Bike and Sail the Ijsselmeer

Day-To-Day Itinerary

On board the Elizabeth, self guided:

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam and embarkation
Day 2:  Amsterdam – Waterland – Monnickendam, 15 or  24 mi.  (25 or 40 km)
Day 3: Monnickendam – Volendam – Edam – Hoorn, 21 - 36 mi. (35 - 60 km) 
Day 4: Hoorn – Enkhuizen, 15 mi. (25 km).  Sailing:  Enkhuizen – Lemmer or Stavoren
Day 5: Lemmer – Frisian Lakes & Gaasterland – Stavoren, 20 or 34 mi. (34 or 56 km) or the other way around 
Day 6: Lemmer or Stavoren - Enkhuizen
Day 7: Enkhuizen - Amsterdam
Day 8: End of tour

A Bike and Sail tour is an adventure! The sailing routes to be taken depend largely on the weather and the wind. The skipper will determine from day to day the exact sailing schedule and discuss the possibilities. The skipper and his crew will do everything they can to offer you the program as planned so you can enjoy a fascinating week with a variety of activities, nature and culture, but it is possible that the departure and sailing times and/or the order of the program might be altered.

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam
Embarkation on board your sailing vessel is between 2 and 6 pm. In the afternoon and evening, there is ample opportunity to stroll about the city, visit a museum, the flea market , or take a canal cruise in Amsterdam.

Day 2: Amsterdam – Waterland – Monnickendam, 15 or  24 mi.  (25 or 40 km)*
After breakfast following the distribution of bicycles your first cycling leg of the trip will take you through the magnificent rural nature reserve of Waterland with its many villages, canals and rivers. A highlight along the way is the village of Broek, a picturesque spot in the center of Waterland that features wooden houses, canals and manicured gardens. If you have time and feel like cycling some more kilometers, the island of Marken which used to be on the Zuiderzee, is another village worth visiting. Your destination for the night is the port town of Monnickendam. Enjoy a stroll around the old port area after dinner.

Day 3: Monnickendam – Volendam – Edam – Hoorn, 21 or  36 mi. (35 or 60 km)* 
Cycling in Holland doesn’t get much better than today’s offering from Monnickendam via Volendam, Edam, De Rijp and Schermerhorn to Hoorn. Along the way you can visit a cheese factory, take a break in Volendam’s bustling harbor and stroll through the narrow streets of the old whaling village of De Rijp. The wealthy merchants of the 17th century built many splendid homes and warehouses, which are still well maintained and to this day continue to characterize the image of the old towns you will be cycling through. When you wander through Hoorn, your destination for the day, you will marvel at the many beautifully ornate buildings that tell the history of this former Dutch East India Company town. A shorter cycling route for the day will take you via Volendam and Edam across the IJsselmeer dike to Hoorn.

Day 4: Hoorn – Enkhuizen, 15 mi. (25 km).  Sailing:  Enkhuizen – Lemmer/Stavoren
This morning you will enjoy beautiful views of the IJsselmeer as you pedal along an old dike from Hoorn to the port of Enkhuizen where you will enjoy your lunch today on board the Elizabeth. In the afternoon test out your sea legs for the first time as you sail across the IJsselmeer to Lemmer oder Stavoren in the province of Friesland (depending on the weather conditions). In the evening you will have the opportunity to take a stroll through the port. Make sure you take the opportunity to explore the picturesque village of Lemmer which has many cafés and quaint pubs along the canals and close to the old neo-gothic lock.

Day 5: Lemmer – Frisian Lakes & Gaasterland – Stavoren, 20 or 34 mi. (34 or 56 km) or the other way around 
Cycle from Lemmer through the rolling hills of Gaasterland. As you cycle from idyllic village to idyllic village highlights along the way are the Frisian lakes of De Morra and Fluessen, the historic centre of Sloten and Molkwerum a village that features many small canals. You can extend the bike tour with a de-tour to Hindelopen. The tour ends in Stavoren, the oldest town in Friesland. If you sailed to Stavoren on Tuesday, today's bike tour is from Stavoren to Lemmer.

Day 6: Lemmer or Stavoren – Enkhuizen 
This route begins in Lemmer on the rolling hills of Gaasterland, with its idyllic villages alongside the Frisian lakes such as De Morra and Fluessen. Along the way you pass the historic center of the small town of Sloten. You then cycle via Molkwerum, a village with numerous small canals to Stavoren, the oldest town in Friesland. In the late afternoon, the sails are hoisted and you will sail to Enkhuizen. The evening is the best time for a stroll through the port, in which many East India Company ships were once berthed.

Day 7: Sailing Enkhuizen – Amsterdam
This is the day where you pray to the weather Gods for a stiff breeze for the trip under full sail from Enkhuizen along the IJsselmeer coast back to Amsterdam. If you are interested the captain will let you take an active part in sailing the vessel; no maritime experience is required. In the afternoon, after you reach the Dutch capital, you will still have plenty of time to discover the “real” Amsterdam, world famous for its canals, its quirky ‘leaning’ buildings, museums, Anne Frank’s home, the Waterlooplein Market, Amsterdam’s permanent market place and Dam Square, the very center and heart of the city and much, much more.

