Itinerary: Amsterdam – Vianen – Dordrecht – Willemstad – Antwerp – Dendermonde – Ghent - Bruges
Highlights: Roundtrip of Amsterdam – Cheese farm – Windmills Kinderdijk – Rubens house in Antwerp – Belfort in Ghent - the canals of Bruges.

During this tour the historical Flemish cities Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges are central. And before this we get to know a very beautiful part of the Netherlands. The tour starts in Amsterdam where you will have time to enjoy a roundtrip through the canals and you might want to pay a visit to the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh-museum. Out of Amsterdam you bike along the winding river Vecht with impressive castles on its banks. Along the way you will also visit a real Dutch cheese farm where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods. We visit the historical center of Dordrecht and the windmills of Kinderdijk. A break will be made in Willemstad, a fortified town on the Haringvliet. Last destination in the Netherlands is Tholen, once an important fishing harbour. Our trip continues through Belgium, and our first stop is Antwerp, city of the painter Rubens, whose birth house – the Rubens House - you may want to visit. From Antwerp we follow the beautiful tidal river Nederschelde to Ghent. Worth seeing are the Belfort and St. Baafs-cathedral, with the famous triptych of painter Jan van Eyck. Then we bike across the Flemish countryside to Bruges, in order to breathe the atmosphere of old days. Our final destination is Bruges, with its picturesque town centre and probably the most beautiful among the Flemish historical cities.

Saturday, DAY 1, Amsterdam:
The Merlijn  your sailing hotel, already awaits you in Amsterdam. Embarkation starts at 4 pm. 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. After dinner there is time for a stroll through the city.

Sunday, DAY 2, Amsterdam - Vreeswijk;  (Biking about 20 km):
After breakfast we sail to Nigtevecht, where the bike tour will start. On the way we will visit a cheese farm, where cheese is still made according to traditional methods. From Maarssen we will sail together to Vreeswijk, a small charming town on the Merwedekanaal.  After dinner you may want to stroll through the old centre of Vreeswijk.

Monday, DAY 3, Vreeswijk - Dordrecht; (Biking about 35/55 km):
After breakfast we start biking through one of the most beatiful parts of Holland and will reach Schoonhoven around lunchtime. Schoonhoven is the silver city of Holland and worth a visit. The Merlijn will be moored opposite Schoonhoven, in Nieuwpoort.  After lunch we will continue our bike trip to Kinderdijk, world famous for its windmills.  Here appears an impressive row of large windmills, built to drain the Alblasserwaard. You can visit one of the mills.  From here we will embark the Merlijn and together we will sail to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns of Holland, where you will enjoy a walking tour through this charming old city.

Tuesday, DAY 4, Dordrecht - Willemstad - Tholen - Antwerp; (Biking about 35 km):
Sailing breakfast while we cruise to Willemstad, where your bike tour to Tholen starts. Tolen once was an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people were fisherman for a living. Nowasdays Tholen is connected to the main land in various ways, but it is still a picturesque village with many relics of an eventful past.  Here your bike tour of today ends and together we will sail into the Willemsdok of Antwerp.
Antwerp is not known as diamond city, but also as native city of the painter Rubens.  In the Rubens House you can admire his work.  In the heart of the city you will see the Cathedral of Our Lady and around the Market Square beautiful town houses from a rich past are situated.  Tonight you will enjoy your dinner in one of the many local restaurants in Antwerp.

Wednesday, DAY 5, Antwerp - Baasrode; (Biking about 35 km):
After breakfast you will have more time to explore the city of Antwerp.  You also may want to visit the Rubens Hours or a diamond factory or you can go shopping in the lively centre.  The bike tour of today starts in Rupelmonde, follows the Schelde furhter upstream via Temse to Baasrode.  There is a beautiful bike path along the river and the landscape around the Schelde is magnificent.  Baasrode is a small town on the Schelde River, we will stay here overnight.

Thursday, DAY 6: Baasrode - Merelbeke - Ghent; (Biking about 46 km):
After breakfast we bike along the river Zeeschelde.  Our first stop will be in Dendermonde, a nice country town on the Dender estuary.  We follow this beautiful but capricious tidal river Schelde upstream to Ghent, 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 Clothmaker' Hall (1425) textile merchants used to meet.  The major church is St. Baafs' Cathedral, built in various ages and in various styles.  In the cathedral you can admire a number of masterpieces of mediaeval painting, of which the 'Adoration of the Lamb' by Jan van Eyck is the most famous.  After dinner there will be a boat tour to Ghent, including a city tour.

Friday, DAY 7: Ghent - Bruges; (Biking about 40 km)
We start with a sailing breakfast and take you to Aalter, where your last biking tour will start.  It will take you through the pleasant countryside of Western Flanders to Bruges.  Bruges, also called the Venice of the North, maybe is the most beautiful of all Flemish cities.  Its old centre, which dates 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.  In the afternoon you will have a walking tour through this city, you may want to include a ride through the canals.
Farewll dinner and your last overnight stay on board the Merlijn.

Saturday, DAY 8, Bruges:
After breakfast it is time to say goodbye.

Amstel River in Amsterdam

The Mermaid

A canal in Amsterdam

The Amsterdam option price includes: Private motor transfers, hotel, double occupancy with breakfast and a cocktail party most evenings, and a half day city tour. We’ll have two days and nights to enjoy this interesting city - the famous red light district, the Van Gogh and other museums, Anne Frank’s house, the famous Keukendf Gardens, and, maybe the Heineken brewery.

Optional Extension to Brussels, Belgium

The Brussels option price includes: Private motor transfers, hotel, double occupancy with breakfast and a cocktail party most evenings, and a walking tour of this trendy city. We’ll enjoy the 5th century Town Square, “Mannekin Pis”, and the many museums, and other sites. And, as you’ll see, they have a craze for chocolates and beer.