Flanders by Bike + Boat

From Brussels to Bruges or vice versa

Itinerary

Route

Mostly flat, on quiet roads and asphalted bike paths along channels. Some hilly steps have to be taken.

Day 1: Vilvoorde (Brussels)
Individual arrival in Vilvoorde, a suburb about 10 km north of Brussels. The crew will welcome you aboard at 4:00 p.m.

Day 2: Vilvoorde Willebroek, approx. 40 km
Your first bike tour takes you through Mechelen – remarkable for its density of more than 300 listed buildings, including eight churches, in less than three square kilometers – through green, rolling hills, past dreamy villages and stately country estates to the stage destination of Willebroek.

Day 3: Willebroek Antwerp, approx. 50 km
From Willebroek, the route takes you via Lier to Antwerp. The port city on the Scheldt is the world center of diamond processing and offers numerous sights: the richly decorated Renaissance-style town hall, the historic Grote Markt, the seven-nave Cathedral of Our Lady, and the medieval Steen Castle.

Day 4: Antwerp Sint Amands, approx. 42 km
Today, your bike tour takes you up the Scheldt towards Hemiksem, where, after a short climb, you can cycle leisurely to Rupelmonde. Here, where the Rupel flows into the Scheldt, follow the Rupel for a while and after a few kilometers you will reach the village of Niel, which is adjacent to the Walenhoek nature reserve. Here, between Niel and Boom, lies a historic brick-burning area where bricks have been produced since the Middle Ages. You then cross the Brussels-Rupel Canal and finally come to a water tower on the outskirts of St. Amands.

Day 5: St. Amands Dendermonde Ghent (Merelbeke), approx. 60 km
In the morning, take a boat trip on one of the most beautiful sections of the Scheldt to Dendermonde. From here, continue by bike along the Scheldt dam to your destination for the day. Worth seeing in Dendermonde: the Beguinage with its beautiful local history museum. A short coffee break on the beautiful Flemish Grote Markt is a must. Your destination for today is Ghent. Explore the beautiful old town of Ghent, partly by bike and partly on foot. In the Middle Ages, Ghent was the second largest city after Paris and has retained its architectural wealth in the city center to this day. Your ship will moor for the night just outside Ghent at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent, about 30 minutes by bike from the city center.

Day 6: Ghent Lovendegem Bruges, approx. 40 km
Morning departure for Lovendegem. Today’s entire cycle route follows the Ghent-Ostend Canal through the wide Flemish plain to Bruges. The “Venice of the North” is known throughout Europe as a city of art and museums. Bruges’ old town with its numerous canals is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today there is still time to admire the hustle and bustle around and on the Grote Markt.

Day 7: Round trip around Bruges, approx. 55 km
The bike tour takes you through the small town of Damme (birthplace of Till Eulenspiegel) and Groot Ter Doest with its impressive Ter Doest Abbey to Lissewege, the “most beautiful village in Flanders” – whitewashed houses cluster on both sides of a small canal and around the imposing village church. Afterwards, the tour continues to the seaside resort of Blankenberge. A long sandy beach and numerous cafés invite you to linger. After a 2-hour stay, return to Bruges.

Day 8: Bruges
After breakfast, disembark by 9:30 a.m. and return home or extend your stay in Bruges.

Day 1: Bruges
Individual arrival in Bruges. Your ship will already be waiting for you in the harbor in Bruges. The crew will welcome you at 4:00 p.m. Take some time to discover this beautiful city. The “Venice of the North” is known throughout Europe as a city of art and museums. Bruges’ old town with its numerous canals is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the hustle and bustle around the Grote Markt with a good cup of coffee or tea.

Day 2: Round trip around Bruges, approx. 55 km
Your first bike tour today takes you along a quiet, poplar-lined canal through an attractive polder landscape with small farms. Via the small town of Damme (birthplace of Till Eulenspiegel), you will reach the North Sea coast. A 12 km long, fine sandy beach, numerous cafés, and the charming dune landscape of “Het Zwin” (nature reserve) offer variety at lunchtime. Then return to Bruges along a small canal.

