Tulip Tour - 7 day
Netherlands Bike + Boat Tour
Tulips and more!
The tulip has come to be a respected and treasured symbol in Holland and this seven day tour lets you experience them in all of their glory! The flower exhibition in Keukenhof will bring you up close and personal with these majestic flowers (and others!), and in Baskoop you will cycle passed hundreds of horticulture nurseries. The tulips are only a fraction of what can be seen on this tour, though. The windmills of Kinderdijk, the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands, will be visited along with Gouda- city of cheese and candles. Cyclists will also experience Haarlem, the oldest town of Holland, home to the famous St. Bavo Cathedral, and the lively university town of Leiden.
Where You’ll Stay
On the beautiful Merlijn, a comfort plus class ship.
What’s Included
- 6 nights accommodation aboard the Merlijn in a double room with a private bathroom
- Climate control, safe, hairdryer
- Breakfast, pack lunches, and 5 x dinners
- Entrance fee to the Keukenhof (departures on April 20 and April 27 only)
- Tour guide
- Daily cleaning of the rooms
- Coffee, tea, water and hot chocolate
- Harbor fees
What’s Not Included
- Drinks other then mentioned
- Entrance fees other than Keukenhof
- Transfer to the boat
| Tour | Bike + Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Guided |
| Skill | Easy |
| Length | 7 days |
| From | €1026 |
| Print Tour |
Tour Dates
- April 4*, April 20, and
April 27, 2013 - *Follows a different itinerary
- 2014 Dates
- April 12, 2014
Skill Level
This tour is an easy guided tour in a cycling paradise!
Tour Boats
Day-To-Day Itinerary
Below is the itinerary for departure on April 4, 2013. Please call for a detailed itinerary.
- Arrival in Amsterdam, sail to Haarlem
- Haarlem - Leiden, 22 miles (35 km)
- Leiden - Gouda, 22 miles (35 km)
- Gouda - Rotterdam, 19 miles (30 km)
- Rotterdam - Delft, 16 miles (25 km)
- Delft - The Hague
- Departure
Below is the itinerary for departures on April 20 and April 27, 2013
- Amsterdam - Utrecht
- Utrecht - Vianen - Schoonhoven 15 or 30 mi. (25 or 48 km, depending on weather conditions)
- Schoonhoven - Kinderdijk - Gouda, 17 or 33 mi. (28 or 53 km)
- Gouda - Leiden, 25 mi. (40 km)
- Leiden - Keukenhof - Haarlem, 25 mi. (40 km)
- Haarlem - Amsterdam, 26 mi. (42 km)
- Amsterdam (departure)
*The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.
Day 1: Amsterdam - Utrecht
The Merlijn will be docked in Amsterdam, behind the Central Station, and will be ready to check-in by 4pm. After a welcome drink, there will be an informational presentation of the ship and a short tour. By 4:30pm, the ship will begin its journey to Utrecht; dinner will be enjoyed along the way. Utrecht features many ancient buildings and structures dating back to the early Middle Ages. It has been the religious center of the Netherlands since the 8th century and is home to the tallest church tower in the Netherlands: The Dom Tower. In the evening, you will be able to explore this breathtaking city.
Day 2: Utrecht - Vianen - Schoonhoven, 15 or 30 mi. (25 or 48 km, depending on weather conditions)
Today's ride takes you through the prettiest part of Holland, by far. Breakfast will be served while cruising to Vianen, where the bike tour will start to the charming city of Schoonhoven. Schoonhoven is renowned for its silver, hence its nickname Zilverstad ("Silver City"). Silver smiths have been present here since the 17th century and the trade is still thriving today!
Day 3: Schoonhoven - Kinderdijk - Gouda, 17 or 33 mi. (28 or 53 km)
You will get to enjoy the gorgeous Dutch scenery while sailing on the river Lek and biking from Schoonhoven to Kinderdijk. Kinderdijk is home to an impressive 19 windmills, built around 1740, to drain the polder Alblasserwaard. They are a well-known tourist destination and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The Merlijn awaits here to sail on to Gouda, where you will have dinner on your own - choose from any of Gouda's various restaurants!
