Amsterdam to Brussels Ride

Amsterdam sets the tone for your journey with elegant townhouses lining the 17th century canal district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In your free time, you could wander through the famous Red Light District or head to Rembrandtplein to watch street performers and enjoy the lively atmosphere. We overnight at the Westcord Fashion Hotel 4*, Amsterdam.

Today we cycle through the Green Heart of Holland – a serene patchwork of peat meadows, polders and small farming communities – with a stop in historic Oudewater, where women once came from across Europe to have their innocence proven by an official “weighing”. We finish the ride in medieval Gouda. On arrival, you can explore the beautifully preserved town centre, visit the Gothic town hall and St. John’s church, and sample local specialities – pick up Gouda cheese and stop at a bakery for fresh syrup waffles (stroopwafels). Overnight Best Western Plus City 4*, Gouda.

We leave Gouda and cycle through the Green Heart of Holland to Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills – standing since 1740 – once drained excess water from the low-lying polder up to the River Lek. We explore the site, and you can choose to visit the interior of a mill. Continuing on, we ride towards Dordrecht, one of the Netherlands’ oldest towns, completely surrounded by rivers – bridges lead into the historic harbour with its many monumental buildings – before a short ferry crossing takes us to Papendrecht.Overnight Leonardo Hotel 4*, Papendrecht.

We ride past one of Europe’s few remaining freshwater tidal areas – Biesbosch National Park – then cross a bridge of about one kilometre high above the Hollands Diep to reach the south of the Netherlands. We continue through a string of villages where Brabant hospitality shines. You can pause for a coffee and a generous slice of fruit tart. Our day ends in Bergen op Zoom, an 800 year old town with narrow streets, old squares and many monuments reflecting a rich and dramatic past. You can visit the Markiezenhof, a late Gothic mansion built by the local noble family in 1485 and now a museum and archive, before settling at a pavement café.You can only cycle through Biesbosch National Park on days when the ferry operates – it does not run daily. When there is no service, we provide an alternative route.Overnight Grand Hotel De Draak 4*, Bergen op Zoom.

We cycle through predominantly wooded landscapes, pausing at De Zoom – Kalmthoutse Heide on the Dutch–Belgian border, a nature reserve that spans both countries. We then follow the Scheldekaaien – the quays along the River Scheldt – straight into the historic heart of Antwerp, Belgium’s most important port city and the largest town in Flanders. After exploring the centre, you could head to the trendy districts of ’t Zuid and Het Eilandje. If you’re thirsty, you could visit the De Koninck brewery, operating since 1833, where a visitor centre offers tours and tastings – it’s known for its bollekes, the rounded beer glass.Overnight Park Inn Hotel by Radisson 3*, Antwerp.

After a short stretch along the banks of the River Scheldt, we turn to follow the River Rupel – the shortest river in the country at nearly 10 km – passing abandoned brickworks and chimneys that reflect a tough industrial past. We reach Mechelen, a great spot to pause for lunch within sight of the 13th–century St. Rombold’s Cathedral or on the Grand Place with its striking architecture. We then trace the River Dijle to finish in the historic university city of Leuven, where some houses date from the 14th and 15th centuries. In your free time, you can visit the early–Gothic church of St. John the Baptist, founded in 1304, and wander the Old Market Square, often called the longest bar counter in the world for its many bars and cafés.Overnight Park Inn Hotel by Radisson 3*, Leuven.

We leave Leuven and cycle through the rolling hills of Belgian Brabant, then on into the expansive Sonian Forest as we approach Brussels. If you prefer not to ride into the city, you can take a train instead.On arrival, you can make a beeline for the Grand Place and the nearby Manneken Pis, then dip into Brussels’ culinary scene with hot waffles, chocolate, triple–fried frites and beer. You can also enjoy the city’s shopping and cultural highlights – you may well want to stay longer.Overnight Courtyard by Marriott 4*, Brussels.

We enjoy a final hearty breakfast before departing Brussels.