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Dutch Bike Tours Cycling holiday Amsterdam – Bruges
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Cycling days
Distance
Amsterdam – Bruges
Amsterdam – Bruges
Hybrid :
E-Bike :
Duration :
8 days
Cycling days :
 6
Comfort :
period:
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Code:
8-08
History Cities Flemish masters
price from € 864
Amsterdam – Bruges
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Amsterdam – Bruges

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Bike Tour: Amsterdam – Bruges - 8 days

Amsterdam – Bruges

We have devised a wonderful cycling holiday through the Netherlands down into Belgium, past towns, villages, canals – on high-quality cycling paths. In eight days of cycling you will discover many delightful places you otherwise wouldn’t have chanced upon.

Starting in Amsterdam and travelling in a southwesterly direction you will go to the following towns: Gouda, Dordrecht, Willemstad, Zierikzee, Middelburg, Vlissingen (Flushing), Sluis, Damme and Bruges. They count among the most picturesque towns in the Netherlands and Flanders and are remarkably well-preserved and evocative of centuries past. The route is predominantly rural and passes through a number of nature reserves.

We also offer this tour with Bruges as the starting point. 

Want to see more of Belgium? Ask us about the possibilities for extra cycling days to Ghent or Antwerp.

In collaboration with:
Logo_Dutch Bike Tours_Compact klein (1) 

Route
Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam - Gouda/Oudewater/Bodegraven
Day 3: Gouda/Oudewater/Bodegraven - Papendrecht/Dordrecht
Day 4: Papendrecht/Dordrecht – Willemstad
Day 5: Willemstad – Schuddebeurs/Zierikzee
Day 6: Schuddebeurs/Zierikzee – Vlissingen/Middelburg
Day 7: Vlissingen/Middelburg – Brugge
Day 8: Return home

Day 1:    Arrival in Amsterdam

Your bicycle holiday starts in Amsterdam, famous for its gorgeous 400-year-old canal district; museums (the new Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Anne Frank etc); street artists and performers on Dam, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein; a notorious red-light district and more. This city is brimming with things to see and do and you couldn’t wish for a more dynamic beginning to your holiday. Try to arrive early so you have time to admire the elegant tree-lined canals and tall narrow townhouses and warehouses dating from the 17th century (World Heritage Site).   

Day 2:    Amsterdam - Gouda/Oudewater/Bodegraven
68 km

After staying the night in bustling Amsterdam, plunge into the peace and quiet of the “Groene Hart” or 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 annual markets in Gouda.  We recommend an evening stroll around the old part of town to soak up the yesteryear atmosphere and marvel at the large and attractive market square boasting a wonderful fifteenth century town hall as well as a Weighing House (“Waag”).

Day 3:    Gouda/Oudewater/Bodegraven - Papendrecht/Dordrecht
38 km

From Gouda you'll cycle via the "Green heart of Holland" to the village of Kinderdijk, explore the site where 19 windmills have been standing majestically in rows since 1740. They were used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. One of the mills is open to the public. Your destination, Papendrecht, is just a ferry crossing away from of one of Holland’s oldest towns; Dordrecht. Dordrecht is completely surrounded by rivers. Beautiful bridges take you across the water into the heart of town. Around the harbour you will see many monumental buildings.

The hotel in Papendrecht is just 3km outside the center of Dordrecht on the north banks of the river. 

Day 4:    Papendrecht/Dordrecht – Willemstad
65 km

The result of a major flood in 1421, Biesbosch is one of the few remaining wetland 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. Round off the day in Willemstad, a fortified town shaped like a seven-point star.

Please note you will only cycle through de Biesbosch park on days that the ferry departs. This ferry does not go daily. If the ferry does not go you follow an alternative route.  

Day 5:    Willemstad – Schuddebeurs/Zierikzee
50 km

Today you will enter Zeeland, a province of the Netherlands marked by light, wind, water and lots of space. It is made up of islands so bridges and ferries will be carrying you across the waters as you drift down towards Belgium. Picture-book towns with ancient houses and cobbled streets are lined up for the coming days. Traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes and golden sand flats. 

