Bike & Boat Bruges - Brussels, MPS LIZA MARLEEN

Individual arrival in Bruges. Embarkation at 4:00 pm. Take some time to discover the interesting city of Bruges – The Venice of the North – is widely known in Europe for its art and museums. Bruges’ old town with its number of Grachten (small channels) belongs to the UNESCO world’s cultural heritage. Enjoy the bustle activity around the Grote Markt (the big market place) while having a nice tea or coffee.

Your first cycle tour will take you at the beginning over Damme, Till Eulenspiegel’s place of birth to the sea-side. Sandy beaches and a lot of cafés (you can swim in the sea there) will give you the opportunity for a nice rest. After approx. 2 hours you are cycling back to Bruges.

During breakfast your boat is shipping to Moerbrugge. The whole cycle route follows the Ghent-Oostende-Canal through the wide Flemish plain to Ghent. In the Middle Ages Ghent was the second largest city after Paris and has preserved its architectural wealth in the historic city centre until today. Your ship will dock for the night in Merelbeke (at the lock), a suburb of Ghent and approx. 30 cycling minutes to the city centre.

After breakfast you are going by bike to Dendermonde today. A coffee break on the wonderful Flemish Grote Markt is a must. In the evening shipping to Sint Amands one of the most beautiful and winding parts of the route on the river Schelde.

In Sint Amands you start today’s cycle tour. You are passing the water tower and cross the Brussels-Rupel-canal. After that you are cycling through a historic area of brick burning, where bricks have been produced since the Middle Ages until today. Then you follow the river Rupel until you come to the river Schelde. From Rupelmonde you are comfortably cycling towards Hemiksem, then down the river Schelde to Antwerp, the world’s centre of diamond-processing and your today’s destination. Antwerp offers a number of interesting sights such as the richly decorated town hall in renaissance style, the historic Grote Markt, the huge Liebfrauen Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle.

After breakfast you are starting your bike tour, passing the suburban of Antwerp with their beautiful exclusive residential area via Lier along the river Nete to Willebroek where your ship is already waiting for you.

While your ship is going through the Willebroek canal today, your last cycle tour is leading you through green, soft and hilly landscapes over Mechelen to Vilvoorde. In Mechelen, you will find the remarkable density of more than 300 listed buildings (classified as historical monuments), among them eight churches, all built within an area of only three square kilometres. From Vilvoorde you are shipping to Brussels. Take some time to wander around the old town that is worth seeing, having a look at the Gothic town hall, the beautiful guild houses, the big market and the “Männeken Pis”.

After breakfast, disembarkation until 9:00 a.m. and individual journey home.