Amsterdam to Bremen
Netherlands, Germany Bike + Barge Tours
A luxurious bike & boat tour from Holland to Northern Germany!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1695 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Offering a combination of beautiful landscape, charming Dutch villages in the provinces of Friesland and Groningen, and two countries, this tour aboard the beautiful Merlijn offers something for everyone!
First experience the ‘northern’ atmosphere in the Netherlands and the lively cities there. Then, cross the IJsselmeer, the largest lake in Western Europe. Man-made, this body of water was an engineering feat and a testament once again to the Dutch battle against the sea. The bike tour will end in Germany, cycling through beautiful countryside and visiting ancient cities such as Leer and Oldenburg.
The final destination is the city of Bremen, a Hanseatic City, 1200 years young! You will enjoy the terraces on the ‘Schlachte’ the Promenade at the Weser river, the Bremer Stadtmusikanten, the Bremen Town Musicians, and the SchnoorvierteI, a district that was restored to its original 16th- and 17th-century appearance during the post-World War II reconstruction. Be sure to meander through the Market Place!
This tour showcases two neighboring countries, both with distinct histories and cultures.
Highlights
- Energetic Amsterdam
- Charming Enkhuizen
- Province of Friesland
- Frisian landscape
- Leer and Oldenburg - ancient German cities
- Shipyard Meyer
- Bremen, terraces on the ‘Schlachte’ the Promenade along the Weser river, the Bremer Stadtmusikanten, and the Bremen Town Musicians
- SchnoorvierteI
See our complete list of bike and boat tours in Germany or all our bike and boat tours in Holland.
Itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam - Hoorn
Day 2: Hoorn - Enkhuizen - Lemmer
Day 3: Lemmer - Sneek - Leeuwarden
Day 4: Leeuwarden - Stroobos - Groningen
Day 5: Groningen - Delfzijl - Papenburg
Day 6: Papenburg - Oldenburg
Day 7: Oldenburg - Vegesack - Bremen
Day 8: BremenAverage biking distance per day from 25 to 50 km. All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.
Day 1: Amsterdam - Hoorn
Check-in on board begins at 3:30 pm. You can drop your luggage off beginning at 10 am but please note that the cabins will not be ready for check-in. At 5 pm, Merlijn will disembark to Volendam. Once on board, as you sip your complimentary beverage, enjoy a presentation regarding your tour, the ship, the cycling, and safety. A lovely dinner follows, topped off by a city walk through charming Volendam.Day 2: Hoorn - Enkhuizen - Lemmer
After your breakfast, you will start biking to Enkhuizen, another very charming city. In the historic center, there is still much to discover that brings back the memory of the Dutch V.O.C. (East India Company) period such as the 16th century Drommedaris tower. Enkhuizen was also the home of the Merlijn-architect in 2001. In the afternoon you will board the Merlijn and together we will cross the IJsselmeer, the largest lake in the Netherlands. After dinner, you may want to stroll through the center of Lemmer, a very famous Dutch water sports town and the former home harbor of the Merlijn, when it was still a freight ship.Day 3: Lemmer - Sneek - Leeuwarden
While enjoying your breakfast, the boat cruises through the province of Friesland, where there is more water than land. You will see many lakes and canals, and because this part of the country is below sea level, you will see sailboats, but only the sails, since the actual boats are too low to see. The famous black and white Frisian cattle and the well known black Frisian horse originated here. Friesland is also the home of the famous Dutch skaters. You will start your biking tour in Sneek, one of the eleven Frisian cities. After visiting Sneek with its medieval center and the famous Watergate, you’ll bike to the capital Leeuwarden. After dinner, there is plenty of time for a stroll through this city with its monuments, market place, canals, and medieval houses. Leeuwarden is starting and finishing point of the Elfstedentocht (Eleven cities tour), a 200 km-long speed skating race over the Frisian waterways that is held when winter conditions in the province allows.Day 4: Leeuwarden - Stroobos - Groningen
Today, your bike tour takes you again through the charming Frisian landscape (pure nature). At the border with the province of Groningen, you will board the Merlijn in Stroobos to finish the last leg of today's route with a cruise to city of Groningen. This is the capital of the province Groningen, the most northeast province of the Netherlands. It is a lively university city with perhaps even more bikes than you’ve seen in Amsterdam! Enjoy your dinner tonight at your own expense in one of the many restaurants in this city. Following dinner, you may want to visit one of the 160 pubs!Day 5: Groningen - Delfzijl - Papenburg
