This unique tour takes you past four Trappist abbeys in Holland and Belgium. The Trappist order of catholic monks lend their name to a wide variety of beers brewed in their abbeys. Although the abbeys and breweries may not be open to tourists, don't worry, because the bars in the local towns will always have the local beers on tap!
As well as the Belgian city of Antwerp, this tour also passes through charming villages such as Zundert, Hilvarenbeek and Merksplas, and inbetween you can enjoy the Flemish and Brabant countryside. The latter part of the journey follows the "Bels Lijntje", a railway between Tilburg and Turnhout which dates back more than 150 years.
If you're not a beer drinker, the Trappist abbeys also produce cheese, jam, chocolate, honey, soap and candles, so you won't go thirsty, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to shop along the route.
The tour also passes through the unique border town of Baarle, full of both Belgian and Dutch minitaure enclaves, where even some buildings straddle the Belgian-Dutch border!
Day 1 - Arrival in Turnhout
Please make your way to Turnhout today. Turnhout's claim to fame is that in 1986 it produced the first ever printed pack of playing cards. The industry became extremely successful, and the town is now home to the National Museum of Playing Cards. We also reccomend arriving early enough to visit the Castle of the Dukes of Brabant, as well as St Peter's Church.
Day 2 - Turnhout to Antwerp (68km)
Today's first stop is Merksplas, which was home to an agricultural labour colony for tramps and beggars from 1822 until as recently as 1993. Next up is our fist Trappist brewery, in Westmalle, where Benedictine monks brew beer within the walls of the abbey. Across the road from the abbey, the Trappist Café serves beer from the abbey. You can also learn more about the Trappist Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.
Day 3 - Antwerp to Brasschaat (48km)
As you head out of the city to the North East, you pass a succession of typically Flemish villages, before you reach Brecht, home of the Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth. Although the Trappistine nuns don't brew beer, they do still make candles, soap and shampoo, all of which are on sale in the abbey shop.
Day 4 - Brasschaat to Breda (58km)
Today you cross the border into the Netherlands, and the Brabant province. In the village of Zundert, you will find the Maria Toevlucht Trappist Abbey, and the Zunder Trappist beer is available in the village. The day finishes in Breda, known for its nightlife and hospitality, so once you've checked into your hotel, we reccomend hitting the town to enjoy its restaurants and bars.
Day 5 - Breda to Tilburg (56km)
Today you will enjoy the Brabant countryside, passing by woods, streams and idyllic villages. As you approach Tilburg, you will see the towers of the Koningshoeven Abbey of our Lady, where the famous La Trappe speciality beers are brewed. Koningshoeven literally translates as "King's Farms" and these grounds once belonged to King William II. The abbey was established by monks fleeing persecution in France, and when they were unable to sustain themselves by farming the land, they turned their hands to brewing beer. Tilburg itself is a university town, with a mix of modern and historical architecture.
Day 6 - Tilburg to Turnhout (38km)
On the final day of your tour, you will follow the "Bels Lijntje" or Belgian line, back to Turnhout in Belgium. The railway was built in 1867 in order to provide coommercial links between Tilburg and Belgium, and was converted to a cycle path in the 1990s. Along the trail, a project is underway to save the bees, by planting fields of buckwheat. As you cross the border, take time to explore Baarle, one of the world's most bizarre border towns. Although you can freely cross the border in numerous places, shops and bars still adhere to their relevant local laws, and traditionally drinkers would have to cross the border inside a bar to continue to drink legally!
Day 7 - Depart from Turnhout
After breakfast this morning, your Trappist Tour comes to an end.
The routes are flat and easy on well signposted and well maintained routes.
Cycling is a very common mode of transport in Belgium and the Netherlands, and locals are accommodating of cyclists.
Route Map (For guidance only):
Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.
Total distance cycled: 266km approx
We recommend flying to Brussels Zaventum airport to reach the starting point of this cycling holiday. Eindhoven and Maastricht are smaller airports but are also a reasonable distance from Turnhout.
Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.
We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Rail Europe for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.
Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.
You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.
Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
The Trappist Beer Route cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.
Included Services (Subject to confirmation)
Not Included
This cycling holiday has the option of rental hybrid bikes with gearing suitable for the local terrain. All bikes are regularly maintained and offer comfort along with good quality components.
You will receive an accessories package including a bicycle pannier bag with a good capacity, repair kit, lock, key, and air pump. When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly.
Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use. We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday.
E-Bike Upgrades:
Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.
E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on 0161 703 8161.
This cycling holiday stays in 3* and 4* hotels with private facilities carefully selected for their proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on 0161 703 8161 for more information.
The list below is subject to change.
Location | Hotel |
Turnhout | BW Plus City Hotel or Corsendonk Viane |
Antwerp | Hampton by Hilton |
Brasschaat | Hotel de Klokkenhof or Van der Valk Hotel Dennenhof |
Breda | Golden Tulip Keyser |
Tilburg | Mercure Centrum |
You will receive your final hotel list approximately 4 weeks prior to your arrival date detailing the hotels used on your cycling holiday. If you wish to know more about the hotels prior to completing a booking form, please contact our Customer Services team via email or by phone.
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
Room Type | Price |
Double Room | £575 |
Single Room Supplement | £300 |
Extra | Price Per Person |
Half Board Supplement | £200 |
Rental Bike | £70 |
E-Bike Supplement | £75 |
Exrta Night in Turnhout (Double Room) | £65 |
Exrta Night in Turnhout (Single Room) | £95 |
Date From | Date To |
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02 May 2021 | 19 September 2021 |