Amsterdam to Paris

After making your own way to Amsterdam, get to know the Netherland’s famous capital. Visit the 400-year-old canal district, exquisite museums such as the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank’s house. See performers and artists on Dam Square, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, and of course visit the world-famous red-light district. Should you arrive early, you can visit the tree-lined canal systems, thin townhouses, and the 17^th-century canal ring, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city truly does have endless things to do and deserves the popularity it has.

** Please note on the train Paris – Amsterdam / Amsterdam – Paris bikes are prohibited. For this reason, we recommend booking this trip with rental bikes so you can leave them in the hotel at the end of the trip.

Time to get on your bike and say goodbye to the cosmopolitan life of Amsterdam. Head into a more idyllic landscape in “Groene Hart” or green heart, here you will find typical polders, peat meadows and feeding livestock. The scenery here is strikingly flat and open and is filled with church spires and windmills reflecting into the lakes and canals. Gouda has been a popular market destination for hundreds of years, with people coming from miles away to buy horses, cows, meat, turf, seeds, cheese and so on. In the evening why not take a small walk in the Old Town and embrace the historical atmosphere. You will find a beautiful market square, 15^th century town hall and Weighing House or “Waag”.

This 79-km route can be divided into two shorter versions of 49km and 38km, which would be done by booking an additional night in Woerden. You could even ride some of the way and catch the train for the rest, making the journey 56km.

From Gouda, head to Kinderdijk or the “Green Heart of Holland” which is home to 19 windmills which date back to 1740. The mills were originally used to drain excess water from the low-lying polder and pump it into the River Lek, today you can visit one of them. You will pass by Dordrecht, which is one the Netherlands’ oldest towns. Here is a picturesque harbour quarter with beautiful historical buildings. The route will then lead you do Biesbosch National Park, one of the only places remaining in Europe with fresh tidal water. Cross Diep River by ferry and end up in Southern Netherlands. You will pass numerous villages where cafes invite you for cake a coffee.

You can only go through Biesbosch park on the days that the ferry leaves, which is not daily. Due to current covid measures the ferry does not go at all.

Enjoy a morning in Breda, the main city of Nassau in Holland which is home to many impressive monuments. The ancestors of the Royal family transformed Breda into a beautiful city with beautifully decorated buildings. Most of the landscape on today’s route is wooded. Once you cross the border you will be greeted by De Zoom – Kalmthoutse Heide, which is a delightful nature reserve spreading across both countries. Follow the Scheldekaaien (quays on the River Scheldt) into the thick of historical Antwerp. The popular city of Antwerp is Flanders’ largest town and the most important port city in Belgium. Start by taking a look at the historical town centre and then head to the popular parts of the city Zuid and Het Eilandje. By now you will have most likely worked up a thirst, quench it on a tasty Belgian beer! You can try it right from the source in the De Koninck beer brewery.  It dates back to 1833 and now has a visitors’ centre which allows you to sample some beer and take a look around. It is best known for its “Bollekes”

Head south out of the city and follow the shores of the River Scheldt where you will start on the LF2 Cities Cycle Route. The Schelde is a popular tourist destination which gives you a glimpse of nature. Change over to the LF5 towards Dendermonde and Ghent. The way is characterised with bushes and polders. The day of cycling is rounded off in the cultural city of Ghent; the Belgians deem this to be their most beautiful city. After your long cycle to Ghent, you may fancy staying here an extra night. Enjoy the historical centre or one of the many cafes. The cost to stay an additional night is €70, which is a double bedroom and breakfast. If you choose an additional day, you will start a day earlier and arrive in Paris on the same end day.

Continue along the River Scheldt and head into the old town of Oudenaarde (AD 974) and is also the centre of well-known cycle race “Ronde van Vlaanderen”. The tow paths along the river are now smooth cycle paths, they are occasionally leafy and go through open fields of Flanders. On route try one of the most famous Belgian local products “Geraardsbergst mattentaart” which is a pie full of history. Just after Kluisbergen it’s time to say goodbye to Flanders and enter the province of Wallonia, where just a further 20km to Tournai awaits you. There are also two alternative routes that go through the Flemisch Ardennes, which you can choose if you don’t want to spend the day going along the river.

Today is your last day on the Belgian cycle path along the Scheldt before arriving in France. Leave Tournai and go on to the pleasant Parc Naturel Régional Scarpe-Escaut, the first French regional park. This is where France and Belgium meet with the bargers on Escaut river, sitting between land, waterways, forests, and marshes. Visit the mining villages with UNESCO status and pastural land. Go through typical villages and hamlets until you reach the town of Cumbrai, a relaxed city with much art and history. Enjoy its quaint streets filled with houses partially made of wood, expensive private mansions, and Flemish mansions. It wouldn’t be a trip without trying the famous “Bétises de Cambrai” or one of the other local specialities.

Today it’s time to leave Cambrai along the Canal de Saint-Quentin and visit the Haute Vallée de l’Escaut which was inaugurated in 1810 by the Emperor Napoleon 1^st. A real gem is the abbey of Vaucelles (XII century). The abbey has a curious construction in its proportions and the quality of its restoration. Pedal on a little further and by the sources of l’Escaut, a famous river which flows into the North Sea in the Netherlands. You can also opt to take a 6km longer route and visit the interesting canal tunnel ad Touage museum. Follow a route of hills between dotted agricultural villages and memorial sites of the Great War. You will see cemeteries, memorials, and vestiges of the Hindenburg line. Follow the canals once again and eventually end up in Saint Quentin. Here the streets are filled with Art Deco houses, make sure you look at the intricate detail they have. The city was rebuilt after some light damage during the Great War and is now a dynamic city and the economic capital of Haute Picardie.

On route to Compiegne, you will pass through the luscious valley off the Oise. You will once again follow cycle paths on the canals onto Chauny. As you go through areas of nature, you will go by areas inhabited by over 200 bird species. Continue to Noyon, a city of Art and History with a medieval feel and a cathedral, which is the site of the coronation of Hugues Capet in 987. We would recommend not missing a stop at the abbey of Ourscamp. As you go through the woods of Compiegne, you will encounter the “Clairière de l’Armstice”, where ceasefire of the First Great War was signed (and Hitler forced the French to sign the surrender treaty in 1940). When you first reach Compiegne, a town which borders a large forest, you will be charmed by its shopping streets and museums with various themes.

A prestigious castle, medieval towns and a large forest are on the agenda for today! Start your day in the forest of Compiegne where you will go via Pierrefonds and its magical castle, and onto the abbey of Saint Jean aux Bois, which boats well-maintained grounds, gates and an 850-year-old oak tree. As the route continues you will also see numerous Gallo Roman ruins and the Automne Valley, after which comes a climb to the beautiful village of Nery. You’ll finally arrive in Senils via the forest of Halatte. If you’re still full of energy, you can go an additional 15km through the forest of Halatte via Chantilly to Senlis. Chantilly is best known for a castle, its Great Stables, porcelain, lace, and cuisine (famous Chantilly cream was first created here!)

Time to set off on your last day of cycling, but it certainly won’t be the least! On leaving Senlis you will cycle in the forest and right through the nature. Pass through the doors of the region or “ILE de France”, where you will see a drastic change of scenery with dramatic pine trees. From Gressy on to Paris, follow the nice track of the Canal de l’Ourcq, the last of the rural scenery before you arrive in the city of lights. You will enter Paris safely on a route with no cars and will cross the city along the Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Martin. If you want to finish the tour with a bang, you can choose an optional 24 km cycle route around the city, your hotel being the starting point. This route will show you the river Seine, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower.

Have one last breakfast and then say goodbye to your trip!