perfect trip!
Bruges - Amsterdam
Bike Tour: Bruges - Amsterdam - 8 days
We have devised a wonderful cycling holiday that kicks off in Belgium and leads up through the Netherlands to Amsterdam. Recurring themes include historical architecture, pastoral countryside and water vistas. In eight days you will discover a great many delightful places you otherwise wouldn’t have chanced upon.
We also offer this tour with Amsterdam as the starting point. Please note: This is not a round trip!
Want to see more of Belgium? Ask about the possibilities for extra cycling days starting in Ghent or Antwerp or visit the site of our other label Belgian Biketours.
Bruges is known as the pearl of Flanders. It’s a truly enchanting town that has been welcoming tourists for about 150 years. With most of its medieval architecture intact, it remains exceptionally well preserved and can really give you a sense of times gone by when it was at the centre of the European wool and cloth trade.
After a hearty breakfast, hit the tracks and pedal to the charming little town of Damme on the banks of the Damse Vaart. Then continue to the border and enter Zeeland, a Dutch province marked by light, wind, water and lots of space. It is mostly made up of islands so bridges and ferries will be taking you across the waters as you drift north east. Picture-book towns with ancient houses and cobbled streets are lined up for the coming days. But first you will pass through Zeelandic Flanders with its winding country roads, pollard willows, wet meadows and scattered villages. At the end of the day, hop on a ferry boat to the maritime town of Vlissingen. Cruising further north, you will discover the nostalgic splendour of the city of Middelburg, capital of Zeeland. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the most important centres of trade in the Netherlands.
Discover the charming village of Veere. From 1541 everything that was exported to Holland from Scotland (mainly wool) came ashore in and was distributed from Veere. This contract brought the town not only prosperity but also a very lively Scottish expat community that stayed for 300 years. Walk in their footsteps as you take a tour of the sights. A wander down the narrow streets of Zierikzee is an absolute delight. Quaint little old houses take you back in time to the town's glory days when ships set sail for the Baltic and Mediterranean to sell salt, wool, fish, grain and red dye.
Enjoying your last day in Zeeland, traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes and golden sand flats. Round off the day in Willemstad, a fortified town shaped like a seven-point star.
The result of a major flood in 1421, Biesbosch is one of the few remaining wetland habitats in Europe where the ecosystem has adapted both to saltwater coming in from the sea through tidal creeks, and to freshwater coming down in the rivers. It’s an ever-changing labyrinth of creeks and riverlets encompassing countless little islands of willow woods and reeds, a paradise for birds. Pedalling on, you will reach one of the oldest towns in Holland: Dordrecht, completely surrounded by water. The area around the marina is a true gem. This oldest part of town counts over a thousand historical buildings and three nostalgic canals.
Please note you will only cycle through de Biesbosch park on days that the ferry departs. This ferry does not go daily. If the ferry does not go you follow an alternative route.
Hit the trail once again and set off for the village of Kinderdijk where nineteen majestic windmills present a unique spectacle. They were used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. As you ride your bike towards Gouda, cruising at about two meters below sea level, enjoy pastoral countryside and wonderful cloudscapes. For centuries, people flocked from far and wide to buy horses, cows, meat, turf, seed, cheese etc, at weekly and annual markets in Gouda. We recommend a stroll around the old part of town to soak up the yesteryear atmosphere. Walk all the way around St. John’s church and the market square boasting a 15th-century town hall and a Weighing House (“Waag”).
Plunge into the “Groene Hart” (green heart), a pleasant rural area of low-lying polders with peat meadows and grazing cattle. It’s a flat, open, spacious landscape where church spires and windmills touch the horizon and clouds are reflected in lakes and canals. Your bicycle holiday ends in Amsterdam, famous for its gorgeous 400-year-old canal district. This city is brimming with things to see and do. As always, street artists and performers draw crowds on Dam, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. A new attraction is “Het Grachtenhuis” (Museum of the Canals). Have you been to the renovated Rijksmuseum and Maritime Museum?
Would the 79 km be too long for you then you can split this day by booking an extra overnight in Woerden (38 km and 49 km). Another option is to do the first or the last stretch by train. The cycling route is then only 56 or 53 km.
After breakfast your cycling holiday has come to an end.
