Holland & Belgium Bike & Boat: Bruges to Amsterdam
Bike and barge Europe with us! Bucolic countrysides, medieval towns, iconic windmills, and more await along easy bike paths.
Guided Bike & Boat
- Daily Mileage: 11 - 36|
- Biking: 2 - 4 hr|
Starting From
12-day Air Package
$4,995
8-day Bike Tour Only
$3,995
Per person, double occupancy

Holland & Belgium Bike & Boat: Bruges to Amsterdam
Pastoral landscapes, centuries-old towns, a welcoming people—Holland and Belgium have it all. Cycling along easy bike paths, you’ll witness picturesque landscapes of farmlands and meadows ingeniously reclaimed from the sea, spin along a legendary dike, explore quaint villages and historic cities, view the iconic Kinderdijk windmills, and meet local families in their homes. On returning to a well-appointed barge designed specifically for bike tours, you’ll enjoy savory, chef-made meals and a Belgian beer tasting. Watch the scenery unfold from a comfortable viewing area or from the window of your spacious cabin. And enter a spirit of camaraderie a larger ship can’t offer. It’s the ultimate up-close experience you can expect when you bike and barge Europe with us.What to Expect
This tour offers easy terrain on bike paths and roads through both urban and rural areas. You will encounter traffic, especially in urban areas. Some of the bike paths are unpaved and the terrain can lack shelter from the wind. Our VBT support shuttle is available every day at designated points for those who need assistance.
- Daily Mileage: 11 - 36|
- Biking: 2 - 4 hr|
- Group Size: 22
Cycling
Cyclists
Support
Tour Highlights
- Cycle along tranquil rivers and past meadows, dairy farms, quaint villages, and polder countrysides
- Get acquainted with local people—and local life—during a visit to a family home
- Join a local guide for a boat tour of Ghent, whose history dates to around 600 AD
- View the famous Kinderdijk windmills, a UNESCO Heritage site
- Sip authentic Belgian beer during a special tasting on board
Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):
May61º/46º
Jun66º/52º
Jul69º/55º
Average
Precipitation:
May2.0 in
Jun2.4 in
Jul2.9 in
Air Package | Tour Only |
|
---|---|---|
Roundtrip international airfare | ||
Airport car service for arrival and departure | ||
Two nights in Bruges and one night in Amsterdam in conveniently located hotels with daily breakfast | ||
7 nights aboard a private canal barge | ||
15 meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners |

Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
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Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
See More >
Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
See More >Biking Packages Include:
Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
Vehicle Support
Luggage Transfers
Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
Welcome Reception
Facilitated Cultural Experiences
Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure
Itinerary
Wed, May 18 to Sun, May 29 - 2022
Show Itinerary:
Depart home for Belgium. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.
Upon arrival at the Brussels airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If any portion of your luggage appears to be lost, fill in a PIR form before leaving the customs area — VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. (Please note: Also make certain that your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you.)
After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. Please wait here while your representative helps make arrangements for your transfer via taxi or minibus to your Bruges hotel (transfer time is approximately 1 hour, depending on traffic). The transfer company’s name is Taxi Snel, telephone number +32 50 36 36 49.
Please note: Hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m. There may be a VBT group checking out of the hotel, so please do not plan for your room to be available earlier. VBT and the hotel appreciate your understanding and cooperation. You may leave your bags with reception while you explore Bruges. There is so much to see and do just around the corner. VBT provides you with City Information that includes recommendations.
Seek out a restaurant for dinner on your own tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Navarra, Bruges
From your centrally located hotel, walk the cobbled streets of this enchanting town. Be sure to go to the top of the Belfort Tower for a panoramic view of the splendid medieval cityscape. You may want to visit the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood, said to contain a small vial of Christ’s blood that was brought to Bruges from the Holy Land in 1149. Or stop by the Memling Museum, housed in one of the oldest surviving medieval hospitals in Europe.
Tonight, try one of Bruges’ wonderful restaurants for dinner on your own using VBT’s City Information as your guide.
Accommodation: Hotel Navarra
Included Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, spend more free time in Bruges. Make sure your luggage is packed and ready to be transported to the barge before 9:45 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., join one of your VBT trip leaders in the hotel lobby and walk together to your barge in time for a 2:00 p.m. departure. At the docks, meet the barge crew and your second VBT trip leader, who welcome you aboard with refreshments.
You will cruise out of Bruges on a charming canal. The barge stops before dinner so you can join your trip leaders for a warm-up ride into the heart of Flanders.
This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner on board and learn a bit of Flemish and Dutch during a fun language class. You will moor in Ghent, one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities.
Please note regarding WiFi on board the barge: Due to the nature of the barge movements, Internet access is not always available. If stable Internet access is critical to you, VBT recommends that you purchase your own bundle before traveling overseas.
Please note regarding Ride with GPS: Due to the limited WiFi on board, VBT also recommends downloading your VBT Maps & Route Notes from a WiFi zone prior to arrival on the barge if you wish to use Ride with GPS on your smartphone. During your vacation, you will be able to follow these route notes on your smartphone with turn-by-turn voice navigation as you ride. This option is in addition to VBT’s traditional printed maps and route notes available on tour.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Dinner
Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 km (11 miles)
Morning
Keersluis Beernem to Aalterbrug Warm-Up: 19 km (11 miles)
What to Expect: After disembarking and bike fitting, the warm-up ride follows the Gent-Bruges Canal. Getting comfortable on your bike and following the route notes, you will ride on asphalt and bike paths with sections of quiet roads. At the end of the ride, the barge picks you up, and we sail to the mooring site near Gent.
After breakfast, embark a local boat excursion to the center of Ghent with a guide, then explore on your own. Located at the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, this “City of 200 Bridges” was founded around 600 AD. Many of its beautiful buildings date to medieval times, when the textile industry brought great wealth to Ghent’s merchants. Many old patrician houses have been preserved in the city center. One historic building is the Cloth Makers’ Hall, built in 1425. The city’s major church is St. Baaf’s Cathedral, constructed and enhanced in various styles over many centuries. In the cathedral, admire a number of masterpieces of medieval painting, including Jan van Eyck’s famous Adoration of the Lamb. (On Sunday morning, there is a service in the cathedral, and it is not possible to see this famous painting—only the replica.) Lunch is on your own in Ghent.
