• the Green Heart of Holland
  • Historical cities of Amsterdam & Leiden
  • Flower markets of Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans
  • maximim of 20 passengers per boat
8 Days
7 Nights
194 Total kms
32.333333333333 km/day (avg)
mini-map
This wonderful bike and barge trip that starts and ends in Amsterdam, takes you through the provinces of South- and North Holland while spring flowers are in bloom. You will spend time in the historical cities of Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda and Alkmaar and learn about the water management of these lowlands at the North Sea. You will also visit the famous Keukenhof gardens, known by the hundreds of thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulb flowers. The world-famous Aalsmeer flower auction is on the program where an astonishing volume of beautiful flowers are being traded daily and exported all over the world. One night the barge mooring is at the open air museum ‘the Zaanse Schans’ with its windmills, cheese farm and picturesque wooden houses. You will be surprised by the beautiful, varied scenery and the wonderful cycling paths of Holland.

Tour Route

Day
1
Embarkation: Amsterdam
to
Haarlem

Check is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The crew will welcome you with coffee and tea. At 2.30 p.m. the barge leaves the harbor. While the barge sails to Haarlem, your tour leader will tell you about the tour, the cycling and safety. From Spaarndam you have the option to do a little test ride. After dinner on board, the tour leader will take you on a town walk through the beautiful city center of Haarlem.
Day
2
Haarlem
to
Leiden

Today’s trip leads you through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit of the Keukenhof gardens. This is the most beautiful bulb park in the world. Keukenhof is the place where the spring breaks. An overwhelming blaze of colors; seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres’ background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. You also can admire the various hyacinths, daffodils and many other colorful flowers. In the afternoon you cycle to the city of Leiden. Dinner on board and after that you can join the walk through town.
38km
Day
3
Leiden
to
Gouda

Breakfast while sailing out of Leiden. Your cycling tour starts just outside Leiden and leads through the ‘green heart’ of Holland. Near Zoeterwoude, you will visit a cheese farm where you will learn about the cheese-making process and you will have the opportunity to taste the results. In the afternoon you reach Gouda, famous for the Gouda cheese. Gouda has an attractive compact center with her pretty market square and Gothic town hall. The main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, is world famous for its stained glass windows. After dinner you can join the walk through town.
31km
40km
Day
4
Gouda
to
Kudelstaart

We stay in Gouda this morning. You have the opportunity to do some shopping and to visit the market square with its cheese weigh house or you can visit the St. Johns church. We leave by barge around noon and have a light lunch on board. From Alphen aan den Rijn you cycle through the ‘green heart’ of South Holland via river Drecht and Amstel-Drecht channel to Kudelstaart.
27km
44km
Day
5
Kudelstaart
to
Zaanse Schans

At 6.30 a.m. you can drink an early cup of coffee. After that you cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer, the largest of Europe. Here, huge quantities of flowers are trucked in and sold every day, after which they are distributed all over Europe. After your visit you return on board (around 9 a.m.) for a late breakfast while the barge sails to Amsterdam. You will enjoy a nice cruise, right through the city. Today’s cycling tour takes you from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area. The hamlet is dominated by operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint and oil and for sawing wood into planks. As you walk through the village you will see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker and a cheese farm.
32km
41km
Day
6
Zaanse Schans
to
Alkmaar

This morning you cycle to the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to the preservation of rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers are planted here. Your cycling tour continues to Egmond at the Northsea. The tour goes through the dunes to Alkmaar. This town is known as a Dutch cheese city. As you wander through the streets you’ll be amazed by the beauty of Alkmaar’s Old Town, with its well-preserved 17th century buildings and narrow, winding canals. Dinner in town at your own account.
29km
40km
Day
7
Alkmaar
to
Amsterdam

After breakfast your cycling tour leads you to the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Here we visit the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. Your next stop is the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history are still evident here in De Rijp’s wooden facades, beautiful church, lock and town hall. From here, your ride continues back to Amsterdam. In the late afternoon or evening there is time for a canal tour through the famous canals of the city.
37km
51km
Day
8
Amsterdam
to
Departure

