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During this cycling holiday in the Netherlands you will discover the ‘Green Heart’ of Holland and the Dutch windmills by bike: a region steeped in history, natural attractions, world famous cities and beautiful scenery.
Along the way you will visit historical cities such as Amsterdam, Haarlem, Rotterdam, Leiden and Gouda. You will discover many culturally historic attractions and, more importantly, you will be able to immerse yourself in the heart of this fascinating and very Dutch part of Holland.
Also, if you are an art lover, you will enjoy the visits to Leiden, Haarlem and Delft where painters such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Vermeer lived and worked. But far from just being about big cities and Dutch history, this tour is also about the picturesque villages and beautiful scenery of the ‘green lung’ districts of central part and South-Holland province. One thing is certain: by the end of the tour you will not only go home with a new-found appreciation for bike and barge cruising, but for everything that is Dutch.
A bonus during this tour is the fact that the Gandalf docks in and around the city center of the various cities and villages visited at the end of each day’s cycling, giving you the opportunity to visit and explore at your leisure at night.
Saturday: Amsterdam
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 2 p.m. in the center of Amsterdam. After unpacking your luggage in your cabin an introduction to the tour will take place at 3 p.m. After that your rental bicycles will be distributed and your tour leader will invite you to a short test-ride. Upon your return your first dinner on board will be served.
Sunday: Amsterdam – Zaandam – Haarlem (cycling ±: 40 or 55 km)
After a short cruise on board the barge, you are finally off and cycling today after first visiting the lovely open-air museum ‘Zaanse Schans’ in Zaandam where an authentic 18th and 19th century Dutch village has been reconstructed. In the museum you will learn about iconic Dutch traditions such as windmills and cheese and clog making. You will then cycle to Haarlem where celebrated portraitist and genre painter Frans Hals lived and worked in the 16th century. In the evening you can stroll through the lovely city center and the Grote Markt (market square). If preferred, today’s cycling tour can also be extended with a visit to the sea locks of IJmuiden and the Kennemer Dunes. During this cycling tour you can visit some forts of the Defense Line of Amsterdam (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Monday: Haarlem – North Sea Coast – Leiden (cycling ± 42 or 50 km)
After enjoying breakfast with your newfound cycling friends, you will pedal today along the North Sea coast through seaside dunes via the resorts of Noordwijk and Katwijk aan Zee to the vibrant university city of Leiden, the birthplace of celebrated artist Rembrandt van Rijn. The city’s picturesque old city center is crisscrossed with canals lined by beautiful 17th-century buildings and is very definitely a must to see.The longer cycling tour leads you from Haarlem to Cruquius (steam engine museum) and Hillegom (several flower nurseries) to Leiden.
Tuesday: Leiden – Delft (cycling ± 35 or 41 km)
From Leiden you will cycle to Delft, famous for its Blue porcelain (Delftware), where you will have the opportunity to visit a porcelain studio. Another major attraction in the beautiful city center of Delft is the royal crypt of the House of Orange. The longer cycling tour brings you to seaside resort Scheveningen and to The Hague, where you can visit the Binnenhof (Parliament) and the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) and then continues to end in Delft.
Wednesday: Delft – Rotterdam – Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven – Gouda (cycling several options from 23 km to 66 km)
This morning you will sail from Delft on the Lena Maria through the remarkable international port of Rotterdam. From here you can start cycling or you can hop on the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry that will bring you and your bicycle over the river in 30-40 minutes to Alblasserdam. From there you cycle just a few miles to Kinderdijk, world famous for an impressive row of 19 large windmills. These 19 windmills have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight – you will have the opportunity to visit one so don’t forget to bring your camera! From Kinderdijk you will cycle directly to the cheese city of Gouda, or if you prefer, on a longer tour via the silver city of Schoonhoven to Gouda, your destination for the day. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).
Thursday: Gouda – Kudelstaart (cycling ± 45 or 55 km)
The highlight of today’s cycling tour is the naturally idyllic beauty of the South Holland landscape. Your destination for the day is the village of Kudelstaart where the Lena Maria will be waiting for you. Along the way you will cycle along numerous small canals and past picture-perfect farms and small villages. At the mooring place on the banks of the Westeinder Plassen (‘West End’ lakes) there is a beautiful view to savor while enjoying a wine during or after dinner.
Friday: Kudelstaart – Aalsmeer – Amsterdam (cycling: ± 32 km)
If you are keen for an early start to the day you can visit the largest trade centre for plants and flowers in the world at Aalsmeer (optional extra, not included). The market is a hive of activity; it is guaranteed that you will never have seen so many flowers in the one place. After a late breakfast you can either stay on board the barge as it cruises through the City of Amsterdam to its mooring place or you can cycle into the city through the city park ‘Amsterdamse Bos’ or along the Amstel river. Once you reach Amsterdam take the opportunity during the afternoon and evening to go for a canal cruise, discover Anne Frank’s House, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and Dam Square, the very center and heart of the city.
Saturday: End of your tour
Dismerbakation: after breakfast at 9:30 a.m. You say goodbye to the crew, your tour leader and your fellow travellers.
The barge FLORA is provided with 10 twin cabins with level beds, washbasin and shower/toilet, and 1 twin cabin with bunk bed and washbasin with private facilities just outside the cabin have been constructed. The well upgraded ship is ready to receive new guests to sail along on the bike- & barge trips as well as group charters.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 40 m
Width: 6 m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 20
Internet
The Gandalf is a comfortable passenger ship with accommodation for 22 passengers. All double cabins have twin beds and shower/toilet. Two cabins are eah equipped for three guests. Amidships, you will find the cozy saloon with large windows all around. Outside, the very spacious deck is a pleasant place to be. A number of solar panels on the roof provide environmentally friendly and silent power.
The friendly and experienced skipper-owner Hans Petrus and his crew like to show you the most beautiful places along the waterways.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 45 m
Width: 6,2 m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 20
Internet
This ship started to sail with passengers in the year 2002. This modern ship is spacious and furnished in a tasteful way. The living has a comfortable sitting corner and a little ship’s bar. All cabins have level beds and private facilities. On deck one finds several nice sittings, but still enough space for sun bathing is available.
Specifications
Dimension
Length: 44,95m
Width: 6,6m
Cabins: 10
Number of Passengers (maximum): 22
Internet
Dates/Prices 2025 per person
|
Cabin type |
May 3 – September 27 |
September 10 – September 20 |
|
Twin cabin |
€ 1279,00 |
€ 1329,00 |
|
Triple cabin (3rd bed only for a child) |
€ 1179,00 |
€ 1229,00 |
|
Cabin for single use |
€ 1918,50 |
€ 1993,50 |
Dates
Flora: departures on August 2 and 9 and Sept. 27
Gandalf: departures on May 3 and 31; July 12 and Sept. 6
Sarah: departures on May 17; June 21; July 26; August 16 and 23 and Sept. 20
Included in the tour:
Excluded in the tour:
