Explore Friesland
Netherlands Bike + Boat Tours
Explore the Northern province of Holland by bike & boat
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length8 days
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Prices from€1545 Rates
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Overview
This bike and boat tour to the northern Frisian region reveals the hidden Holland, a tranquil and peaceful place. Here, water and land intermingle in a uniquely Dutch way. Not only was the construction of dykes necessary to hold back the water as is the norm in Holland, but the land needed to be built up as well.
This large network of locks, dikes, and pumps makes it possible to live here. The unique mudflats of the Wadden Sea are on the UNESCO's world treasures list.
Your itinerary not only includes the Wadden Sea and Islands, but also the mainland. You’ll cycle the wonderful Dutch cycling network, along canals and lakes, through open farmland, and visit small villages that were granted city rights in medieval times.
Highlights
- Unique nature of Friesland
- Flora, fauna, and birdlife of this incredible province
- Small historic cities and picturesque fishing villages
- UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wadden Sea
- Island of Terschelling
- Small ship experience
- National Park De Alde Feanen
Want to see more bike & barge tours in the Netherlands?
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Itinerary
Day 1: Enkhuizen to Stavoren
Day 2: Stavoren to Makkum, 19 or 30 mi. (32 or 49 km)
Day 3: Makkum to Terschelling
Day 4: Terschelling to Harlingen | Harlingen to Franeker to Leeuwarden, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Day 5: Leeuwarden to De Alde Feanen to Grou, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Grou to Sneek, 18 or 27 mi. (30 or 45 km)
Day 7: Sneek to Lemmer, 23 or 29 mi. (38 or 48 km) | Lemmer to Enkhuizen
Day 8: Departure from Enkhuizen*All distances are approximate. The planned itinerary is subject to change due to nautical, technical, or meteorological reasons and other unforeseen circumstances. If there is low or high water, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety even with no advance notice. During the days when two distance options are possible, you can make a choice for the longer or the shorter option, but not all the mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option.
Parts in Italics are undertaken on board.
Day 1: Enkhuizen – Stavoren, about 2.5 hours sailing
Your vessel is ready for boarding at 2 pm (4 pm on June 13 and 26, 2026). After meeting the crew and settling in, the barge departs Enkhuizen and crosses the former Zuiderzee, once known as the unpredictable South Sea. You arrive in the small Hanseatic town of Stavoren, where the ship remains overnight.Day 2: Stavoren – Makkum, 19 or 30 mi. (32 or 49 km)
Your first cycling stage follows the Frisian coastline northward, passing the historic harbors of Hindeloopen and Workum, both picturesque fishing villages. In Workum, you may visit the museum dedicated to local painter Jopie Huisman. Continuing toward Makkum, you’ll notice the large shipbuilding hall where superyachts are constructed. Upon return to the barge, the crew welcomes you back with coffee and tea.Day 3: Makkum – Terschelling, about 4 hours sailing
Early in the morning, the barge passes through the sea locks and enters the Wadden Sea. Over approximately four hours, you sail across this UNESCO-listed tidal landscape toward the island of Terschelling, with opportunities to see seabirds and possibly seals. The afternoon is free to explore the island’s villages, beaches, dunes, and nature reserve areas with diverse birdlife.Day 4: Terschelling – Harlingen, about 3 hours sailing | Harlingen – Franeker – Leeuwarden, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Sail back to the mainland in the morning and begin cycling from Harlingen, a historic fishing port. Ride inland to Franeker, one of Friesland’s 11 cities, where the Royal Planetarium—an 18th-century working model of the solar system—is a highlight. Today’s endpoint is Leeuwarden, the provincial capital, known for its lively center and leaning church tower, the Oldehove. Dinner tonight is at your own account in town.Day 5: Leeuwarden – De Alde Feanen – Grou, 24 mi. (40 km)
Cycle from Leeuwarden toward National Park De Alde Feanen, an area of small lakes, reedbeds, and swamp forests formed from former peat-mining grounds. With more than 400 plant species, the landscape shifts between wide open views and sheltered, wooded wetlands. Continue to Grou, where the barge is moored for the night.Day 6: Grou – Sneek, 18 or 27 mi. (30 or 45 km)
Today’s ride heads west through quiet countryside and open vistas. The destination is Sneek, the oldest fortress town in the province and a key location in the medieval Friso-Hollandic conflicts. One of Sneek’s landmarks is the Waterpoort, a historic defensive and decorative gate linking the town to its harbor. Overnight in Sneek.Day 7: Sneek – Lemmer, 23 or 29 mi. (38 or 48 km) | Lemmer – Enkhuizen, about 3 hours sailing
Cycle from Sneek to the village of Heeg, known for its centuries-long eel trade with London, which continued until 1938. Continue through lake country and rural Frisian landscapes to Lemmer, where you may visit the UNESCO-listed steam pumping station. In the afternoon, the barge carries you back across the water to Enkhuizen.Day 8: Enkhuizen
Enjoy one final breakfast on board before disembarkation at 9:30 am.You can view all of our bike & boat tours or look at our featured trips, specials, & news.
