The city of Ghent, Netherlands
Rhine River Bike Tours
Biking in Netherlands
Tulips and a windmill in Netherlands
Edam and other cheeses, Netherlands
Biking in Kinderdijk
Canal in Brugge, Belgium
An evening in Amsterdam
Woman photographing tulips
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This trip is filling up for the upcoming season! Check out our Netherlands & Belgium Bike Tour or our Seine River Cruise Bike Tour with new dates just added.

Dutch & Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour

Tulip Time from Amsterdam to Bruges

Couples, Friends & Solos

8 days 7 nights

Activity Level: 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From: $6,899 - $9,599 pp dbl occ

($3,500 - $9,600 for sgl occ)

We love this part of the world any time of the year, but seeing it in spring? Breathtaking. Vivid rows of tulips stretch to the horizon and wrap around fairy-tale windmills. Beyond the blooms, 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. This is the Low Countries at tulip time.

Dutch & Belgium Waterways River Cruise Biking Tour
Dutch & Belgium Waterways River Cruise Biking Tour

Netherlands

Start/End Amsterdam

Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

Highlights

  • Celebrate spring among vibrant blossoms of tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths plus the windmills of Kinderdijk
  • Experience Dutch and Belgian biking culture as you ride to places like unforgettable Amsterdam, charming Ghent, beautiful Bruges and historic Middelburg
  • Clink your glass of Belgian beer—perhaps a singel, dubbel or quadrupel—and indulge in waffles, chocolate and gourmet cheese
  • Learn about the Zeeland province and how it’s protected by the Delta Works—a masterpiece of engineering

See our Active Cruise Terms & Conditions.

Ports of call
Amsterdam
Hoorn
Middelburg
Ghent
Antwerp
Rotterdam
Kinderdjik
Schoonhoven
Amsterdam
Videos
The Backroads Experience
The Backroads Experience
Biking Tours
Biking Tours
Backroads Trip Leader
Meet Our Leaders

Itinerary

Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
8 Days Small Luxury Ship
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Description

DAYS 1-2 Welcome to the Netherlands, a country where cycling is a way of life | Start with a bike ride in the famous Dutch bulb region and find yourself surrounded by rows of jaw-dropping tulips | Picnic in the midst of flower fields | Before boarding our ship in Amsterdam, see the millions of flowers on display in Keukenhof Gardens | Sail through Ijsselmeer to idyllic Hoorn | Cycle along the stunning coast, with the Dutch countryside and shimmering lakes as the backdrop | In Edam, sample its acclaimed cheese and discover waterways lined with colorful houses.

DAYS 3-4 Ride on amazing bike paths and along the coast through the province of Zeeland | See the storybook village of Willemstad and the twisting alleys of Middelburg | Marvel at the engineering miracle of the Delta Works—a massive flood barrier critical to a country sitting largely below sea level | Cross the border into Belgium and continue to gorgeous 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 architecture, from medieval to classical design.

DAYS 5-6 Bike through the impressive and 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 19 windmills at Kinderdijk’s World Heritage site | 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.

DAYS 7-8 Discover just how easy it is to navigate your bike in Amsterdam | 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.

Accommodations
AmaWaterways Ship
AmaWaterways Ship
Select a departure date for your ship details

A luxurious 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. (pool)

View sample deck plans

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Note: You may only reserve one Stateroom Category at this time. 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.

Looks like you’re traveling with a smaller group

Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.

Please Select a Group Size

Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Activity Level: 1-3

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.

Daily Route Options

* Includes shuttle.
Day 1
Biking
Level 1 | 11 miles* | 200 ft. gain
Level 2 | 15 miles* | 300 ft. gain
Level 2 | 21 miles | 400 ft. gain
Day 2
Biking
Level 1 | 17 miles | 300 ft. gain
Level 2 | 35 miles | 800 ft. gain
Day 3
Biking
Level 3 | 30 miles | 500 ft. gain
Day 4
Biking
Level 2 | 32 miles* | 600 ft. gain
Level 4 | 64 miles | 1200 ft. gain
Other
Boat Tour in Bruges | 45 minutes
Day 5
Biking
Level 2 | 22 miles* | 500 ft. gain
Level 4 | 49 miles | 1100 ft. gain
Other
Beer Tasting with Local Expert | 30 minutes
Day 6
Biking
Level 2 | 18 miles | 400 ft. gain
Level 4 | 39 miles | 700 ft. gain
Other
Kinderdijk Windmill Tour | 45 minutes
Day 7
Biking
Level 2 | 25 miles | 500 ft. gain
Level 4 | 35 miles | 900 ft. gain
Day 8
Other
Disembarkation in Amsterdam

What's Included

Available Bike Options

The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.

Click the arrow to see all bike options.

Backroads Performance Road Bike
Backroads Performance Road Bike
Performance Road Bike

Included in your trip price

This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork. 

Backroads Touring Bike
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike

Included in your trip price

A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.

Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
Electric-Assist Bike

Included in your trip price

Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+

Cannondale Synapse Pro Carbon Bike
Cannondale Synapse Pro Carbon Bike
Carbon Bike

Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package.
$650 rental fee; subject to availability

Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem Bike
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem Bike
Tandem Bike

This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee

Also Included

  • All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
  • Expert Backroads Trip Leaders, on ship and on shore
  • Off-the-beaten path exploration
  • Access to all ship amenities
  • Impeccable and personalized service from ship staff and Backroads Leaders
  • Exclusive activities that amplify your appreciation and understanding of the local culture
  • Exclusive biking routes with multiple options at varied paces
  • Gratuities on ship and on shore handled by your Backroads Leaders
  • Exploring lesser known routes away from busy ports
  • Dedicated support vans
  • Custom Titanium bike
  • Easy-to-use route directions so you're free to explore independently
  • Private walking tours with expert guides
  • Access to all ship activities and excursions
  • Wine included with all onboard meals
  • Private cocktail/wine receptions
  • Off-ship lunches in genuine settings

Straight talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Ships

The ships we sail on are like a floating luxury hotel, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.

Backroads Support on Board and on Shore

We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.

Backroads Cruising Life

If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Our cruises are smaller, and much more intimate than a typical cruise. They are also quite lively, social experiences, shaped by both our Backroads group and the larger ship community. Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules that may occasionally limit our time on shore, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. If you love meeting new people, enjoy the ease of unpacking once, and don't mind a set schedule of port departure times, you'll love our approach to active river and ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.

Meals

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.

Itinerary Flexibility: Going with the Flow

Our daily itinerary is based on scheduled sailing and port arrival times and as a result some days have more opportunities for exploring on land while other days have more sailing time. Every river has its own unique temperament and for centuries water levels have shifted due to rain, temperature and agriculture. High water levels may mean the ship cannot pass under a bridge, low water levels result in slower sailing, and a disabled lock can also lead to some extra cruising time. Should any unforeseen change happen during your river cruise, we will work closely with AmaWaterways' Captain and staff, who are very experienced in going with the flow. Depending on the situation, we may use a bus or our bikes to get to the next destination and use a land-based hotel if needed, in which case our leaders will adjust the rides and activities as necessary.

Stateroom Categories

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.

Double-Docking

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 rest assured that as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.

Ask a trip expert

Have a question and need expert advice? Our team of Trip Consultants is here to help! You can also visit our Help Center.

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