Follow the Flemish Masters on a linear cycling tour to the most beautiful towns in Belgium, admiring the grand painters’ artwork in Brussels, St. Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, KMKSA and Rubens’ House in Antwerp, St. John’s Church in Mechelen and Groeninge Museum in Bruges. In between, you’ll ride through ever-changing landscapes, with riverside stretches and sign-posted routes.
Bicycle holidays in Belgium
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Brussels - Bruges
Type :
Hybrid :
E-Bike :
Duration :
8 days
Cycling days :
6
Comfort :
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Code:
BE108010
Brussels - Bruges
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Brussels - Bruges
Bike Tour: Brussels - Bruges - 8 days
Route
Day 1: Arrival Brussels
Day 2: Brussels - Mechelen
Day 3: Mechelen - Antwerp
Day 4: Antwerp - Dendermonde
Day 5: Dendermonde - Ghent
Day 6: Ghent - Maldegem
Day 7: Maldegem - Bruges
Day 8: Departure from Bruges
Day 1: Arrival Brussels
Arrange for an early arrival and take a moment to settle in, then head for the Grande Place. Meet the Manneken Pis, munch on waffles and chocolate and quench your thirst with a pint. It all comes together in Brussels, a city created specifically for culture vultures and shopaholics, gourmets and gourmands alike!
Day 2: Brussels - Mechelen
65 km
Take time to see a bit more of the Grande Place, then set off for Tervuren, known for the Royal Aftica Museum. Rolling along tree-lined country lanes, you pedal past ponds and parallel the river. Woodlands, meadows and farmed fields lead to Mechelen, one of the smaller Flemish towns, yet large on beauty.
Day 3: Mechelen - Antwerp
39 km
Stop in Sint-Kathelijne-Waver for an exquisite surprise. The convent-school of Our Lady of Wavre sports a successful blend of architectural styles: art nouveau, neo-Gothic, neo-Empire and art deco. Plus the wonderful winter garden, an ode to nature, springtime and light! Cycle onward via Duffel, situated on the River Nete. Pause for a bit of military heritage at Mortsel’s 19th-century brick-and-sandstone Fort no. 4. Crown your day in Antwerp with a wander around the city. Shop for antiques or vintage fashion finds and drink in the traditional brews, whether coffee or beer!
Day 4: Antwerp - Dendermonde
57 km
Let the River Scheldt lead you to an encounter with the 10th-century Wissekerk Castle near Kruibeke. Further ahead, ford the river by ferry and pedal along the dike to De Zilverreiger, the regional museum depicting local trades and crafts, such as basket weaving, river fishery, cooperage (barrel making), flax processing and clog making.
Day 5: Dendermonde - Ghent
46 km
Back on the banks of the Scheldt, cruise past a string of Flemish sites. Take a break in Dendermonde, with its town hall, belfry and church with an 11th-century baptismal font. Linger at Laarne Castle then continue on to Ghent, a veritable open-air museum and UNESCO Creative City of Music. The thriving local scene includes concerts, festivals, a carillon and singing in the streets… music is absolutely everywhere. After dark, Ghent glows with a magical ambience thanks to its ingenious lighting plan.
Day 6: Ghent - Maldegem
57 km
Head west into rural Meetjesland, a cyclist’s paradise of woodlands, meadows and farmed fields. Enjoy easy pedalling across flat landscapes, and stretch your legs with a stroll round the sculptures in Eeklo. The Het Leen and Drongengoed forests await. If you have extra energy at the end, take a sign-posted walk among the heather in Maldegemveld nature reserve.
Day 7: Maldegem - Bruges
54 km
Cut across the flat Flemish countryside and glide through quiet villages such as Knesselare, Maria-Aalter and Moerbrugge. On the last stretch, marvel at one of Belgium’s oldest waterways, the 14th-century Ghent-Bruges canal. This green corridor together with its towpath verges provide habitat vital to preserving biodiversity. Top off the week with an evening in Bruges, a Belgian jewel of medieval facades, cobbled lanes and a fairy-tale atmosphere.
Day 8: Departure from Bruges
After breakfast this morning, your holiday comes to an end and it’s time to return home.