Starting dates:
Start on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April, May and September.
Daily start in June, July and August
Please note: a minimum stay of 2 nights in a row is required in the hotel in Amsterdam on the following dates:
April 8, 9, and 10, 2023
Apr 22, 2023
May 18, 2023
May 28 and 29, 2023
| Price pp | € | |
| Double room, breakfast | 799.00 | |
| Single room, breakfast | 1,009.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only | 70.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only Amsterdam | 87.50 | |
| Upgrades pp/night | € | |
| Fletcher Hotel Arion, Vlissingen | 20.00 | |
| Hostellerie Schuddebeurs, Noordgouwe | 0.00 | |
| Hotel NH Brugge, Brugge | 15.00 | |
| Westcord Art Hotel, Amsterdam | 10.00 | |
| Surcharge per person | € | |
| Stay in Amsterdam on Saturday | 22.00 | |
| Rental bike | € | |
| Child bike | 77.00 | |
| Hybrid | 91.00 | |
| E-bike | 189.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| Child seat | € 5.00 x 7 | 35.00 |
| Bike theft insurance | € 3.00 x 7 | 21.00 |
| E-bike theft insurance | € 6.00 x 7 | 42.00 |
| Extra luggage | € 5.00 x 7 | 35.00 |
| Tag-along bike | € 6.00 x 7 | 42.00 |
| Child trailer | € 17.50 x 7 | 122.50 |
| Bike helmet | per piece | 10.00 |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
Starting point:
Bruges
The hotels on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the hotels we work with appears below. If a certain hotel is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will try to request a comparable alternative if possible.
If you don’t bring your own bike, you can rent one from us. Our touring bikes are 24-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
You will find your rental bike waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks.
Why the Dutch don't wear helmets!
Instruction video hybrid bike and e-bike
A standard hybrid bike is €13,00 a day.
Our hybrid bikes have 24-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are circa 16,5 KG.
An electric bike is €27,00 a day.
The e-bikes have a small electric engine and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine. The weight of the e-bike is ca. 25 KG. We recommend a minimum height of 160 cm for the e-bike.
A child’s bike is € 11,00 a day.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm).
The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes.
The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
24" child bike:
26" child bike:
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
Brakes
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
Childseat
For children up to 30 months old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. This is not possible with e-bikes, due to the display.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
Both front- and rear child seats are €5,- per day.
GPS
It is possible to rent a GPS device when you start your tour in Amsterdam, Bruges, Utrecht, Huizen or Bunnik for €20,-.
Helmet
Helmets are not mandatory in the Netherlands, but can be rented for €10,- per piece.
Available sizes: Adult: 54-61 cm, Child: 50-55 cm.
Lights
All our bikes come with both front- and rear lights. You need to push the button on the lamp and it will flash three times. This means that the lights will automatically start working when it gets dark.
When you push again, the lamp will flash one time and the lights will be turned off.
Locks
Our bikes come with a defender lock with plug in chain (cable lock that is attached to the regular lock, see picture).
You need to turn the key a bit, take out the pin from the cable lock and attach it to a pole/other bike/fence etc.
When you push the pin back into the regular lock, you need to lock the regular lock as you always do, and both locks will be secured.
Pannier
1 pannier is included at the 'standard' bikes and the e-bikes.
Height: 42 cm
Depth front to the side: 17 cm
Wide top: 32 cm
Wide down: 23 cm
Volume: 20 liters
It has an easy click-on/click-off system. The panniers are water resistant, so everything will stay dry.
Pedals
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals.
Quickrelease
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
Repairkit
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. In case a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop or call the bike breakdown emergency number which is provided in the travel documents when you book this extra service.
Saddle
Saddles can be adjusted in height without using any tools, see ‘Quick Release’.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover.
Waterbottles
Dutch Biketours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
A Tandem bike is € 20,00 a day.
We have a limited amount of tandem bikes available on request.
Tandem bikes are suitable for two adults only.
The tandem bikes have a frame size of 48 cm.
We mostly use the Victoria Spezial 8.7.
This tandem bike comes with 24-derailleur gears or nuvinci gears.
The height of the handle bars on a tandem bike cannot be adjusted.
A family tandem is €20,00 a day.
