Authentic Holland

Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Wijk bij Duurstede
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede – Wageningen | Wageningen – Arnhem, 21 or 28 mi. (35 or 44 km)
Day 3: Arnhem – Doesburg | Doesburg – Zutphen | Zutphen - Deventer,  27 or 35 mi.  (44 or 56 km)
Day 4: Deventer – Wijhe | Wijhe - Kampen, 25 or 35 mi. (40 or 56 km)
Day 5: Kampen – Elburg – Harderwijk, 29 or 37 mi. (48 or 56 km)
Day 6: Harderwijk – Spakenburg – Huizen, 28 or 35 mi.  (45 or 56 km)
Day 7: Huizen – Naarden – Muiden – Amsterdam, 21 mi.  (35 km)
Day 8: Amsterdam

Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Wijk bij Duurstede
Embarkation and check-in in Amsterdam. The crew welcomes you on board between 1 and 2 p.m. It is possible to leave your luggage on board at 11 am but the cabins will not be ready for check-in. At approximately 2 p.m, the boat sails from Amsterdam on the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to Wijk bij Duurstede, a town on the Rhine River. Here, you will spend your first night aboard the ship.

Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede – Wageningen | Wageningen – Arnhem, 21 or 28 mi. (35 or 44 km)
While you are enjoying breakfast, the ship sails to Wageningen. From this town, your first cycling tour of the week takes you through the lovely valley of the Lower Rhine river, and then on through the Veluwe, a large area of woods and heathlands. At the end of the day, you pedal to Arnhem, via suburbs and past the lovely parks named Sonsbeek and Zijpendaal. Close to the center of this former Hanseatic city, the Holland docks for the night. During World War II, Arnhem was the battle scene of Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation in history. It ended in a failure, as the inability to capture a bridge over the Rhine River resulted in the destruction of the British 1st Airborne Division.

Day 3: Arnhem – Doesburg | Doesburg – Zutphen - Deventer,  27 or 35 mi.  (44 or 56 km)
You depart Arnhem on the Nassau, and then today’s cycling tour starts in the small town of Doesburg. There are two cycling options to get you to Zutphen and Deventer. The shorter option goes along the Ijssel River to Bronkhorst, a seeming hamlet that's proud to be the smallest town in Holland. From Bronkhorst, you continue to Zutphen along the riverbank. The longer trip goes via Vorden, where you will be passing country houses, castles, and rural estates. Both options end in Deventer, a city known for its

delicious spicy gingerbread. In the evening, your tour leader offers a short guided walking tour of the city. Make sure to join!

Day 4: Deventer – Wijhe | Wijhe - Kampen, 25 or 35 mi. (40 or 56 km)
During breakfast, the boat will take you to Wijhe, where your bicycle ride begins. In the morning you will enjoy a nice bicycle ride to Hattem. You can choose a short option along the banks of the river, or opt for a long ride across the east Veluwe area. Hattem has a rich history, which is still clearly visible today. Leaving Hattem, it is only a short ride to the city of Zwolle, one of the most beautiful Hanseatic cities. From Zwolle, you continue to Kampen. In the evening, an optional guided walking tour takes you to some of the most interesting sights in this largest Hanseatic town in the Netherlands.

Day 5: Kampen – Elburg – Harderwijk, 29  or 37 mi.  (48 or 56 km)
From Kampen, your cycling tour leads along the Border Lakes to the fishing harbor of Elburg. Here, swimming, boating, surfing, and fishing are favorite summertime activities. From Elburg the cycling tour continues through the woods and moorlands of the Veluwe to lovely Harderwijk, where the night will be spent in its old fishing harbor. In the 1500s Harderwijk boasted the largest fish market in the Zuiderzee region. Today, it is still a lovely old city very much worth exploring.

Day 6: Harderwijk – Spakenburg – Huizen, 28 or 35 mi.  (45 or 56 km)
Again, you have two routes to choose from. A shorter bike ride along the coast of the Border Lakes, or a combination of the coast route and a longer alternative that runs through adjacent woodlands. In the afternoon you will pass Spakenburg, a fishing village well-known for its traditional costumes that are worn to this day. Docking destination for today is Huizen.

