Epic Tour of Holland

Day 1: Amsterdam, embarkation at 2 pm, cycling to Vianen, 11/25 mi. (17/40 km)
Day 2: Vianen - Gorinchem, 49 mi. (78 km)
Day 3: Gorinchem - Den Bosch, 45 mi. (72 km)
Day 4: Den Bosch-Grave, 46 mi. (74 km)
Day 5: Grave-Nijmegen, 51 mi. (82 km)
Day 6: Nijmegen-Doesburg, 47 mi. (75 km)
Day 7: Doesburg-Deventer, 49 mi. (78 km). Sailing to Zutphen via Almen and Laren to Deventer
Day 8: Deventer – Zwolle/Hattem, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 9: Zwolle/Hattem; sailing to Hasselt and sailing to Vollenhove, 53 mi. (85 km)
Day 10: Vollenhove – Lemmer, 47 mi. (75 km)
Day 11: Lemmer - Sneek, 45 mi. (72 km)
Day 12: Sneek, roundtrip, 46 mi. (73 km)
Day 13: Sneek – Stavoren,  34 mi. (54 km) and sailing to Enkhuizen
Day 14: Enkhuizen sailing to Hoorn and cycling to Amsterdam, 41 mi. (65 km)
Day 15: Amsterdam, departure after breakfast, before 10 AM

All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc

Day 1: Amsterdam, embarkation begins at 1 pm, cycling to Vianen, 11/25mi. (17/40 km)
Embarkation begins at 1 pm. If you arrive early to the barge, you can leave your luggage on board from noon onwards. The boat will pick up anchor and leave Amsterdam at 2:15 pm navigating in a southward direction. Depending on the weather or wind, you may actually cycle out of the city to Breukelen and board the Zwaan here to sail for Vianen. Alternatively, you sail first, followed by a nice short cycle ride along the Vecht River and thereafter sail for the small town of Vianen.

Day 2: Vianen - Gorinchem, 49 mi. (78 km)
Today a tour in the region of the rivers Lek, Linge, and Waal is scheduled. Beautiful villages, winding roads, lots of greenery, and windmills will dot the course. Today’s final destination is Gorinchem, a former fortress on the Waal River. The town is quite small but the center is mighty with character. This town is not in the tourists' books so is really very authentic.

Day 3: Gorinchem - Den Bosch, 45 mi. (72 km)
You continue your cycling exploration with the final destination today being Den Bosch. You leave the province of Holland and arrive in ‘the south’. Along rivers, dikes, through the fortified town of Heusden, nature reserves, and woods, you arrive in the age-old capital of the province of Noord-Brabant with its impressive Saint John’s Cathedral. Den Bosch is a lovely city full of history and art and laced with a centuries-old canal system.

Day 4: Den Bosch-Grave, 46 mi. (74 km)
The route follows the winding Maas River, which originates in the east of France. Once again, dikes, rivers, and charming villages will be your backdrop. There is always time to stop and simply enjoy.  Another former fortress, Grave, is today’s destination.

Day 5: Grave-Nijmegen, 51 mi. (82 km)
You cycle to and fro in the most southern province of Holland, Limburg, with the Maas River running through it. You will encounter the first hills of the tour and will even cross the border into Germany briefly. You will stay for the night in Nijmegen on the Waal River. Nijmegen was one of the most northern border towns of the Roman Empire and one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands.

Day 6: Nijmegen-Doesburg, 47 mi. (75 km)
The River Rhine and the hills of the south Veluwe determine today’s backdrop. It is time to change into low gear. There are also plenty of woods in the second half of this stage. The ship will be moored in the town of Doesburg where the rivers IJssel and Oude IJssel merge. The town's former prosperity is still visible in its beautifully restored center and fortifications.

Day 7: Doesburg-Deventer, 49 mi. (78 km) Sailing to Zutphen via Almen and Laren to Deventer
Your day begins on board,  sailing on the IJssel, a beautiful stretch with a view of the hills of the Veluwe. You disembark in Zutphen (medieval town) for a stiff stage east of the IJssel in the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel. Zutphen, founded by the Franks during Roman times, has been inhabited for about 1700 years and is one Holland’s oldest towns.