We have limited family tandem bikes available on request.
The family tandems have 7-gears and can be used for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.
A Tag-along bike is €6,00 a day.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and on their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
A child trailer is €17,50 a day.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
We mostly use the XLC Duo 2 child trailer.
Child trailers are not possible in combination with e-bikes.
Do you wish to insure your bike against theft? The cost is € 3,- per day per standard hybrid bicycle.
For an electric bicycle, premium bike or racing bike: € 6,00 per day per bicycle.
Please see the General Terms and Conditions for Bicycle Hire and Insurance.
If a rental bike gets stolen or damaged, we will hold the client responsible.
If your insurance does not cover this event, you will have to pay the costs yourself.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the Dutch Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, Dutch Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (the departure day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. Dutch Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Theft Insurance
It is possible to purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance. Covered are: damages arising out of the theft of the bicycle; and damages to the bicycle as a consequence of the theft. Not covered are: theft of bicycle parts; and damages arising out of attempted theft.
Article 7 Theft Insurance Premium
a. The premium for Bicycle Theft Insurance is € 3,00 per day per standard hybrid bicycle. For an electric bicycle € 6,00 per day as well for a Premium bike and racing bike.
The number of insurance days is the same as the number of cycling days as stated in our booking confirmation.
Article 8 Liability in the Event of Theft
a. If you did not purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us before the start of the holiday, you will be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
b. If you did purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us, but you failed to lock the wheel lock and failed to produce the original wheel lock key and failed to produce an official theft report drawn up by the police, you will still be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
Article 9 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
7 Nights included
3/4 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included
Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information
The possibility of renting our bikes
7-days a week service-hotline
Luggage transport to your next hotel
Bruges
Parking possibilities at the hotel
GPS-tracks availible
Any ferry crossings are not included
Nearest Airports are Brussels Airport (BRU) or Luchthaven Oostende-Brugge (OST)
18-05-2023
EVERYTHING about this trip was EXCEPTIONAL. The pre-booking guidance, ease of booking, the hotels selected, the routes chosen, the GPX files and maps. Cycling through the countryside on little used roads or bike paths was fun and stress free. The historical towns. So many friendly people - all spoke Australian!
17-05-2023
Nice, relaxing trip. The days are the right length/distance. We enjoyed the route.
23-04-2023
Very nice trip. Route following had a few bumps (missing signs?) but overall very clear. Excellent accommodations.
28-09-2022
This was a great bike trip. My husband and I (both fairly fit 70+) did it on our Brompton folding bikes, (taking the Eurostar there and back) which probably gives an indication of the level of the cycling. We have never cycled in Holland before and found it amazing - flat, quiet roads and cycleways with good surfaces, usually well signposted and considerate drivers - what a delight! Useful to have a GPS because of the occasional missing sign. The scenery and the small towns were lovely. The prevailing wind is South Westerly but does not always prevail! Because of rain and a strong head wind on our last cycling day, we took the train from Woerden to Amsterdam, which was very easy.
26-07-2022
We had a wonderful trip with DBT and the team was accommodating and helpful . We loved the quaint DUTCH villages and countryside. It’s a great way to see the country and meet people and experience the culture . The best part is that it is a slow holiday - no rushing around - and that’s what we lived most .
05-07-2022
Riding through stunningly beautiful countryside dotted with historic and charming towns and villages was a delight, pure and simple. No stigma is attached to ebikes here as everyone uses them. We were fascinated by the close integration of bicycles of all kinds into everyday life. Being able to ride on to a ferry and pay for a ticket without dismounting was impressive.
17-05-2022
The organisation of the trip was excellent and everything went very smoothly according to the plan. We appreciated how friendly and helpful everyone we met was and especially how bike friendly the Netherlands are
28-07-2021
We loved getting a chance to see Holland from a bike - you go through towns and see countryside that you'd never see otherwise. The route guides give you great flexibility for your day and the luggage transport service was fantastic! All of the fun and none of the logistics.