After lunch, enjoy a scenic ride out of the city. Your bike path parallels the Scheldt River. You will cycle through small “polder” villages and past marshy grasslands, ponds, and picturesque creeks. A Berlare-Appels ferry takes you to the south shore of the Scheldt, where you will cross the Dender River locks system and rejoin your barge. Your destination today is Dendermonde, a centuries-old city with a Benedictine abbey and pretty market square at its center. Return to the barge for dinner on board. This evening, enjoy a Belgian beer tasting and crew presentation.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 29 – 32 km (18 – 20 miles)
Morning
Melle to Dendermonde: 29 km (18 miles)
Afternoon
Dendermonde City Tour Loop: 3 km (2 miles)
What to Expect: The route immediately crosses the Scheldt River at Melle town and joins a beautiful bike path along the northern bank of the river. After around 6.8 miles (11 km), the route diverts from the river to meander through the countryside and a few small settlements. Upon returning to the river, cross by ferry and then continue along the southern banks on a bike path leading to the large Dender River Locks. After meeting the barge, there is the option for a loop ride to explore the small city of Dendermonde.
Cycle from Dendermonde via Temse along the Sheldt River. You will ride through the village of Rupelmonde, pausing to admire its unique tidal watermill and statue of the mathematician and mapmaker Mercator. He was the world’s premier geographer in the 16th century and created both the terrestrial and celestial globes. Arrive in Basel for lunch on your own, with time to explore its picturesque church square and Wissekerke Castle. Continue cycling through farmland and tiny villages to Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city.
Meet the barge at one of Antwerp’s historic docks in the afternoon, then walk into town to dine on your own in one of the many restaurants and enjoy a free evening.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 25 – 59 km (16 – 38 miles)
Morning
Dendermonde to Temse: 25 km (16 miles)
OR
Temse to Basel: 12 km (8 miles)
Afternoon
Basel to Antwerp: 22 km (14 miles)
What to Expect: Today’s ride offers variation. For starters, your trip leaders guide you across Scheldt River bridge. The first part of the ride is on bike paths decorated by willow trees and carp ponds. After the village of Moerzeke, you’ll cross the river by ferry. Once a trading center, the city of Temse is a good place to buy a sandwich for lunch. The second part of the ride passes through Rupelmonde and onto Bazel, with the oldest suspension bridge in Belgium and Wissekerke Castle, and a nice place to eat your sandwich. The last part of the ride leads you through agricultural lands until Antwerp Cathedral comes into view. To reach the city, you cycle through a long and exciting bike-and-pedestrian tunnel under the river. You’ll find the barge at historic Willemsdok.
Today is a non-biking day. This morning, you will visit Antwerp, known as the “Diamond City” and the hometown of the painter Peter Paul Rubens. In the middle of the city, you’ll find the Cathedral of Our Lady and beautiful old townhouses around the Market Square. You’ll have plenty of time to explore all of the delights during free time this morning.
After enjoying lunch on your own in Antwerp, rejoin the barge and relax while cruising through the impressive port and along the quieter canals to Tholen, The Netherlands. After dinner on board the barge, we’ve invited some local families to meet you at the barge and accompany you back to their homes for an evening of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
Today’s Ride Choice:
Non-biking Day: Explore Antwerp, cruise to Tholen, The Netherlands
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, cycle from Tholen to Willemstad through tranquil agricultural land on the western edge of Brabant province, passing through the small town of Oud-Vossemeer. Claes van’t Rosevelt, ancestor of the American presidential family, emigrated from this village in 1649 for a better life. Later, you will coast into Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. The massive walls were laid out in the shape of a seven-pointed star, each rampart named for one the seven provinces of the Republic of United Netherlands.
Meet your barge here and set sail during lunch to Dordrecht. The barge moors in the city’s historic center, making for an easy and delightful afternoon of exploring. Dordrecht is one of Holland’s oldest towns and birthplace of the state of The Netherlands, founded by William of Orange. This evening, explore more of the town on your own and find a restaurant for dinner.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 45 – 47 km (27 – 28 miles)
Morning
Tholen to Willemstad: 45 km (27 miles)
Afternoon
Willemstad City Tour: 2 km (1 mile)
What to Expect: Today’s ride sets off through the town of Tholen. From here, small country lanes lead through relatively “new” agricultural lands to the village of Oud-Vossemeer, the ancestral home of the Roosevelt family. Cross the river shortly afterward, and follow a bike path along the river before meandering through the countryside to Willemstad, an ancient stronghold of the Orange family. After you meet the barge, you will have the option of taking a short but enjoyable ride around this remarkable 16th-century fortified city.
During breakfast, you will sail the River Noord to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, 19 of Holland’s famous windmills — some more than 260 years old — adorn the horizon. After cycling along the old windmills, continue through the beautiful canal-and-meadow landscapes of Alblasserwaard to Schoonhoven, or “Silver City,” renowned for its long silversmithing tradition. Here re-board the barge and enjoy an included lunch. Afterward, you have the option to cycle or cruise to Vianen.
If you choose our longer option, you will pass a landscape of wide polders separated by numerous canals. These patches of land reclaimed from the sea average an elevation of six feet (1.8 meters) below sea level. An afternoon route leads through a series of villages and hamlets, where your trails skirt the backyards of locals. You will also ride along the Lek River dike and gain clear views of the different water levels.
