Sailing to Ouderkerk a/d Amstel. Cycling to Uithoorn.

When you arrive on board the ship, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. During this coffee break there is plenty of opportunity to get to know your guides, the crew and your fellow passengers. During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the global planning of the week are discussed.

From Uithoorn, you will continue your tour over country roads, banks and channels through the Green Heart and polders to the city known for its cheese: Gouda. Who thinks of Gouda, not only thinks of cheese, pipes, ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle-waffle) and pottery, but also of stained-glass windows, a fairy-like town hall and atmospheric canals. Gouda is a beautiful Old-Dutch city with a mostly intact city centre. As on most days, after dinner you will take a walk through the city.

Today, you will cycle along the Dutch IJssel, through the deepest lying polder of the Netherlands Krimpenerwaard and over narrow cycling paths to the river ‘Lek’. Here you will cross the river by ferry to Kinderdijk, a unique and renowned monument where Holland’s largest number of historical windmills is found.

From the embankments of the river Lek, you will witness an amazing view of the 19 windmills, which are now listed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage site. This is where you will take a break and visit the interior of a windmill.

After a beautiful tour through the Alblasserwaardpolder, you will arrive at the banks of the river ‘Beneden-Merwede’.

Dordrecht, sailing to Willemstad or Bruinisse, cycling to Zierikzee.

From Dordrecht, you will sail to the Delta area of the Dutch greater rivers during breakfast. Years ago, an open connection existed with the sea due to the many tributaries in this area.

After the disastrous flooding in 1953, the Deltaplan was developed and most tidal outlets were closed from the sea by dams. Most parts of Zeeland were, and still are, under sea level and in 1953 the embankments were too weak and too low, causing this area to be at risk for floodings once in every 80 years. Now, because of the flood barriers, that chance is reduced to less than once every 4000 years.

A shorter version of today’s route is offered by sailing to Bruinisse, from where the group of remaining cyclists can be joined to Zierikzee, after which the Watersnoodmuseum (Flooding museum) is visited. Zierikzee is a beautiful town and the centre of the ‘mussel culture’. The ‘Zeeuwse mosselen’ (blue mussels) are a renowned delicacy.

On this day you will cycle towards the North Sea, along the Oosterschelde to the Oosterscheldedam. Enormous locks are built in this embankment that can be closed during storms and high tides protecting the south-west of the Netherlands against the sea.

This embankment was one of the last in a series of barriers against the sea. When cycling along the embankment, one will realize why this has been one of the most difficult and costly challenges to protect the country now and in the future and to let seawater into the widespread Delta area. It is precisely why the Deltaworks are referred to as the one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

After this dam you will paddle to Middelburg, but not without visiting the picturesque port town of Veere. Middelburg is the lively principal town of Zeeland with many old houses, churches, the beautiful town hall and a pleasant shopping. Also to be found in Middelburg is the Roosevelt Academy, a liberal arts college, located in the former late-gothic town hall on the market of Middelburg.

If possible, during dinner you will sail to Vlissingen. This lovely port town is situated at the Westerschelde and at sea. A walk through the town and over its boulevard is absolutely worth a visit!

With the unique cycle ferry to Breskens in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Dutch-Flanders), we are getting close to Belgium. You will arrive at the Dutch-Belgian border in Sas van Gent, the former gateway to the harbor of Ghent, through an area with small villages, along creeks, bending embankments and beautiful panoramas.

In case you choose the shorter cycle route starting in Terneuzen, you will embark here en during our journey you will witness the lively maritime traffic in the canal from Ghent to Terneuzen, with impressive industrial buildings along the shores.

After a short journey of 1.5 hours, you will arrive in Ghent. From the pier, you can simply take the tram to the medieval centre of this beautiful city.

This morning you will cycle through Ghent to the scenic countryside of Oost-Vlaanderen (East-Flanders). Characteristic for this are the woods, fields, small villages and castles.

From the Aalterbrug (also for the shorter route), the last part of this route takes us over the former tow path along the canal of Oostende-Gent, the oldest canal of Belgium, to Bruges.

The impressive city of Bruges is the end destination of this bike and barge trip. You will pay a visit to the medieval city of Bruges at the end of this day and many of you are likely to stay another day in this beautiful city.

End of this trip after breakfast.