2 (Sun): Vianen Schoonhoven Kinderdijk Kinderdijk Dordrecht Your first full day of cycling will see you pedal along a beautiful route to Schoonhoven - nicknamed Zilverstad (Silver City) - a city renowned for its talented silver smiths since the 17 th century. Continuing along the Lek River you will pass through the Alblasserwaard region to Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills (one of which you can visit), all with a UNESCO cultural heritage listing. From nearby Alblasserdam you will take the Waterbus, a fast ferry, that will whisk and your bike you in approx. 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland. Cycling: approx. 56km Day 3 (Mon): Dordrecht Tholen Tholen Kreekrak lock Kreekrak lock Antwerp During breakfast the ship sails to Tholen where you start your day s cycling. Today s attractions include the beautiful Wouwse Plantage fores, the fortress town of Bergen op Zoom and the impressive Kreekraksluis lock. The MS Gandalf will meet you at the end of the dam and you will sail to the port city of Antwerp on the river Schelde. Antwerp is not only known as diamond city, it has a long list of attractions including the City Hall one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market and medieval Steen Castle. Antwerp was also the native city of painter Rubens you will find some of his paintings in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral. After dinner visit to the beautiful old city centre. Cycling: approx. 34km Day 4 (Tue): Antwerp Temse St-Amands / Dendermonde After breakfast you cycle out of the port to the Zeeschelde. You 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 will cycle either to St- Amands or Dendermonde, a friendly little town along the river. Day 5 (Wed): St-Amands / Dendermonde Ghent (ca. 53/40 km / 32/24 miles) Bike tour from St-Amands or by barge to Dendermonde. 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 city was founded in Roman times, where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. The convenient location has over the years brought much prosperity, culminating in the late 13th, early 14th century. The textile industry brought great wealth. In the city, many old patrician preserved. The Cloth Hall (1425) came cloth merchants together. The main church St. Bavo Cathedral, which is built in different ages and in different styles. In the cathedral are some masterpieces of medieval art, which "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. The ship is docked at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent. Cycling: approx. 47-59km Day 5 (Wed): St. Amands/Dendermonde Ghent Today you will continue to follow the river Schelde to Ghent where the MS Gandalf will moor for the night in the city centre of Ghent. Ghent is a lively university city that boasts a rich history. The city s position at the junction of Leie and Schelde Rivers has meant that it has been a major trading port since Roman times. In total the city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more than 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. A major attraction is St. Bavo Cathedral where a number of masterpieces of medieval art including the world famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck are kept. Whatever you do don t miss the opportunity to visit the medieval centre of the city. Cycling: approx. 40-53km Day 6 (Thu): Ghent Bruges Today our bike tour starts just outside the city and goes through the beautiful countryside of Western Flanders. Our final destination is Bruges, widely described as the Venice of the North and maybe the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. Bruges was at that time a metropolis and centre of commerce and art. Bruges has maintained its historic fabric as it has evolved over the centuries - it is a UNESCO World Heritage listed historic city with the most picturesque medieval town centre. Cycling: approx. 45km Day 7 (Fri): Tour around Bruges to the North Sea The last bike tour takes you to along a quiet canal linesd with poplars trees, through an attractive polder landscape with nice small farm houses, to the North Sea coast. A 12 km long sandy beach, numerous cafés and the attractive dune landscape of Het Zwin (an unique nature reserve) provide enough variety during your lunch break. Then back to Bruges. Cycling: approx. 50km Day 8 (Sat): Bruges Tour ends after breakfast disembarkation by 10:00am ITINERARY: BRUGES - AMSTERDAM The writing in blue italics is covered by boat Cycling is shown in green Day 1 (Sat): Arrival and embarkation in Bruges Arrival and embarkation from 1pm to 5:30 pm, in the beautiful city of Bruges, also called the Pearl of Flanders, the crew will welcome you. It is possible to leave your bags on the boat from 9.30 am. You will have plenty of time to discover the beautiful historical city of Bruges. Afternoon and evening with city tour in Bruges.
