Susan Thomas says...
Excellent trip , the planning and organisation of the journey and hotels were all well arranged so you can just relax and enjoy the cycling
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Starting in Amsterdam and finishing in Belgium's capital city of Brussels, we recommend adding a few extra nights on to do city breaks in both cities to discover the variety of architecture, historic sites and monuments as well as shopping arcades, parks, gardens, art galleries and museums. Discover why millions visit these two key European cities every year with Amsterdam's famous network of canals (a UNESCO World Heritage site), its infamous red light district and its fabulous squares - Dam, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. Brussels is famous for its food, comic strips, the world-famous Manneken Pis statue as well as the Atomium and the amazing Grand Place.
As well as the start and finish cities, this linear route is mostly flat cycling and allows you to discover even more Dutch and Belgian treats - for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Archetypal images of Holland include its windmills and bridges with plenty of windmills in Kinderdijk and bridges in Papendrecht to feast your eyes on as you cycle across Holland's Green Heart. Famous local snacks from Gouda include syrup waffles (or stroopwafels) and cheese. Continuing southwards you'll get to see the Biesbosch National Park, one of Europe's last remaining freshwater tidal areas, before heading over the border into Belgium where you'll discover the historical cities of Antwerp and Leuven with awe-inspiring architecture and delicious beer and mussels (moules) with Belgian triple-fried chips (frites). For those with a sweet tooth, Belgium's sweet and sugary gaufres (with various toppings) and the luxury pralines and chocolates are well worth trying an assortment.
Marvel at the townhouses along the 17th century canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You could also opt to saunter down the infamous red-light district which attracts millions of curious tourists every year; or enjoy the street performers on friendly Rembrandtplein.
Overnight Westcord Fashion Hotel 4*, Amsterdam (breakfast included).
Today's route takes you through the Green Heart of Holland, a true cycling paradise, with characteristic peat and polder landscapes, small farming communities and picturesque historical towns such as Oudewater. It was to this place that women who had been accused of witchcraft fled from all over Europe to try to have their innocence proven by weighing. Finish your ride in medieval Gouda, discover this beautifully preserved town centre, visit the Gothic town hall and St. John's church. Stop off at a bakery to buy fresh syrup waffles (Gouda is the hometown of the famous stroopwafels) and pick up some Gouda cheese.
Overnight Best Western Plus City 4*, Gouda (breakfast included).
From Gouda you'll continue through the Green Heart of Holland to the village of Kinderdijk. Explore the site on which 19 windmills have stood majestically since 1740 and used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. You can even pay one of the mills a visit. Your destination, Papendrecht, is just a ferry crossing away from of one of Holland's oldest towns; Dordrecht, which is completely surrounded by rivers. Beautiful bridges take you across the water into the heart of town with its many monumental buildings around the harbour
Overnight Leonardo Hotel 4*, Papendrecht (breakfast included).
Follow today's route past one of the few remaining freshwater tidal areas in Europe: the Biesbosch National Park. Crossing a one-kilometre-long bridge high above Holland's Diep river, you arrive in the south of the Netherlands. Continue through village after village, with Brabant hospitality enticing you in to stop for a cup of coffee and a big slice of fruit tart. Bergen op Zoom, today's destination, is 800 years old and the town's narrow streets, old squares and hundreds of monuments testify to a rich and dramatic past. Be sure to feast your eyes on Markiezenhof, a late-gothic mansion built by the local noble family in 1485, that now serves as a museum and archive, before you settle down at one of the many pavement cafes.
Please note you will only be able to cycle through the Biesbosch park on days when the ferry is running, which is not daily. An alternative route will be provided for days when there is no ferry service.
Overnight Grand Hotel De Draak 4*, Bergen op Zoom (breakfast included).
