The Netherlands, Amsterdam to Maastricht 8-day Tour

Amsterdam - Weesp | Testride in Weesp 11km

Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you onboard is between 1pm and 2pm. Around 2pm 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 17th & 18th century. It also has a few beautiful windmills. The scenic river Vecht and the small roads along the river attract yachters and cyclists alike. 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.

Weesp - Utrecht | Utrecht - Vianen 47km

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.

Vianen - Gorinchem | Gorinchem - Heusden 41km

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. A visit of the centuries-old crystal factory of Royal Leerdam is on the program. You can see a team of master glassblowers at work. 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.

Heusden - Maasbommel | Maasbommel - Cuijck 40km

During breakfast the ship sails from Heusden to Maasbommel, a village on the Maas river. Here your bike tour will start leading you along the Maas river to cities like Ravenstein and Grave. 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 the 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 well kept baroc-organ (built 1639-1650). This organ is one of the oldest in the Netherlands.

Cuijck - Arcen 53km

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 to admire: the Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens, the water- dens, 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.

Arcen - Venlo - Roermond 50km

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 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 Rijks museum and Central Station in Amsterdam.

Roermond - Born | Born - Maastricht 42km

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!

Maastricht

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30am.

The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.