Teachers' Travel
Guided Barging and Cycling
Amsterdam to Bruges
| AMSTERDAM TO BRUGES DETAILED ITINERARY aboard
the barge ZWAANTJE Day 1 (Sat): Arrival and embarkation: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Vianen | (Approx. 5-15 km/3- 9 miles) Embarkation and check-in on 1 PM. Around 2 PM the ship leaves Amsterdam and sails to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek. From here a short bike roundtrip to get used to your bicycle (5-15 km/3-9 mi). Day 2 (Sun): Vianen – Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk (Approx. 56 km/34 miles) | Alblasserdam – Dordrecht by waterbus After breakfast you will cycle a beautiful route to Schoonhoven – nicknamed Zilverstad (Silver City) – a city renowned for its talented silver smiths since the 17th century. As you continue to cycle 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 – which have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing. From nearby Alblasserdam you will take the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry, that will take you and your bike in approx. 10 minutes to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland. The ship is here waiting for you. Day 3 (Mon): Dordrecht – Willemstad | Willemstad – Tholen (Approx. 43 km/26 miles) During breakfast the ship cruises to Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. From there bike along the impressive complex of locks ‘de Volkerak’ to Tholen, which once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Now Tholen is connected to the mainland. Nevertheless it is still a picturesque town with many reminders of its turbulent past. Day 4 (Tue): Tholen – Kreekrak lock (Approx. 35 km/21 miles) | Kreekrak locks – Antwerp After breakfast a bike tour through a forest area, “the Wouwse Plantage“, towards the south to the impressive Kreekraksluis (lock). The ship is docked at the end of the dam and from here it will sail through the impressive port of Antwerp to the city. Antwerp is not only known as diamond city, but also as native city of painter Rubens. You will find some of his paintings in the “Onze Lieve Vrouwe (our lady) Cathedral”. Dinner on your own (not included) in the nearby old city centre. On request you will receive some restaurant recommendations on board. Day 5 (Wed): Antwerp – Temse – St. Amands/Dendermonde (Approx. 47 -59 km/28-35 miles) 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. After a stopover in Temse you will cycle all the way to St. Amands or Dendermonde, a friendly little town along the river. If necessary, night in St. Amands. Day 6 (Thu): St. Amands/Dendermonde – Ghent (Approx. 53-40 km/32-24 miles) By bike from St. Amands or cruise with the 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 center. 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 buildings are preserved. The Cloth Hall (1425) brought 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 will be docked in the city of centre of Ghent. Day 7 (Fri): Ghent – Bruges (Approx. 56 km/34 miles) Our last bike tour starts just outside the city and goes through the pleasant country side of Western Flanders to Bruges. Bruges, also called “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. Bruges was at that time a metropolis and centre of commerce and art. You can still see this glory in the beautiful buildings. But Bruges is a also a nice town for shopping or going out. Day 8 (Sat): Disembarkation: Bruges After breakfast: end of the tour and disembarkation till 10:00 AM. |