Itinerary Expand allAmsterdam to Brussels Day 1 Arrive in AmsterdamMarvel at the townhouses along the 17th century canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You could also opt to saunter down the infamous red-light district which attracts millions of curious tourists every year; or enjoy the street performers on friendly Rembrandtplein. Stay at the Westcord Art Hotel (3*) with breakfast Day 2 Amsterdam to GoudaToday's route takes you through the Green Heart of Holland, a true cycling paradise, with characteristic peat and polder landscapes, small farming communities and picturesque historical towns such as Oudewater. It was to this place that women who had been accused of witchcraft fled from all over Europe to try to have their innocence proven by weighing. Finish your ride in medieval Gouda, discover this beautifully preserved town centre, visit the Gothic town hall and St. John's church. Stop off at a bakery to buy fresh syrup waffles (Gouda is the hometown of the famous stroopwafels) and pick up some Gouda cheese. If 49mi/79km is a little too far for you to cycle you can take the train for the last section reducing the route to 35mi/56km. Stay at the Best Western Hotel Gouda with breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Gouda to PapendrechtFrom Gouda you'll continue through the Green Heart of Holland to the village of Kinderdijk. Explore the site on which 19 windmills have stood majestically since 1740 and used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. You can even pay one of the mills a visit. Your destination, Papendrecht, is just a ferry crossing away from of one of Holland’s oldest towns; Dordrecht, which is completely surrounded by rivers. Beautiful bridges take you across the water into the heart of town with its many monumental buildings around the harbour. The hotel in Papendrecht is just 3km outside the centre of Dordrecht on the north banks of the river. Stay at the Apollo Hotel Papendrecht with breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Papendrecht to Bergen op ZoomFollow today's route past one of the few remaining freshwater tidal areas in Europe: the Biesbosch National Park. Crossing a one-kilometre-long bridge high above Holland's Diep river, you arrive in the south of the Netherlands. Continue through village after village, with Brabant hospitality enticing you in to stop for a cup of coffee and a big slice of fruit tart. Bergen op Zoom, today's destination, is 800 years old and the town's narrow streets, old squares and hundreds of monuments testify to a rich and dramatic past. Be sure to feast your eyes on Markiezenhof, a late-gothic mansion built by the local noble family in 1485, that now serves as a museum and archive, before you settle down at one of the many pavement cafes.Please note you will only be able to cycle through the Biesbosch park on days when the ferry is running, which is not daily. An alternative route will be provided for days when there is no ferry service. Stay at the Grand Hotel De Draak with breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Bergen op Zoom to AntwerpThe landscape along today's cycling route is predominantly wooded. On the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, catch your breath in De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide, a lovely cross-border nature reserve. The route takes you along the Scheldekaaien (quays on the River Scheldt) right into the historical heart of Antwerp, Belgium's most important port city and the largest town in Flanders. After seeing the historical centre you might like to venture to the hip and trendy parts of the city: 't Zuid and Het Eilandje. If you've worked up a thirst on your journey, consider a visit to the De Koninck beer brewery. It has been going strong since 1833 and has a new visitors centre welcoming guests wishing to look around and do some tasting. This brewery is best known for its 'bollekes', a type of rounded beer glass. Stay at the Hampton by Hilton Antwerp with breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Antwerp to LeuvenAfter a short stretch on the banks of the River Scheldt, change course to follow the River Rupel, the shortest river in the country (nearly 10 km long). Along the way you'll see abandoned brick works and chimneys as silent witnesses of a tough industrial past. A good place to stop for lunch is the old town of Mechelen, within sight of the church tower of 13th century St. Rombold's cathedral or the Grand Place with its fabulous architecture. Continue along the River Dijle to end your day in the delightful university town of Leuven, where the oldest houses date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Discover the Grand Beguinage, a community for spinsters, set up in 1234, it consists of 100 houses and is now part of the university campus. Also visit the early-Gothic church of St. John the Baptist (1304) and the Old Market Square (Oude Markt), nicknamed 'the longest bar counter in the world' due to the enormous number of bars and cafes on the square. Stay at the Radisson Park Inn Leuven with breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Leuven to BrusselsThe hills of Belgian Brabant and the expansive Sonian Forest set the scene for today's cycle. There are also train options if you don't feel like cycling into the big city of Brussels. The city's main attraction is the fantastic Grand Place and the nearby little statue of Manneken Pis still draws the crowds although there's plenty more to see. Your visit to Brussels should involve culinary treats such as delicious hot waffles, chocolate, triple-fried frites and beer. You should also enjoy the shopping and culture. You'll be hard-pushed not to want to stay longer. Stay at the NH Brussels Grand Place Arenberg with breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Leave BrusselsLeave Brussels Meals included: Breakfast
Cycling from Brussels to Bruges New Visit the iconic cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges Cycling Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate Ages: 12+ 8 Days from $1,949 USD Self-Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details
The NetherlandsVisit the Embassy of the Netherlands website for the most current visa information.The Netherlands is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter the Netherlands for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.No visa required for British passport holders.For further Brexit travel advice please visit www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
BelgiumNo visa required for British passport holders.For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Hotels Your accommodation during this trip is in three and four star hotels. The hotels are a mix of traditional and contemporary buildings and all offer excellent facilities and ensuite bathrooms. Should the named accommodation on the itinerary details not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
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