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“Thinking of Holland I see broad rivers languidly winding through endless fen, lines of incredibly tenuous poplars like giant plumes on the polder’s rim”.
These lines of a famous poem by the Dutch poet Marsman characterize this wonderful journey between Amsterdam and Maastricht, the southernmost city in the Netherlands. Discover magical flat and green landscapes formed by the rivers Vecht, Lower Rhine, Waal, Linge and Meuse: a tangle of old gullies, cut-off meanders, dikes and flood plains with a typical flora and fauna. Visit historical towns, remarkable villages and some castles and gardens along these rivers. In the hospitable province of Limburg, cycling tours will cross borders regularly: although the Meuse flows through the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium are only a stone’s throw away. You can eat ‘Kuchen’ (cake) in a German ‘Konditorei’ in the morning and have a delicious afternoon beer in a street café in a Belgium village. The journey ends in Maastricht, the capital of the province of Limburg, famous for its lively center and vibrant hospitality.
Day to Day Program Amsterdam – Maastricht
Saturday: Amsterdam – Weesp (cycling ± 11 km)
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Around 2 p.m. the barge sails to Weesp. This small city on the banks of the river Vecht has a historical centre with many canals and buildings dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth century. It also has a few beautiful windmills. The scenic river Vecht and the small roads along the river attract yachters and cyclists. As soon as you arrive the tour leader will organize a test ride. After dinner you will have time to stroll through this charming city.
Sunday: Weesp – Utrecht – Vianen (cycling ± 47 km)
Your bike tour starts in Weesp and you will cycle along the beautiful meandering river Vecht with impressive mansions on its banks. Along the way you will visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods. You will meet the barge in the city of Utrecht and from there you will sail the Amsterdam-Rhine canal to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek.
Monday: Vianen – Gorinchem – Heusden (cycling ± 41 km)
From Vianen you cycle through a typical Dutch landscape to Leerdam a little town on the banks of the river Linge. Leerdam is famous for its glasswork. Later on you continue biking on the beautiful roads along the Linge to Gorinchem, a charming town on the river Waal. After a short visit, you will join the barge to Heusden.
Tuesday: Heusden – Oss – Cuijck (cycling ± 40 km)
During breakfast the ship sails from Heusden to Oss, a village on the Maas river. Here your bike 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 played an important role in Operation Market Garden during the second world war, because it was situated near an important bridge. This bridge is now called John S. Thompson Bridge. Following the Maas river you will meet the barge in Cuijk where you will spend the night. The St. Martins Church, a neo-gothic church, houses a very well kept baroc-organ (built 1639-1650). This organ is one of the oldest in the Netherlands. After dinner you will visit museum Ceuclum in Cuijk and you can climb the tower for a magnificent view of the Maas valley.
Wednesday: Cuijck – Arcen (cycling ± 53 km)
Today a magnificent bike tour is scheduled. You cycle along the Maas valley to Afferden and Heyen. The route continues through National Park Maasduinen to Well where you will find the Well castle with its heavy round brick tower dating from the 14th century. The destination for today is Arcen. Here you may visit the famous castle gardens with a great variety: the Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens; the water- and sculpture garden; the Lommerijk, with shades, waterfalls and streamlets; the Valley, offering six ‘international’ gardens ; Casa Verde, offering Mediterranean and tropical gardens; the Golf garden, with a view at the largest waterfall in the Netherlands.
Thursday: Arcen – Venlo – Roermond (cycling ± 50 km)
Again your bike route follows the Meuse river. Here and there you cross by ferry or bridge in order to follow the most interesting paths. The first stop is Venlo, with many historical monuments and a lively inner city. At lunchtime you arrive in Kessel, one of the oldest villages along the Meuse. There you cross over to the other bank and continue the bike ride to the beautiful village of Beesel, where the grain mill ‘grey bear’ stands proudly along the river. Todays’s tour ends in the city of Roermond, where of the river Roer and Meuse come together. Roermond is known by its rich cultural heritage. Since 1559 it has been a bishop city. In the center you will find many historical buildings. Roermond is also the city of Pierre Cuypers, according to many the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century. He is the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).
Friday: Roermond – Born – Maastricht (cycling ± 42 km)
Today, the cycling tour continues through charming villages and the beautiful landscape of the province of Limburg. First stop is Thorn, the ‘white Village’ on the Dutch/Belgian border known for its cobblestone streets and white painted houses. The only non-white building is the 14th-century church. From Thorn you cycle across the Dutch / Belgian border to the Belgian city Maaseik. This city is famous for the painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. On the market square you will see typical Renaissance-style houses with their impressive facades. You can also take the opportunity to have a nice Belgian “pint” on this beautiful square. You will find the ship in Born, from where you sail to Maastricht. Maastricht, the capital of the province is a beautifully preserved city with Roman roots. In this town you find the treasure house of the St. Servaas Church, the Bonnefanten museum for art and antiquity, and the Kazematten, a system of underground fortress works from the 18th century. In addition to these places of interest, it is also worthwhile visiting the marl caves, or just to thoroughly enjoy yourself on the Vrijthof. You will not get bored!
Saturday: Maastricht
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
Day to Day Program Maastricht – Amsterdam
Saturday: Maastricht (cycling ± 6 km)
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. After the welcome meeting there is time for bicycle fitting and a short test-ride. After dinner the tour leader will take you for a walk through the centre of town. We advise you to come to Maastricht one or more days earlier, so that you will have plenty of time to discover this interesting city.
