Maastricht to Amsterdam Bike & Barge

Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board between 1pm and 2pm. After the welcome meeting there is a bicycle fitting and short test-ride. After dinner we will take a walk through the centre of town. We recommend coming to Maastricht and spending a day or two before the trip if you can. It is the capital of Limburg province and is a beautifully preserved city with Roman roots. There is a lot to see including the Basilica of St Servatius, the Bonnefanten fine art museum and the Kazematten (Casemates), encompassing an 18th-century fortress & its surrounding cave network. There's also the marl caves near the Fortress of Saint Peter, or spend time in the heart of the city in the beautiful Vrijthof square.

During breakfast, we cruise to Born via the Juliana Canal, where we disembark at the locks. We then cycle over the border into Belgium to Maaseik, famous for the painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. On the market square you will see typical renaissance houses with their impressive facades. If it's not too early maybe sample a Belgian “pint” on this beautiful square. We continue to Thorn, the ‘White Village’ on the Dutch/Belgian border known for its cobblestone streets and white painted houses. The only non-white building is the 14 century church. We continue to the city of Roermond, where the river Roer and Meuse converge. Roermond has a rich cultural heritage. Since 1559, it has served as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Roermond, and its skyline is dominated by the towers of St Christopher's Cathedral and Roermond Minster. It is also the birthplace of Pierre Cuypers, perhaps the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century, being the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam and designer of more than 100 churches.

After breakfast we continue our cycle. First we follow the river on the east bank to the beautiful village of Beesel, where the grain mill ‘Grauwe Beer’ stands proudly along the river. We then cross to the other bank to Kessel, one of the oldest villages on the Meuse. At lunchtime we arrive in Venlo, with its many historical monuments and a lively inner city. In the afternoon, we continue to Arcen, a former fortified town on the banks of the Meuse. Time permitting you can visit the famous local castle gardens, known for their extensive and diverse flowers, or visit the beer garden of the local brewery.

We start the day by cycling through Well, with its Well Castle with heavy round brick tower dating from the 14th Century. We continue through Maasduinen National Park close to the German border, arriving into Afferden at around lunchtime. We continue to meet the barge in Curijk, an interesting city on the banks of the Meuse. The neo-Gothic St Martins Church houses a well kept Baroque organ (built 1639-1650), one of the oldest in the Netherlands. After dinner we will visit the museum Ceuclum where you can climb the tower for a magnificent view of the Maas valley.

Today we ride along the Meuse river's banks to the medieval cities of Grave and Ravenstein. In Grave you will see cannons from the time of Napoleon. Grave played an important role in "Operation Market Garden" during WWII, being situated near an important bridge which is now called John S. Thompson Bridge. In Ravenstein you can visit the Tanners' Cottages in the city park. In Oss we board the barge and cruise to Heusden, a beautifully restored fortified city. Dinner tonight is not included, you are free to dine in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).

This morning we will cruise to Gorinchem, a charming town on the river Waal. From here we cycle through a typical Dutch landscape to Leerdam, a little town on the banks of the river Linge which is famous for its glasswork. In the afternoon we continue to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek.

During breakfast we cruise to Breukelen, where we start cycling along the winding river Vecht to Amsterdam. Along the way we will visit a mill in Loenen. Our destination is Amsterdam, where you can take a tour through the canals, visit the Rijksmuseum or the van Gogh museum.