The landscape along today's cycling route is predominantly wooded. On the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, catch your breath in De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide, a lovely cross-border nature reserve. The route takes you along the Scheldekaaien (quays on the River Scheldt) right into the historical heart of Antwerp, Belgium's most important port city and the largest town in Flanders. After seeing the historical centre you might like to venture to the hip and trendy parts of the city: 't Zuid and Het Eilandje. If you've worked up a thirst on your journey, consider a visit to the De Koninck beer brewery. It has been going strong since 1833 and has a new visitors centre welcoming guests wishing to look around and do some tasting. This brewery is best known for its 'bollekes', a type of rounded beer glass.
Overnight Park Inn Hotel by Radisson 3*, Antwerp (breakfast included).
After a short stretch on the banks of the River Scheldt, change course to follow the River Rupel, the shortest river in the country (nearly 10km long). Along the way you'll see abandoned brick works and chimneys as silent witnesses of a tough industrial past. A good place to stop for lunch is the old town of Mechelen, within sight of the church tower of 13th century St. Rombold's cathedral or the Grand Place with its fabulous architecture. Continue along the River Dijle to end your day in the delightful university town of Leuven, where the oldest houses date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Also visit the early-Gothic church of St. John the Baptist (1304) and the Old Market Square (Oude Markt), nicknamed 'the longest bar counter in the world' due to the enormous number of bars and cafes on the square.
Overnight Park Inn Hotel by Radisson 3*, Leuven (breakfast included).
The hills of Belgian Brabant and the expansive Sonian Forest set the scene for today's cycle. There are also train options if you don't feel like cycling into the big city of Brussels. The city's main attraction is the fantastic Grand Place and the nearby little statue of Manneken Pis still draws the crowds although there's plenty more to see. Your visit to Brussels should involve culinary treats such as delicious hot waffles, chocolate, triple-fried frites and beer. You should also enjoy the shopping and culture; you'll be hard-pushed not to want to stay longer.
Overnight Courtyard by Marriott 4*, Brussels (breakfast included).
Depart from Brussels after a hearty breakfast.
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Excellent trip , the planning and organisation of the journey and hotels were all well arranged so you can just relax and enjoy the cycling
We were blessed with fantastic weather throughout which enhanced the trip. The scenery was surprisingly beautiful, the cycle trails were superb, the hotels, food and service were excellent and the distances, whilst long on some days, were very manageable for us middle-aged, weekend cyclists. The only criticism is a small one. The bikes supplied by Dutch Bike Tours were fit for purpose on the flat but the lack of suspension was felt on every uneven surface, such as cobblestones and woodland trails. Overall, one of our favourite cycling holidays so far (however, we have only done four in total so not greatly experienced in that department). It was certainly the safest in terms on being segregated from the road traffic for most of the journey.
It turned out to be a superb holiday, allowing us to sample a different country by seeing much of it at a slow pace to take it all in. Some of the sites along the way were well-worth seeing and discovering more about. Just a shame that there were very few ‘stop-off’ places en route to enjoy refreshments - maybe we were ‘out of season’? Better towards Brussels….
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels
All breakfasts
Bike fitting and briefing at the start of your holiday
Agent supplied navigation app for your smartphone
Bike hire
Luggage transfers between hotels
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
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14th Apr 2024 | US$2230 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2230 Single supp: US$702 |
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21st Apr 2024 | US$2230 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2230 Single supp: US$702 |
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28th Apr 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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5th May 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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12th May 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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19th May 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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26th May 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
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2nd Jun 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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9th Jun 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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16th Jun 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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23rd Jun 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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30th Jun 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
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7th Jul 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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14th Jul 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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21st Jul 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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28th Jul 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
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4th Aug 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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11th Aug 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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18th Aug 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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25th Aug 2024 | US$2510 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2510 Single supp: US$702 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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1st Sep 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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8th Sep 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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15th Sep 2024 | US$2370 | US$702 | Tour only: US$2370 Single supp: US$702 |
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The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed by Headwater rep.
Departures
Sunday only from 14th Apr 2024 to 15th Sep 2024, for 7 nights. All dates are subject to availability, please contact us to check.
Meals
All breakfasts
This holiday does not include any flights or rail.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.