Day 6:    Schuddebeurs/Zierikzee – Vlissingen/Middelburg
43 km

A wander down the narrow streets of Zierikzee is an absolute delight. Quaint little old houses take you back in time to the town's glory days when ships set sail to sell salt, wool, fish, grain and red dye as far afield as the Baltic and the Mediterranean. Your route continues to the charming village of Veere. From 1541 everything that was exported to Holland from Scotland (mainly wool) came ashore in and was distributed from Veere. This contract brought the town not only prosperity but also a very lively Scottish expat community that stayed for 300 years. Walk in their footsteps as you take a tour of the sights. Cruising further south, you will discover the nostalgic splendour of the city of Middelburg, capital of Zeeland. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the most important centres of trade in the Netherlands. At the end of the day, amble down to the beach in Vlissingen to watch the sun set into the sea.  

Day 7:    Vlissingen/Middelburg – Brugge
66 km

After a hearty breakfast, hop on a ferry boat to Zeelandic Flanders with its winding country roads, pollard willows, wet meadows and scattered villages. Having crossed the border into Belgium, you will reach the charming little town of Damme on the banks of the romantic Damse Vaart. From here, it’s only a short stretch to Bruges, known as the pearl of Flanders! It’s a truly enchanting town that has been welcoming tourists for about 150 years. With most of its medieval architecture intact, it remains exceptionally well preserved and can really give you a sense of times gone by when it was at the centre of the European wool and cloth trade. 

Day 8:    Return home

After breakfast your cycling holiday has come to an end.

Prices & dates
Starting dates:
Daily start from April 1st until September 23rd.

Please note: a minimum stay of 2 nights in a row is required in the hotel in Amsterdam on the following dates (and a higher price will be charged):
April 20th 2024
April 26th and 27th 2024
May 9, 10th and 11th 2024
May 17th, 18th and 19th 2024

Price pp
Double room, breakfast 859.00
Single room, breakfast 1,244.00
Extra night double room, breakfast only 100.00
Upgrades pp/night
Fletcher Hotel Arion, Vlissingen 55.00
Hotel Mondragon, Zierikzee
NH Brugge, Brugge 20.00
Westcord Art Hotel, Amsterdam 10.00
Surcharge per person
Stay in Amsterdam on Saturday 25.00
Stay in Amsterdam from:
2024-03-29 - 2024-03-31
2024-04-20 - 2024-04-20
2024-04-26 - 2024-04-27
2024-05-09 - 2024-05-11
2024-05-17 - 2024-05-19
40.00
Rental bike
Child bike 77.00
Hybrid 91.00
E-bike 189.00
Extra services
Bike Breakdown pass € 4.00 x 7 28.00
Child seat € 5.00 x 7 35.00
Bike theft insurance € 3.00 x 7 21.00
E-bike theft insurance € 6.00 x 7 42.00
Extra luggage € 5.00 x 7 35.00
Tag-along bike € 6.00 x 7 42.00
Child trailer € 17.50 x 7 122.50
Bike helmet per piece 10.00
SGR per piece 5.00

Start:
Amsterdam 

Accommodation

The hotels on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the hotels we work with appears below. If a certain accommodation is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a comparable alternative. 

 

WestCord Art Hotel***/**** (Amsterdam)
Best Western Hotel Gouda**** (Gouda)
Leonardo Hotel Papendrecht **** (Papendrecht)
Hotel Mauritz (Willemstad)
Hostellerie Schuddebeurs*** (Noordgouwe)
Hotel Loskade 45 **** (Middelburg)
Velotel**** (Brugge)
Bikes

Instruction video hybrid bike and e-bike

 

 

Our hybrid bikes are aluminum bikes and have 27-gears

Assembly: Shimano Deore

Brakes: Shimano V Brakes (hand brakes)

Tires: Schwalbe Marathon

Saddle: Selle Royal Freedom

Pedals: flat pedals (XLC)

Weight: circa 16,5 kilo

The e-bikes are Freebike Harlem or similar. The bikes have a small electric engine and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine.