Spend the night in Vianen, a small city on the River Lek. Dinner is on board tonight.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 32 – 58 km (20 – 36 miles)
Morning
Alblasserdam to Schoonhoven: 32 km (20 miles)
Afternoon
Schoonhoven to Vianen: 26 km (16 miles)
What to Expect: Disembark the barge at Kinderdijk, the western corner of the Alblasserwaard Polder. From here, start your ride along this legendary dike, surrounded by 19 traditional windmills. The ride features lovely bike paths and dairy farms with typical Frisian black-and-white cows. Halfway through the ride, you cross the River Lek by ferry and arrive in the small city of Schoonhoven, famous for its silversmithing industry. After lunch, continue cycling through the Krimpenerwaard Polder. Another ferry takes you back across the Lek River to medieval Vianen.
During breakfast this morning, you will cruise to Breukelen, a charming little town after which Brooklyn in New York is named. Begin cycling across a white drawbridge, the original “Brooklyn” Bridge, toward Amsterdam. Follow the beautiful Vecht and Amstel rivers, which lead right into the city. Along the river Vecht, pass magnificent 17th-century mansions and country estates built by prosperous Amsterdam merchants. You will stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Tonight, enjoy your last dinner on board.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 44 km (14 – 28 miles)
Morning
Breukelen to Weesp: 23 km (14 miles)
Afternoon
Weesp to Diemen: 9 km (6 miles)
Diemen to Amsterdam: 12 km (8 miles)
What to Expect: The first part of today’s ride follows the River Vecht on small country lanes to Weesp. Here, enjoy a picnic lunch between two windmills before having the option to shuttle in the support vehicle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. Or continue cycling through Weesp and along the River Gaasp en route to Diemen. Here, this is another option to shuttle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. If you wish to cycle further, the route continues along the Amsterdam-Rhine canal all the way into the city. The barge docks close to the central railway station.
After breakfast, say goodbye to your barge crew and one of your VBT trip leaders, then join your other trip leader for a transfer walk through Amsterdam’s canal-lined streets to your hotel. Please note that check-in time is 3:00 p.m., but the staff will do their best to get you to your room as soon as possible. After checking in, explore Amsterdam and enjoy dinner on your own. VBT provides you with City Information that includes recommendations on what to see and do in the city.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District is a cash-free hotel, so any extras must be paid by credit or debit card.
After breakfast,* meet in the hotel lobby to transfer to the Amsterdam airport and your departing flight back home.** Be sure you are waiting at the designated time and transfer location.
*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the front desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.
**VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” The transfer is prearranged by VBT and is prepaid. VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.
Included Meals: Breakfast
All you have to do is get to the airport. On our Air Packages, we’ll take care of the rest, handling all the logistics, so you can travel with peace of mind. Spend your first night aloft and arrive refreshed for an unforgettable trip.
A VBT representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel in Bruges. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel Navarra, Bruges
From your centrally located hotel, walk the cobbled streets of this enchanting town. Be sure to go to the top of the Belfort Tower for a panoramic view of the splendid medieval cityscape. You may want to visit the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood, said to contain a small vial of Christ’s blood that was brought to Bruges from the Holy Land in 1149. Or stop by the Memling Museum, housed in one of the oldest surviving medieval hospitals in Europe.
Tonight, try one of Bruges’ wonderful restaurants for dinner on your own using VBT’s city information as your guide.
Accommodation: Hotel Navarra
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast, spend more free time in Bruges. Make sure your luggage is packed and ready to be transported to the barge before 9:45 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., join one of your VBT trip leaders in the hotel lobby and walk together to your barge in time for a 2:00 p.m. departure. At the docks, meet the barge crew and your second VBT trip leader, who welcome you aboard with refreshments.
You will cruise out of Bruges on a charming canal. The barge stops before dinner so you can join your trip leaders for a warm-up ride into the heart of Flanders.
This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner on board and learn a bit of Flemish and Dutch during a fun language class. You will moor in Ghent, one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities.
Today’s Ride Choice
Morning: Keersluis Beernem to Aalterbrug Warm-up – 19 km (11 miles)
What to Expect: After disembarking and bike fitting, the warm-up ride follows the Ghent-Bruges Canal. Getting comfortable on your bike and following the route notes, you will ride on asphalt and bike paths with sections of quiet roads. At the end of the ride, the barge picks you up, and we sail to the mooring site near Ghent.
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 km (11 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, embark a local boat excursion to the center of Ghent with a guide, then explore on your own. Located at the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, this “City of 200 Bridges” was founded around 600 AD. Many of its beautiful buildings date to medieval times, when the textile industry brought great wealth to Ghent’s merchants. Many old patrician houses have been preserved in the city center. One historic building is the Cloth Makers’ Hall, built in 1425. The city’s major church is St. Baaf’s Cathedral, constructed and enhanced in various styles over many centuries. In the cathedral, admire a number of masterpieces of medieval painting, including Jan van Eyck’s famous Adoration of the Lamb. (On Sunday morning, there is a service in the cathedral, and it is not possible to see this famous painting—only the replica.) Lunch is on your own in Ghent.
After lunch, enjoy a scenic ride out of the city. Your bike path parallels the Scheldt River. You will cycle through small “polder” villages and past marshy grasslands, ponds, and picturesque creeks. A Berlare-Appels ferry takes you to the south shore of the Scheldt, where you will cross the Dender River locks system and rejoin your barge. Your destination today is Dendermonde, a centuries-old city with a Benedictine abbey and pretty market square at its center. Return to the barge for dinner on board. This evening, enjoy a Belgian beer tasting and crew presentation.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Melle to Dendermonde – 29 km (18 miles)
Afternoon: Dendermonde City Tour Loop – 3 km (2 miles)
What to Expect: The route immediately crosses the Scheldt River at Melle town and joins a beautiful bike path along the northern bank of the river. After around 6.8 miles (11 km), the route diverts from the river to meander through the countryside and a few small settlements. Upon returning to the river, cross by ferry and then continue along the southern banks on a bike path leading to the large Dender River Locks. After meeting the barge, there is the option for a loop ride to explore the small city of Dendermonde.
