The route
The cycling terrain is flat with good cycle paths and markings. During the day you will cycle individually through the beautiful nature of Rembrandt's and Van Gogh's country, and in the late afternoon your riverboat - MS NORMANDIE, will be waiting for you as a ‘floating’ hotel. The daily stages range from approx. 40 km to approx. 55 km, and if you feel like skipping a cycling stage, simply stay on board the boat and enjoy the passing scenery.

See the boat
Itinerary
It is possible to board the MS Normandie from 16:00 and you will sail at 18:00. Rotterdam is a city with many facets. It is a very important harbour city, a popular city in artistic circles and an architecturally very interesting city. It is also a city with rich shopping opportunities.
You'll start the day by heading out towards Willemstad, where the first bike ride of the tour begins. Willemstad is a cosy town that dates back to the 1700/1800s and is definitely worth a visit. You'll cycle through idyllic landscapes with beautiful fields and past picturesque villages such as Zwartsluis and Goudswaard before reaching Hellevoetsluis.
Weather permitting, today is the perfect day for a short trip to the beautiful Rockanie beach, with its white sandy beach and impressive dunes, which is well worth a visit before you really start today's stage. Today you'll pass the village of Stellendam with the famous Korenlust windmill. You'll also pass the town of Herkingen, known for its water sports, before continuing along the Grevelingendam and arriving at today's stop in Bruinisse.
Today you'll pass by the Watersnoodmuesum, which is definitely worth a visit. Here you can learn about the great flood of 1953 that claimed thousands of lives and the ‘drowned city’ of Viane, which was flooded but never rebuilt. You'll then continue towards Zierikzee, which with its old streets, Gothic church and old city wall is definitely worth a stop. After experiencing what Zierikzee has to offer, you'll continue your journey across the impressive 5 kilometre-long Zeeland Bridge before reaching the harbour town of Veere.
Today you have several different options. You can choose to take a trip to Neeltje Jans - an artificial island created to facilitate the construction of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, one of the most impressive constructions in the Delta Works. Here you can learn about Zeeland's constant battle against the sea and what they do to protect themselves from storm surges like the one in 1953, where many people lost their lives.
Today's first stop is in the capital of Zeeland, Middelburg. The city is rich in history and was once the most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. You'll find the city full of life with plenty of restaurants and shops to explore. You'll also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the city and learn much more about its exciting history. The rest of the day will be spent cycling through idyllic and cosy landscapes with wide beaches, beautiful dunes and green forests.
On the last day of the tour, you'll have the opportunity to experience the most famous windmills in the Netherlands when you head to Kinderdijk. A total of 19 windmills dating back to the 1800s await you. They are beautifully preserved and are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site - definitely worth a visit. The rest of the tour follows the route along the Maas River up to Rotterdam.
After breakfast (no later than 9.00 am), you'll disembark and continue your journey or head home on your own.
Pictures from the trip











Prices and dates
The price includes
- 7 nights in outside cabins with private bathroom in the reserved category
- Programme according to the itinerary from/to Rotterdam
- Full board: 7 x buffet breakfast, 6 x lunch/packed lunch, 6 x afternoon coffee or tea, 7 x 3-course dinner
- Welcome drink
- Daily cleaning of cabins
- Bed linen and towels
- All harbour, lock, bridge and passenger fees
- Daily information meeting about the day's cycling stage
- Information pack with route descriptions in English (one per cabin)
- GPS files
- English-speaking tour guide on board
- This is a package holiday and is covered by the Travel Guarantee Fund and the Package Travel Act - see what benefits this brings you - click here
- Standard 7-speed bike hire
- E-bike hire (see under practical info)
- Drinks on board
- Cancellation insurance/travel insurance
- Various train tickets, entrance tickets, ferry tickets, water taxi tickets, parking fees etc.
Practical information