Day 7: Huizen – Naarden – Muiden – Amsterdam, 21 mi.  (35 km)
Huizen is the starting point for a ride to the beautiful fortress towns of Naarden and Muiden. The latter is famous for its historic castle on the waterfront. From Muiden you will cycle along quiet roads to your final destination, the world-famous city of Amsterdam. You have the afternoon and evening to spend in the Dutch capital any way you like. Seize the chance to do a canal tour, to visit Anne Frank’s home or any of a number of world-renowned museums around the Museumplein. Or just enjoy looking at everyday life in this bustling city.

Day 8: Amsterdam
Disembarkation in Amsterdam will take place after breakfast till 09:30 a.m. Please check your cabin for personal items. Before you leave, do not forget to hand over your cabin key to the crew. If you wish you can leave your luggage on board until noon. (please ask the crew).

Your daily cycling will be accompanied by an experience cycling guide.

Day 1: Embarkation in Amsterdam, sailing to Wijk bij Duurstede, 9 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen | Rhenen – Arnhem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Arnhem - Doesburg | Doesburg – Vorden – Zutphen. During dinner sailing from Zutphen to Deventer, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Deventer – Hattem – Zwolle.  Zwolle to Kampen, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Kampen - Elburg - Elspeet - Harderwijk, 27 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Harderwijk – Bunschoten – Spakenburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Spakenburg - Huizen; Huizen – Naarden – Muiden – Amsterdam
Day 8: Departure

Parts in italic undertaken on board.

Day 1: Embarkation in Amsterdam, sailing to Wijk bij Duurstede, 9 mi. (15 km)
Embarkation and check-in between 1 and  2 pm. The mooring place of the barge in Amsterdam is Oosterdok (near the Science Center: ‘Nemo’, Oosterdok 2). If you arrive a bit early, you can leave your luggage on board beginning at noon. Please be on time as the barge will leave Amsterdam at 2:15 pm to sail over the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to Wijk bij Duurstede on the Rhine.  This is one of the busiest waterways in Europe. It was dug to connect Amsterdam Seaport with the European hinterland. You spend the night in old Wijk bij Duurstede on the river Rhine. During the early Middle Ages, this town was a prestigious trading center. The marauding expeditions of the Vikings put an end to the flourishing period. The old city center is picturesque with its marketplace surrounded by trees. During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the overall planning of the week are discussed. Instructions on cycling and safety procedures will also be given. Time permitting the guide will take you on a short bike ride around the town.

Day 2: Wijk bij Duursteed - Wageningen | Rhenen - Arnhem, 25 mi. (40 km)
While you are enjoying breakfast, the barge will sail to Wageningen where, following the distribution of bicycles, you are finally off and cycling through the picturesque river valley of the Rhine. In Oosterbeek,  you can visit the Airborne Museum. You ride through suburbs through lovely parks such as Sonsbeek and Zijpendaal to Arnhem, where you spend the night close to the center
Arnhem is the capital of the province of Gelderland. In September of 1944, the center of the town was heavily damaged by the efforts of the Allies to conquer the bridge over the Rhine(Operation “Market Garden”). The plan failed. (The battle of Arnhem has been filmed in "A bridge too far"). Following the war, the city center was reconstructed to reflect its past patterns and design as closely as possible. Arnhem is generally known as the “Park City of the Netherlands” in large part due to its centuries-old city parks, which extend well into the town. Sonsbeek Park is the most important park of the city. It is located against the city’s dam walls and offers a multitude of breathtaking views with far-reaching vistas of the Rhine river on the one hand and hidden, intimate corners on the other. It contains waterfalls, a deer camp, a belvedere, and the watermill, “Arnhem”

Day 3: Arnhem - Doesburg | Doesburg - Vorden – Zutphen | Zutphen to Deventer, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today’s cycle tour takes you along the Hanseatic Town Route to the small village of Doesburg and along the IJssel to Bronkhorst, which has the distinction of being recognized as the smallest town in Holland. Guests will have two choices today – a shorter tour along the riverbank to Zutphen; or a longer bicycle trip via Vorden passing country houses, castles, and rural estates. During dinner the ship sails to Deventer. This city is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. It is therefore not surprising that the oldest stone house can be found in ‘Deventer (in the Sandrasteeg). Deventer is a prominent ‘Hanseatic Town'. In the Middle Ages, merchants from all over Europe came here to participate in the annual fairs.

