Bike and Barge in 8 days from Amsterdam to Maastricht in the Netherlands June 6 th 13 th 2015 Biking kilometers per day: average between 30 and 50 Book a back-to-back: Amsterdam to Maastricht to Bruges in 15 days a great tour through the Netherlands and Belgium. June 6 th June 20 th 2015 Saturday: Amsterdam Weesp After check in at 4PM Merlijn sails to Weesp. This city has a protected historical center with canals and many buildings dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Weesp has three full-size historical windmills. It features a bastion and fortifications that are part of the Defense line of Amsterdam and the Dutch Water Line. These structures have never been attacked, though. The scenic river Vecht and the small roads that line it attract yachters and cyclists. We stay here overnight. After dinner you will have time to stroll through this charming city. Sunday: Weesp Vianen Your cycling tour starts in Weesp and you will cycle along the beautiful meandering river Vecht. Lunch stop will be at a Cheese farm. Here we offer you a cheese lunch with lots of cheeses, homemade bread, buttermilk and ice cream. Of course a tour will be given through the farm as well.
After lunch you will bike to the Merlijn who is awaiting you at Breukelen on the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. Together we will sail to Vianen, where we will stay overnight. Monday: Vianen Woudrichem Today you will cycle through a typical Dutch landscape along the Merwedekanaal. You will visit the city of Gorinchem, a medieval town with fortifications, bastions and city entrance gates. Biking further along the river Afgedamde Maas an old arm of the Maas river you will reach the medieval city of Woudrichem. Tuesday: Woudrichem s Hertogenbosch Another day of biking through beautiful Dutch landscape, passing villages such as Bruchem and Hedel. Early afternoon you will arrive at the Capital of the Province North-Brabant: s Hertogenbosch. This city was founded as a fortified city and that heritage can still be seen today. After World War II, plans were made to modernize the old city, by filling in the canals, removing or modifying some ramparts and redeveloping historic neighborhoods. Before these plans could come to effect however, the central government declared the city a protected townscape. Therefore most historic elements have been preserved.
s Hertogenbosch is also home to Saint John's Cathedral (Sint Jans kathedraal in Dutch), which dates from c. 1220 and is best known for its Brabantine Gothic design and the many sculptures of craftsmen that are sitting on almost every arc and rim along the outside of the cathedral. After your visit to the Cathedral go to the Market Place and find yourselves a terrace with a nice ice-cream or Dutch beer. Tonight you will have dinner at your own expense in one of the many restaurants in this city. The Merlijn stays overnight at s Hertogenbosch. Wednesday: s Hertogenbosch - Cuijk During breakfast we will sail from Den Bosch (now you will know this city ) to Maasbommel, a village on the Maas river. Here your cycle tour will start, leading you along the Maas river to cities as Ravenstein and Grave. Both are medieval cities, in Ravenstein you can visit the Tanner s Cottages and in Grave you will see canons from the time of Napoleon. Grave has also been an important place situated close to the Maasbridge, where Operation Market Garden (WW II) took place. The bridge is now called John S. Thompson Bridge. Following the Maas river you will meet the Merlijn in Cuijk. In the St. Martins Church, a neo-gothic church (1911) a very well kept baroc-organ (built 1639-1650) is one of the oldest in the Netherlands. Sometimes concerts still are performed. We stay overnight in Cuijk.
Thursday: Cuijk Roermond During breakfast the Merlijn takes you on the river Maas to the city of Arcen. Here your bike tour will start. In Arcen you will first admire the beautiful Castle Gardens. We will offer you a tour through the gardens and you will see five different kinds: the Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens; the water- and sculpture garden; the Lommerijk, with shades, waterfalls and streamlets; the Valley, offering six gardens on international interpretation; Casa Verde, offering Mediterranean and tropical gardens; the Golf garden, with a view at the largest waterfall in the Netherlands. After this tour you will cycle along the Maas river, crossing by ferry or bridge now and then in order to offer you the best cycling route. Your tour ends in the city of Roermond, where the confluence of the river Roer and Maas is. Roermond is known by a rich cultural heritage. Since 1559 it has been a bishop city. In the center you will find many historical (church) buildings. Roermond is also the city of Pierre Cuypers, according to many the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century (Rijksmuseum and Central Station, Amsterdam). There are many castles, churches and mills in this city. The Merlijn stays overnight here. Friday: Roermond Maastricht While you enjoy your breakfast the Merlijn takes you further upstream the Maas river. At Maasbracht we will sail into the Julianakanaal, a canalized part of the Maas river to Born, where your last cycle tour will start. Your tour leads you again through charming villages and beautiful landscape in the south of our Province Limburg.
Final destination will be the capital of this province Maastricht, perhaps the most charming and cozy city in the Netherlands. In the afternoon and after dinner you will have time to stroll through this lovely city. Saturday: Maastricht After breakfast it is time to say good-bye We reserve to ourselves the right of changing schedule and/or program. If part of the route is not navigable the captain is entitled to change the schedule for safety reasons. Changes in schedule and program do not give you the right on free cancellation. Rate p.p.in a double room 1,150 Included: 7 nights accommodations on board the Merlijn in a double room with private bathroom Daily cabin cleaning service Welcome drink 7 x breakfast buffets, 5 x lunch boxes, 6 x 3-course dinners Coffee, hot chocolate & tea on board, ice water during dinner Use of a 21-speed bicycle, incl. a bike bag, helmet and water bottle Route information Tour guide Ferry fares en route Entrance and guided tour through the Castle Gardens Arcen Cheese lunch at the cheese farm Not included: Insurances 1 dinner Inbound and outbound journey and transfers Drinks other than mentioned Entrance fees, excursions other than the cheese farm and the Castle Gardens.
Included in your trip 15 days Amsterdam Maastricht - Bruges: 14 nights of accommodation, 14 times breakfast buffet, 11 times lunchboxes, 12 times three course dinners Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and ice water free of charge Use of a 21-speed bike, including bike bag, water bottle and universal sized helmet Services of a tour guide Fees for harbors, bridges and locks Daily cabin cleaning service Welcome drink Lunch at a cheese farm Entrance to the Castle Gardens in Arcen Boat tour in Gent Route information Ferry fares en route Not included: Insurances Inbound and outbound journey and transfers Organised city tours Drinks other than mentioned Entrance fees, excursions other than mentioned Special Rate per person: 2,160 in a double room Payment: Deposit: 20% of the price at the time of definite reservation 80% 1 month prior to starting cruise date Cancellation fee: If the cruise is cancelled 6 months prior to starting cruise date 20% 4 months prior to starting cruise date 50% 1 month prior to starting cruise date 80% at the day of starting cruise date or later 100%