The holiday season in Belgium is something truly special. Each city throws an enchanting winter festival, which could include anything from market stalls and elaborate light displays to Ferris wheels and ice skating rinks. Bordered by the bigger tourism magnets France, Germany, and the Netherlands, Belgium is a small country bursting with cultural impact and well worthy of being the highlight of any European trip—whether it’s your first time on the continent or your tenth. Chocolates, french fries, specialty spirits, and beers are amongst the many things this stretch of the Earth is known for doing well. You’ll get to experience it all during Belgium’s most festive time of the year, when you can sip vin chaud and the world’s most delicious cups of hot chocolate between bites of warm liege waffles and spiced gingerbread.
Who will enjoy this cruise: This trip is perfect for those who have been to the classic markets of Germany and are looking for something new, for anyone looking to explore a different side of Belgium than most tourists see, or for those excited to lean into a holiday extravaganza for their next winter season.
Please note that some of the winter festivals we visit may not be open during the sailing departing on the 2nd of December.
The trip was outstanding. Beautiful scenery, safe, comfortable routes. Superb guides. Fun riders from around the world. Delicious food. Nice quarters, and friendly staff. Would definitely do it again. Highly recommend.
From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Dordrecht, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum. “Do as the locals do” with an immersive tour in Antwerp and drift along the canals of Bruges. All along the way, you’ll savor Dutch delights and Belgian treats as you sail the aquatic highways and byways of two amazing countries shaped by water.
This cruise is for those who wish to step back in time to visit historic villages and medieval city centers. Art lovers will enjoy guided museum visits, while garden lovers will find a host of wonders with springtime blossoms.
This tour is fast-paced but if you're up for it it's absolutely worth it. We had the chance to see and do so much. The optional excursions were great. Both our tour guide and driver were very nice and knowledgable. I will definitely be looking forward to my next expat explore tour.
Journey from the historic town of Bruges to the Belgian capital city, Brussels, along countryside roads and bike paths. During this week long cycle holiday, follow the Flemish Masters to the most beautiful towns in Belgium and admire their artworks in the Old Masters Museum in Brussels, St. Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, KMKSA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) and Rubens House in Antwerp, St. John’s Church in Mechelen and Groeninge Museum in Bruges. In between towns, there will be ample opportunity to explore the special pockets of this enchanting country. Much of the mainly flat route is alongside a river, past fields and through woods. At the end of the cycling day, stay in comfortable hotels and explore charming cities where local specialities such as beer, mussels and chocolate are waiting to be sampled
Our self guided Bruges to Amsterdam was fantastic and I recommend this trip to anyone who loves an easy cycle along canals, country roads and farmers fields. They have the best fed livestock, ducks and goats we have ever seen. Beautiful homes so well kept! The accomodation was good to great and the luggage transport seamless. The app worked well along with the trail numbers to follow that were issued as a daily booklet. We had arranged to arrive at the first hotel a day earlier. Brugge was lovely and it turned out to be a good decision. My e-assist bike was fine but my husband"s bike had gear problems so was issued another bike. It was the same brand but older looking. On day two he had a flat. Luckily a very good bike shop was not that far away and we ended up purchasing a new tube. The old tube had been patched too often to make it a safe option to continue using that tube. That was the only negative.
You’ll find an ideal mix of old and new, historic and modern, in some of Europe’s liveliest cities on this journey. Spend time in Amsterdam and Maastricht, allowing you to discover great shopping, countless active options, and mouthwatering foodie destinations. Explore Belgium’s historical and contemporary capital city of Brussels, home of a rich and vibrant culinary tradition. Discover Antwerp’s penchant for tasty treats, including Belgian waffles, beer, pralines, and chocolate on a walking discovery tour of the diamond capital of the world. In splendid Maastricht, a city with hundreds of national heritage sites, you’ll uncover why it’s known as one of the most beautiful cities in all of Holland. Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps with a stroll through Nuenen, where you’ll wander through the sites that inspired much of his art. Delight in a visit to Kinderdijk to see its 19 well-preserved windmills that have stood the test of time.
From Amsterdam to Antwerp, discover the Netherlands, land of the tulips, mills and cheese. Through this cruise and its excursions, we invite you to discover the authentic Holland, with many canals and cities which have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage.