Day 32: Kamperland to Bruges, Belgium | 68km

30 June 2026

Our final day of pedaling through the Netherlands came after some of the hottest days in the country’s history. This morning, though, the air was cool and the sky cloudy—one of the few times I’ve been happy about a half-gloomy day. We biked through the residential areas around Middelburg, admiring the beautiful houses in what seemed like a holiday paradise for the Dutch. At least, that was the impression I got. Many of the houses looked ancient but newly renovated: brick facades polished, windows swapped for larger, more modern ones. I loved the mix of old and new, and with all the canals, many homes even had backyard access to the water.

Twenty-two kilometers into the ride, we reached the coastal town of Vlissingen, where we caught the ferry to Breskens and the final stretch before the Belgian border. There was no fanfare, no sign to mark the crossing, just an invisible line we passed sometime around 2 PM when we rolled into Bruges. The afternoon was spent doing laundry, eating Belgian fries and waffles, and drinking beer before we both completely crashed in the hotel room. Despite the short ride today, we’re exhausted. I’m a bit worried about keeping up the pace for another ten days before my three rest days in a row. The biggest problem is the lack of recovery time. At home, you can push through a big workout or bike ride and then take a day off or adjust the next day’s plans. On this trip, that’s not an option. No matter how I feel, almost without exception, I have to keep moving.