Maastricht is a beautifully preserved city with Roman roots. In this town you find the treasure house of the St. Servaas Church, the Bonnefanten museum for art and antiquity, and the Kazematten, a system of underground fortress works from the 18th century. In addition to these places of interest, it is also worthwhile visiting the marl caves, or just to thoroughly enjoy yourself on the Vrijthof. You will not get bored!
Sunday: Maastricht – Born – Roermond (cycling ± 40 km)
During breakfast you join the barge to Born via the Juliana Canal, where you disembark at the locks. From here you bike over the Dutch/Belgian border into Belgium to Maaseik. This town is famous for the painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. On the market square you see typical renaissance houses with their impressive facades. You can also use the opportunity to try a Belgian “pint” on this beautiful square. Then you continue to Thorn, the ‘white Village’ on the Dutch/Belgian border known for its cobblestone streets and white painted houses. The only non-white building is the 14th-century church. Our destination for today is the city of Roermond, where of the river Roer and Meuse come together. Roermond is known by its rich cultural heritage. Since 1559 it has been a bishop city. In the centre you will find many historical buildings. Roermond is also the city of Pierre Cuypers, according to many the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century. He is the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam.
Monday: Roermond – Venlo – Arcen (cycling ± 50 km)
Today you start biking from Roermond. First you follow the river on the east bank to the beautiful village of Beesel, where the grain mill ‘grey bear’ stands proudly along the river. Then you cross over to the other bank to Kessel. Kessel is one of the oldest villages on the Meuse. At lunchtime you arrive in Venlo, with many historical moments and a lively inner city. In the afternoon you ride to Arcen, a former fortified town on the banks of the Meuse. There you can visit the beautiful castle gardens: the Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens; the water and sculpture garden; the Lommerrijk, with shadows, waterfalls and streams; the valley, with six ‘international’ gardens; Casa Verde, with Mediterranean and tropical gardens; the golf garden, overlooking the largest waterfall in the Netherlands.
Tuesday: Arcen – Cuijck (cycling ± 53 km)
Today a magnificent bike tour is on the program. First you will bike pass Well where you find the Well castle with its heavy round brick tower dating from the 14th century. You continue through the National Park Maasduinen close to the German border. Around lunchtime you arrive in Afferden. You will find the barge again in Cuijk, another interesting city on the banks of the Meuse. The St. Martins Church, a neo-gothic church, houses a very well kept baroc-organ (built 1639-1650). This organ is one of the oldest in the Netherlands. After dinner you will visit museum Ceuclum in Cuijk and you can climb the tower for a magnificent view of the Maas valley.
Wednesday: Cuijck – Oss (cycling ± 40 km) – Heusden
Today you bike from Cuijk along the Meuse river to the cities Grave and Ravenstein. Both are medieval cities. In Grave you will see canons from the time of Napoleon. Grave has also played an important role in Operation Market Garden during the second world war, because it was situated near an important bridge. This bridge is now called John S. Thompson Bridge. In Ravenstein you can visit the Tanner’s Cottages in the city park. From Oss you will join the barge again on which you will have a nice sail to Heusden, a very beautifully restored fortified city. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).
Thursday: Heusden – Gorinchem – Vianen (cycling ± 41 km)
In the morning you will join the barge to Gorinchem, a charming town on the river Waal. From there you cycle through a typical Dutch landscape to Leerdam a little town on the banks of the river Linge. Leerdam is famous for its glasswork. In the afternoon you continue to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek.
Friday: Vianen – Breukelen – Amsterdam (42 km)
You will sail during breakfast. Today’s bike tour, that starts in Breukelen leads along the winding river Vecht to Amsterdam. In Loenen you will visit a mill. Final destination is Amsterdam, where you can take a tour through the canals or visit the Rijksmuseum or the van Gogh museum.
Saturday: Amsterdam
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
The barge FLORA is provided with 10 twin cabins with level beds, washbasin and shower/toilet, and 1 twin cabin with bunk bed and washbasin with private facilities just outside the cabin have been constructed. The well upgraded ship is ready to receive new guests to sail along on the bike- & barge trips as well as group charters.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 40 m
Width: 6 m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 20
Internet
The Gandalf is a comfortable passenger ship with accommodation for 22 passengers. All double cabins have twin beds and shower/toilet. Two cabins are eah equipped for three guests. Amidships, you will find the cozy saloon with large windows all around. Outside, the very spacious deck is a pleasant place to be. A number of solar panels on the roof provide environmentally friendly and silent power.
The friendly and experienced skipper-owner Hans Petrus and his crew like to show you the most beautiful places along the waterways.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 45 m
Width: 6,2 m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 20
Internet
This ship started to sail with passengers in the year 2002. This modern ship is spacious and furnished in a tasteful way. The living has a comfortable sitting corner and a little ship’s bar. All cabins have level beds and private facilities. On deck one finds several nice sittings, but still enough space for sun bathing is available.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 44,95m
Width: 6,6m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 22
Internet
Dates/Prices 2024 per person
Prices:
| Cabin type | May 4 | May 11 – August |
| Twin cabin |
€ 1199,00 |
€ 1299,00 |
| Triple cabin (only for 2 persons and a child) |
€1099,00 |
€ 1199,00 |
| Cabin for single use |
€ 1798,50 |
€ 1948,50 |
Dates:
Barge Sarah:
Amsterdam – Maastricht:Departure on: May 4; July 13; August 24;
Maastricht – Amsterdam: Departure on: May 11; July 20; August 31
Barge Flora:
Amsterdam – Maastricht: Departure on: May 25
Maastricht – Amsterdam: Departure on: June 1
Barge Gandalf
Amsterdam – Maastricht: Departure on: June 15 and 29;
Maastricht – Amsterdam: Departure on: June 22; July 6;
Included:
Excluded:
