The Netherlands, Amsterdam to Maastricht 8-day Tour

Amsterdam – Weesp | testride in Weesp (11 km/6 mi.)

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.

Weesp – Utrecht (47 km/28 mi.) | Utrecht – Vianen

Your bike tour starts in Weesp. You will cycle along the beautiful meandering river Vecht with impressive mansions on its banks. Along the way you 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 sail the Amsterdam-Rhine canal to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek

Vianen – Gorinchem (41 km/25 mi.) | Gorinchem – Heusden

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.

Heusden – Lith | Lith – Cuijck (40 km/24 mi.)

During breakfast the ship sails from Heusden to Lith, a village on the Maas river. Here your bike tour will start, leading you along the river Maas to medieval towns 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 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.

Cuijck – Arcen (53 km/32 mi.)

Today a magnificent bike tour is scheduled. You cycle along the Maas valley to Afferden and Heijen, right through the unique Maasheggen landscape. With its thorny hedges, that first came into use at the beginning of our era to keep cattle in and scare off Roman occupants, it’s the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands. The route continues through National Park Maasduinen, a long stretch of river dunes deposited by wind and the river Rhine. In the town of Well you will find the Well castle with its heavy round brick tower, dating from the 14th century. The destination for today is Arcen. If there is still time left, you can visit the famous local castle gardens. The castle garden is known for its extensive and diverse flowers and other vegetation. Another option is the beer garden of the local brewery Hertog Jan.

Arcen – Venlo – Roermond (50 km/30 mi.)

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 with an unusually restored castle. From there you cross to the other bank and continue the bike ride to the beautiful village of Beesel, where grain mill ‘Grey bear’ stands proudly next to the river. Today’s tour ends in the city of Roermond. Here the river Roer and Meuse converge. Catholic Roermond, since 1559 an episcopal city, is known for its rich cultural heritage. 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 and the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam. A modern day attraction is the Designer outlet center, that draws throngs of fashionista’s. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).

Roermond – Born (42 km/25 mi.) | Born – Maastricht

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 of Maaseik. This city is famous for medieval painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. In 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 of Limburg, is a beautifully preserved city with Roman roots and a French flair. In this town you find the treasure houses 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 thoroughly enjoy yourself on the Vrijthof. You will not get bored!

Maastricht

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.