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There is nothing quite like cycling through Belgium with its contrasting landscape of flatlands in Flanders and rolling hills in French speaking Wallonia. It is a biking lover's dream. Belgium has miles of bicycle paths along romantic canals winding between quaint towns, charming castles, outdoor cafés and incredible restaurants. |
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| Belgium Meets Holland - Ghent to Amsterdam | Ref: NL018 |
| 8 days / 7 nights | |
| Price: £490pp standard barge and £575pp comfort barge (based on 2 people sharing) | |
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Guided:  |
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| Distance: approx 122 miles | ||
travel :
- Eurostar to Brussels, then train to Ghent.
- Fly to Amsterdam
Itinerary
For details of this tour but in the opposite direction, i.e. Amsterdam to Ghent click here
The "Tijdgeest" is one of the barges used on this tour. Classified as a Standard barge it has 14 cabins with bunk beds, all with their own facilities and will take up to 34 people. In the saloon where meals are eaten there is an "honesty" bar. You help yourself to wine, beer or soft drinks and record what you have taken so that you can pay at the end of the week.
We use an operator in Holland for these holidays, and as they sell to other agents in Europe such as ourselves it is likely you will have a mix of different nationalities on this tour adding to the cultural enjoyment.
Day 1 (saturday):
If you fly into Amsterdam at about 1.00pm your coach will take you to Ghent and arrive at approximately 5.00pm. You will be able to join your fellow guests on board your floating hotel. Ghent is a lively university city and with a rich past. The city has its origins in Roman Times, at the place where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. This favourable situation brought a great deal of prosperity over the years, which had its peak late 13th and early 14th century. Textile industry brought great wealth and in the city centre you will see many old patrician houses that have been preserved. The owners of these houses, the textile merchants, used to meet in the Clothmakers’ Hall. The major church is St. Baafs’ Cathedral, built in various ages and in various styles. In the cathedral you can admire a number of masterpieces of mediaeval painting, of which the ‘Adoration of the Lamb’ by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. In the evening your guide will take you for a walk around the city.
Day 2 (Sunday):
You will take the train to Bruges and have time to explore this magnificent city until the afternoon. Take another train to Dendermonde to rejoin your barge and go for a short ride. 9 miles
Day 3 (Monday):
From Dendermonde you ride through the pretty Flemish countryside, alongside the river Schelde, to Antwerp. In the afternoon your guide will show you around the city. In the evening you may wish to visit some bars and try some Belgian beers. 19 miles
Day 4 (Tuesday):
First your barge will take you over the Belgian-Dutch border to the town of Tholen; from here the parents of the American president Roosevelt left for the USA. The riding is easy as you cross the flat countryside to the beautiful walled town of Willemstad. 25 miles
Day 5 (Wednesday):
The barge takes you to the edge of the Biesbosch nature reserve for you to start cycling. On the way to Gouda you will visit one of the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk. After dinner your guide will show you around Gouda. 28 miles
Day 6 (Thursday):
You will enjoy an easy bike ride through some real Dutch meadowlands and end your trip in the small village of Oude Wetering. 25 miles
Day 7 (Friday):
You will cycle alongside the river Amstel until you reach your final destination of Amsterdam, where you can visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh museum. 16miles.
Day 8 (Saturday):
It is the end of the tour and so it is time to say farewells, exchange contact details and make your way home.
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