Cumulative Distance Range: 29 – 32 km (18 – 20 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycle from Dendermonde via Temse along the Sheldt River. You will ride through the village of Rupelmonde, pausing to admire its unique tidal watermill and statue of the mathematician and mapmaker Mercator. He was the world’s premier geographer in the 16th century and created both the terrestrial and celestial globes. Arrive in Basel for lunch on your own, with time to explore its picturesque church square and Wissekerke Castle. Continue cycling through farmland and tiny villages to Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city.
Meet the barge at one of Antwerp’s historic docks in the afternoon, then walk into town to dine on your own in one of the many restaurants and enjoy a free evening.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Dendermonde to Temse – 25 km (16 miles) OR Temse to Basel – 12 km (8 miles)
Afternoon: Basel to Antwerp – 22 km (14 miles)
What to Expect: Today’s ride offers variation. For starters, your trip leaders guide you across Scheldt River bridge. The first part of the ride is on bike paths decorated by willow trees and carp ponds. After the village of Moerzeke, you’ll cross the river by ferry. Once a trading center, the city of Temse is a good place to buy a sandwich for lunch. The second part of the ride passes through Rupelmonde and onto Bazel, with the oldest suspension bridge in Belgium and Wissekerke Castle, and a nice place to eat your sandwich. The last part of the ride leads you through agricultural lands until Antwerp Cathedral comes into view. To reach the city, you cycle through a long and exciting bike-and-pedestrian tunnel under the river. You’ll find the barge at historic Willemsdok.
Cumulative Distance Range: 25 – 59 km (16 – 38 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast
Today is a non-biking day. This morning, you will visit Antwerp, known as the “Diamond City” and the hometown of the painter Peter Paul Rubens. In the middle of the city, you’ll find the Cathedral of Our Lady and beautiful old townhouses around the Market Square. You’ll have plenty of time to explore all of the delights during free time this morning.
After enjoying lunch on your own in Antwerp, rejoin the barge and relax while cruising through the impressive port and along the quieter canals to Tholen, the Netherlands. After dinner on board the barge, we’ve invited some local families to meet you at the barge and accompany you back to their homes for an evening of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
Today’s Ride Choice
Non-biking Day: Explore Antwerp, cruise to Tholen, the Netherlands
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, cycle from Tholen to Willemstad through tranquil agricultural land on the western edge of Brabant province, passing through the small town of Oud-Vossemeer. Claes van’t Rosevelt, ancestor of the American presidential family, emigrated from this village in 1649 for a better life. Later, you will coast into Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. The massive walls were laid out in the shape of a seven-pointed star, each rampart named for one the seven provinces of the Republic of United Netherlands.
Meet your barge here and set sail during lunch to Dordrecht. The barge moors in the city’s historic center, making for an easy and delightful afternoon of exploring. Dordrecht is one of Holland’s oldest towns and birthplace of the state of the Netherlands, founded by William of Orange. This evening, explore more of the town on your own and find a restaurant for dinner.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Tholen to Willemstad – 45 km (27 miles)
Afternoon: Willemstad City Tour – 2 km (1 mile))
What to Expect: Today’s ride sets off through the town of Tholen. From here, small country lanes lead through relatively “new” agricultural lands to the village of Oud-Vossemeer, the ancestral home of the Roosevelt family. Cross the river shortly afterward, and follow a bike path along the river before meandering through the countryside to Willemstad, an ancient stronghold of the Orange family. After you meet the barge, you will have the option of taking a short but enjoyable ride around this remarkable 16th-century fortified city.
Cumulative Distance Range: 45 – 47 km (27 – 28 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
During breakfast, you will sail the River Noord to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, 19 of Holland’s famous windmills — some more than 260 years old — adorn the horizon. After cycling along the old windmills, continue through the beautiful canal-and-meadow landscapes of Alblasserwaard to Schoonhoven, or “Silver City,” renowned for its long silversmithing tradition. Here re-board the barge and enjoy an included lunch. Afterward, you have the option to cycle or cruise to Vianen.
If you choose our longer option, you will pass a landscape of wide polders separated by numerous canals. These patches of land reclaimed from the sea average an elevation of six feet (1.8 meters) below sea level. An afternoon route leads through a series of villages and hamlets, where your trails skirt the backyards of locals. You will also ride along the Lek River dike and gain clear views of the different water levels.
Spend the night in Vianen, a small city on the River Lek. Dinner is on board tonight.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Alblasserdam to Schoonhoven – 32 km (20 miles)
Afternoon: Schoonhoven to Vianen – 26 km (16 miles)
What to Expect: Disembark the barge at Kinderdijk, the western corner of the Alblasserwaard Polder. From here, start your ride along this legendary dike, surrounded by 19 traditional windmills. The ride features lovely bike paths and dairy farms with typical Frisian black-and-white cows. Halfway through the ride, you cross the River Lek by ferry and arrive in the small city of Schoonhoven, famous for its silversmithing industry. After lunch, continue cycling through the Krimpenerwaard Polder. Another ferry takes you back across the Lek River to medieval Vianen.
Cumulative Distance Range: 32 – 58 km (20 – 36 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
During breakfast this morning, you will cruise to Breukelen, a charming little town after which Brooklyn in New York is named. Begin cycling across a white drawbridge, the original “Brooklyn” Bridge, toward Amsterdam. Follow the beautiful Vecht and Amstel rivers, which lead right into the city. Along the river Vecht, pass magnificent 17th-century mansions and country estates built by prosperous Amsterdam merchants. You will stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Tonight, enjoy your last dinner on board.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Breukelen to Weesp – 23 km (14 miles)
Afternoon: Weesp to Diemen – 9 km (6 miles) | Diemen to Amsterdam – 12 km (8 miles)
What to Expect: The first part of today’s ride follows the River Vecht on small country lanes to Weesp. Here, enjoy a picnic lunch between two windmills before having the option to shuttle in the support vehicle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. Or continue cycling through Weesp and along the River Gaasp en route to Diemen. Here, this is another option to shuttle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. If you wish to cycle further, the route continues along the Amsterdam-Rhine canal all the way into the city. The barge docks close to the central railway station.