Day 8: End of tour in Amsterdam
Disembarkation after breakfast.

On board the Leafde fan Fryslân, guided:

Day 1: Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam - Waterland - Monnickendam, 22 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km)
Day 3: Monnickendam - Volendam - Edam - Hoorn, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 4: Hoorn - Enkhuizen, 20 mi. (28 km) | Sailing from Enkhuizen - Urk
Day 5: Urk and Schokland, 22 mi. (34 km) | Sailing from Urk - Lemmer
Day 6: Lemmer - Frisian Lakes & Gaasterland - Stavoren, 30 mi. (48 km) | Sailing from Stavoren - Enkhuizen
Day 7: Sailing from Enkhuizen - Amsterdam
Day 8: Amsterdam

On days where two distances are offered, guests can choose to cycle the shorter or longer routes. Guests can choose to stay on board on any day they do not wish to cycle.

A Bike and Sail tour is an adventure! The sailing routes to be taken depend largely on the weather and the wind. The skipper will determine from day to day the exact sailing schedule and discuss the possibilities. The skipper and his crew will do everything they can to offer you the program as planned so you can enjoy a fascinating week with a variety of activities, nature and culture, but it is possible that the departure and sailing times and/or the order of the program might be altered.

Day 1: Amsterdam
Individual arrival in Amsterdam, embarkation between 2 pm and 6 pm.  During the first night, the ship is moored in Amsterdam, close to the city centre. Take the time in the afternoon or evening to visit museums, or to shop or relax on a canal cruise.

Day 2: Amsterdam - Waterland - Monnickendam, 22 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km)
Your first cycling tour begins after breakfast when you wind your way through the stunning rural nature reserve of Waterland, with its villages, canals, creeks and lakes. One of the highlights is the village of Broek in Waterland, replete with typical wooden houses with exquisitely-kept gardens in the middle of this natural, water-filled environment. If you would like to cycle an extra 15 kilometers (approx. nine miles), then the former island of Marken is a must see. The cycling tour ends in the attractive port village of Monnickendam, where you spend the night.

Day 3: Monnickendam - Volendam - Edam - Hoorn, 32 mi. (52 km)
Time for a cycling tour from Monnickendam through Volendam, Edam, De Rijp and Schermerhorn to Hoorn. Visit a cheese farm en route, savour the fresh fish in the lively harbor of Volendam and wander through the quaint little streets and alleys in Rijp, a former whaling station. The well-to-do merchants in the Golden Era of the 17th century built magnificent residences and trading centers here that have been carefully restored and now dominate the village skyline. You can marvel at numerous buildings of yesteryear as you stroll through Hoorn, the final stop on this cycling tour. A shorter route cuts approximately 15 km (approx. nine miles) off the cycling tour and takes you through Volendam and Edam over theIJsselmeer dyke directly to Hoorn.

Day 4: Hoorn - Enkhuizen, 20 mi. (28 km) | Sailing from Enkhuizen - Urk
In the morning, cycle over the centuries-old dyke along the IJsselmeer, from Hoorn to Enkhuizen. You are expected back on board for lunch in the port of Enkhuizen. In the afternoon, you sail straight across the IJsselmeer to Urk. Stroll through the narrow streets and alleys to the tiny beach and on to the harbour of this picturesque port village. The houses in Urk were built close to one another on elevated ground to protect them against the water, and that is still visible today.

Day 5: Urk and Schokland, 22 mi. (34 km) | Sailing from Urk - Lemmer
After breakfast, cycle along the lake on a tarmacked cycle path to the formerisland 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. Then cycle back to Urk, get back on board and sail on to Lemmer, gateway to Friesland. This is an attractive water sport center with its many canal-side cafés and its old, neo-gothic locks.

Day 6: Lemmer - Frisian Lakes & Gaasterland - Stavoren, 30 mi. (48 km) | Sailing from Stavoren - Enkhuizen
The bike route takes you from Lemmer over the higher sandy soil of the Gaasterland, with its idyllic villages, and then through the lower-lying peat bogs with their Frisian lakes such as the Morra and the Fluessen. En route, you pass by the historic little town of Sloten. You’ll travel through Molkwerum, a village literally criss-crossed by canals, to the oldest town of Friesland, Stavoren. Late afternoon, we set sail again, this time for Enkhuizen. Enjoy an evening stroll through the old harbour and the center of this enthralling town that flourished in the time of the United East India Company.

Day 7: Sailing from Enkhuizen - Amsterdam
If the wind is favourable, we proceed under full sail from Enkhuizen along the IJsselmeer coast back to Amsterdam. Anyone who would like to sail and maneuvre the ship along with the crew is welcome to do so: sailing experience is not necessary. You sail into Amsterdam in the afternoon and there is plenty of time to go exploring.

Day 8: Amsterdam
Disembarkation after breakfast by 9.30 am. End of your trip. A beautiful journey full of new experiences has come to an end!

Be sure to check out all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bicycle tours.

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• Bike and Sail the Ijsselmeer