Boat cycling in Zeeland

Welcome to Rotterdam! Boarding the MS Normandie takes place from 4 pm. If you arrive early, you might have time to discover the city's spectacular market hall, Markthal, with its colourful ceiling painting. At 6 pm we cast off and cruise towards Dordrecht, one of the Netherlands' oldest cities. It is beautifully situated on an island where three major rivers meet. A lovely first evening on board awaits, with dinner and time to get acquainted with the ship.

After breakfast we cruise to Willemstad, a charming fortified town dating back to the 1600s. Here the cycling adventure begins! You cross the Haringvliet via the Volkerakdam and pedal on through open farmland and small, cosy villages such as Goudswaard. This is the Netherlands at its most Dutch, with canals, wide horizons and well-kept farms. Today's destination is Hellevoetsluis, a pleasant harbour town with a lively boating scene. Back on board, dinner and a relaxing evening await.

If the weather tempts you, we recommend a detour to Rockanje, a lovely seaside resort with wide sandy beaches and beautiful dunes. Here you can enjoy the sea air, perhaps take a dip, or simply relax with a coffee before continuing the bike ride.

The cycling continues across the Haringvliet and through small coastal communities such as Stellendam, with its old windmill Korenlust, and Herkingen with its marina. Via the Grevelingendam you reach Bruinisse, Zeeland's famous mussel village. Here, shellfish are part of both the history and everyday life. An excellent opportunity to sample the region's specialities before you return to the boat.

Today's ride offers both dramatic history and magnificent views. Be sure to visit the Watersnoodmuseum, which tells the story of the devastating storm flood of 1953. Next awaits Zierikzee, one of the Netherlands' most beautiful historic towns, with its mighty tower, the Dikke Toren. From the top you can look out over the town, the harbour and the sea. Then you cycle across the five-kilometre-long Zeelandbrug, an impressive structure with 54 pillars. The destination is Veere, a charming old harbour town where Scottish merchant ships once docked and sailboats now fill the quays.

Today you choose between three cycling routes of different lengths. We recommend a trip to Neeltje Jans, the artificial island created when the Netherlands' enormous storm surge barrier, the Oosterscheldekering, was built. Here you encounter the Delta Works, one of the world's most impressive projects for keeping the sea at bay. You can experience the gigantic barriers up close and even see them from the inside. At Deltapark Neeltje Jans you can also learn more about sea lions and life beneath the surface. Afterwards, you cycle back through the coastal landscape to Veere.

The first stop is Middelburg, Zeeland's capital and once the Netherlands' most important trading city after Amsterdam. Here you'll find grand buildings, cosy cafés and lovely little shops. Feel free to join a guided city tour or explore the town on your own. Next awaits the Walcheren peninsula, with wide sandy beaches, forests and rolling dunes. This is also one of the sunniest corners of the Netherlands! Back in Veere, you board the ship again. During the afternoon the ship leaves the harbour and cruises towards Dordrecht, where we arrive during the night.

The last day of cycling offers a true Dutch classic: Kinderdijk's 19 windmills from the 1700s, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They were built to keep the low-lying landscape dry and still stand beautifully lined up along the canals. A perfect spot for a break and a few photographs! You then follow the river Maas towards Rotterdam, where modern skyscrapers and one of the world's largest ports create an exciting contrast to the countryside. Back on board, the trip's final dinner and a pleasant evening on the MS Normandie await.

After breakfast it's time to say goodbye to the MS Normandie. You disembark by 9 am at the latest and travel home on your own. Perhaps with memories of salty sea breezes, historic harbour towns, mighty storm surge barriers and plenty of lovely cycling routes. If you have extra time, Rotterdam or Amsterdam are well worth a few additional days.