Maastricht to Amsterdam

On Saturday afternoon you will be expected by 2 p.m. on board in Maastricht. After storing your luggage and meeting your cycling companions, guide, captain, and crew there is time for bicycle fitting and a short test ride. After dinner the tour leader will take you for a walk through the centre of Maastricht. 

During breakfast we will sail to Born where we will disembark at the locks. From here we cycle over the Belgium border to Maaseik, famous for the painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. On the market square we will see typical Renaissance style houses with their impressive facades and can order a Belgian beer (Pint) at one of the many terraces. After our break we cross the Belgium/Dutch border again to visit Thorn ‘The White Village’. Thorn is known for its cobblestone streets and white painted houses. The only non-white building is the 14th century church. Our final destination of the day will be Roermond, where the rivers Roer and Meuse (Maas) meet each other. Roermond’s rich history and religious promincen is well visible through the many monumental buildings in the city centre. Roermond is also the city of  Pierre Cuypers, according to many the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century. Cuypers is the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam. 

Today we start cycling following the river on the east bank to the beautiful village of Beesel, where the grain will ‘grey bear’ stands proudly along the river. We will cross over to the other bank to Kessel; the oldest village on the river Meuse. Around lunchtime we arrive at Venlo, with many historical monuments and a lively city centre. After lunch our journey continues to Arcen, a former fortified town on the banks of the river Meuse. Here you can visit the famous castle gardens with a great variety:

• The Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens
• The water- and sculpture garden
• The Lommerijk, with shades, waterfalls and streamlets; the Valley offering six ‘international’ gardens 

Today we have a magnificent bike tour scheduled for you. First we will bike pass the village Well, where you find the Well castle with it’s heavy round brick tower dating from the 14th century. The route continues close to the German border through National Park Maasduinen. Around lunchtime we will arrive in Afferden. We will meet our barge in Cuijk, where we will have time in the afternoon exploring this interesting city on the banks of the Meuse. The St. Martins Church, a neo-gothic church, houses a very well kept baron-organ (built 1639-1650) one of the oldest in The Netherlands. After dinner we will visit museum Ceuclum where we can climb the tower for a magnificent view of the Maas valley. 

After breakfast we will follow the river Meuse to the medieval cities Grave and Ravenstein. In Grave you will see canons from the Napoleonic era. Grave also has played an important role in Operation Market Garden during World War II, because of it’s situation near the John S. Thompson Bridge. In Ravenstsein we can visit the Tanner’s cottages in the city park. We will meet our barge in Oss from where we will sail to Heusden, a very beautiful restored fortified city. We will spend the night in Heusden. Dinner is on your own tonight. 

We will join the barge in the morning sailing to Gorinchem, a charming town on the river Waal. From Gorinchem we start biking to Leerdam. Leerdam’s culture has been strongly influenced by the glass and timber industry. The glass currently manufactured in Leerdam is internationally known as Royal Leerdam. In the afternoon we continue cycling to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek. Vianen received city rights in 1337. During the Middle Ages, as a “free city,” Vianen could be a haven for felons and escaped serfs. Of the three castles built during the town’s history, Castle Batestein was said to be one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Its only remnants are a 17th-century brick gate and water-pump. Remnants of the old city wall are visible fence parts of the old downtown.

During breakfast we will sail to Breukelen, where our bike tour starts; leading along the windig river Vecht to Amsterdam. Along the way we will visit a mill in Loenen. Our final destination is Amsterdam. Before or after our farewell dinner on board you can visit Amsterdam, taking a canal boat tour or visit the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum.

Our tour concludes after breakfast, with departure before 10 a.m.