Day 4: Gouda - Leiden, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today's bike tour takes you through the Green Heart of Holland. Leaving Gouda, you will pass Baskoop, famous for its horticulture nurseries, particularly woody plant and perennial nurseries, of which some 774 are situated on long stretches of land divided by narrow canals. Passing small towns and villages such as Alphen on the Rhine, you will finally reach Leiden. Leiden is a lively city where history comes alive. Birthplace of painting legend Rembrandt, it is where he developed his skills and his workshop can still be visited today. The University of Leiden lends to the vibrant and convivial atmosphere and is quickly developing into a world-famous center of science. You will get a chance to stroll through this magnificent city after dinner.
Day 5: Leiden - Keukenhof - Haarlem, 25 mi. (40 km)
While you enjoy breakfast, the Merlijn will cruise into Lisse, near Keukenhof. It is estimated that nearly 7 million flower bulbs are planted here annually to cover an area of roughly 80 acres. This makes Keufenhof, easily, the largest flower garden in the world. At this stop, you will get to admire all these beautiful tulips and other flowers. On the ride to Haarlem, you will witness even more of Holland's beautiful countryside and of course, more flowers! While in Haarlem, it is a must to take a stroll through this historical city and maybe try the famous local beer: "Jopen".
Day 6: Haarlem - Amsterdam, 26 mi. (42 km)
There are many things to see in Haarlem, one of the oldest cities in Holland dating back to the 10th century. You can visit the Frans Hals Museum or the St. Bavo Church, where Mozart once played the organ. The tour ends in Amsterdam, where you can visit the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum. After dinner, there will be time to walk through Amsterdam's stunning illuminated center, don't forget to take a ride through the beautiful canals!
Day 7: Amsterdam
Farewell breakfast, check-out and departure.
Tulip Tour - 7 day Boats + Barges
-
Merlijn Germany, Netherlands Comfort Plus Class Boat
see also
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Tour Bike + Boat Type Guided Skill Easy Length 4– days From €419 Tulip Tour Netherlands Standard Plus Boat: May 4 and May 7, 2013 Comfort Boat: … When the sun rises during Spring in the Netherlands, millions of eager bulbs also rise for the occasion. Acres upon endless acres of the most brilliantly …
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Tour Bike + Boat Type Guided Skill Easy Length 8 days From €769 Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges Belgium, Netherlands On the Standard Plus class boats: The Holland: *April … In April and May all of Holland is blooming. Therefore this is the perfect time to see the famous bulb fields showing the colorful tulips and hyacinths. …
Pricing Information
Price: $ 1268 £ 873 $ 1,331 € 1026 $ 1545 kr 7467 kr 7906 CHF 1233 $ 1,344
Single Supplement: On request
2014 Pricing
April 12: $ 1268 £ 873 $ 1,331 € 1026 $ 1545 kr 7467 kr 7906 CHF 1233 $ 1,344
Single Supplement: On request
extra options
Tandem or electric bike rental (rate is per day): $ 25 £ 17 $ 26 € 20 $ 30 kr 146 kr 154 CHF 24 $ 26
please note
Rates are based on double occupancy.
Information to read before you book.
Travel Details
Travel
Fly to Amsterdam.
Local Travel
Take a short train ride from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Central, then short walk or taxi ride to the boat.
Climate
Check local weather conditions prior to departure. Be sure to bring a full rain suit. Average high temp in °F for March is 48, and April is 43. Average low temperature for March is 37, and April is 40.
Remarks
Electric bicycles available for this tour.
Tour Operator
This tour is operated by Jantien Wondergem. We do not run these tours ourselves, we never have. We work from the commission the European tour operators offer us plus a small administration fee of €20. We pride ourselves on the strong working relationship we have with all our tour operators and the services we provide.
Customer Feedback
Posted by Sharon Brunhuber on 03/27/13
A group of us will be doing the Tulip Tour on the Merlijn. A couple of years ago we toured Germany on Merlijn. It was a top notch experience and we are looking forward to this years trip.
Posted by Rick Teitell on 01/11/13
This was a fabulous tour (April 2012). The boat was spacious and clean, with very good food & amenities. The bikes provided were in excellent condition. The hosts & staff were friendly & accommodating. The daily bike trips were interesting & well organized- too many highlights to describe. A great way to see many parts of Holland, especially if you combine the bike tour with several days before and/or after in Amsterdam. The staff at Tripsite provided all necessary information.
Posted by Jon Lafleur on 01/02/12
The tour was one of my best travel experiences. The meals were so good that people asked for recipes. The days were varied, interesting and rewarding; the pacing comfortable. Highlights were seeing "The girl with the pearl earing" and visiting the Keukenhof gardens. We happened to hit a rainy week but still had fun.
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