All accommodation on this trip is in the booked cabin category on board MS Normandie
It is possible to travel alone and stay in a single room on this voyage. If you wish this, it can be selected on the booking form.
All departures require a minimum of 50 guests to depart. Departures will be cancelled at least 21 days before departure if there are not enough seats sold. It is therefore important that you wait to arrange transport to the destination until you have received final confirmation of the trip from us.
Please be aware that a cruise ship in the Netherlands is not only your hotel, but also a machine that occasionally works with engine power at night. Especially when passing locks and bridges - and preparing for the journey - noise may occur. If you are sensitive, please bring your own earplugs.
This tour takes place from Saturday to Saturday.
Prices vary throughout the season, check the exact price by finding your desired start date.
On all our cycling holidays it is possible bring your own bike but it also possible to rent a bike for the tour. The bikes you can rent are all perfectly suited for the tour and the local terrain and all bikes are perfectly maintained. If you want to rent a bike on your holiday, then you select this on the booking form where you can also see the price. Remember to write your height in the message field when you book so that we know which size bike you need.
PHOTOS OF THE BIKES ARE BELOW THIS TEXT
On this tour it is possible to rent the following bikes:
- Unisex 7-gear bike – with back pedal breaks
- Unisex ebike – with backpedal breaks
Equipment included in the bike rental:
- Saddle bag (water repellent)
- Handlebar bag (water repellent)
- Service-set with tools and extra bicycle tube
- Combination lock
Roadside assistance
All bikes are equipped with puncture resistant tyres which means that it is virtually impossible to puncture. No rule without exceptions, so should you experience a punctured tyre then you can quickly fix it by using the tools in the service-set. If the damage is greater than a simply puncture then you simply call us and we make sure that your bike is fixed or you will be supplied with a new bike as quickly as possible.
Insurance is included
Insurance against theft and damages are included in the bike rental. Should you have any problems of this nature then all you have to do is to let us know and we will supply a new bike as quickly as possible. Naturally, careless or mischievous behavior is exempt from this.
Unisex 7-gear bike – with back pedal breaks
Unisex ebike – with backpedal breaks
Upon request, it is possible to bring your own bicycle on this tour. Approval from the boat is required, as there is a limit to the number of bicycles that can be accommodated. Your bicycle must be insured, and you must understand that it will be stored together with rental bicycles, packed tightly, and handled by the onboard staff.
Please note that the boat disclaims responsibility for damages and theft of privately brought bicycles.
If bringing an e-bike, it is required that the battery can be removed and brought into the cabin.
There will be a handling fee for bringing your own bicycle - see details on the booking page.
Wearing a bike helmet is not mandatory in the Netherlands, but at Bering Travel, we ALWAYS recommend using a helmet and bringing your own.
The flights to/from Rotterdam are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 3-5 business days)
- You arrange your transportation
Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
Arrival by car
If you come by car, it is possible to drive directly to the quay where your riverboat docks. Here you give the car keys to a parking attendant, who drives the car into the car park and delivers it back to you at the quay at the end of your trip. The price is approximately 170€ for a week (subject to availability - final price available on booking. This service must be booked in advance. Send us an email and we will forward the booking form.
All meals are included in the price of the trip. This means:
- 7x Breakfast
- 6x lunch packed lunch
- 6x Afternoon coffee or tea
- 7x Evening meals (3-course menus)
Special meal requests, e.g. dietary or vegetarian food can be accommodated by arrangement.
All drinks must be paid for on board.
On this trip, you'll stay on the boat for the entire trip in your chosen cabin. There are two options for cabins:
- Cabin on the main deck
- Cabin on upper deck
All cabins have single beds, bath/toilet, ventilation system and a window that can be opened.
- For a stress-free start to your trip, it is recommended to arrive at the starting point early in the evening of the day before. The individual return journey will take place on the last day of the trip.
- The indicated cycling distance is an approximation and may differ from the actual distance.
- This journey is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
- Further important information about your trip by bike and boat:
- There is always a possibility of changes in the schedule and programme. In the event of extremely high or low water levels, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of the route with a bus or to cancel the trip at short notice without liability (water level is force majeure). The same applies in the case of officially arranged lock and/or bridge repairs not previously announced or in the case of engine damage not caused by the fault of the ship.
- Also be aware that your riverboat is both your "holiday hotel" and a working machine, constantly moving with engine power, even at night (sometimes with lock and bridge passengers and consequent ejection and retraction of structures). Particularly noise-sensitive guests are advised to bring earplugs. Lock passages are particularly associated with noise nuisance - it is the same on all boat trips - and unfortunately cannot be changed!
- Please note that storage space in the cabin is very limited. In your luggage you should pack good rainwear (jacket and trousers), a helmet, sun hat and sun cream and sports shoes.
Tips are not included in the price.
It is customary to tip the crew of the riverboat at the end of the trip. The level is about 7-10€ from each participant. per day. On a trip like this of 7 days duration, about 50-70€ per person would be appropriate - depending on your experience.
There will typically be an envelope in the cabin for this purpose, or information will be provided to this effect at the end of the trip.
Starting in 2025, travelers from visa-exempt countries will need an ESS or ETIAS authorization to enter EU nations. This system enhances border security while simplifying entry procedures. Ensure compliance by applying online before your trip to avoid delays.
You can read more about it here.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
Join the special ‘Bering Cycling Holidays’ group on Facebook. Here you'll be notified about new holidays, special offers and much more.
Note: you need to request membership, but everyone is approved.