Prices & dates
Starting dates:
Fridays and Sundays from April 4th to September 21st.
| Price pp | € | |
| Double room, breakfast | 919.00 | |
| Single room, breakfast | 1,374.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only | 110.00 | |
| Rental bike | € | |
| Hybrid | 105.00 | |
| E-bike | 217.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| Bike theft insurance | € 3.00 x 7 | 21.00 |
| E-bike theft insurance | € 6.00 x 7 | 42.00 |
| Bike helmet | per piece | 15.00 |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
Start:
Brussels
Accommodation
The hotels on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the hotels we work with appears below. If a certain accommodation is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a comparable alternative.
NH Brussels EU Berlaymont**** (Bruxelles)
Hotel Vé**** (Mechelen)
Van der Valk Hotel Antwerpen ****, Antwerpen
Abalona**** (Dendermonde)
Hotel Chamade*** (Gent)
Amaryllis Maldegem** (Maldegem)
Velotel**** (Bruges)
Bikes
Instruction video hybrid bike and e-bike
Our hybrid bikes are aluminum bikes and have 27-gears
Assembly: Shimano Deore
Brakes: Shimano V Brakes (hand brakes)
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon
Saddle: Selle Royal Freedom
Pedals: flat pedals (XLC)
Weight: circa 16,5 kilo
The e-bikes are Freebike Harlem or similar. The bikes have a small electric engine and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine.
Assembly: Shimano Nexus 8 gears
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic discbrakes
Handlebars are adjustable without any tools
Tires: Continental
Pedals: Flat pedals
Saddle: Velo Comfort
Range battery: ca. 100 km (with normal use)
Weight: ca. 25 kilo.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The bikes are Oxford Kick-Off bikes or similar, we also use child mountainbikes as child bike.
Assembly: Shimano 7 gears
Brakes: Shimano V-Brakes (hand brakes)
Pedals: flat pedals
Weight: 13,3 kg (24 inch) or 13,9 kg (26 inch)
The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Bell
Brakes
Childseat
Helmet
Lights
Locks
Pannier
Pedals
Quickrelease
Repairkit
Saddle
Waterbottles
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
Brakes
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
Childseat
For children up to 30 months old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. This is not possible with e-bikes, due to the display.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
Helmet
Helmets are not mandatory in Belgium, but can be rented for €15,- per piece.|
Available sizes: Adult: 54-61cm, Child: 50-55cm.
Lights
All our bikes come with both front- and rear lights. You need to push the button on the lamp and it will flash three times. This means that the lights will automatically start working when it gets dark.
When you push again, the lamp will flash one time and the lights will be turned off.
Locks
Our bikes come with a defender lock with plug in chain (cable lock that is attached to the regular lock, see picture).
You need to turn the key a bit, take out the pin from the cable lock and attach it to a pole/other bike/fence etc.
When you push the pin back into the regular lock, you need to lock the regular lock as you always do, and both locks will be secured.
Pannier
1 pannier is included at the 'standard' bikes and the e-bikes.
Height: 42 cm
Depth front to the side: 17 cm
Wide top: 32 cm
Wide down: 23 cm
Volume: 20 liters
It has an easy click-on/click-off system. The panniers are water resistant, so everything will stay dry.
Pedals
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals.
Quickrelease
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
Repairkit
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. In case a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop or call the bike breakdown emergency number which is provided in the travel documents when you book this extra service.
Saddle
Saddles can be adjusted in height without using any tools, see ‘Quick Release’.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover.
Waterbottles
Dutch Biketours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
We have a limited amount of tandem bikes available on request. The tandem bikes are steel Victoria Special 8.7 or similar. Tandem bikes are suitable for two adults only.
Assembly: Shimano Acera 24 gears
Brakes: Magura HS11 (hand brakes)
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Plus
Saddle: Selle Royal Rio Plus SR 8020
Weight: ca. 28 kg
The tandem bikes have a frame size of 48 cm.
The height of the handle bars on a tandem bike cannot be adjusted.
We have limited family tandem bikes available on request. The family tandems are made of aluminium and can be used for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.
Assembly: Shimano (8 gears)
Brakes: V-Brakes (hand brakes)
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon plus
Saddle: Selle Royal Rio
Pedals: Flat pedals
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and on their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
We mostly use the XLC Duo 2 child trailer.
Child trailers are not possible in combination with e-bikes.