26-09-2019
...Such a great way to travel for those who want to get active off the tourist path but don’t want to manage all the logistics! We did this tour in the middle of a longer holiday so there is no way we could arrange luggage/bikes ourselves but we are definitely NOT group tour type people. Using DBT let us do our own trip but with a great concierge taking care of all the details. Not worrying about baggage, being free to stop when and where we wanted, go at our own pace (and stop to birdwatch and pet goats and cats along the way), and find everything ready at the next destination was just perfect. Loved it!!...
17-09-2019
...We've done 4 cycling holidays - this one was the best so far. The highlights were Gouda and Willemstad. The scenery for the whole trip was beautiful, but we especially enjoyed the first day from Bruges to Vlissingen...
16-08-2019
...We had a fantastic trip and want to thank you for putting this experience together for us. The booking process was easy, picking up the bikes and getting started was straightforward, the route was lovely, the daily planning books were helpful, and we enjoyed our lodgings (some more than others, but all were clean, comfortable, and in good locations)...
10-08-2019
...The routes were lovely. Although all the terrain was flat, the landscape changed every day and took us through some very pretty towns and villages. Kinderdijk was also a highlight. Unfortunately it was raining very hard on the day we cycled through the nature reserve to Dordrecht but that was also very beautiful...
01-08-2019
...Die Fahrradtour Brügge-Amsterdam war einfach klasse und einer der besten Urlaube, den wir je gemacht haben. Besonders die Niederlande sind ein wunderschönes Land, sowohl auf dem Land als auch in der Stadt, und wir wären am liebsten gleich da geblieben! Dutch Bike Tours als Reiseveranstalter hat zu unserer unvergesslichen Erfahrung maßgeblich beigetragen...
12-09-2018
...The accommodations arranged by DBT were all excellent!...
14-07-2018
...We enjoyed the route from Brugge to Amsterdam because of the water and shipping. We ALWAYS recommend DBT to our biking friends!...
24-06-2018
...The level of difficulty was fine. We had a problem with a bike helmet and some difficulties sorting that out, but did so in the end. The locations in general were great and the directions were really excellent...
15-06-2018
...We loved the bike routes. The views and scenery were amazing. And, even though the weather was cool it was perfect weather to bike in. I also liked the fact that we had the wind to our back the first few days in Zeeland. Later we biked into the wind but by then we were used to the biking routine...
15-06-2018
...to be riding where cycling infrastructure is so good and the means of transport so popular was magnificent...
02-06-2018
...Thank you for organising some beautiful days. They made up for riding across the Zeelandbrug into a headwind...
17-09-2017
...I want to thank you and your team on handling all the logistics on our recent trip from Brugge to Amsterdam. All ten of us had an outstanding time. Hotels were great, daily bike maps worked perfectly, the route was very beautiful, and the luggage was always at the hotel when we arrived. I would recommend you to anyone who wants to experience the charm and beauty of the Netherlands on a bike, which by the way is the only way travel in the Netherlands...
08-06-2016
...Wow – what an amazing trip. You guys really organized everything so well. I absolutely loved everything, hotels, etc was perfect. You may want to consider busing people or having them take the train from Willemsted to the center of Dordrecht - close to where the ferry leaves to start the next days ride (the one from Dordrecht to Gouda was perfect)...
08-05-2016
...We absolutely loved our bike tour. All of our expectations were surpassed. We have recommended your company to several friends, and we definitely want to use you again in the future. We loved how easy everything was. Really no worries. It helped having a gps...
15-09-2015
Our holiday was perfect, very nice country side, very nice food and lodging, we wont hesitate to recommend your organization. The gps was, for a few times very useful!
15-09-2015
We enjoyed the tour. The wind on the first couple of days wasn't helpful, but that not something you can control!
We got lost a couple of times, but I think that was mainly our map reading, not your instructions!
Accommodation & breakfasts were good. We were impressed with the bike roads/paths network across the country.
14-08-2015
....We really enjoyed our trip. The Hotels were good, the route fine and the cycling we found quite easy. We didn't use the GPS, we used the maps and Intersection numbers. This mostly worked well. It was a wonderful holiday....
30-05-2015
We had a superb trip with Dutch Bike Tours. The logistics, detailed route selection, bikes and scenery were first class. The services provided were perfect for our style of bike touring where we wanted a great route and luggage forwarding without the need to travel with a guide or in a group.
Maybe you also like these cycling holidays:
Bruges - Amsterdam
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