Holland Polderland
Netherlands Bike Tours
A stunning Dutch road bike tour
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€822 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Finally, we bring to you a bicycle tour in Holland with longer daily distances. This tour features 60 plus miles a day (100 km) during 6 days of cycling through five provinces. For those who do not want to miss a single thing in this cycling paradise, this is the road bike tour for you. Cycle through a variety of scenery, culture and traditions; vast polders, beautiful beaches, historical towns, authentic fishing villages, impressive museums and last but not least, cheese markets! There will be waterscapes and endless pastures. The harbor towns on Lake Ijsselmeer will take you back to the glory days of Dutch shipping and trade. Dreamy dunes stretch all the way down the North Sea coastline. Come and experience everything for which Holland is renowned.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bunnik
Day 2: Bunnik - Lelystad, 59 mi. (95 km)
Day 3: Lelystad - Alkmaar, 56 mi. (90 km)
Day 4: Alkmaar - Medemblik, 67 mi. (108 km)
Day 5: Medemblik - Amsterdam, 63 mi. (101 km)
Day 6: Amsterdam - Scheveningen, 50 mi. (80 km)
Day 7: Scheveningen - Bunnik, 63 mi. (101 km)
Day 8: Departure*All distances are approximate.
DAY 1: Arrival in Bunnik
Bunnik can be easily reached by train from Amsterdam Airport.DAY 2: Bunnik - Lelystad, 59 mi. (95 km)
As you progress through this bicycle tour in Holland, you’ll love the charming scenery of forest, water and polder. Along the shores of the Randmeren Lakes, you will reach the old Hansa town of Harderwijk. Imagine that at one time this town used to be a thriving fishing port by the sea, but now it’s on a lake overlooking a polder. Leaving the mainland, you will ride through Flevopolder to Lelystad, the town named after Cornelis Lely, the engineer of the Zuiderzee Works. This is the term for the project which initially cut off the Zuiderzee from the North Sea (the 32 km long Closure Dike was completed in 1932); and subsequently drained part of the newly created lake to make land for growing crops and building houses. Museum Nieuwland is dedicated to the Zuiderzee Works. You’ll find out why, when and how this bold plan was achieved. Shoppers might be interested to stop off at Batavia Stad outlet shopping precinct.DAY 3: Lelystad - Alkmaar, 56 mi. (90 km)
With water all around, pedal atop the 30 km Houtribdijk dike that separates Lake Markermeer from Lake IJsselmeer and connects Lelystad to Enkhuizen. This dike, finished in 1975, was intended, as part of the Zuiderzee Works, for the third polder, Markerwaard. Environmentalists and water sports enthusiasts lobbied to block this plan so Markermeer is now still a lake. In Enkhuizen, note the beautiful 17th Century houses built in the days when the Dutch East India Company made a fortune trading in spices and bulbs. The Dutch dominated world trade (ruthlessly, it must be said...) and rich merchants sponsored arts and sciences, which flourished. In the excellent Zuiderzee Museum, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating history and can also visit a recreated Zuiderzee village of old. Typical dutch villages, tranquility, vast horizons, impressive cloudscapes, local style "cheese cover” farmhouses, orchards, bulb fields and windmills await...everything one expects to see and experience in Holland. Like Enkhuizen, Hoorn also made its fortune in the Golden Age. Cycle Holland coast-to-coast from Lake IJsselmeer to the North Sea, via "cheese town” Alkmaar. You’ll visit a "museum windmill” and pass through the oldest polder in Holland, drained by windmills in 1612!DAY 4: Alkmaar - Medemblik, 67 mi. (108 km)
The area just south of Den Helder has developed into one of the largest flower bulb growing areas in the world. Most of the bulbs are for export. In spring, when tulips, hyacinths and daffodils come into bloom, the place is a sea of color. The route continues through Wieringermeer, a polder drained and desalinated between 1927 and 1934 to create new arable land of which there was a great shortage. The ancient town of Medemblik is on splendid Lake IJsselmeer. It has a marina and a steam engine museum.DAY 5: Medemblik - Amsterdam, 63 mi. (101 km)
This region, also called West-Friesland, offers space and quiet as well as pretty villages, cheese cover style farmhouses, windmills, orchards, bulb flower fields and crop fields. You will cycle atop the old sea dike with continuous views of Lake IJsselmeer. This lovely trip takes you along the shores of Lake Hoornsche Hop and Lake Markermeer past and through pretty towns and villages such as Edam, Volendam and Monnickendam. The beautiful stone houses in the distinctive heart of this catholic fishing village, Volendam seem to have been drawn up without an organized street plan. "De Dijk”, overlooking the harbor, attracts many tourists who browse the souvenir shops and have a break at a pavement café or restaurant. From here, make your way to Amsterdam. The capital city will welcome you with romantic canals, bridges and... more than 800,000 bicycles! Amsterdam is for exploring. There is so much to see and do. Whether you like, art, culture, an evening out or just looking around the canal area, you’ll have a great time. A canal boat trip is a great way to get a better look at the canal houses.DAY 6: Amsterdam - Scheveningen, 50 mi. (80 km)
