This tour is a true gem! The bike routes ride along beautiful paths through some of Holland's most scenic countryside, and each day's destination seems better than the one before. Starting and ending in Amsterdam, this tour also visits the prestigious towns of Haarlem, Leiden, Scheveningen, The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam.

Haarlem is one of your first stops. This small town has a beautiful square on which the famous St. Bavo Church sits. This impressive Gothic Basilica contains the magnificent Christian Muller organ with 5,000 pipes on which Mozart, Handel and Liszt have all practiced their music! The city is also known for its monuments (it has over 1000!) and beautifully restored hofjes (courtyards). Cycling on - Rembrandt's city of birth, Leiden, will embrace you with its lively atmosphere and shop-filled narrow cobblestone streets. In 1575, William of Orange founded Holland's first university here, which is now world renowned. From here, your journey continues via forested paths to Scheveningen, a popular coastal resort of which the Kurhaus will be the most striking. Take a stroll on the boardwalk and along the many shops and restaurants. As the official home of the Royal Family, The Hague (Den Haag) also serves as the seat of government, and boasts many elaborate palaces and government buildings. Delft, of course, is famous for its Delftware (handsomely painted blue and white Delft earthenware) that was developed in the 1500's. This quaint little town was also the hometown of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (1600s), and the place where he created most of his works, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and Milkmaid. Rotterdam is most famous for its harbor, which remains the busiest trade and trans-shipping port in the world. It also contains some of Holland’s most interesting modern architecture, including skyscrapers and cubical houses. Following WWII, the city took on a new look as much of it was destroyed during the war. At night, the city sparkles with millions of lights from its many tall buildings, cranes and constant comings and goings of ships. Via quiet bicycle paths, the tour will run through Vianen and Breukelen (the namesake of Brooklyn in New York) back to Amsterdam. This bustling capital was built in a circular shape using a canal network. Its many waterways allowed the city to become extremely prosperous in the trading industry. During the highly successful Golden Age in the 17th century, merchants were constantly trying to outdo each other in building elaborate houses along the canals. These houses with their distinctive gables are just some of the beautiful architecture you will find in Amsterdam.

Should time permit, this tour may also make a stop in Gouda, where traditional horse-drawn carriages still bring cheese to the Waag or weighing house. And don’t forget that April and May are the tulip months in Holland, and during this time this tour will make a special trip to the Keukenhof (a park filled with hundreds of various tulips and other floral marvels).

Tulip time is from mid-April to mid-May!

Now open for 2011 bookings!

May 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2011.
June 18 and 25, 2011.
August 6 * , 13, 20 and 27, 2011.
September 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2011.