Bike & Sail the IJsselmeer

Day 1: Amsterdam - Monnickendam/Volendam, 6 mi. (10 km), Check-in at 2 pm. You may bring luggage on board at 11 am.
Day 2: Monnickendam/Volendam -  Volendam | Volendam - Hoorn, 19 or 31 mi. (32 or 51 km)
Day 3: Hoorn - Enkhuizen | Enkhuizen - Urk, 17 or 24 mi. (28 or 39 km)
Day 4: Urk - Vollenhove, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 5: Vollenhove - Giethoorn, 22 or 30 mi. (37 or 49 km)
Day 6: Giethoorn - Lelystad, full day of sailing and relaxing
Day 7: Lelystad - Blocq van Kuffeler | Blocq van Kuffeler - Amsterdam, 12 or 18 mi. (20 or 29 km)
Day 8: Amsterdam

The daily bike tours are self-guided, conducted at your own pace and without a cycling guide. There are daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and route notes are available. GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the start date of the tour. During the days when 2 bicycle options are possible, you can make a choice between the longer or the shorter option. Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Monnickendam/Volendam, 6 mi. (10 km)
Your week of sailing and and cycling star cling starts in Amsterdam at 2 pm. You may bring your luggage on board from 11 am but the cabins will not be ready for check in at that time.  Once all guests have checked in, the ship sails under motor to Monnickendam or Volendam. From the port of one of these former fishing villages, you can take a nice stroll through the historic center after dinner.

Day 2: Monnickendam/Volendam -  Volendam | Volendam - Hoorn, 19 or 31 mi. (32 or 51 km)
First you cycle to a nearby, family-run shop for a short demonstration of cheese and clog making, and of course, a cheese tasting. Continuing on, your itinerary follows along the dikes to Purmerend, in the heart of a polder named De Beemster, 11½ feet (3.5 meters) below sea level. It was created more than 400 years ago, when the Dutch transformed an inland lake into pasture land. It is divided into a tight geometric pattern of squares and quadrants and is recognized by UNESCO as “a creative masterpiece”.

Your next destination is Edam, a lovely town whose lanes and canals deserve a stroll. Edam is known worldwide for its cheese covered in red or yellow wax. This practical solution keeps the cheese fresh for a long time. 17th-century sailors would take it on their voyages or trade it for spices and other riches of the East. Via the main dike of the IJsselmeer, you arrive at the promenade of Volendam, where the ship is docked. Later in the afternoon, the ship sails to Hoorn.

Day 3: Hoorn - Enkhuizen | Enkhuizen - Urk, 17 or 24 mi. (28 or 39 km)
Through small rural hamlets and villages, today’s ride brings you to Enkhuizen. Pass by the windmill De Krijgsman (The Warrior), the highest windmill in the province of North Holland and one of a handful of old Dutch windmills still in use to produce flour commercially. The area is also known for its many greenhouses, where vegetables are grown. In the 17th century, Enkhuizen was one of the wealthiest cities in Holland, thanks to its harbor that shipped then-costly spices from Asia. Be astonished by the stately mansions, canals, churches, and city walls that to this day reflect the city’s rich history and wealth.

In the afternoon, weather permitting, you sail across the IJsselmeer to the port of Urk. On board, you can help the captain sail the ship if you wish. Or you can simply sit back on deck and enjoy the invigorating journey while keeping watch for marine bird life. In the evening you may stroll through the narrow streets and alleys of Urk. The houses in this picturesque fishing village were built close to one another on elevated grounds to protect them against the water, and that is still visible today.

Day 4: Urk - Vollenhove, 23 mi. (37 km)
After breakfast, the ship will bring you to the “new land”. From Schokkerhaven, you cycle to where the polder begins. Cycle on a tarmacked cycle path to the former island of Schokland. Since the reclamation of the Northeast polder (Noordoostpolder) in 1942, Schokland – just as Urk – is no longer an island. Since 1995, it belongs to the cultural heritage of UNESCO. Continue your bike ride through the polder to Vollenhove, another charming, former fishing village.

Day 5: Vollenhove - Giethoorn, 22 or 30 mi. (37 or 49 km)
From Vollenhove, the itinerary leads through open countryside to the small town of Blokzijl to enter the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the largest freshwater wetland in northwestern Europe and a peaceful oasis for plants, animals, and humans.

A bicycle path through the center of the park takes you far away from roads, immersing you in the tranquility of this region. Keep your eyes peeled for a fleeting kingfisher or—if you’re really lucky—an otter, the symbol of the park. You pass through Kalenberg, a village that till the fifties of the last century could be reached by boat only.

A twisting route through an agricultural landscape of narrow strip fields surrounded by dikes takes you to the lovely town of Giethoorn, known as “small Venice of the North”.

Day 6: Giethoorn - Lelystad, a full day of sailing and relaxing
Today you can enjoy a full day of sailing and relaxing on board. Again, you can help the captain sail the ship if you wish. Or you can simply sit back on deck and relax. The captain sails the ship out of the narrow channels toward open water. By early afternoon the Elizabeth will arrive in Lelystad, the capital of the province of Flevoland that was entirely reclaimed from the sea. After docking, the ship serves a real captain’s dinner.

Day 7: Lelystad - Blocq van Kuffeler | Blocq van Kuffeler - Amsterdam, 12 or 18 mi. (20 or 29 km)
In the morning you can visit the Batavia Werf, an extraordinary shipyard, where ships with an important maritime history are taken from oblivion and returned to their former glory. You may also enjoy shopping at Batavia Stad, an outlet center with all the famous brands.

After these optional visits, you depart for your last half day of cycling. You’ll ride through the Oostvaardersplassen, one of the most unspoiled nature reserves in Europe, created by the drainage of Flevoland. Sections of the ride wind through forested areas, while others give you panoramic views of expansive reed beds marshes, grasslands, and ponds with a wealth of flora and fauna This is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

The ship picks you up in the small harbor of Oostvaardersdiep for the return voyage to Amsterdam. Celebrate this marvelous week around the IJsselmeer while having a farewell dinner aboard the ship.

Day 8: Amsterdam
Your tour ends today with a nice breakfast. Disembarkation afterwards until 9.30 a.m.

Be sure to check out all of our featured bike & boat tours, or our full list of tours, trips, & cruises.

• Elizabeth

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  Standard Class Sailing Ship

  Hybrid Touring Bikes

  Hybrid Velo de Ville C100, Hybrid Gazelle Chamonix (or similar) • Aluminum unisex frame … • 7 Speed Shimano ​​Nexus gearing … • 28-inch wheels … • V brakes … • VDV gel city saddle … • Impac Streetpac… Read More

  Electric Bike

  Ebike Velo de Ville CEB 200 (or similar) • Shimano 7-speed gearing … • Battery - Wh 400 … • Display - Bosch Intuvia, Bosch Purion … • Motor speed - max. 25 km / h … • Motor version - Bosch Active… Read More

  The Elizabeth is an impressive clipper built in 1913. It was later renovated to become a modern passenger sailing vessel with great attention paid to retaining the classic elegance of the original features. Read More