Assembly: Shimano Nexus 8 gears

Brakes: Shimano hydraulic discbrakes

Handlebars are adjustable without any tools

Tires: Continental

Pedals: Flat pedals

Saddle: Velo Comfort

Range battery: ca. 100 km (with normal use)

Weight: ca. 25 kilo. 

 

For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The bikes are Oxford Kick-Off bikes or similar, we also use child mountainbikes as child bike.

Assembly: Shimano 7 gears

Brakes: Shimano V-Brakes (hand brakes)

Pedals: flat pedals

Weight: 13,3 kg (24 inch) or 13,9 kg (26 inch)

The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm. 


Bell

All our rental bikes come with a bell.


Brakes

All our adult bikes come with hand brakes. 


Childseat

For children up to 30 months old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. This is not possible with e-bikes, due to the display.

For children older than 30 months (max. 22KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.

 


Helmet

Helmets are not mandatory in Belgium, but can be rented for €15,- per piece.|
Available sizes: Adult: 54-61cm, Child: 50-55cm. 


Lights

All our bikes come with both front- and rear lights. You need to push the button on the lamp and it will flash three times. This means that the lights will automatically start working when it gets dark. 

When you push again, the lamp will flash one time and the lights will be turned off.


Locks

Our bikes come with a defender lock with plug in chain (cable lock that is attached to the regular lock, see picture).

You need to turn the key a bit, take out the pin from the cable lock and attach it to a pole/other bike/fence etc.

When you push the pin back into the regular lock, you need to lock the regular lock as you always do, and both locks will be secured.


Pannier

1 pannier is included at the 'standard' bikes and the e-bikes.

Height: 42 cm
Depth front to the side: 17 cm
Wide top: 32 cm
Wide down: 23 cm
Volume: 20 liters
It has an easy click-on/click-off system. The panniers are water resistant, so everything will stay dry.


Pedals

The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. 


Quickrelease

All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars. 


Repairkit

There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. In case a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop or call the bike breakdown emergency number which is provided in the travel documents when you book this extra service.


Saddle

Saddles can be adjusted in height without using any tools, see ‘Quick Release’.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. 


Waterbottles

Dutch Biketours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.


We have a limited amount of tandem bikes available on request. The tandem bikes are steel Victoria Special 8.7 or similar. Tandem bikes are suitable for two adults only. 

Assembly: Shimano Acera 24 gears

Brakes: Magura HS11 (hand brakes)

Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Plus

Saddle: Selle Royal Rio Plus SR 8020

Weight: ca. 28 kg


The tandem bikes have a frame size of 48 cm. 
The height of the handle bars on a tandem bike cannot be adjusted.

We have limited family tandem bikes available on request. The family tandems are made of aluminium and can be used for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.

Assembly: Shimano (8 gears)

Brakes: V-Brakes (hand brakes)

Tires: Schwalbe Marathon plus

Saddle: Selle Royal Rio

Pedals: Flat pedals

A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and on their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.

 

 

Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total). 

We mostly use the XLC Duo 2 child trailer.
Child trailers are not possible in combination with e-bikes.  

Mile after wonderful mile of untroubled cycling is what we would wish our clients. However there is a minimal chance of breakdown along the way. If this thought is a nagging worry to you, a Bicycle Breakdown Assistance insurance policy may ease your mind. If you buy this insurance from our partner FietsNED in advance, their service is as follows. If your bike breaks down by the roadside a FietsNED bicycle repair man will drive to you in his repair van and fix your bike so you can continue your tour.You won’t have to pay him repair costs. If you are cycling on your own bicycle you will be charged for any new spare parts your bike may require. If you are renting a bicycle through Dutch Bike Tours any new parts are at our expense. If it turns out the bicycle cannot be repaired on the spot, or if you don’t wish to continue cycling, the repairman can drop you off somewhere in his van. One companion plus bikes may join you in the van.

The Bike Breakdown Pass is €2,75 per day per bike and can only be booked for every participant in a booking. 