You’ll love the elegant city of Haarlem, voted best city for shopping. Remember to look up at the façades of historical buildings and see if you can spot the pretty stepped gables. The bike route then continues, through Zuid-Kennemerland, a colorful area rich in natural beauty, to Zandvoort by the sea. Pedaling south, you’ll cycle through the Dune and Bulb Region. The windswept dunes not only protect the hinterland from the sea, but also harbor many species of dune flora and fauna. April is the best time for visiting colorful bulb fields (daffodils, hyacinths and tulips) just behind the dunes. On the coast, check out the resorts and beaches. Once you reach Scheveningen, the choices of what to see and do are plentiful!DAY 7: Scheveningen – Bunnik, 63 mi. (101 km)
First you will cycle to The Hague, home to the government and the Queen. The city is brimming with things to do and see. You might like to take the opportunity to see Vermeer’s famous painting "The Girl with the Pearl Earring” in Mauritshuis Museum. Another favorite is Mesdag’s cylindrical Panorama of Scheveningen in 1881. After looking around The Hague, ride through open grassland to pretty "cheese town” Gouda, also known for its syrup waffles and candles. If possible, plan your holiday so you can see the Thursday morning traditional cheese market. Woods, stately homes, parks, rivers, polders, lakes and marshy fens make today’s scenery. Opt to stop off at a cheese dairy or visit De Haar Castle. At the end of the day, explore the heart of the lively city of Utrecht. Discover the pretty Museum Quarter and admire beautiful Oude Gracht canal. Its wharves are unique to Utrecht and make a pleasant setting for waterside cafés.Day 8: Departure
Individual departure after breakfast.Looking for more? View all our featured bike trips, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.
Accommodation
3 and 4 hotels
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 7 nights in 3 and 4 star hotels
- Breakfast
- Luggage transfer
- Detailed route descriptions
- Tourist information
- Service hotline
- GPS
- Emergency break down service
What’s Not Included
- Lunches and dinners
- Bike rental
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Arrival any day from April 1 to September 23, 2017
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Price $ 1390 £ 719 $ 1,232 € 822 kr 126027 ₪ 3334 ¥ 137179 Mex$ 15021 NZ$ 1513 NOK 9795 kr 9650 $ 907
Single supplement: $ 355 £ 184 $ 315 € 210 kr 32197 ₪ 852 ¥ 35046 Mex$ 3837 NZ$ 387 NOK 2502 kr 2465 $ 232
Extra Options
Surcharge for overnight in Amsterdam on Saturdays, double/twin: $ 25 £ 13 $ 22 € 15 kr 2300 ₪ 61 ¥ 2503 Mex$ 274 NZ$ 28 NOK 179 kr 176 $ 17
Single: $ 51 £ 26 $ 45 € 30 kr 4600 ₪ 122 ¥ 5007 Mex$ 548 NZ$ 55 NOK 357 kr 352 $ 33
Surcharge overnight in Amsterdam during the periods of April 18 - 23, May 15 - 17, June 24 - 27, September 14 -19, double/twin: $ 85 £ 44 $ 75 € 50 kr 7666 ₪ 203 ¥ 8344 Mex$ 914 NZ$ 92 NOK 596 kr 587 $ 55
Single: $ 169 £ 87 $ 150 € 100 kr 15332 ₪ 406 ¥ 16688 Mex$ 1827 NZ$ 184 NOK 1192 kr 1174 $ 110
Dinner included: $ 326 £ 169 $ 289 € 193 kr 29590 ₪ 783 ¥ 32209 Mex$ 3527 NZ$ 355 NOK 2300 kr 2266 $ 213
Supplement, road bike rental: $ 36 £ 18 $ 31 € 21 kr 3220 ₪ 85 ¥ 3505 Mex$ 384 NZ$ 39 NOK 250 kr 247 $ 23
Supplement, electric bike rental: $ 154 £ 80 $ 136 € 91 kr 13952 ₪ 369 ¥ 15186 Mex$ 1663 NZ$ 168 NOK 1084 kr 1068 $ 100
Extra night: $ 118 £ 61 $ 105 € 70 kr 10732 ₪ 284 ¥ 11682 Mex$ 1279 NZ$ 129 NOK 834 kr 822 $ 77
Helmet: $ 17 £ 9 $ 15 € 10 kr 1533 ₪ 41 ¥ 1669 Mex$ 183 NZ$ 18 NOK 119 kr 117 $ 11
Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
This is an easy to moderate bike tour with average daily distances between 50 and 67 miles (80 and 108 km). The route is flat on well marked bike paths.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam International Airport (Schipol)
Local Travel
Train to Bunnik. Train ride is about 1 hour with a transfer in Utrecht Centraal.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. Average high/low temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit for the area are: April, 53/40°; May, 61/46°; June, 66/52°; July, 69/55°; August, 70/55°; September, 64/51° and October, 57/46°
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Dutch Bike Tours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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