Vantage World Travel

Holland Meets Belgium - 8D/7N

Amsterdam ~ Bruges or Bruges ~ Amsterdam

The Netherlands is often called Holland because of the role the two western provinces North and South holland played in its history. This region encompasses Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and other well known Dutch cities. During the Golden Age, Holland was the Capital of the World. It is a country of water; ever since the 16th century, many Dutch people have been living on the bottom of former lakes. Part of the country is covered by large rivers, whose estuaries form an immense delta. Ijssel Lake, a large freshwater lake, still covers 296,400 acres. Windmills are used to drain the land and keep it dry. They still form an important element of water management in these low lying lands.
Amsterdam, one of the great cities of Europe has many faces. You may know the romantic canals, the numerous bikes and the exciting night-life, however, Amsterdam offers so much more. It has a wide range of places of interest, historical monuments and more than 40 museums. Arts and antiques are for sale in quaint quarters, fashionable and upscale products in chic shopping streets.
Bruges is Belgium quintessential city with an incredibly preserved medieval historic centre, recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, the city became one of the richest in the world, its trade supplemented by fine cloth manufacturers and excellent banking services. with a soaring population involved in the shipping and commerce trade all over the world and creating the wealth that allowed its citizens to become patrons of the arts. A flourishing artisan trade also produced some of the best tapestries, sculpture, paintings and lace of unparalleled splendor. Bruges remains today a charming and stunningly beautiful medieval city, graced by quiet waterways that time seem to have forgotten, and the best way to visit is by leisurely walking along its cobbled streets or gliding on a boat along its tranquil canals.

Included: Accommodation, full board (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner), bicycle with gears and pannier, travel guidance, windmills Kinderdijk, transfer Ghent-Bruges-Ghent by train, transfer by coach between Amsterdam Airport and Ghent at the beginning or at the end of the tour.

Accommodations: Double room cabin.
Note: This tour is also offered as “Comfort” with more spacious cabins and lower beds.

Departures: On Request

Amsterdam to Bruges Itinerary

• Day 1: Saturday: cycling ± 10 km - Embarkation and checking in aboard the hotel barge. In the afternoon the barge crosses the Amsterdam centre and heads for the village of Oude Wetering. In the evening there’s a short testride on the bike.
• Day 2: Sunday: cycling ± 35 km - You enjoy an easy bike ride right through some real Dutch meadowlands and end your trip in cheese town Gouda. Free time in Gouda after your dinner.
• Day 3: Monday: cycling ± 40 km - The ship brings us to the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk. Via the old Dutch town of Dordrecht your way leads to the natural reserve Biesbosch to Moerdijk where the barge wil pick you up. The sailing trip takes you to the beautiful walled town of Willemstad.
• Day 4: Tuesday: no cycling - Today the barge sails right across the impressive waterways of Zeeland the ship will take you to the lively town of Antwerp in Belgium. After arrival your guide invites you for a short city walk and you have free time to explore this lively port town.
• Day 5: Wednesday: cycling ± 50 km - You cycle out of Antwerp for a ride through the pretty Flemish countryside alongside the river Schelde. You spend the night in the provincial town of Dendermonde.
• Day 6: Thursday: cycling ± 30 km - The river Schelde is a tidal river and thus the barge may have to wait for the high tide to continue. Therefore you disembark and cycle directly to the old city of Ghent. The tour leader will invite you for a walk across the wonderful town centre.
• Day 7: Friday: no cycling - By train you go to Bruges and your tour leader will make you acquainted with this unique town. Till halfway the afternoon you are free to discover Bruges. You return to Ghent by train.
• Day 8: Saturday: - Check out and transfer by bus to the Amsterdam airport. The next tour goes in opposite direction and starts with a transfer from Amsterdam airport to Ghent.

Bruges to Amsterdam Itinerary

• Day 1: Saturday - Transfer by bus from Amsterdam Airport to Ghent in Belgium. Embarkation and checking in aboard the hotel barge. The tour leader will invite you for a walk across the wonderful town centre.
• Day 2: Sunday: cycling ± 15 km - By train you go to Bruges and your tour leader will make you acquainted with this unique town. Till halfway the afternoon you are free to discover Bruges. By train you go to Dendermonde where the barge will stay for the night. In the evening there’s a short test ride in and around Dendermonde.
• Day 3: Monday: cycling ± 50 km - From Dendermonde you ride through the pretty Flemish countryside alongside the river Schelde to Antwerp.In the afternoon your guide invites you for a short city walk and afterwards you have free time to explore the town centre. In the evening you may wish to visit some bars and have a good taste of Belgian beers.
• Day 4: Tuesday - In the morning there will be some more time to visit Antwerp. In the afternoon there’s a sailing trip over the Belgian-Dutch border to the beautiful walled town of Willemstad.
• Day 5: Wednesday: cycling ± 40 km - The barge will drop you at the edge of natural reserve Biesbosch and you start todays cycle ride. You visit the windmills of Kinderdijk and will certainly enjoy the rural sceneries that continue to cheese town Gouda. In the evening you may wish to join your tour leader for a short city walk.
• Day 6: Thursday: cycling ± 40 km - You enjoy an easy bike ride right through some real Dutch meadowlands and end your trip in a small village called Oude Wetering. You may enjoy the quietness of the rural Dutch countryside before you arrive in busy Amsterdam tomorrow.
• Day 7: Friday: cycling ± 30 km - On the banks of the river Amstel you cycle in the direction of and then across the Amsterdam town centre to the mooring place of your barge. In the afternoon there’s time to explore the lively Dutch capital and do some shopping. In the evening there’s a city walk and you may wish to make a roundtrip of the famous Amsterdam canals.
• Day 8: Saturday - End of your bike and barge tour and check out.

Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.

US Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here

Canadian Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here

• About Vantage
• View all countries
• Help
• Site map
• Employment Opportunities
• Contact

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• orangecoat design
• xhtml 1.0

Vantage Inc. ~ 1324 East North Street ~ Greenville, SC. 29607

This web site includes images from Corel CD's. Used under license. Additional images have been provided by each country's tourism offices or directly from suppliers, and are subject to their restrictions. (view photo credits)