Bruges Amsterdam. Bike and Barge and experience Flemish cities and Dutch landscape, including the flower fields

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1 Bruges Amsterdam Bike and Barge and experience Flemish cities and Dutch landscape, including the flower fields Itinerary: Bruges Ghent Antwerp Willemstad - Dordrecht Leiden Keukenhof Haarlem Amsterdam Highlights: Bruges Belfort in Ghent Rubens house in Antwerp Windmills Kinderdijk Cheese City Gouda -Flower exhibition Keukenhof - Amsterdam During this tour the historical Flemish cities Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges are central. And after this we get to know a very beautiful part of the Netherlands. The tour starts in Bruges, with its picturesque town center probably the most beautiful of the Flemish historical cities. We sail through the Flemish countryside to Ghent, in order to breathe the atmosphere of old days in the ancient town centre. Worth seeing are the Belfort and St. Baafs-cathedral, with the famous triptych of the painter Jan van Eyck. From Ghent on we follow the beautiful tidal river Nederschelde to Antwerp, city of the painter Rubens, whose birth house the Rubens House - you may want to visit. Afterwards we head for the Netherlands. A break will be made in Willemstad, a fortified town on the Haringvliet. We visit the historical centre of Dordrecht and the windmills of Kinderdijk. After visiting Gouda, famous for its cheeses and candles you will visit the wonderful flower exhibition Keukenhof. Finally you will be in Amsterdam, biking from Haarlem. In Amsterdam you may want to go for a ride through the canals and you might want to pay a visit to the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh-museum. Day 1 (Sat): Bruges Ghent The Merlijn, your sailing hotel, already awaits you in Bruges, with its historical centre. Bruges, also called the Venice of the North, is probably the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, dating from the Middle Ages, is almost completely in tact. At the time, Bruges was a metropolis, centre of trade and art, which we can still fully enjoy. But it is also nice for shopping or going out in Bruges. Please be sure your arrival time in Bruges gives you enough time to explore this charming city, since the Merlijn will leave already in the afternoon. You are welcome to bringing you luggage on board before exploring the city. Embarkation will be at 1:30PM. The crew will welcome you on board and while you enjoy a welcome drink you will get information about the ship, the tours and the bicycles. The Merlijn sets sail at 2PM to Ghent. During the cruise you will enjoy your dinner, the arrival time in Ghent is approx. 7PM. Ghent is a lively university city, again one with a rich past. This city has its origins in Roman Times, at the place where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. This favorable situation brought a great deal of prosperity over the years, which had its peak late 13th, early 14th century. Textile industry brought great wealth. In the city center many old patrician houses have been preserved. In the Clothmakers Hall (1425)

2 textile merchants used to meet. The major church is St. Baafs Cathedral, built in various ages and in various styles. Adoration of the Lamb Lace-making Day 2 (Sun): Ghent Dendermonde; Biking about 40 km During breakfast we will sail to Merelbeke, where your bike tour will start. Biking along the Schelde We bike along the river Zeeschelde and follow this beautiful but capricious tidal river downstream and will stay overnight in Dendermonde, a small town on the Schelde river. Day 3 (Mon): Dendermonde Antwerp Tholen; Biking about 25km. Sailing breakfast following the river Schelde further downstream to Rupelmonde, where your bike tour starts to Antwerp. There is a beautiful bike path along the river and the landscape around the Schelde is magnificent. Antwerp is not only known as diamond city, but also as native city of painter Rubens. In the Rubens House we can admire his work. In the heart of the city you will find the Cathedral of Our Lady and around the Market Square beautiful town houses from a rich past are situated. After this visit you will embark the Merlijn in Antwerp and together we sail to Tholen, where we will arrive approx 8:30 PM. Tholen once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people used to fish for their living. Nowadays Tholen is connected to the mainland in various ways. But it still is a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past. Overnight stay in Tholen.

3 Day 4 (Tue): Tholen Willemstad Dordrecht; Biking about 25 km After breakfast your bike tour starts to Willemstad. The Merlin sails through the impressive complex of locks de Volkerak, pass the fortified town of Willemstad where you will board again and enjoy the cruise to Dordrecht. Dordrecht is the oldest town of Holland with many charming houses and streets. Tonight you will enjoy your dinner at your own expense in this city. We will spend the night in Dordrecht. Volkerak locks Willemstad Dordrecht Day 5 (Wed): Dordrecht Gouda - Leiden; Biking about 35 km. During breakfast the Merlijn sails to Kinderdijk. Here appears an impressive row of large windmills, built to drain the Alblasserwaard. You can visit one of the mills. From here the bike tour starts to Gouda, the city of cheeses and candles and further on to Leiden. Gouda The biking takes you through the Green Heart of Holland. This area, like Boskoop, is famous for its nurseries (horticulture), particularly woody plant and perennial nurseries, of which some 774 are situated on long stretches of land, divided by narrow canals. You will pass small cities and villages. Finally you will reach Leiden. When exploring Leiden you will notice it's rich history still seems very much alive. This is where Rembrandt was born and developed his painting skills. Leiden's atmosphere is largely determined by the first university in Holland (1575), which has developed into a world-famous centre of science, while its many students contribute to the lively and convivial atmosphere in the city. Before or after dinner you will have time to stroll through the charming center of this city. Tonight you will enjoy your dinner at your own expense in the city of Leiden.

4 Day 6 (Thu): Leiden Keukenhof - Haarlem; Biking about 30 km. KING S DAY! While you enjoy your breakfast the Merlijn will take you to Lisse, which is near the Flower Exhibition Keukenhof. Here you can admire all the beautiful tulips and other flowers that are cultivated in Holland. After your visit you will bike to the city of Haarlem, passing flower fields and great Dutch scenery. Before or after dinner take a stroll through the historical city of Haarlem and end your trip drinking the famous local Jopen beer in one of the many bars. You will enjoy this day celebrating King s Day together with the Dutch! Don t forget to bring orange cloths! Day 7 (Fri) Haarlem Amsterdam; Biking about 30 km Today s last biking trip starts in Haarlem, a city of which history goes back to the 10 th century. Your bike tour leads you through the Zaanse Schans, famous for its Dutch landscape and windmills. St. Bavo, Haarlem Amsterdam, Central Station

5 Your tour ends in the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Here you will have time to explore the city, you might want to include a ride through the canals. Later on you may want to visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh museum. Farewell dinner and city walk through the beautiful illuminated lively centre of Amsterdam. Day 8 (Sat): Amsterdam Breakfast, check out and departure. Rate p.p. in a double room 1,245 Included: 7 nights accommodation on board the Merlijn, in a double room, with private bathroom, climate control, safe, hairdryer Half board, starting with dinner on Saturday, the first day and ending with breakfast on Saturday the last day, except dinners in Dordrecht and Haarlem Daily cleaning of the rooms Service of staff Supply of bedding, towels, facial tissues, soap Porterage of luggage Unlimited coffee, tea and hot chocolate during the cruise and potable ice water through out the meals Service of a tour guide Use of a 24-gear bike, including bike bag, water bottle and helmet Entrance fee to the Keukenhof City tours in Ghent, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Leiden, Haarlem and Amsterdam Harbour fees Not included: Two dinners Drinks other than mentioned Entrance fees other than mentioned in the tour description Outward and inward journey Insurances