Bike and Barge
Flanders tour, summer edition

We arrive in Brussels individually, where the Gandalf boat and crew await us at 5:00 p.m. The boarding point is located in Vilvoorde and can be easily reached by train in about 15 minutes. If you have time before boarding—or even better, an extra day—explore the capital of Belgium. Take a stroll through the historic centre and visit the iconic Grand Place, full of shops, bars, chocolate boutiques, beer halls and the unmissable pommes frites. According to tradition, they are fried twice. Admire the Gothic Town Hall, flanked by guild houses, or visit the Royal Palace. Many agree that the highlight of the palace is the Hall of Mirrors, adorned from floor to ceiling with mirrors and 11 luminous chandeliers.

After breakfast, we set off from Vilvoorde on our first bike ride to Mechelen. This extraordinary city boasts an impressive cathedral, one of Belgium’s oldest breweries (Het Anker), and around 300 historic buildings. From there, we pass through small villages and large country estates on our way to Willebroek, where the boat awaits us for dinner.

Today we start cycling in Willebroek and pass through Lier, famous for its lace and embroidery as well as its beautiful Gothic Church of Saint Gommarus. Then, back in the saddle, we reach Antwerp, the city of diamonds. It is also a hidden gem, with distinctive features such as medieval streets, Renaissance monuments and lively nightlife. Be sure to visit the Town Hall, Grote Markt Square, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the medieval Steen Castle.

We leave the sparkling city behind and cycle along the Scheldt River to Hemiksem, then continue to Rupelmonde, where the Scheldt meets the Rupel. Next we reach the village of Niel and the Walenhoek Nature Reserve. Along the way we also pass a historic brick factory located between Boom and Niel that dates back to the Middle Ages. The destination for the day is the beautiful city of Dendermonde. The perfect way to end the day’s cycling is with a short stop for a drink in the beautiful Flemish market square, the Grote Markt.

Today, we will cross the Donkmeer Nature Reserve on our way to Ghent. This city boasts centuries of history and proud corporate traditions, including brick facades, a covered wool market, historic houses, and ancient market squares. As soon as the sun sets, however, the city comes alive with events and performances by artists. The nightlife of the bruin cafés, traditional bars with dark interiors and soft lighting, is not to be missed! All that’s left to do is raise a glass of good Trappist beer!

Today’s route follows the entire length of the Ghent–Ostend Canal across the wide Flemish plain to Bruges, a city rich in history and Gothic masterpieces. With its narrow streets and traditional brick houses, Bruges preserves a unique romantic atmosphere. As you wander between the Burg and Markt squares and along the charming canals, the sound of horses trotting on the cobblestones makes it feel as if you have stepped back in time.

During the final stage of our bike ride, we cross the famous polders after cycling alongside peaceful canals lined with beautiful poplar trees. Small farmhouses and farms dot the landscape until we reach the North Sea coast, passing through the town of Damme along the way. There, we can cool off and relax on the 12-kilometer sandy beach or visit one of the many cafés and admire the dunes of Het Zwin, a unique nature reserve. Then, we return to Bruges, where our boat awaits for the night.

Disembarkation is after breakfast, by 9:30 a.m. Goodbye Bruges!