 

Do you wish to insure your bike against theft? The cost is € 3,- per day per standard hybrid bicycle.
For an electric bicycle, premium bike or racing bike: € 6,00 per day per bicycle.
Please see the General Terms and Conditions for Bicycle Hire and Insurance. 

If a rental bike gets stolen or damaged, we will hold the client responsible.
If your insurance does not cover this event, you will have to pay the costs yourself.

Article 1 Bike Rental Price

The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the Dutch Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.

Article 2 Payment

a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.

b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, Dutch Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.

c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.

Article 3 Rental Period

a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (the departure day), as stated in the booking confirmation.

b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.

c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.

d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip. 

e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).

f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. Dutch Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.

Article 4 Improper Use

a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.

b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.

c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.

d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.

Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft

The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.

Article 6 Theft Insurance

It is possible to purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance. Covered are: damages arising out of the theft of the bicycle; and damages to the bicycle as a consequence of the theft. Not covered are: theft of bicycle parts; and damages arising out of attempted theft.

Article 7 Theft Insurance Premium

a. The premium for Bicycle Theft Insurance is € 3,00 per day per standard hybrid bicycle. For an electric bicycle € 6,00 per day as well for a Premium bike and racing bike.

The number of insurance days is the same as the number of cycling days as stated in our booking confirmation.

Article 8 Liability in the Event of Theft

a. If you did not purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us before the start of the holiday, you will be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.

b. If you did purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us, but you failed to lock the wheel lock and failed to produce the original wheel lock key and failed to produce an official theft report drawn up by the police, you will still be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.

Article 9 Costs During the Rental Period

Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.

 

Practical info

7 Nights included

3/4 Star Hotels

Tourist tax included

Breakfast included

Tourist information on all the places of interest

The possibility of renting our bikes

7-days a week service-hotline

Luggage transport to your next hotel

not included:
Amsterdam Sloterdijk / Amsterdam CS
Bruges - Amsterdam via Antwerpen

Parking possibilities at the hotel

GPS-tracks availible

The ferry crossing from Vlissingen to Breskens must be reserved online in advance via https://www.westerscheldeferry.nl

Any ferry crossings are not included

Train back to Amsterdam is not included

Arrival info

Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

The train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Sloterdijk departs 6 times per hour. Travel time is about 10 minutes. A single ticket costs approx €4,- per person excl. bicycle.
For timetables and tickets, go to www.ns.nl/en. For bus details, how to reach the hotel, check : www.9292.nl/en.

Bruges is the final destination of this tour. You can fly back from Belgium, or take the train back to trainstation Schiphol Airport.

Reviews

18-07-2021

We loved getting a chance to see Holland from a bike - you go through towns and see countryside that you'd never see otherwise. The route guides give you great flexibility for your day and the luggage transport service was fantastic! All of the fun and none of the logistics.

06-09-2019

...We had a best holiday on the road of Holland. Bicycles was nearly new and everything fixed and equipped. Instructions are very clear and helpful. Hotels in good location with nice diners and breakfast. Luggage was delivered in time. Even weather was beautiful, except our last day (typhoon in Belgium)...

03-09-2019

...I was very satisfied overall with the trip. I was very happy overall and would be likely to do another bike trip in the future...

02-09-2019

...It was so smooth and well organised with the bags arriving at each hotel everyday and no trouble with any of the five bikes we hired for the trip, and would add that I wouldn't do a trip like this without hiring the GPS unit which had all the routes and hotels loaded. Brilliant holiday and a great way to see your country...

01-09-2019

...As we expected, the bike tour itself was very nice, visiting many nice cities and going trough lovely scenery.  We very much enjoyed the bike trip...

28-08-2019

...Probably lack of research on our side but did not realize that the general wind direction is from the SW and is usually quite strong. We did not have good luck with the weather which is just bad luck but knowing about the general windiness of Holland and usual wind direction would have had us considering taking the trip in the opposite direction. All accommodations were comfortable and friendly. This was our first bicycle tour and despite the weather we really enjoyed the experience and would like to do it again! Thank you so much for all your help and hope to book with you in the not to distant future. (Just not into the wind and rain everyday.) Holland is both beautiful, friendly and fun... 

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