Day 4: Deventer – Hattem – Zwolle | Zwolle to Kampen, 22 mi. (35 km)
This morning you will enjoy a short bicycle ride along the IJssel riverbank before boarding a ferry at Wijhe to cross the river to Hattem. The 800-year-old town of Hattem has a rich history that is still clearly visible today. Guests have the opportunity if they want, to stretch their legs with a longer bicycle trip through east Veluwe. During dinner, the ship will sail to Kampen where you have the opportunity to go on an optional guided walking tour in the largest Hanseatic town in the Netherlands has been declared a protected townscape. Kampen retained three of its original city gates from the Middle Ages: the Broederpoort, Cellebroederspoort and the Koornmarktpoort.

Day 5: Kampen - Elburg - Elspeet - Harderwijk |cycle around Harderwijk, 27 mi. (45 km)
In the morning the barge will sail to the IJssel estuary and across the so-called border lakes of the IJssel to the fishing harbor of Harderwijk. In the 1500s Harderwijk boasted the largest fish market in the Zuiderzee region and is still a fascinating old city to explore. From Harderwijk you will cycle along Veluwe lake where swimming, boating, surfing, and fishing are favorite summertime activities. The longest cycle trip on the tour also takes in the woods and moorland at Elspeet. The night will be spent in Harderwijk’s lovely old fishing harbor.

Day 6: Harderwijk – Bunschoten – Spakenburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today guests have two cycling choices: a short pedal along the coast (30 km)/19 miles) or a combination of the coast route and a longer alternative that also takes in adjacent woodlands. The night will be spent in Spakenburg, a village well-known for its traditional costumes.

Day 7: Spakenburg - Huizen; Huizen – Naarden – Muiden – Amsterdam, 22 mi. (35 km)
Once again guests have a choice this morning. After breakfast you can cycle to Huizen or, if you prefer to take things easier (45 km/ 28 miles), you can enjoy the scenery from the comfort of the barge. From Huizen you will cycle to the beautiful fortress towns of Naarden and Muiden, famous for its historic castle. From Muiden you will cycle along quiet roads to your final destination, the world-famous city of Amsterdam. The afternoon and evening are spent in Amsterdam. While you are there take the opportunity to visit Anne Frank’s home, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Dam Square, the very center and heart of the city or maybe you could go on a canal tour (not included).

Day 8: Departure
End of tour.

Day 1: Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede
Day 3: Wageningen - Arnhem
Day 4: Arnhem - Deventer
Day 5: Deventer - Kampen
Day 6: Kampen - Spakenburg
Day 7: Spakenburg - Amsterdam
Day 8: Amsterdam

Daily distances are approximately 35 mi. (56 km)

Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Wijk bij Duurstede
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede – Wageningen | Wageningen – Arnhem, 21 or 28 mi. (35 or 44 km)
Day 3: Arnhem – Doesburg | Doesburg – Zutphen | Zutphen - Deventer,  27 or 35 mi. (45 or 55 km)
Day 4: Deventer – Hattam  | Hattem - Kampen, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Day 5: Kampen – Elburg – Harderwijk, 29 or 34 mi. (48 km) 
Day 6: Harderwijk – Bunschoten - Spakenburg, 21 or 36 mi. (35 or 59 km)
Day 7: Spakenburg - Huizen |Huizen - Naarden – Muiden – Amsterdam, 21 or 30 mi. (35 or 49 km)
Day 8: Amsterdam

During days when several bicycle options are possible, not all mentioned highlights can be visited during the shorter cycling options.