On the traces of the Hanseatic League, Bike & Boat from/to Amsterdam, MPS LIZA MARLEEN

From 12:30 pm, embarkation in Amsterdam, Oosterdok, near the main station. At 2:00 pm, the ship leaves and sails through the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to Wijk bij Duurstede, an enchanting town with a beautiful medieval market square on the Lower Rhine. After dinner, you may enjoy a stroll through the old lanes of the town.

During breakfast, your ship sets sail for Wageningen. Here, you start for your first cycle route through the picturesque Lower Rhine River Valley. Around lunchtime, you cycle through Arnhem city centre and cross the historic “John Frost bridge”. This bridge was the centre of the Battle of Arnhem in 1944 as part of “Operation Market Garden”. In the afternoon, continue along the IJssel to the Hanseatic city of Doesburg.

Alternatively, you can extend your cycle tour individually (unguided) by approx. 15 kilometres and cycle through the woodlands and heathlands of the Veluwe National Park.

Today your cycle tour starts in the Hanseatic city of Doesburg. From here, follow the Hanse Cycle Route along the IJssel River to Bronkhorst, a hamlet that is proud to be considered the Netherlands`smallest town. Today`s destination is Zutphen, the city of towers. Already from afar, you can see the big and small church towers that characterise the panorama of the city. During dinner, your ship sails to Deventer. The historic „Stadsplein de Brink“square has already been a central meeting point during the heyday of the Hanseatic League and is today surrounded by numerous cosy terraced cafes.

During breakfast, the ship sails to Wijhe, from here you go on a cycle tour. Cross the IJssel River by ferry (approx. € 1.50 per pers.) and cycle through woodlands and the magnificent unspoilt landscape of the Eastern Veluwe. In the afternoon, you reach Hattem respectively Zwolle. Both cities are lively Hanseatic cities and have a charming medieval old town. During dinner boat tour to Kampen, with one of the best preserved historic city centres in the Netherlands. The city is also home to the Cog Ship of Kampen, a reconstructed medieval Hansa cog ship.

In the morning, shipping to Reevesluis. Here you begin your cycle tour. Along the Lake Veluwe – here you can take a bath, rent a boat, go surfing and much else – you cycle through typical Dutch landscape to Elburg, a charming medieval fortified town and ancient fishing town. You should not miss out on a visit of the historic Old Town, which is no larger than 250 by 350 metres. Afterwards continue through the huge woodlands of the Veluwe to reach Harderwijk. A stroll through the city leads inevitably to the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, a basilica that dates back to the 14th/15th century. Overnight stop in the old fishing port.

Today your cycle ride leads through flat coastal landscape as well as through woods and moorland. If the weather is nice, you may want to take a bathing break in the recreation area of Strand Nulde. Alongside the Eem River, you cycle to Spakenburg, an old fishing port. Today the museum port is the heart of this small town.

During breakfast, you sail to Huizen. From there, you cycle to the marvellous fortified city of Naarden and to the castle in Muiden (Dutch Muiderslot). Along a quiet route, you reach Amsterdam. The afternoon and the evening you spend in Amsterdam.

After breakfast, disembarkation until 09:00 am and individual journey home.