History

Industrial herritage sails as classical luxurious cruise ship

Build in 1930 by shipyard Boot in Leiden, Netherlands and named 'de Adelaar' (Eagle)

It was one of the first freight ships with a build-in engine, the model name is 'luxe motor'. The ship has been sold a few times and changed names several times as well. The last years as a freighter it sailed with the name 'Frisica 2'.

The main transported cargo was sand & stones through the Netherlands & Germany.

 

A new future for this ship was designed in 2001 when the previous owners Henk & Jantien bought the freighter and coverted it into cruise ship Merlijn the magic of water. One of the most successful Bike & barge ships was born, many satisfied customers can confirm!

12 january 2024

What a phenomenal experience! We absolutely loved staying onboard the Merlijn, and the itinerary took us through some of the most charming towns along the Moselle as we made our way through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, led each day by our fantastic guide Lia. Wed booked our trip over a year in advance and my knee had significantly deteriorated in that time, so thank goodness for the e-bikes which made the rides a breeze. Cristinas culinary skills were showcased nightly in what were essentially 5-star meals something we looked forward to after a day of riding in the cool, damp fall weather. The accommodations were comfortable, always tidy, and being part of such a small tour was an absolute delight. We cant wait to join Coen, Cristina, and the rest of the crew again in the future.