Dutch & Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Small Luxury Ship
Dutch & Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Small Luxury Ship
2025: Apr-May2026: Apr-May
From $7,730 - $10,630 /person
Includes port fees
Iconic Canals, Windmills & Bike Paths from Amsterdam to Bruges
We love this part of the world any time of the year, but seeing it in spring? Breathtaking. Fairy-tale windmills float upon canals and banks of sea grass interlaced with busy cycling paths. Bike through historic towns and medieval cities. And as you sail the waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium, captivating scenery delights, from romantic bridges to traditional gabled buildings. Turns out the Low Countries are full of highs.
Highlights
- Celebrate spring at the world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens, where a landscape planted with 7 million bulb flowers is opened to visitors for just one month a year
- Bike to unforgettable destinations like dreamy Amsterdam, charming Ghent and beautiful Bruges
- Clink a glass of heavenly Belgian beer as you indulge in delectable local specialties like waffles, chocolate and gourmet cheese
- Witness the waterworks that keep the Low Countries dry and serve as your highways on this two-country journey
Start/EndAmsterdam
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Welcome to the Netherlands, where cycling is a way of life • Start with a bike ride in the famous Dutch bulb region, home to seasonal rows of tulips • Before boarding our ship in Amsterdam, see the millions of flowers on display in Keukenhof Gardens • Settle into your spacious stateroom and get to know the ship's ample amenities • Sail through Ijsselmeer to idyllic Hoorn • Cycle along the stunning coast, with green fields and windswept dunes as the backdrop • In Edam, sample its acclaimed cheese and discover waterways lined with colorful houses.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
Days 3-4
Ride on amazing bike paths along the coast and through the province of Zeeland • Pass the inland harbors of tiny canal towns like Bruinisse, known for its mussels • Cross the border into Belgium and continue to Ghent, one of the country's oldest cities • Bike along a canal and through picturesque countryside to magical Bruges • Explore the city’s well-preserved medieval architecture, which is stunningly showcased by cobbled lanes and willow-draped waterways.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
Days 5-6
Bike through the impressive historic center of Antwerp • Lunch on the footsteps of Westmalle Abbey, where monks have been producing beer since the 18th century • Back in the Netherlands, admire the country's iconic windmills • Pedal on cycling paths through enchanting villages and past lush farmland • As you bike through polders to Gouda, keep an eye out for a variety of birds including warblers, buntings and bluethroats • Try a wedge of the namesake cheese or treat yourself to a slice of appeltaart topped with whipped cream.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
Days 7-8
Fit right in with the two-wheeled crowds as you navigate your bike through friendly Amsterdam • Check out the gingerbread-house architecture of the Zaandaam neighborhood and spin past the Zaan windmills • Cycle out of the city and into the countryside, where quaint villages and beautiful meadows await • Enjoy unparalleled views of stately homes, arched bridges and famous monuments as our ship weaves through Amsterdam’s intricate canals.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Tulips are early-blooming spring flowers; keep in mind that coming to the Netherlands and Belgium during their season means traveling well outside of summer—with weather to match! Expect spring showers and gusty winds on your trip, and pack accordingly. Some years, weather during our cooler springtime trips includes hail and even snow!
As unpredictable as the weather can be, so can the blooms themselves. Like peak fall colors or the Northern Lights, the exact timing of spring flower displays varies from year to year. While the timing of this trip aims to align with tulip season, please remember that we can’t guarantee fields of tulips. That part is in Mother Nature's hands—the rest is in ours.
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and creative meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
In contrast to our land-based trips, which have similar room categories, the AmaWaterways ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
Most port conditions require that ships tie up alongside each other, in which case you may need to walk through another ship to access our ship. This is a part of river cruising due to its popularity. You may experience obstructed views from your stateroom when the ship is double-docked, but as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.
Accommodations
Small Ships, Big Adventures
Our small ships feel more like boutique retreats, offering an experience a world away from the typical large cruise.
Ship may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
Gallery
Bikes
Choose Your Perfect Bike
Our bikes are designed and built with specific cyclists and riding styles in mind, so we can always offer you a perfect ride. Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Included in your trip price
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Redesigned for 2024
- Next gen titanium frame with carbon wheels
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop handlebars only
Included in your trip price
- Suited for a wide range of cyclists
- Comfortable ergonomic seat
- Long wheel base adds to the bike's control and stability
- Upright handlebars only
Included in your trip price
- One of the lightest e-bikes available
- Provides plenty of power and more than enough battery
- Lower top tubes for easier mounting and dismounting
- Upright handlebars only
- Limited availability on Unplugged Bike Tours; learn more
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip.
Note: Your stateroom will be assigned based on availability. Please contact us if you are interested in booking multiple Stateroom Categories for your party, selecting a specific stateroom, or Single Supplement pricing.
Please Select a Group Size
Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
