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| Description: |
 From Holland's intriguing capital to Belgium's artistic gem, this bike tour follows meandering rivers and canals over the famously flat Dutch countryside and through Flanders' endlessly beautiful landscape. Amsterdam and Bruges hold no limit of treasures, and you will feast your eyes on many of them. As Amsterdam's wealth grew during the prosperous Golden Age (17th century), so did the size of the city. Canals were dug one after the other along which merchants built elaborate houses. Today, more than 100 canals crisscross the city and over 6800 historical buildings with a wide array of unique facades and gables remain, including the Royal Palace on the Dam Square. Rembrandt's life-size masterpiece Nightwatch alone makes a visit to the Rijksmuseum a must. From Amsterdam, you'll cycle past large manor estates with beautifully manicured gardens along the Amstel and Vecht Rivers to Dordrecht, one of the first settlements in the Netherlands. The tower on the Grote Kerk dates from 1339! Via more dikes, ferry rides, and several opportunities to visit the beach, you will enter into Belgium's Ghent, a major port with inviting riverbank cafés. Well before cycling into the colorful town center, you'll see Bruges' towering Belfort (bell tower) guiding you ahead. Take a few minutes to climb its 366 steps for a rewarding view of the city as well as to discover the Treasury Room located within.  As a former booming trading center along the sea, Bruges still harbors many reminders of its past glory. Architecturally, the city remains one of the best preserved examples of the northern Renaissance style. And as the birthplace of Flemish art (14th-15th century), Bruges is home to many magnificent paintings by Jan van Eyck and Gerard David. The Groeninge Museum is a great place to see a comprehensive and fascinating collection of 6 centuries of Flemish, Dutch and Belgian painting, including Renaissance and Baroque masters. Michelangelo's sculpture Madonna and Child can also be found on display in the Church of Notre Dame along with several other artistic gems: paintings, carved wooden statues, painted sepulchers from the 13th century et al.
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| Difficulty: |
Easy; guided tour |
| Dates: |
On Standard (Holland) or Standard Plus (Tijdgeest) class ship: Saturday on September 11, 2010.
On the Standard Plus class ship, the Feniks: Saturday August 28, 2010.
On the Comfort class ship the Anna Cornelia: Saturday on August 28, 2010.
On the Comfort class ship the Lena Maria: Saturday on July 10, 2010.
On the Comfort Plus class ship, the Merlijn: Saturday on April 17, 2010.
On the Comfort Plus class ship, the Zwaan: September 18, 2010.
On the Comfort Plus class ship, the Iris: Saturday on June 12 and October 16, 2010.
On the Comfort Plus class ship, the Elodie: Sold out for 2010!
***Now open for 2011 bookings:***
Aboard the Comfort Plus class ship, Elodie: :
July 10 and August 14, 2011
On the Standard Plus class ship, the Feniks: Saturday August 27, 2011.
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| Days: |
8 days / 7 nights |
| Price: |
from €699 |
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