Day 3: Bruges Moerebrugge Ghent (Merelbeke), approx. 60 km
During breakfast, you will travel by boat to Moerbrugge. Here you will start your bike tour to Ghent. The entire bike route follows the Ghent-Ostend Canal through the wide Flemish plain to Ghent. The second largest city after Paris in the Middle Ages, Ghent has preserved its architectural wealth in its historic city center to this day. Your ship will moor for the night at the Merelbeke lock, a suburb of Ghent and about a 30-minute bike ride from the city center. However, there will be plenty of time to explore the city center of Ghent on the way to the ship.

Day 4: Ghent (Merelbeke) Sint Amands, approx. 65 km
After breakfast, you will leave the metropolis of Ghent and head first to Dendermonde. Worth seeing: the Beguinage with its beautiful local history museum. A must: a coffee break on the beautiful Grote Markt. Then continue to Sint Amands, a stretch of the Scheldt that is among the most beautiful and winding.

Day 5: Sint Amands Temse Antwerp, approx. 42 km
Your bike tour starts today in Sint Amands. Cross the Brussels-Rupel Canal by bike and then ride through a historic brick-burning area where bricks have been produced since the Middle Ages. Follow the Rupel and you will reach the Scheldt. From Rupelmonde, you cycle leisurely towards Hemiksem, then down the Scheldt to Antwerp, the world center of diamond processing and your destination for the day. The city offers numerous sights: the ornate Renaissance-style town hall, the historic Grote Markt, the seven-nave Cathedral of Our Lady, and the medieval Steen Castle.

Day 6: Antwerp Willebroek, approx. 45 km
After breakfast, you will cycle through the quiet suburbs of Antwerp with beautiful villas and well-kept gardens to Lier. From here, you will continue along the small river Nete to Willebroek, where your ship will be waiting for you.

Day 7: Willebroek Mechelen Vilvoorde, approx. 40 km
As your ship travels along the Willebroek Canal today, your last bike ride takes you through green, rolling hills to Mechelen. Noteworthy in Mechelen is the density of more than 300 listed buildings, including eight churches, in less than three square kilometers. From there, continue to Vilvoorde, a charming suburb about 10 km north of Brussels. Tip: Brussels can be reached by public transport in about 30 minutes. Use the afternoon to explore this fascinating city on your own, which captivates with its diversity and cosmopolitan flair. (Distance from the mooring to Vilvoorde train station: approx. 2 km, cost of train ticket to Brussels: approx. €4 per person).

Day 8: Vilvoorde (Brussels)
After breakfast, disembark by 9:30 a.m. and return home or extend your stay in Brussels.

Due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program.

Services

  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked category

  • Full board (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch or snack, 7x 3-course dinner)

  • Coffee and tea on board (in the afternoon)

  • Welcome drink

  • Programme according to daily schedule

  • All passenger and harbour taxes

  • Cabin cleaning (change of bed linen and towels as required)

  • On-board tour guide

  • Fully guided cycle tours

  • Daily cycle tour briefing

Our tip: Get your eSIM for a low-priced holiday-data package here

Dates & Prices

Dates

Merkmale

Season / Period
Type
  02.07. - 09.07.26
Bruges - Brussels
  16.07. - 23.07.26
Bruges - Brussels
  30.07. - 06.08.26
Bruges - Brussels
  13.08. - 20.08.26
Bruges - Brussels
  27.08. - 03.09.26
Bruges - Brussels
  09.07. - 16.07.26
Brussels - Bruges
  23.07. - 30.07.26
Brussels - Bruges
  06.08. - 13.08.26
Brussels - Bruges
  20.08. - 27.08.26
Brussels - Bruges
  03.09. - 10.09.26
Brussels - Bruges

Extras

Discounts
Child discount on request
   
Fahrräder & Zubehör
7 speed UNISEX 99
E-Bike 219
   
Sonstiges
Special diet requirements (please note when booking) 100

Best - Price - Guarantee

If you would verifiably receive better conditions and/or prices from another tour operator at the time of booking we guarantee at least the same conditions PLUS 1 handlebar bag for FREE!

