The Owners
We are Coen & Cristina, here is a short introduction about us, the proud new owners of Merlijn.
A dream coming true, that is how we felt when we started of in april 2019. After working for years as Captains on big 5-star river-cruiseships (150 pax) we dreamed of something else; something smaller, more personal, specialized cruises, running our own business, the list of superlatives is long! We searched and had several ideas untill we coincidently ran into Merlijn. that was it, that was the ship that filled in all the blank spaces! We went a 100% for it, sold our first house, quit our jobs and moved to the Merlijn.
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Coen Captain, Engineer, Guestcontact. |
Cristina 2nd Captain, Host, Chef. |
What is the difference between 'Bike & Barge" and Bike, Barge & Cruise?
Some ship owners call it Bike & Barge, but we at Merlijn feel that term does not tell what a vacation aboard the Merlijn is all about!
Because in addition to cycling (Bike) and staying and dining on board (Barge), we also often sail with our guests on board. Imagine yourself enjoying the sailing during breakfast or after a strenuous bike ride, with or without a drink on one of our terraces.
That is what we mean by "Cruise".
Holland, Friesland & Texel tour
May 10 - 17 / 2025
Merlijn's famous Holland & Belgium tour
May 31 - June 10 / 2025
Merlijn’s romantic trip along wooden half-timbered houses and beer gardens
September 20 - 28 / 2025Where we sail
The no. 1 in bike and barge cruises across Europe
The Merlijn sails on:
- All rivers & lakes of Holland/Netherlands, including the IJssel, Meuse, IJssel Lake, inland lakes of the Randmeren, the Waddensea, the Groene Hart van Holland (Green Heartlands) commencing in Amsterdam and running via Gouda/Delft to Kinderdijk.
- In Germany we sail the Rhine, Moselle, Saar, Main, Main-Danube-canal, Danube, Neckar, Midlandcanal, Havel, Weser, Oder, Peene & more.
- In Belgium we sail the Schelde and several canals to Bruges & Brussels, from there to Maastricht.
- In France we sail the Moselle, as far as to Nancy.
- In Poland we sail the West-Odra and cross the Lake Stettiner haff, also we dock in the city of Szczecin.
- The Danube deserves a special mention: from 2022 we will sail on this river through Germany & Austria until we reach Vienna.
- In the future we add a little more and we also cross Slovakia to sail as far as Budapest in Hungary.
Merlijn's Captain knows all these waters & their natural surroundings well, and knows where the most tranquil spots are to be found.
The last news
Tuesday 17 september 2024
Thank you for your wonderful reviews!
We want to sincerely thank you for the many beautiful stories we’ve received. Your experiences are invaluable to future travelers. While we’ve already received a lot of stories, there’s still room for more on our website! Haven’t shared yours yet? Now’s your chance to inspire others.
Tuesday 10 september 2024
Always in motion: constantly changing landscapes
At Merlijn, every journey is an adventure in itself, thanks to the ever-changing landscape and the unique variety along the way. We would like to share two special highlights from this past spring with you: our new routes in the Netherlands!
The Hanseatic Route
Although this route is not entirely new, it had been five years since we last offered it. On this journey, we sailed through the east of the Netherlands, a region rich in history and culture. From the charming Hanseatic cities to the beautiful nature surrounding us on the way—it was a true journey through time, full of stories from the past. You can enjoy this wonderful journey in 2025 as well. Discover more!
The Holland Texel Island Route
A completely new addition to our program was the "Holland Texel Island Route". This route let us discover the magic of the Northwest of the Netherlands. From lively Holland to serene Friesland and the unique island of Texel, it was a refreshing adventure that showed a completely different side of the Netherlands. As small as the country is, this route felt like a whole new experience, and with so much enthusiasm from our guests, it will definitely remain part of our program. Discover more about this journey.
Tuesday 10 september 2024
Farewell to Sacha, our loyal companion
With great sadness, we want to inform you that we recently had to say goodbye to Sacha, our beloved beagle and mascot of Merlijn. For almost 15 years, Sacha was a constant presence in our lives and, for the past 5 years, she traveled with us on every Merlijn journey, becoming a beloved member of our crew.
Her joyful presence and the way she welcomed guests on board will always be cherished. Sacha was more than just a pet; she was a part of the Merlijn family, and her absence leaves a great void.
We want to thank you for the many beautiful moments we were able to share with her.