Day 1: Bruges
Bruges is well-known as the "pearl of Flanders" and shows itself as an enchanting, open city, which was discovered by tourists about 150 years ago. The main part of the medieval center remains exceptionally well preserved and can give a good insight of times gone by when Bruges was the centre of the European wool and cloth trade.
Day 2: Bruges – Vlissingen/Middelburg, approx. 66 km
After a rich breakfast, you hop on the bicycle and find your way again. Firstly, you cycle to Damme, a small enchanting town which lies directly on the romantic Damme-Canal. Afterwards your journey leads you the border and to Zeeland, a dutch province, where you’ll find light, wind, water and spacious polders. Bridges and ferries will take you from one island to the other in direction north-east. Some picturesque villages with old houses and cobbled streets will be with you for the next few days. Traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes and golden sand flats.
Day 3: Vlissingen/Middelburg – Schuddebeurs/Zierikzee, approx. 42 km
Next on the program is the village of Veere. From 1541, all goods from Scotland - mainly wool - entered the country via Veere. This treaty not only brought prosperity to the town, but also a very lively Scottish community that remained for 300 years. Follow in their footsteps when you take a tour of the sights. The narrow streets of Zierikzee are also an absolute delight. Picturesque old houses take you back to the town’s glorious past, when sailing ships set sail from here to the Baltic and the Mediterranean to sell salt, wool, fish, grain and red dye.
Day 4: Schuddebeurs/Zierikzee – Willemstad, approx. 50 km
Enjoy your last day in Zeeland. Today you traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes and golden sand flats. Willemstad has a small, but very interesting city center with a lot of well preserved houses dating back from the 17th and 18th century. This is a small, but absolutely typical dutch, fortified town.
Day 5: Willemstad – Papendrecht, approx. 65 km
Today’s way will lead you to the National Park De Biesbosch. As a result of a major flood in 1421, Biesbosch is one of the few remaining waterland habitats in Europe where the ecosystem has adapted both to saltwater coming in from the sea through tidal creeks, and to freshwater coming down in the rivers. It’s an ever-changing labyrinth of creeks and riverlets encompassing countless little islands of willow woods and reeds, a paradise for birds. Afterwards you cycle further to Papendrecht. Please note: you can only take the route through the National Park on days when the ferry ’t Leeuweveerke is in operation (the ferry ticket must be paid for on site) - there is an alternative route for other days!
Day 6: Papendrecht – Gouda, approx. 37 km
Set off again and drive to the village of Kinderdijk, where nineteen majestic windmills offer a unique spectacle. On the way towards Gouda, you will be driving about two meters below sea level! For centuries, people came from far and wide to buy horses, cows, meat, peat, seeds, cheese, etc. at the weekly and annual markets in Gouda. We recommend a stroll through the old town to soak up the atmosphere of yesteryear. Walk around St. John’s Church and the market square with the 15th century town hall and the Weigh House.
Day 7: Gouda – Amsterdam, approx. 58-68 km
Today you will have a day full of differences: Plunge into the peace and quiet of the "Groene Hart" or the so-called "Green Heart", a pleasant rural area of low-lying polders with peat meadows and grazing cattle. It’s a flat, open, spacious landscape where church spires and windmills touch the horizon and clouds are reflected in lakes and canals. For centuries, people flocked from far and wide to buy horses, cows, meat, turf, seed, cheese etc. at weekly and annuel markets in Gouda. After roughly 70 km on your bicycle you will finally arrive in the bustling city of Amsterdam.
Day 8: Amsterdam
Individual departure or extension in Amsterdam.