Day 2 (Sun): Bruges Ghent Today, your day starts on the water and the barge will leave Bruges early. Just outside, your first bike tour to Ghent through the flat land of West-Flanders will starts. Your destination today is the historical centre of Ghent. Enjoy the beautiful parts of Ghent during an afternoon stroll. The barge is docked in Merelbeke (a small suburb of Ghent). Cycling: approx. 56km Day 3 (Mon): Ghent Dendermonde / St-Amands Today, the barge will sail over the river Schelde to Dendermonde, a nice town on the conjunction of the rivers Dender and Schelde. The bike tour leads along one of the most beautiful parts of the Schelde, a tidal river. You will follow this beautiful tidal river downstream. Depending on high or low tide, the speed of the barge may vary. Therefore, the skipper will discuss the departure time with you of today s tour. By bike or by barge from Dendermonde to St-Amands, night in St-Amands. Cycling: approx. 40 03 53km Day 4 (Tue): St-Amands - Antwerp Today we will follow the Schelde further downstream over Baasrode and Temse to Antwerp. There is a beautiful cycling track along the river and the scenery is magnificent. Antwerp is well known as a major sea port, one of the world s leading diamond and the city where the famous painter Rubens was born. Cycling: approx. 47/59km Day 5 (Wed): Antwerp Kreekrak locks - Tholen - Willemstad - Dordrecht The barge will sail over the Schelde-Rhine Canal, over the huge Kreekrak locks to Tholen, a former fishing village amidst the large streams of the province of Zeeland. From Tholen you will cycle along the impressive large Volkerak locks to the fortified town of Willemstad, then further to end in Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities of the Netherlands. Today the skipper will discuss with you which part of the tour will be covered by barge or by bicycle. Cycling: approx. 34-43km Day 6 (Thu): Dordrecht-Kinderdijk Kinderdijk Schoonhoven Vianen ( 25-50 km) Today the barge will take you to Kinderdijk, the most famous windmills in the Netherlands, with 19 windmills in line (don t forget your camera!). The windmills were constructed in the 18th century to pump water out of the low Alblasserwaard polder. You can visit one of the windmills. Then bike tour via silver city Schoonhoven to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek. In the evening you can explore this town. Cycling: approx. 55km
Day 7 (Fri):Vianen Breukelen Breukelen - Amsterdam ( 35 km / 21 miles) First the ship cruises to Breukelen, where you disembark and your cycling tour starts. Ride along the small Vecht river: this area is well known for its beautiful mansions, small castles and beautiful houses with large gardens and parks. Over the small villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland to Nigtevecht, where you can visit a traditional cheese farm. Continue over Abcoude and Ouderkerk on the Amstel river to reach Amsterdam. You will meet your barge again in the harbour of Amsterdam. Cycling: approx. 46km Day 8 (Sat): Amsterdam: Tour ends after breakfast - disembarkation by 10:00am. You can pre-purchase discounted tickets for a 1 hr Amsterdam Canal Tour 12 (usually 16) Please request this at time of booking. Barge: GANDALF: (10 cabins, Max. 22 passenger) MS Galdalf is a small and comfortable river cruise 45m long. On board this cosy ship are 10 cabins (approx. 8 M²) all with own shower and toilet, 2 low beds and central heating. All cabin portholes can be opened. The salon is a large room for common use and is your restaurant area as well. On the two sun decks are sitting areas with tables and chairs plus a storage room for the bikes. Equipped with a double roof of solar panels, it runs for a great part on green energy! This is not only environment-friendly, but also comfortable for guests: since the ship hardly needs to use a generator to produce electricity. The nights are still and quiet on board. The interior of the ship is a no-smoking zone. 2017 SCHEDULED DEPARTURES: MS GANDALF (Saturdays) Amsterdam Bruges: 25 August Bruges Amsterdam: 18 August, 15 September
Prevailing winds tend to make cycling in the direction Bruges to Amsterdam easier. 2018 TOUR COST (per person in Euros ): Twin Cabin: 959 per person Single Cabin: 1159 per person Triple cabin: 909 per person Bike rental: 70 (7-speed, hand brake and pannier) Electric Bike 165 (7 gears, 3 support levels, hand brakes - limited numbers) Helmet rental: 10 (must be reserved at time of booking) INCLUDED IN TOUR COST: 7 night tour and accommodation on board Full board (7 x breakfasts, 6 x picnic lunchs during bike tours, 7 x three course dinners Bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible) Weekly cleaning of the cabin Welcoming drink on the first evening Daily fully guided bike tours or choose to cycle self-guided. Tour leader (multilingual) will hold daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours (free); during the day the tour leader will cycle the bike tour, if you choose to ride individually, the tour leader can be contacted by mobile phone. Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily bike tours - 1 set per cabin Daily coffee and tea between 3 and 4 pm NOT INCLUDED: Transfers to/from the docking places in Amsterdam and Bruges Rental bicycle/helmet Entrance fees & excursions, Fees for ferries (approx. 5) and Waterbus ( 4) Drinks on board Personal insurances Tips (at your discretion). Special Dietary requirements on request - surcharges may apply (e.g. 50 for Vegan or Gluten Free, paid in cash onboard). BICYCLES: The bicycles on board are 7-speed unisex touring bicycles with normal mount (ladies model), hand brakes and pannier bag. Other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children s bikes, tag-a-longs, tandems, parent-and-child tandems etc.) and child s seats (front or rear) are available after prior request (at time of booking) and after confirmation. Bicycle rental is optional, but-due to the very limited space on deck - guests can bring their own bikes only in exceptional cases, but only after they have been previously registered and confirmed. 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 onboard. We recommend you take your own helmet if you wish to wear on. Helmets are not compulsory in Netherlands & Belgium.
General: During this tour some of the most beautiful cities of Holland and Flanders are highlighted: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, where you still can feel the charm of the days long gone. After embarkation in Amsterdam you will cross through a beautiful part of the Netherlands. After a short cruise with the ship, you bike along the winding small river Vecht with its impressive mansions and country houses on its banks. You visit a real Dutch cheese farm and the 19 Dutch windmills in Kinderdijk. Via Dordrecht and the fortified town of Willemstad, the ship cruises through the Delta Province of Zeeland to Belgium. You will spend the night in Antwerp, the city of Rubens, whose paintings can be admired in the cathedral. You will cycle from Antwerp to Ghent along the beautiful tidal river Lower Schelde. Destination of your tour is Bruges, the Pearl of Flanders with its picturesque medieval town centre. You will live and travel on board of the barge GANDALF, for max 22 guests, for many years a very popular ship for boat & bike tours. CHILDREN are welcome on board. However, before booking, we advise you to consider whether your child is able to manage a cycle trip of 30-55 km. Of course you may stay on board some days, rather than cycle (children under the age of18 years must be under supervision). The cycling is guided, or you can choose to cycle individually, as tour description and maps are available on board. On some days you can choose between a short or long cycle. Book through: Don t just see the world. Experience it. Ph 09 4867473 Fax 09 484 0091 Email: info@walkworld.co.nz