Dear Cycling Enthusiasts, |
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From our embark at the center of Amsterdam (300 yards from the city's main rail station) our designed-for-cycling itinerary departs at sunset and cruises fifty miles while you sleep to reach our first day of incredible cycling. |
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The next morning you'll wake up to cycle through delightful Dutch villages where the local markets are a great place to sample cheese or pastries. |
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During our levee-top ride past Kinderdijk’s 19 historic windmills, we'll explore the region famous for exporting Tulips during their full bloom. |
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This colorful day ends in the medieval town of Gorinchem, where we'll pedal past preserved fortifications to enter the bicycle-scaled village. After today's ride and tonight's dinner, tomorrow you’ll wake up at the Belgian border. |
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Our second day’s ride features Bruges, a UNESCO Heritage City with the finest collection of preserved medieval architecture in all of Europe. |
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Bruges is where medieval Flanders rocks to the modern beat of a youthful Flemish lifestyle. Dotted with gourmet restaurants, historical sites, breweries, and chocolatiers you'll be delighted with something new every time you turn a corner. |
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Ghent is the ancient university town where the renaissance continues to this day. An “Open City” that escaped destruction during both World Wars, the architecturally magnificent capital of Flanders surrounds Belgium’s largest car-free walking district. |
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Ghent has the largest designated cyclist area in Europe, with nearly 250 miles of dedicated cycle paths. It also boasts Belgium’s first cycle street, where cars are considered "guests" and must stay behind the cyclists. |
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Sidewalk cafes? Of course! |
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No cycling tour of Europe would be complete without them.
After cruising up the Scheldt, our ship ties up near the center of Antwerp. The undisputed hub of the world's diamond trade, Antwerp has a multi-faceted array of Baroque architecture.
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Is cycling better in Belgium? While this question eludes a simple answer, Belgian cyclists are bound to win all arguments about the quality of mid-ride snacking. Belgium is, after all, the genuine home of french fries. |
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My favorite mid-ride treat, however, is a hand-held waffle with coffee. |
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Others choose hand-dipped Belgian chocolates, which are found at nearly all of Belgium’s bakeries. |
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If you reach our afternoon port before the ship, why not have a Trappist Ale? |
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Our daily routes will wind through beautiful lush countryside with smooth paved roads and a nice flat landscape, a perfect way to start your cycling season. |
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From Antwerp our ship cruises overnight to the middle of the Albert Canal, a popular cycling route where our ship’s progress will be delayed by locks. We’ll start our morning ride along the canal to reach Genk where we’ll “Cycle Through Water.” |
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The bicycle path is actually submerged below the water level, and is a favorite photo-op of cyclists touring the region. Our afternoon route will ride into Maastricht, a delightful Dutch city at the southeast corner of the Netherlands. |
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Are there hills in Holland? Yes! After four days on the flatlands, today's three-nation ride ascends 450 feet through hills bordering Belgium to reach the German town of Aachen. |
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Aachen is where Emperor Charlemagne’s still-standing Cathedral became the coronation site for five centuries of Germanic Kings. |
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Aachen, the walls are down, but the gates survive. |
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Our last day of cycling starts in Venlo, pauses for coffee at Arcen Castle (with ample time to take a stroll through the famous gardens), and traces the Meuse River back towards Amsterdam, where you’ll wake up on the final morning of this 8-day voyage. |
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If you care to arrive two or three days early, our bargain-priced pre-tour package will meet your flight at AMS airport and ease you through jetlag while visiting Amsterdam’s outlying attractions. After the conclusion of our 8-day cycling cruise, many will remain in Amsterdam for an extra day or two of self-guided visits to some of Europe's most distinguished museums. |
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Ship & Stateroom Info Tomorrow! |
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Dates & Pricing on Wednesday! |
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Your personal invitation to Reserve a Stateroom will arrive on Thursday at 10am Pacific! |
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