Mile after wonderful mile of untroubled cycling is what we would wish our clients. However there is a minimal chance of breakdown along the way. If this thought is a nagging worry to you, a Bicycle Breakdown Assistance insurance policy may ease your mind. If you buy this insurance from our partner FietsNED in advance, their service is as follows. If your bike breaks down by the roadside a FietsNED bicycle repair man will drive to you in his repair van and fix your bike so you can continue your tour.You won’t have to pay him repair costs. If you are cycling on your own bicycle you will be charged for any new spare parts your bike may require. If you are renting a bicycle through Dutch Bike Tours any new parts are at our expense. If it turns out the bicycle cannot be repaired on the spot, or if you don’t wish to continue cycling, the repairman can drop you off somewhere in his van. One companion plus bikes may join you in the van.
The Bike Breakdown Pass is €2,75 per day per bike and can only be booked for every participant in a booking.
Do you wish to insure your bike against theft? The cost is € 3,- per day per standard hybrid bicycle.
For an electric bicycle, premium bike or racing bike: € 6,00 per day per bicycle.
Please see the General Terms and Conditions for Bicycle Hire and Insurance.
If a rental bike gets stolen or damaged, we will hold the client responsible.
If your insurance does not cover this event, you will have to pay the costs yourself.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the Dutch Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, Dutch Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (the departure day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. Dutch Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Theft Insurance
It is possible to purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance. Covered are: damages arising out of the theft of the bicycle; and damages to the bicycle as a consequence of the theft. Not covered are: theft of bicycle parts; and damages arising out of attempted theft.
Article 7 Theft Insurance Premium
a. The premium for Bicycle Theft Insurance is € 3,00 per day per standard hybrid bicycle. For an electric bicycle € 6,00 per day as well for a Premium bike and racing bike.
The number of insurance days is the same as the number of cycling days as stated in our booking confirmation.
Article 8 Liability in the Event of Theft
a. If you did not purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us before the start of the holiday, you will be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
b. If you did purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us, but you failed to lock the wheel lock and failed to produce the original wheel lock key and failed to produce an official theft report drawn up by the police, you will still be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
Article 9 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
Practical info
7 nights included
3/4 Star hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included
Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information
Rental bikes available
7-days a week service hotline
Luggage transport to your next hotel
Brussels
Parking available at the hotel
GPS-tracks available
Ferry crossings are not included
Arrival info
The nearest airport is Brussels Airport (BRU).
The train journey from Brussels airport to Brussels city centre takes approximately 25 minutes.
Your hotel is within walking distance of Brussels Central station.
Bruges is the final destination of this trip.
You can take the train back to Brussels, or travel from Bruges to the nearest airport: Brussels Airport (BRU).
For timetables and tickets: train.
For timetables and tickets: bus.
Reviews
19-09-2024
My husband and I did the Brussels to Bruges tour and had an excellent experience. The staff were very helpful and responsive. My initial bike turned out to be too large for me, but the staff responded quickly, found a replacement and dropped off at our first stop in Mechelen. We chose hybrid bikes. They were in good shape, and we had no problems with them throughout the trip. The luggage transport was seamless. We dropped the bags off in the hotel lobby in the morning, and they were at our next location when we arrived. The ride out of Brussels was a little hilly, but the rest of the tour was basically flat. The company provides both pdf maps and downloadable gps maps. We downloaded the Fietsknoop app to our phones and used the gps maps exclusively. It takes a little trial and error, but once I figured it out, it's very cool app and concept. TBH I used the app to make a new, shorter path for ourselves on our final ride into Bruges, and it worked out great! For those booking in the summer, I recommend ensuring that your BnB has air conditioning, most of ours were air conditioned. Also, make note of how far the BnBs are from the city center, consider the price/location tradeoff. The farthest we were out was a 15 minute ride. Overall, I highly recommend this tour and this company!
Cecelia Wong
- US
20-04-2023
We loved the trip. Flawless organization, great accomdations, and a well though route through great cities, lovely villages, and bordering rivers, canals (the ferry transfer was a nice touch), and fields. Once you get your stride, it is very liberating to know Belgium at your own pace, covering a lot of ground and relaxing at the same time. Belgium is a dense country so it is just perfect for this kind of trip. In a matter of minutes the landscape changes from medieval village to canal to horse farms to park. Congratulations for the organization, and thank you a lot!
Guilherme Moraes de Lima
- PT
Similar Trips:
Brussels - Bruges
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