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 44 km (14 – 28 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an included breakfast, say goodbye to your barge crew and one of your VBT trip leaders, then join your other trip leader for a walk through Amsterdam’s canal-lined streets to your hotel. After check in the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure—perhaps explore the city, rest up in the hotel, or select a local restaurant for lunch and/or dinner. We provide detailed city information to help you plan your day.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the Amsterdam airport will be provided (an approximately 20 to 30 minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast

Sat, May 21 to Sat, May 28 - 2022
Show Itinerary:
You are responsible for making your own way to meet the barge, between 1:00 and 1:45 p.m. Please note that you cannot embark before this time, as the barge is being prepared for you. If you are late, you must contact the barge as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements. The barge will be moored next to bus parking Buiten Katelijnevest in central Bruges. It sails at 2:00 p.m.
You will cruise out of Bruges on a charming canal. The barge stops before dinner so you can join your trip leaders for a warm-up ride into the heart of Flanders.
This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner on board and learn a bit of Flemish and Dutch during a fun language class. You will moor in Ghent, one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities.
Please note regarding WiFi on board the barge: Due to the nature of the barge movements, Internet access is not always available. If stable Internet access is critical to you, VBT recommends that you purchase your own bundle before traveling overseas.
Please note regarding Ride with GPS: Due to the limited WiFi on board, VBT also recommends downloading your VBT Maps & Route Notes from a WiFi zone prior to arrival on the barge if you wish to use Ride with GPS on your smartphone. During your vacation, you will be able to follow these route notes on your smartphone with turn-by-turn voice navigation as you ride. This option is in addition to VBT’s traditional printed maps and route notes available on tour.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Dinner
Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 km (11 miles)
Morning
Keersluis Beernem to Aalterbrug Warm-Up: 19 km (11 miles)
What to Expect: After disembarking and bike fitting, the warm-up ride follows the Gent-Bruges Canal. Getting comfortable on your bike and following the route notes, you will ride on asphalt and bike paths with sections of quiet roads. At the end of the ride, the barge picks you up, and we sail to the mooring site near Gent.
After breakfast, embark a local boat excursion to the center of Ghent with a guide, then explore on your own. Located at the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, this “City of 200 Bridges” was founded around 600 AD. Many of its beautiful buildings date to medieval times, when the textile industry brought great wealth to Ghent’s merchants. Many old patrician houses have been preserved in the city center. One historic building is the Cloth Makers’ Hall, built in 1425. The city’s major church is St. Baaf’s Cathedral, constructed and enhanced in various styles over many centuries. In the cathedral, admire a number of masterpieces of medieval painting, including Jan van Eyck’s famous Adoration of the Lamb. (On Sunday morning, there is a service in the cathedral, and it is not possible to see this famous painting—only the replica.) Lunch is on your own in Ghent.
After lunch, enjoy a scenic ride out of the city. Your bike path parallels the Scheldt River. You will cycle through small “polder” villages and past marshy grasslands, ponds, and picturesque creeks. A Berlare-Appels ferry takes you to the south shore of the Scheldt, where you will cross the Dender River locks system and rejoin your barge. Your destination today is Dendermonde, a centuries-old city with a Benedictine abbey and pretty market square at its center. Return to the barge for dinner on board. This evening, enjoy a Belgian beer tasting and crew presentation.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 29 – 32 km (18 – 20 miles)
Morning
Melle to Dendermonde: 29 km (18 miles)
Afternoon
Dendermonde City Tour Loop: 3 km (2 miles)
What to Expect: The route immediately crosses the Scheldt River at Melle town and joins a beautiful bike path along the northern bank of the river. After around 6.8 miles (11 km), the route diverts from the river to meander through the countryside and a few small settlements. Upon returning to the river, cross by ferry and then continue along the southern banks on a bike path leading to the large Dender River Locks. After meeting the barge, there is the option for a loop ride to explore the small city of Dendermonde.
Cycle from Dendermonde via Temse along the Sheldt River. You will ride through the village of Rupelmonde, pausing to admire its unique tidal watermill and statue of the mathematician and mapmaker Mercator. He was the world’s premier geographer in the 16th century and created both the terrestrial and celestial globes. Arrive in Basel for lunch on your own, with time to explore its picturesque church square and Wissekerke Castle. Continue cycling through farmland and tiny villages to Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city.
Meet the barge at one of Antwerp’s historic docks in the afternoon, then walk into town to dine on your own in one of the many restaurants and enjoy a free evening.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 25 – 59 km (16 – 38 miles)
Morning
Dendermonde to Temse: 25 km (16 miles)
OR
Temse to Basel: 12 km (8 miles)
Afternoon
Basel to Antwerp: 22 km (14 miles)
What to Expect: Today’s ride offers variation. For starters, your trip leaders guide you across Scheldt River bridge. The first part of the ride is on bike paths decorated by willow trees and carp ponds. After the village of Moerzeke, you’ll cross the river by ferry. Once a trading center, the city of Temse is a good place to buy a sandwich for lunch. The second part of the ride passes through Rupelmonde and onto Bazel, with the oldest suspension bridge in Belgium and Wissekerke Castle, and a nice place to eat your sandwich. The last part of the ride leads you through agricultural lands until Antwerp Cathedral comes into view. To reach the city, you cycle through a long and exciting bike-and-pedestrian tunnel under the river. You’ll find the barge at historic Willemsdok.
Today is a non-biking day. This morning, you will visit Antwerp, known as the “Diamond City” and the hometown of the painter Peter Paul Rubens. In the middle of the city, you’ll find the Cathedral of Our Lady and beautiful old townhouses around the Market Square. You’ll have plenty of time to explore all of the delights during free time this morning.