Day 8: Deventer – Zwolle/Hattem, 37 mi. (60 km)
You follow the course of the River IJssel for a while, then cut through the woods to the valley of the River Vecht, which originates in Germany. Zwolle is the capital of Overijssel. It is a beautiful mercantile town with a medieval center and has an excellent network of cycling lanes. For those with some energy left after the 60 km to Zwolle, there is the opportunity for a trip to Hattem, across the river, where the woods of the Veluwe begin.

Day 9: Zwolle/Hattem, sailing to Hasselt and sailing to Vollenhove, 53 mi. (85 km)
During breakfast, you sail in a northern direction across Zwarte Water. In Hasselt, the cycling begins. From the low-lying West-Overijssel, you proceed to the province of Drenthe which was very thinly populated until the beginning of the twentieth century and for the greater part consisted of heath and peat bog. There are lots of nice cycling roads here. Via the ‘Kop van Overijssel’ today’s stage ends in the small town of Vollenhove, during the middle ages an administrative center of the bishop of Utrecht. There were no less than two castles and various ‘havezathes’. Vollenhove used to be by the sea. Now you can overlook the new land which was reclaimed in 1942 when construction of the Noordoostpolder was finished.

Day 10: Vollenhove – Lemmer, 47 mi. (75 km)
The cycling route today leads through North West Overijssel, a region abounding in water, with its natural reserves Wieden and Weerribben. You also cycle briefly on the former seabed in the Noordoostpolder and arrive in Lemmer late in the afternoon. This used to be a fishing town but has now become an aquadrome with marinas, cafés, restaurants, and shops.

Day 11: Lemmer - Sneek, 45 mi. (72 km)
From Lemmer, you pedal northward through Gaasterland, among others. This is a relatively small but varied region, which was partly shaped by the last ice age, with slightly undulating terrain and even some modest cliffs on the coast. Dikes are not always necessary here. You continue pedaling through the province of Friesland, a region with its own language and culture. It is a very important region for dairy farming. Sneek is the final destination and overnight mooring. Sneek is the water sport capital of Friesland.

Day 12: Sneek, roundtrip, 46 mi. (73 km)
From Sneek, you enjoy a loop tour through the central part of Friesland. Lots of greenery, quiet roads, small villages on terps, which are artificial mounds from the days before the dikes were built, and beautiful, well-preserved town centers.

Day 13: Sneek – Stavoren, 34 mi. (54 km) and sailing to Enkhuizen
On this Thursday, you cycle through the south-west of the province with lots of pastures and water. In the afternoon, you go aboard for the crossing to North Holland. Enkhuizen is a beautiful port that competed with Amsterdam at the beginning of the 17th century. The town has fewer inhabitants than in its hey-day of trade and shipping. A stroll through the town is an absolute must.

Day 14: Enkhuizen sailing to Hoorn and cycling to Amsterdam, 41 mi. (65 km)
While having breakfast on the last day of the Grand Tour of the Netherlands, you sail to Hoorn, another beautiful port in its heyday in the 17th century. As in Enkhuizen it also had its office of the ‘Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie’ (United East Indies Trading Company), an extensive enterprise trading in the East Indies via its various local offices. Finally, an easy-going stage to conclude the tour. Amsterdam is the final destination. On your way on winding dikes with commanding views, you visit quaint towns, and via a practically carless route, you reach Amsterdam thus concluding your epic tour of Holland.  While cycling and sailing on this two-week tour you will come away with an in-depth experience of all that Holland is.

Day 15: Amsterdam, departure after breakfast, before 10 AM

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You will be accommodated on board the Comfort class vessel, the Zwaan

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  Oxford Touring Bicycle … • 24 speeds … • Handbrakes … • Step-through frame: for passengers from 4'11 to 5'10 / 150 cm - 178 cm … • Men's frame: for passengers from 4'11 to 6'8 / 150 cm - 203 cm … •… Read More

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