All prices per person in EUR

Ship

Welcome aboard the MV FLOOR VAN AEMSTEL! (Category Comfort)

Facilities

The Floor van Aemstel (former Liza Marleen) is a luxury motor passenger barge, built in 1997-98 on the completely dismantled shell of a seafaring freight logger. The tastefully decorated lounge is equipped with an audio installation, television and video. In the evenings it is possible to come together in the spacious sitting area. In the winter of 2015 on 2016 The Liza Marleen was converted to a more luxurious barge. WIFI is limited available on board (free up to 100 MB).


Technical data

Capazity: 22 persons
Length: 38m
Width: 6,60m


Cabins

All cabins have private facilities, central heating and air conditioning.

  • 8 x 2-bed-cabins with low beds
  • 2 x 3-bed-cabins superior with 15m² with twin beds, which can be placed together + 3. bed

Hair dryer in the cabin. Windows/ portholes cannot be opened.


Catering

Full board consisting of breakfast (buffet), packed lunch for bike tours and dinner.


Languages on board

German, English

Bicycle

Important info: Bringing of own bikes is not possible on this tour!


 

Bicycles inclusive panniers

Touring bikes

Our bikes are state-of-the-art quality bikes based on proven brand quality of the bicycle manufactory Velo de Ville. All Velo de Ville bikes use only braking systems from renowned manufacturers such as Magura or Shimano. Minimum body height for our rental bikes: 1.50 m

The following rental bikes (including pannier) are available for you:

  • 7-speed UNISEX touring bikes
  • 8-speed E-bikes

E-bikes | Electrical bikes | Pedeclecs

We provide you with modern quality e-bikes (pedelecs) with Nexus 8-speed hub gears, gradually selectable aid of pedaling power, puncture-proof tires and deep UNISEX comfort entry. The electric bikes from Velo de Ville are equipped exclusively with Bosch mid-mounted motors and fully integrated 500 Wh Bosch batteries. The design of the batteries allows them to almost disappear into the frame. This gives you better weight distribution and a low center of gravity without missing the convenience of easy entry. You save your battery by starting with as low a support as possible and increasing as needed. Please note that with the newer models of our e-bikes it is not possible to attach handlebar bags due to the additional fixed speedometers and wider handlebars.

IMPORTANT: Please reserve ebikes early, as they are only available in very limited numbers.

Useful

Arrival - Parking - Departure

Arrival by plane

Airport: Brussels (BRU)

Arrival by car

Parking Bruges:
Bruges railway station: guarded car park at Stationsplein, costs approx. € 7,- / day, no reservation possible . Journey to the landing stage from the central station by taxi, approx. € 10-20

Parking Vilvoorde (Brussels):
e.g. unguarded parking lot at Vilvoorde train station (approx. 2 km from the mooring): Mimastraat 2, 1800 Vilvoorde, Belgium
or secure parking at Gare du Nord station, approx. 10 km from the mooring, open 24 hours a day, secure. Cost approx. €10 per day + approx. €22 per day at weekends.

Arrival by train

Train station: Bruges, Brussels, Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde train station is approximately 2km from the dock.
You can find your train connections under belgiantrain.be


Transfer

Return transfer by train from Brussels to Bruges or vice versa on your own approx. € 20,- / person


Participants

Minimum: 18 guests


Additional information

Special dietary requirements (except vegan) possible, notification when booking or at least 2 weeks before departure, payable on site

Rental helmets are not available, for your own safety please bring a suitable helmet!

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