After enjoying lunch on your own in Antwerp, rejoin the barge and relax while cruising through the impressive port and along the quieter canals to Tholen, The Netherlands. After dinner on board the barge, we’ve invited some local families to meet you at the barge and accompany you back to their homes for an evening of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
Today’s Ride Choice:
Non-biking Day: Explore Antwerp, cruise to Tholen, The Netherlands
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, cycle from Tholen to Willemstad through tranquil agricultural land on the western edge of Brabant province, passing through the small town of Oud-Vossemeer. Claes van’t Rosevelt, ancestor of the American presidential family, emigrated from this village in 1649 for a better life. Later, you will coast into Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. The massive walls were laid out in the shape of a seven-pointed star, each rampart named for one the seven provinces of the Republic of United Netherlands.
Meet your barge here and set sail during lunch to Dordrecht. The barge moors in the city’s historic center, making for an easy and delightful afternoon of exploring. Dordrecht is one of Holland’s oldest towns and birthplace of the state of The Netherlands, founded by William of Orange. This evening, explore more of the town on your own and find a restaurant for dinner.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 45 – 47 km (27 – 28 miles)
Morning
Tholen to Willemstad: 45 km (27 miles)
Afternoon
Willemstad City Tour: 2 km (1 mile)
What to Expect: Today’s ride sets off through the town of Tholen. From here, small country lanes lead through relatively “new” agricultural lands to the village of Oud-Vossemeer, the ancestral home of the Roosevelt family. Cross the river shortly afterward, and follow a bike path along the river before meandering through the countryside to Willemstad, an ancient stronghold of the Orange family. After you meet the barge, you will have the option of taking a short but enjoyable ride around this remarkable 16th-century fortified city.
During breakfast, you will sail the River Noord to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, 19 of Holland’s famous windmills — some more than 260 years old — adorn the horizon. After cycling along the old windmills, continue through the beautiful canal-and-meadow landscapes of Alblasserwaard to Schoonhoven, or “Silver City,” renowned for its long silversmithing tradition. Here re-board the barge and enjoy an included lunch. Afterward, you have the option to cycle or cruise to Vianen.
If you choose our longer option, you will pass a landscape of wide polders separated by numerous canals. These patches of land reclaimed from the sea average an elevation of six feet (1.8 meters) below sea level. An afternoon route leads through a series of villages and hamlets, where your trails skirt the backyards of locals. You will also ride along the Lek River dike and gain clear views of the different water levels.
Spend the night in Vianen, a small city on the River Lek. Dinner is on board tonight.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 32 – 58 km (20 – 36 miles)
Morning
Alblasserdam to Schoonhoven: 32 km (20 miles)
Afternoon
Schoonhoven to Vianen: 26 km (16 miles)
What to Expect: Disembark the barge at Kinderdijk, the western corner of the Alblasserwaard Polder. From here, start your ride along this legendary dike, surrounded by 19 traditional windmills. The ride features lovely bike paths and dairy farms with typical Frisian black-and-white cows. Halfway through the ride, you cross the River Lek by ferry and arrive in the small city of Schoonhoven, famous for its silversmithing industry. After lunch, continue cycling through the Krimpenerwaard Polder. Another ferry takes you back across the Lek River to medieval Vianen.
During breakfast this morning, you will cruise to Breukelen, a charming little town after which Brooklyn in New York is named. Begin cycling across a white drawbridge, the original “Brooklyn” Bridge, toward Amsterdam. Follow the beautiful Vecht and Amstel rivers, which lead right into the city. Along the river Vecht, pass magnificent 17th-century mansions and country estates built by prosperous Amsterdam merchants. You will stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Tonight, enjoy your last dinner on board.
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 44 km (14 – 28 miles)
Morning
Breukelen to Weesp: 23 km (14 miles)
Afternoon
Weesp to Diemen: 9 km (6 miles)
Diemen to Amsterdam: 12 km (8 miles)
What to Expect: The first part of today’s ride follows the River Vecht on small country lanes to Weesp. Here, enjoy a picnic lunch between two windmills before having the option to shuttle in the support vehicle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. Or continue cycling through Weesp and along the River Gaasp en route to Diemen. Here, this is another option to shuttle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. If you wish to cycle further, the route continues along the Amsterdam-Rhine canal all the way into the city. The barge docks close to the central railway station.
After breakfast, your tour ends. It is important that you leave the barge no later than 9:00 a.m. so the crew can prepare for their next guests.
Included Meals: Breakfast
You are responsible for making your own way to meet the barge, between 1:00 and 1:45 p.m. Please note that you cannot embark before this time, as the barge is being prepared for you. If you are late, you must contact the barge as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements. The barge will be moored next to bus parking Buiten Katelijnevest in central Bruges. It sails at 2:00 p.m.
You will cruise out of Bruges on a charming canal. The barge stops before dinner so you can join your trip leaders for a warm-up ride into the heart of Flanders.
This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner on board and learn a bit of Flemish and Dutch during a fun language class. You will moor in Ghent, one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities.
Today’s Ride Choice
Morning: Keersluis Beernem to Aalterbrug Warm-up – 19 km (11 miles)
What to Expect: After disembarking and bike fitting, the warm-up ride follows the Ghent-Bruges Canal. Getting comfortable on your bike and following the route notes, you will ride on asphalt and bike paths with sections of quiet roads. At the end of the ride, the barge picks you up, and we sail to the mooring site near Ghent.
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 km (11 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, embark a local boat excursion to the center of Ghent with a guide, then explore on your own. Located at the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, this “City of 200 Bridges” was founded around 600 AD. Many of its beautiful buildings date to medieval times, when the textile industry brought great wealth to Ghent’s merchants. Many old patrician houses have been preserved in the city center. One historic building is the Cloth Makers’ Hall, built in 1425. The city’s major church is St. Baaf’s Cathedral, constructed and enhanced in various styles over many centuries. In the cathedral, admire a number of masterpieces of medieval painting, including Jan van Eyck’s famous Adoration of the Lamb. (On Sunday morning, there is a service in the cathedral, and it is not possible to see this famous painting—only the replica.) Lunch is on your own in Ghent.
