Haarlem to Bruges Cycling Adventure

Discover windmills, old towns and rural bliss on a road-based cycling trip through The Netherlands and Belgium

Flat, quiet roads link historic towns, passing a pastoral idyll of flower fields that blossom in spring and 18^th-century windmills. No wonder The Netherlands and Belgium is a firm favourite of the cycling world. On this trip, we see it for ourselves: hopping on the saddle to ride from Haarlem to Bruges, our rural route punctuated with human-made wonders, including the 19 windmills of the Kinderdijk and, during spring, the iconic flower fields of the Bollenstreek. There are plenty of stops along the way to wander around history-drenched towns, our adventures illuminated by our expert tour leader.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of a local guide means our customers are well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food, and by supporting other local enterprises.
• Cycling trips allow easier access to the local communities and, hence, facilitate interaction with locals through visits to local cafes and restaurants as well as markets to purchase traditional gifts and craft. Entrance fees to historic sites and attractions also goes to the upkeep of the structures.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• Wherever possible, we use smaller, locally run accommodation and ecohotels versus big hotel chains which have a bigger impact on the surrounding environments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
• Take the train: Consider taking the train to this trip. Not only will it significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your trip versus flying, but it also extends your adventure! Read more about which train journeys we can book or how to book your own here.

Visa

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter The Netherlands or Belgium. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations 
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations 
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice 
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html 

Vaccination

There are no required vaccinations for either The Netherlands or Belgium. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and one dinner are included.

If you have special dietary requirements (vegetarian meals, lactose- or gluten-free diet), please indicate this when making your reservation. Vegetarian meals are always available, in all other cases we will check the possibilities for your specific departure. In some cases, additional costs will be charged (this mainly applies to lactose- or gluten-free meals).

Weather

Belgium and The Netherlands have a maritime climate, meaning mild summers and cold winters. Wind and rain are common throughout most of the year with July and August being the wettest months. March is the driest month. Due to the flat landscapes, the wind can be quite strong, especially during winter and summer. Winds are typically much stronger along the coast than they are further inland. The average temperature is 3C (37F) in January, and 18C (64F) in July; the average precipitation is 65mm (2.6in) in January, and 78mm (3.1in) in July.

Is this trip for you?

This tour is classified Road and Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). Please see our Activity Level guidelines for more information on classification and grading. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please do not hesitate to call us.

The average daily distance is 37mi (59km) and there are five cycling days. We mainly use cycle paths and quiet roads where possible. Occasionally, we cross or ride along some busier roads. A support vehicle (with limited seats) follows the group.

The trip requires a good fitness level. We strongly encourage you to request an electric bike prior to departure (available for a supplement) if you have limited cycling experience. This would improve your experience and ensure the trip is led at a comfortable pace for everyone in the group.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.