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

FAQs

    • 8 days/7 nights
    • 7 x breakfast
    • Packed lunches
    • 6 x 3-course dinner
    • Coffee and tea on board
    • Welcome drink
    • Use of bed linen and towels
    • Daily cleaning of the cabin
    • Daily briefings
    • Fully guided cycling tours
    • Some short walking tours
    • GPS tracks
    • Use of a helmet (Sarah & Allure)
    • Use of a waterproof pannier bag
    • Fees for ferries
    • Entrance Keukenhof
    • Wi-Fi (Mecklenburg: date use not incl.)
    • 1 x dinner (Alkmaar)
    • Drinks
    • Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
    • Use of a helmet (Mecklenburg)
    • Personal insurances
    • Gratuities (at your discretion)
    • Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned under included)
    • Transfers to/from the docking place
    • Parking fees
  • About the ship Allure

    The Allure started cruising in 1998. Jossie Verkerk, the former owner, redesigned the barge with its sleek lines herself and turned it into a comfortable and friendly passenger barge. From that moment on, the Allure has been successfully hosting boat and bike tours in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Since 2011 the Allure has a new owner: Martien van de Velde. He operates the Allure with new élan. Under his management, the Allure still is a very popular small river barge for boat and bike tours.

    Description of the cabins
    The Allure has ten comfortable cabins. One double cabin (8 m² – 68 sq.ft.) with a double bed and nine twin cabins (8 m² – 86 sq.ft.) with two single beds which can be set together in most cabins. In two cabins there is the possibility to place a bunk bed for children. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin. Windows can be opened and the cabins have central heating. Furthermore, you will find a mini safe and hair dryer in each cabin. The corridor is air-conditioned, thus also cooling the cabins.

    Description of the ship
    The Allure has a cozy lounge (air-conditioned) with wide screen TV, a small sitting area and a bar. Wi-Fi is available. The barge also has a beautiful large sundeck, where the meals of excellent quality can be served if the weather is fine. On nice evenings or while cruising you can enjoy the scenery from here. The whole barge has central heating.

    Facts about the ship:
    Length:            42 m – 138 ft.
    Width:             6 m – 20 ft.
    Crew:              3
    Cabins:            10
    Pass.:               22 (max.)

  • About the ship Sarah

    The Sarah is a comfortable and cozy passenger barge. During the conversion of the barge from cargo vessel to passenger barge, the owners of the Sarah decided to choose quality instead of quantity. The Sarah is spaciously built for a small group of passengers and offers an attractive, “feels-like-to-be-at-home” atmosphere. The Sarah sails under Dutch flag and management and is a very popular small river barge on several tours in the Netherlands.

    Description of the cabins
    The Sarah has ten comfortable cabins (10 m² – 108 sq.ft.). There are six twin cabins with two single beds, two twin/triple cabins with two single beds and a bunk bed and two double cabins with one double bed. In one of the twin cabins, on prior request the beds can be set together. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin. The cabins all have a ventilation system, central heating and windows that can be opened. Furthermore, you will find a mini safe and hair dryer in each cabin. The corridor is air-conditioned, thus also cooling the cabins.

    Description of the ship
    On the upper deck of the Sarah you will find the cozy air conditioned open lounge with large windows, a TV, a dining area and a bar. Wi-Fi is available. Please note that due to the mobile network connection, the quality is not always stable. The barge also has a beautiful sundeck, partially with awning. On nice evenings you can have diner over here and while cruising, you can enjoy the scenery.

    Facts about the ship
    Length:            45 m (148 ft.)
    Width:              6.5 m (22 ft.)
    Crew:               4
    Cabins:            10
    Pass.:               22 (max.)

  • Mecklenburg

    The Mecklenburg is a comfortable ship with a personal and familiar atmosphere. The sundeck is partially covered and is a place to stay in every weather-type. A charming alternative is the cozy salon with its large windows. The ship has 11 air-conditioned twin cabin with private facilities.

Prices

Low Season
04
Apr
11
Apr

High Season
18
Apr
02
May

Guided / per person
Standard Adult Double €1029€1049
Adult Triple €969€989
Adult Single €1229€1319
Premium Adult Double -
Adult Triple -€989
Adult Single -€1573.5

Notes
Allure: Departures on: April 4, 11 and 18 and May 2 | Sarah: Departures on: April 4, 11, 18 and 25 and May 2 | Mecklenburg: Departure on May 2

Extras

Bike rental €80
e-Bike rental €185
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