After lunch, enjoy a scenic ride out of the city. Your bike path parallels the Scheldt River. You will cycle through small “polder” villages and past marshy grasslands, ponds, and picturesque creeks. A Berlare-Appels ferry takes you to the south shore of the Scheldt, where you will cross the Dender River locks system and rejoin your barge. Your destination today is Dendermonde, a centuries-old city with a Benedictine abbey and pretty market square at its center. Return to the barge for dinner on board. This evening, enjoy a Belgian beer tasting and crew presentation.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Melle to Dendermonde – 29 km (18 miles)
Afternoon: Dendermonde City Tour Loop – 3 km (2 miles)
What to Expect: The route immediately crosses the Scheldt River at Melle town and joins a beautiful bike path along the northern bank of the river. After around 6.8 miles (11 km), the route diverts from the river to meander through the countryside and a few small settlements. Upon returning to the river, cross by ferry and then continue along the southern banks on a bike path leading to the large Dender River Locks. After meeting the barge, there is the option for a loop ride to explore the small city of Dendermonde.
Cumulative Distance Range: 29 – 32 km (18 – 20 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycle from Dendermonde via Temse along the Sheldt River. You will ride through the village of Rupelmonde, pausing to admire its unique tidal watermill and statue of the mathematician and mapmaker Mercator. He was the world’s premier geographer in the 16th century and created both the terrestrial and celestial globes. Arrive in Basel for lunch on your own, with time to explore its picturesque church square and Wissekerke Castle. Continue cycling through farmland and tiny villages to Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city.
Meet the barge at one of Antwerp’s historic docks in the afternoon, then walk into town to dine on your own in one of the many restaurants and enjoy a free evening.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Dendermonde to Temse – 25 km (16 miles) OR Temse to Basel – 12 km (8 miles)
Afternoon: Basel to Antwerp – 22 km (14 miles)
What to Expect: Today’s ride offers variation. For starters, your trip leaders guide you across Scheldt River bridge. The first part of the ride is on bike paths decorated by willow trees and carp ponds. After the village of Moerzeke, you’ll cross the river by ferry. Once a trading center, the city of Temse is a good place to buy a sandwich for lunch. The second part of the ride passes through Rupelmonde and onto Bazel, with the oldest suspension bridge in Belgium and Wissekerke Castle, and a nice place to eat your sandwich. The last part of the ride leads you through agricultural lands until Antwerp Cathedral comes into view. To reach the city, you cycle through a long and exciting bike-and-pedestrian tunnel under the river. You’ll find the barge at historic Willemsdok.
Cumulative Distance Range: 25 – 59 km (16 – 38 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast
Today is a non-biking day. This morning, you will visit Antwerp, known as the “Diamond City” and the hometown of the painter Peter Paul Rubens. In the middle of the city, you’ll find the Cathedral of Our Lady and beautiful old townhouses around the Market Square. You’ll have plenty of time to explore all of the delights during free time this morning.
After enjoying lunch on your own in Antwerp, rejoin the barge and relax while cruising through the impressive port and along the quieter canals to Tholen, the Netherlands. After dinner on board the barge, we’ve invited some local families to meet you at the barge and accompany you back to their homes for an evening of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
Today’s Ride Choice
Non-biking Day: Explore Antwerp, cruise to Tholen, the Netherlands
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, cycle from Tholen to Willemstad through tranquil agricultural land on the western edge of Brabant province, passing through the small town of Oud-Vossemeer. Claes van’t Rosevelt, ancestor of the American presidential family, emigrated from this village in 1649 for a better life. Later, you will coast into Willemstad, an old fortified town on the Haringvliet. The massive walls were laid out in the shape of a seven-pointed star, each rampart named for one the seven provinces of the Republic of United Netherlands.
Meet your barge here and set sail during lunch to Dordrecht. The barge moors in the city’s historic center, making for an easy and delightful afternoon of exploring. Dordrecht is one of Holland’s oldest towns and birthplace of the state of the Netherlands, founded by William of Orange. This evening, explore more of the town on your own and find a restaurant for dinner.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Tholen to Willemstad – 45 km (27 miles)
Afternoon: Willemstad City Tour – 2 km (1 mile))
What to Expect: Today’s ride sets off through the town of Tholen. From here, small country lanes lead through relatively “new” agricultural lands to the village of Oud-Vossemeer, the ancestral home of the Roosevelt family. Cross the river shortly afterward, and follow a bike path along the river before meandering through the countryside to Willemstad, an ancient stronghold of the Orange family. After you meet the barge, you will have the option of taking a short but enjoyable ride around this remarkable 16th-century fortified city.
Cumulative Distance Range: 45 – 47 km (27 – 28 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
During breakfast, you will sail the River Noord to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, 19 of Holland’s famous windmills — some more than 260 years old — adorn the horizon. After cycling along the old windmills, continue through the beautiful canal-and-meadow landscapes of Alblasserwaard to Schoonhoven, or “Silver City,” renowned for its long silversmithing tradition. Here re-board the barge and enjoy an included lunch. Afterward, you have the option to cycle or cruise to Vianen.
If you choose our longer option, you will pass a landscape of wide polders separated by numerous canals. These patches of land reclaimed from the sea average an elevation of six feet (1.8 meters) below sea level. An afternoon route leads through a series of villages and hamlets, where your trails skirt the backyards of locals. You will also ride along the Lek River dike and gain clear views of the different water levels.
Spend the night in Vianen, a small city on the River Lek. Dinner is on board tonight.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Alblasserdam to Schoonhoven – 32 km (20 miles)
Afternoon: Schoonhoven to Vianen – 26 km (16 miles)
What to Expect: Disembark the barge at Kinderdijk, the western corner of the Alblasserwaard Polder. From here, start your ride along this legendary dike, surrounded by 19 traditional windmills. The ride features lovely bike paths and dairy farms with typical Frisian black-and-white cows. Halfway through the ride, you cross the River Lek by ferry and arrive in the small city of Schoonhoven, famous for its silversmithing industry. After lunch, continue cycling through the Krimpenerwaard Polder. Another ferry takes you back across the Lek River to medieval Vianen.
