Touring Bike (EB)
£98 for 7 days
This is the Bruges to Amsterdam version of the classic MS Fluvius bike and boat holiday — the same extraordinary ship, the same wonderful cities, the same flat cycling, simply in reverse. Starting from the ‘Pearl of Flanders’, you head north through Ghent, Antwerp, Kinderdijk’s windmills, and Dordrecht, finishing in Amsterdam.
The MS Fluvius is a beautifully converted river barge with 22 cabins across two decks. All cabins are outside cabins with private en-suite bathrooms. The Main Deck has twin cabins with fixed windows; the Upper Deck offers both twin and double cabins with opening panoramic windows. Full board meals, an on-board guide, and all harbour fees are included.
Daily cycling ranges from around 25 to 37 miles on the flat ‘fietsknooppunten’ cycle network, ideal for all abilities. If at any point you prefer to stay on board and enjoy the waterways from the sun deck, that’s entirely welcome.
Embarkation in Bruges between 1 and 2 pm. After a welcome meeting with the crew, there is time for a short test ride and then a guided evening walk through the UNESCO World Heritage centre of Bruges. The illuminated medieval streets, canals and belfry tower are magical after dark.
You cycle east from Bruges through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. Ghent’s medieval town centre — the Gravensteen castle, St Bavo’s Cathedral with the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece, and the illuminated Korenlei waterfront — rewards a long evening exploration. The ship moors overnight at a lock in a suburb of Ghent.
Following the Schelde River downstream through a diverse landscape to Dendermonde, a friendly town at the junction of the Dender and Schelde rivers. The beautiful town hall and a good Belgian beer at a riverside café make for a perfect afternoon.
The route follows the Schelde north to Antwerp through a wonderfully twisting section of the river that held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon. Antwerp’s City Hall, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, the medieval Steen Castle, and the diamond quarter are all within easy reach. Dinner this evening is in a restaurant of your choice.
The ship sails along the Schelde-Rhine Canal to the Kreekrak lock system, while you cycle through the Wouwse Plantage forest to the island town of Tholen — a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past. You board again for an afternoon sail to Dordrecht, one of Holland’s oldest towns, where the tour guide leads an evening walk through the historic city.
A Waterbus ferry delivers you to Alblasserdam, from where you cycle to Kinderdijk, where 19 UNESCO-listed windmills stand in an extraordinary row. Visit one from the inside before continuing through Schoonhoven — Silver City — to Vianen, a small fortified town on the River Lek.
The barge cruises to Breukelen while you enjoy breakfast, then you disembark for the final day’s cycling along the Vecht River past beautiful mansions, small castles, and grand houses. Through Nieuwersluis, Loenen, Vreeland and Muiden, you arrive in Amsterdam harbour for the last time.
Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 am. Amsterdam Centraal is directly adjacent to the mooring, with Schiphol Airport 15 minutes by train.
We recommend flying to Brussels Airport (BRU) or London St Pancras via Eurostar and returning from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
3-star barge
£98 for 7 days
£280 for 7 days
£7 for 7 days
Getting to Bruges
By train: Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi in around 2 hours, then a direct train to Bruges in around 1 hour. Total journey time from London is around 3 hours — one of the most straightforward train journeys to any European cycling holiday departure.
By plane: Brussels Airport (BRU) has direct flights from UK airports and is around 1 hour 15 minutes from Bruges by train. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), served by Ryanair, is around 2 hours from Bruges by train and bus.
Getting home from Amsterdam
By train: The Eurostar from Amsterdam Centraal to London St Pancras takes around 3 hours 55 minutes with direct services. The ship’s mooring is a short walk from the station. By plane: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is 15 minutes by train from Centraal and serves all major UK airports.
Bikes are not included. You are welcome to bring your own bike or hire one. Please see our bike hire section for details.
Flights are not included. Please refer to the what's included section for full details.
We will confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your enquiry. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Most itineraries include cycling on most days, with some rest or shorter days built in. Please check the itinerary for day-by-day details.
The latest you can book is 9 days before departure. This gives us enough time to confirm arrangements and accommodation.
You will receive full travel details, including accommodation, meeting points and local contacts, 3 to 5 weeks before departure.
Guided • 7 nights
Easy
From £1,250
Only 5 dates left
Self Guided • 7 nights
Easy
From £755
Only 11 dates left
Guided • 7 nights
Easy
From £1,174
Only 2 dates left