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| Spring Flowers - Amsterdam to Ghent | Ref: NL013 |
| 8 days / 7 nights | |
| Price: £595pp standard barge and £645pp comfort barge(based on 2 people sharing) | |
Type:  |
Guided:  |
Level:  |
| Distance: approx 92 miles | ||
travel :
- Fly to Amsterdam
For details of this tour but in the opposite direction, i.e. Bruges to Amsterdam 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.
Itinerary
Day 1 (saturday):
After joining your barge in Amsterdam, meeting the crew and other guests you will set off at approximately 1.00pm and cruise to Oude Wetering where the cyclists can try out their bikes. 7 miles.
Day 2 (sunday):
The cyclists ride to Keukenhof to view the flowers and then back to the barge at Oude Wetering. Non-cyclists will take the bus with the second guide. At approx 2.00pm the barge will sail to Gouda. 16 miles.
Day 3 (monday):
The cyclists mount their bikes and ride to the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk where they will meet the non cyclists and visit one of the mills. After the visit the cyclists head for Dordrecht, and partially throught the natural reserve Biesbosch to Moerdijk. The night will be spent in the walled town of Willemstad, a real Dutch beauty! 25 miles.
Day 4 (tuesday):
Right across the impressive waterways of Zeeland the barge will take you to the lively town of Antwerp in Belgium. After arrival there is free time to explore this old port. Antwerp is not only known as 'diamond city', but also as the native city of the artist Rubens. In the Rubens House, where he was born, you can admire his work. In the middle of the city is the Cathedral of Our Lady and around the Market Square beautiful town houses from a rich past.
Day 5 (wednesday):
The day starts with a sailing trip to the outskirts of Antwerp. The cyclists cross the riverland of the river Schelde. In the charming provincial town of Dendermonde you'll spend the night aboard the barge. 22 miles
Day 6 (thursday):
The barge leaves Dendermonde for a sailing trip on the tidal river Schelde to Ghent. The cyclists enjoy the flat Flemish countryside to Ghent, a lively university city, again one 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 peaked in the late 13th and early 14th century. The 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. 19 miles.
Day 7 (friday):
Everybody makes the train ride to Bruges. After arriving there is a horse carriage ride and a short guided walk past the many historic monuments in the centre of Bruges. From midday you are free to visit Bruges until you are ready to return by train to Ghent.
Day 8 (saturday):
Time to board the bus and make your way back to Amsterdam.
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Cycling Holidays in Holland
Cruise and Cycle
- Tulip Tour
- Spring Flowers
- Holland Meets Belgium
- Highlights of Holland
- Family Special - Tales and Castles
- Family Special - IJssel Lake
- Towns of the Golden Age
- Hanseatic Towns
- Amsterdam to Brussels
- Riverland Holland
- Around IJssel Lake
- Southern Holland
- Northern Holland
Hotel and Cycle
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