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Map
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Boats & Bikes
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Lena Maria
Comfort Class Barge
The barge Lena Maria is a former freight ship rebuilt in 2004 into a comfortable cruise barge. In 2020, owners Eelke and Carlijn renovated the main gathering spaces, bringing a fresh and modern look to the space. They will continue to update this vessel into 2023, the cabins will have air conditioning which will result in the Lena Maria moving up to the premium class. There is a lounge for relaxation with many windows to create an open atmosphere and allows for a nice view while motoring. There… Read More
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Flora
Standard Class Barge
Captain Berthus and Hostess Jonne van den Berg proudly welcome you on board their newly renovated boat. Along with the talented cook and enthusiastic crew, you will feel right at home! Read More
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Inclusions
What’s Included
Flora
- Accommodations for 7 nights
- Welcome drink
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, & 6 three-course dinners
- Coffee & tea onboard until 4 pm
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Daily briefings by the crew
- Bike rental
- Maps & notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Wifi
- Carbon offset donation
- Accommodations for 7 nights
- Welcome drink
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, & 6 three-course dinners
- Coffee & tea onboard until 4 pm
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Daily briefings by the crew
- Two tour guides
- Bike rental
- Helmet Maps & notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
- Ferry tickets
- GPS tracks
- Wifi
- Carbon offset donation
Lena Maria
What’s Not Included
Flora
- Beverages other than those mentioned as included
- Coffee & tea after 4 pm
- Cycling guide
- Helmet rental
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Entrance fees & excursions
- Fees for ferries
- Transfers to/from the docking places
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
- Beverages other than those mentioned as included
- Coffee & tea after 4 pm
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Entrance fees & excursions
- Transfers to/from the docking places
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
Lena Maria
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Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
Questions about dates or pricing? We’re here to help! Call 800-951-4384 to talk to a Tour Specialist now.
Jun 20Jun 20 (fully booked) Flora € 1545 Jun 20Jun 20 (fully booked) Flora € 2260 Jun 26Jun 26 (fully booked) Lena Maria € 1819 Jun 26Jun 26 (fully booked) Lena Maria € 2269 Jul 3Jul 3 (11 cabins left) Lena Maria € 1819 Book Jul 3Jul 3 (11 cabins left) Lena Maria € 2269 Book Jul 10Jul 10 (3 cabins left) Lena Maria € 1819 Book Jul 10Jul 10 (3 cabins left) Lena Maria € 2269 Book Jul 17Jul 17 (10 cabins left) Lena Maria € 1819 Book Jul 17Jul 17 (10 cabins left) Lena Maria € 2269 Book Jul 24Jul 24 (7 cabins left) Lena Maria € 1819 Book Jul 24Jul 24 (7 cabins left) Lena Maria € 2269 Book Aug 7Aug 7 (12 cabins left) Lena Maria € 1819 Book Aug 7Aug 7 (12 cabins left) Lena Maria € 2269 Book Pricing details and extra options
- Flora 2026 Jun 20 from € 15452026 departures: Jun 20
2026 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 20 Double occupancy Twin/double cabin € 1545 Single occupancy Price Twin cabin for single use (max. 2) € 2260 Bike Rentals Price Standard touring bike Included Electric bike € 161 Helmet rental € 10
- Lena Maria 2026 Jun 26, Jul 3, 10, 17, 24; Aug 7 from € 18192026 departures: Jun 26, Jul 3, 10, 17, 24; Aug 7
2026 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 26 2026 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2026 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Double occupancy Twin cabin € 1819 Single occupancy Price Single cabin € 2269 Twin cabin for single-use € 2663 Bike Rentals Price Standard touring bike Included Electric bike € 168
- Extra Options
Dietary options Vegetarian (free of charge) On request Pescatarian (free of charge) On request Gluten-free € 70 Dairy-free € 70 Important note for guests with celiac disease: Due to the small kitchen space and shared equipment on board, we cannot guarantee that meals will be completely free from gluten cross-contamination. If even minimal exposure to gluten could trigger a severe or life-threatening reaction, you may want to consider alternative tours that can better meet your dietary safety needs.Vegan option not offered for this tour.
Please Note
- Rates are per person, 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
- Flora 2026 Jun 20 from € 1545
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy self-guided tour that takes place on flat terrain. With a detailed map of the area and a suggested route for close-range explorations, you decide where you head and how fast you ride. During the evening prior to the next day’s cycling tour, the ship’s crew will explain some difficult parts, offer tips about the nicest places to stop for a drink or lunch, and mention the best highlights. In case of emergencies or problems, the crew can be contacted. But – as the ship is sailing to the next port – they can only offer assistance by phone. During the days when 2 bicycle options are possible, you can choose between the longer and the shorter options.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS).
Local Travel
From the airport, you can take a train to Enkhuizen. Travel time is 1 1/2 hours with one transfer. The cost is approximately €15. The train station at AMS is located on the lower level of the airport. A good app to download to your mobile device is the NS app (which can be found on the App Store or Google Play). You can use the app to plan your journey using every mode of public transport, not just to and from the train station, but to any address. You can also see the current location of your bus, tram, and metro, as well as the current departure times.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. There are many good websites to use to research regional weather including average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more.
Remarks
Bike rental is included in your tour price. If you would like to bring your own bicycle, a discount will apply, however there are only a limited number of extra parking spaces or e-bike charging stations on board. There will be a €10 supplement for hybrid bikes and a €25 supplement for electric bikes.
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.Ride with GPS
Ride With GPS is an app that you can download for free on your mobile phone. Your phone then becomes your own cycling navigation device, a bike route mapping tool for cyclists. This option is in addition to traditional printed route notes and printed maps. Once the app is installed, you can then download tour maps and daily itineraries directly to your smartphone. You will be able to use voice navigation on all the routes and access your tour content anytime. In your final travel information, you will find the code you can use to access your specific tour.
Carbon offset
This tour is carbon neutral. To offset emissions that can't yet be reduced by any other means, carbon credits are purchased through the organization Justdiggit. Their mission is to cool down the planet by regreening Africa through rainwater harvesting, tree restoration, and the development of grass seed banks.
Extra Stay
We advise Booking.com for researching and reserving any extra nights. You can read a detailed description of the hotels offered including a clear listing of amenities, customer reviews, and ratings.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Boat Bike Tours.
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?
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Photos
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Reviews
Tripsite Customer Reviews
Bronwen D.
5 years ago
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