Cumulative Distance Range: 32 – 58 km (20 – 36 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
During breakfast this morning, you will cruise to Breukelen, a charming little town after which Brooklyn in New York is named. Begin cycling across a white drawbridge, the original “Brooklyn” Bridge, toward Amsterdam. Follow the beautiful Vecht and Amstel rivers, which lead right into the city. Along the river Vecht, pass magnificent 17th-century mansions and country estates built by prosperous Amsterdam merchants. You will stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Tonight, enjoy your last dinner on board.
Today’s Ride Choices
Morning: Breukelen to Weesp – 23 km (14 miles)
Afternoon: Weesp to Diemen – 9 km (6 miles) | Diemen to Amsterdam – 12 km (8 miles)
What to Expect: The first part of today’s ride follows the River Vecht on small country lanes to Weesp. Here, enjoy a picnic lunch between two windmills before having the option to shuttle in the support vehicle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. Or continue cycling through Weesp and along the River Gaasp en route to Diemen. Here, this is another option to shuttle to meet the barge in Amsterdam. If you wish to cycle further, the route continues along the Amsterdam-Rhine canal all the way into the city. The barge docks close to the central railway station.
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 44 km (14 – 28 miles)
Accommodation: Barge Fiep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an included breakfast, your tour ends. It is important that you leave the barge no later than 9:00 a.m. so the crew can prepare for their next guests.
Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations
Hotel Navarra
Ideally located in the historic center of Bruges, near the Market Square with its famous Belfry Tower, the Hotel Navarra offers an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, complemented by excellent service. The elegant, 17th-century mansion occupied by the hotel is listed as a historic monument, yet you’ll enjoy modern amenities that include free WiFi, air conditioning, a spa, an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a gym and a small garden with sun terrace.
Barge Fiep
A cozy and spacious, two-deck, 22-passenger barge with a homelike atmosphere, the Fiep has 12 comfortable cabins —10 twin and 2 single — with private bathrooms and private showers, and the barge has climate control throughout. Common areas include a dining area and lounge with a bar, and a sun deck at the bow. Smoking is permitted only outside on the sun deck. The barge moors each night. Drinks of all types are available for purchase at the bar on board the Fiep. It is not customary for guests to bring their own wine and liquor on board. Your understanding is appreciated. Onboard meal menus are set, though the chef is happy to accommodate vegetarians and those on restricted diets for health reasons.
Please note regarding WiFi onboard the barge: Please be advised that the WiFi connection varies and it is not guaranteed. If internet access is critical during your travel, we recommend purchasing your own bundle before traveling overseas.
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Mercure Amsterdam Centre Canal District
The Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City Centre Canal District is a boutique hotel located near the Prinsengracht canal in the center of Amsterdam. Owned by American travel guide expert Arthur Frommer, it is comprised of 19 converted weavers’ houses that were originally built in the 17th century. The hotel is easy to reach by tram, with stops on Vijzelgracht (line 16/24/25) or the Weteringcircuit (line 7/10). Dam Square, the Royal Palace, and the city’s most famous museums — the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House — are all within walking distance. Free WiFi and air conditioning are available throughout the hotel.
Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With Low-Cost Trip Extensions
Air Package Only
2021 Post-Trip Extension - Amsterdam
2 Nights From $395 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $345
- 2 nights at the Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
- Daily continental breakfast
- City Information
- Airport transfers
Spend the next few days exploring at your own pace, using your VBT City Information as your guide.
Delve into Amsterdam’s cultural and historic riches at your own pace during this independent trip extension. From the Van Gogh Museum to Dam Square, you can expect to find an inexhaustible variety of delights in this cultured capital. Take in the superlative collection of art by Dutch Masters in the Rijksmuseum. Visit Anne Frank’s house, including the attic where she and her family hid from the Nazis until they were betrayed (pre-booking is required). Your hotel is located near the major points of interest, and you have ample time to browse Amsterdam’s huge array of elegant shops and take in the city’s animated street life.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
Included Meals: Breakfast
Continue your independent exploration of the city’s amazing cathedrals, art galleries, museums, and shops.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
Included Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast,* transfer to the airport for your flight home.** Earlier in your trip, your VBT representative will have told you what time to expect your final hotel/airport transfer. A taxi will meet you on the last day of your extension at the hotel’s reception area and will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to the U.S. Be sure that you are waiting at the designated time and transfer location.
*Please note: For guests with early morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the front desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.
**VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” The transfer is prearranged by VBT and is prepaid. VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Air Package Only
2022 Post-Trip Extension - Amsterdam
2 Nights From $445 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $345
- 2 nights at the Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
- Airport car service for departure
- Daily breakfast
- City information
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to continue exploring on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to continue exploring on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Centre Canal District
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the Amsterdam airport will be provided (an approximately 20 to 30 minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast

Guest Reviews 55 out of 58 (95%) of reviewers recommend this tour
Dates & Prices
Air Package
12 days, includes round-trip international airfare , airport shuttle, and additional hotel nights with included breakfast.
Single Supplement: From $1,345
Departing From New York, NY (JFK)
Tour Only
8 Days. Includes bike vacation only.
Single Supplement: From $895
Air Package
12 days, includes round-trip international airfare , airport shuttle, and additional hotel nights with included breakfast.
Single Supplement: From $1,345
Departing From New York, NY (JFK)
Tour Only
8 Days. Includes bike vacation only.
Single Supplement: From $895
For more information, call: 800-245-3868
Please note: Special savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Standard Terms & Conditions apply when purchasing this trip. Prices include all airline surcharges and Government taxes and fees. Ask our Tour Consultants for details. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. Prices are based on preferences selected above, including meals and sightseeing as specified in What’s Included. All prices are subject to change. Departure dates and prices shown may be updated several times daily, and apply to new bookings only.





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