You will bike your last part in the Netherlands through the landscape of Groningen, along the Dampsterdiep, passing Appingedam. Many original medieval residences can be found in the center. The most famous sight is the hanging kitchens above the Damsterdiep. In Delfzijl, you will board the Merlijn and from here, sail an impressive part of the tour: first the Dollard, part of the Waddenzee and then into the estuary of the river Ems. Following this river until Leer, and then further along the Ems, you will bike through the floodplains of the river - a nature reserve - to the city of Papenburg. After dinner, you can walk through this charming city, still close to the Dutch border. Papenburg is also known for its large shipyard, the Meyer-Werft, which specializes in building giant cruise liners. However, the history of Papenburg goes back much further in time, about 350 years ago, poor peat-farmers started with the foundation of the oldest and largest fen community of Germany.Day 6: Papenburg - Oldenburg
You can visit the Meyer-Shipyard in the morningand afterward your bike tour will lead you to Dörpen at the Küstekanal, where the Merlijn awaits you. The city of Dörpen is shaped by canals. Here, draw-and bascule bridges span the riverbanks, and houses adorned with flowers line the banks. Tonight you will overnight in Oldenburg.Day 7: Oldenburg - Vegesack - Bremen
Your biking day will start in Oldenburg and you will bike along the waters Küstekanal, Hunte, and Weser to Vegesack, a northern district of the city of Bremen. The boat cruises the Weser to the Schlachte, the mooring spot for the night. The 1,200 years old Hanseatic city of Bremen offers the Weser-Renaissance town hall and the grand old statue of Roland on the market square (both UNESCO World Heritage); these are two of the city's most famous landmarks. And then of course the Schnoor Viertel, the oldest district in Bremen, with the unusual buildings along delightful little Böttcherstrasse take you back to a bygone age. But no sightseeing tour is complete without a visit to the Town Musicians statue featuring the donkey, dog, cat and rooster from the Brothers Grimm fairytale, the Bremer Stadtmusikanten.Day 8: Bremen
Individual departure or enjoy a nice leisure day in Bremen and board the Merlijn once again at 4 pm to begin second part of tour to Magdeburg!LBoats & Bikes
- Merlijn
Deluxe Class Barge
"The Divine Miss M" as we lovingly call the Merlijn is a diva, for sure. What can we say? Is it the luxurious cabins with most comfortable beds you have ever slept in? Is it the lovely dining area with the large windows and skylight that let the air, light, and sun pour in? Or perhaps it is the sun deck, where you can relax with newfound friends, sharing good wine and good conversation. We think you will find it is the entire divine package! Step onboard and discover for yourself! Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights in a climate-controlled cabin
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, & 6 three-course dinners
- Complimentary welcome beverage
- Complimentary toiletries, bathrobe, & slippers
- 27-speed hybrid bike (Sensa), equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, waterproof pannier, water bottle, towel, & universal helmet
- Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, & water
- Daily cabin cleaning
- Fees for harbors, bridges, & locks
- Tour guide
- Tourist information
- Most routes can be provided as GPS tracks
- Entrance & tour of the Meyer shipyard
- †Wifi
- †Important to note, due to steel construction of the ship, cruising locations, and other factors, Wifi signal speed and strength may not be what you are accustomed to and may not meet your expectations. If you are dependent on a constant, strong, fast, and reliable signal at all times, please consider a personal hot spot. See our FAQ page.
What’s Not Included
- 1 Dinner
- All beverages other than those mentioned
- Excursions not mentioned in the itinerary
- City maps
- Bike maps
- Gratuities
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2022
Saturday departure
May 14, 2022*
*2 for 1 special now being offered!
Please Note
- Rates are 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
Twin/double: $ 2658 £ 1519 $ 2,511 € 1695 ₪ 6494 NZ$ 2900 NOK 18719 kr 19504 $ 1,876 * Single: On request
*2 for 1 special now being offered!
Extra Options
Electric bike rental (payable on board): $ 282 £ 161 $ 267 € 180 ₪ 690 NZ$ 308 NOK 1988 kr 2071 $ 199
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy, guided boat and bike tour with daily distances ranging from 15 to 30 miles ( 25 to 50 km) on a mainly flat route.
Airport Info
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge in Amsterdam is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
Local Travel
There is a direct train that leaves 6 times per hour from the airport to Amsterdam Central Station. It takes about 16 minutes. The price for a train ticket Schiphol-Amsterdam Central is € 4,20 per person for a single journey. A taxi from the airport to the barge in Amsterdam takes about 30 minutes. It costs about € 45. The closest international airport to Bremen is Hamburg International Airport (HAM)
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean and Bremen, as well has a warm and temperate climate. The greater part of Germany lies in the cool/temperate climatic zone in which humid westerly winds predominate.
Day of Rest
Any day can be designated a day of rest by remaining on board and enjoying the passing sights from on deck.
Remarks
Laundry service is available onboard. Price varies.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
Extra nights can always be arranged!
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Coen van der Vlies.
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?
Photos
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