Boat Bike Tours offers a unique style of travel that blends adventure and relaxation in some of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe. Central to the experience are ships like the Magnifique barges, which serve as intimate floating hotels for bike-touring guests. Launched between 2016 and 2024, the Magnifique I, II, III and IV have set the standard for the company’s barge-based tours – a legacy that will continue in 2026.
“The Magnifiques have become some of our most popular ships over the years, and it’s easy to see why – they set a high standard for our barge experience,” said CEO Laurens Winkel. “They’re beautiful and comfortable ships, and the ideal size for our tours. We’re able to bike from the barge in small groups and get away from popular tourist destinations for a more personal, authentic journey.”
Ships with history
The Magnifique barges started as cargo ships, ferrying stone, coal, grain and more for decades. No longer needed to transport goods, master shipbuilder Walter van Berkum stripped them to the hull and rebuilt them as passenger ships.
Today, the barges accommodate 32 to 40 guests. Unlike large river cruise ships, they’re able to navigate smaller waterways and moor overnight in charming town centers.
On board
Aboard the barges, guests will find a casual, friendly atmosphere with a welcoming crew, tasteful styling and furnishings, and all the comforts they need to relax.
Each Magnifique is unique in size and layout, and a variety of accommodations are available depending on the barge, including larger suites with floor-to-ceiling views from French balconies, twin cabins with larger windows and single cabins. All have private bathrooms and air conditioning.
Guests will also enjoy lounges with large windows and space for briefings on the next day’s ride, bars crafted from sections of sailboats and sun decks with hot tubs.
Biking and more
Every day of a tour aboard a Magnifique brings a new backroad adventure by bike, the slower pace of travel allowing for more authentic connections with local people, culture and nature.
Tour leaders and guests set off after breakfast, riding through the countryside in small groups while the barge cruises ahead to the next destination it will moor in. Along the way, there are opportunities to stop and explore historic towns, castles, museums, forests and cheese farms, with tour leaders sharing their knowledge of the area.
Rejoining the barge in the afternoon, guests are welcomed back aboard with refreshing beverages and freshly made treats. And before the day is over, there’s often time for a walk through town led by the tour leaders or a local guide.
Both standard bikes and e-bikes are available.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
With a chef among each Magnifique’s crew, meals are always delicious and offer fuel for the day’s ride.
Breakfast is a hearty European buffet with eggs, cereal, meats, cheeses, breads, pastries, fruit and more. For lunch, guests can pack a sandwich that suits their taste, as well as a variety of snacks. There are also opportunities to stop at local cafés, restaurants and ice cream shops.
The chef truly shines in the evening, with dinners that include three-course platings made with local produce and meat, international dishes served family-style, seafood feasts, barbecues on the sun deck and delightful desserts.
