Explore Friesland
Netherlands Bike + Barge Tours
Explore the northern province of Holland by bike & boat
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1104 Rates
- Book This Trip
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
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Itinerary
Day 1: Enkhuizen – Stavoren (about 2.5 hours sailing)
Day 2: Stavoren – Makkum, 19 or 30 mi. (32 or 49 km)
Day 3: Makkum – Terschelling (about 4 hours sailing)
Day 4: Terschelling – Harlingen (about 3 hours sailing) | Harlingen – Franeker – Leeuwarden, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Day 5: Leeuwarden – Leeuwarden (about 1 hour of sailing) | Leeuwarden – De Alde Feanen – Grou, 24 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
Day 6: Grou – Sneek, 18 or 27 mi. (30 or 45 km)
Day 7: Sneek – Stavoren, 23 or 29 mi. (38 or 48 km) | Stavoren – Enkhuizen (about 2.5 hours sailing)
Day 8: 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)
The Lena Maria will be moored and waiting in the harbor of Enkhuizen, a beautiful town overlooking IJsselmeer Lake. One of the most prominent towns of the Dutch Golden Age, it still retains its historic grandeur. Embarkation begins at 2 pm but you may drop off your luggage from 11 am. Please note, on June 12, embarkation is at 4 pm and it is not possible to bring your luggage on board any earlier.Once settled in, you can meet your cabin and crew and fellow travelers. On your first cruise you’ll cross the former Zuiderzee, the once notoriously wild South Sea, to reach the province of Friesland. You’ll enter the small Hanseatic trade village of Stavoren, the oldest city in Friesland. for your first night on board.
Day 2: Stavoren – Makkum, 19 or 30 mi. (32 or 49 km)
The cycling route will follow the Frisian coast in a northerly direction. You’ll pass through the historic harbors of Hindeloopen and Workum, both small picturesque fishing villages. In Workum you can visit a museum dedicated to the painter Jopie Huisman, who was an iconic local artist with a uniquely Frisian approach to life and art. Continuing by bike towards your destination of Makkum, you’ll see a large building clearly visible in the distance. Inside, shipbuilders are busy constructing superyachts, large ocean-going vessels with everything on board that a human could possibly need or imagine. When you arrive in Makkum, the crew will welcome you back on board with tea and coffee.Day 3: Makkum – Terschelling
In the early morning, your captain will maneuver the Lena Maria through sea locks onto the Wadden Sea. Over about four hours the barge will carry you through UNESCO-listed tidal sea flats to the island of Terschelling. Besides the birdlife, you may even spot some seals on the crossing if you’re lucky.On the island, you’ll have plenty of time to explore. There are many tiny villages, sandy beaches, and dunes. The eastern part of Terschelling is one large nature reserve where you’ll have a chance to spot black-winged stilts, large colonies of spoonbills, and great black-backed gulls.
Day 4: Terschelling – Harlingen (about 3 hours sailing) | Harlingen – Franeker – Leeuwarden, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 45 km)
The Lena Maria will navigate back to the mainland. In the historic fishing town of Harlingen, you depart by bike, leaving the coast for the first time this week to visit Franeker, another of Friesland’s 11 cities. Here the Royal Planetarium is well worth a visit to see a working model of the solar system built by amateur astronomer Eise Eisinga in the 18th century. He planned to create it in six months, but in the end, it took seven years. Today’s destination is Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. Leeuwarden is a vibrant city with plenty of things to see and do. Among them, the church tower of Oldehoeve is certainly a highlight. Nicknamed the ‘Frisian tower of Pisa’ you can imagine how it looks!Day 5: Leeuwarden – Leeuwarden | Leeuwarden – De Alde Feanen – Grou, 24 or 31 mi. (40 or 50 km)
During breakfast, the barge will take you out of Leeuwarden (one hour) to start cycling outside the city towards National Park De Alde Feanen. This park consists of a variety of landscapes with small lakes, reedbeds, and swamp forest. In the 17th century, the area was mined for wet peat. Now, centuries later, the former mining grounds have evolved into a spectacular nature reserve with over 400 different plant species. One moment you’ll see a wide view over vast grasslands and waving reed beds, the next you’ll have a sheltered feeling as you pass through fairytale marshy forests. You’ll then return to Grou where the Lena Maria is moored for the night.Day 6: Grou – Sneek, 18 or 27 mi. (30 or 45 km)
Today you pedal in a westerly direction for a day of quiet bike paths and expansive views. Today’s destination is Sneek, the oldest fortress town in the province. Sneek, or Snits in Frisian, played a key role in the Friso-Hollandic wars of the 13th-15th centuries when the counts of Holland attempted to conquer the free Frisian territories. One of the city’s highlights is the Waterpoort, an impressive gate connecting city and harbor that is both defensive and decorative. Tonight, the Lena Maria docks in Sneek.Day 7: Sneek – Stavoren, 23 or 29 mi. (38 or 48 km) | Stavoren – Enkhuizen (about 2.5 hours sailing)
The last cycling route of the tour leads you from Sneek to Heeg. This 18th-century village is known for its long history of eel trade with London, which continued up until 1938. From Heeg, traditional wooden eel boats would sail across the Channel and right up the Thames to moor in the center of London. Eels were transported live in the bottom of the boats, which had special holes to allow water to flow in and out. From Heeg, you’ll cycle past Fluessen Lake through classic Frisian countryside. When you arrive in Stavoren, the Lena Maria will be ready to take you back to Enkhuizen.Day 8: Enkhuizen
Enjoy your last breakfast on board before check out and disembarkation at 09:30. End of the tour.Boats & Bikes
- Lena Maria
Standard Class Barge
The barge Lena Maria is a former freight ship rebuilt in 2004 into a comfortable cruise barge. There is a lounge for relaxation with many windows to create an open atmosphere and allows for a nice view while motoring. There is an outside sundeck with chairs. Each cabin has two low single beds and can accommodates two people comfortably. Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 7 nights on the Lena Maria
- Welcome drink
- 7 breakfasts, 7 packed lunches, & 7 three-course dinners
- Coffee & tea onboard until 4 pm
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Daily briefings by the crew
- Bike rental
- Helmet (2023)
- Maps & notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Wifi
What’s Not Included
- 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
- Helmet (2022)
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Standard Class
Saturday departures
June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, & August 6, 2022
Please Note
- Rates are 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
Pricing
Twin $ 1722 £ 972 $ 1,513 € 1104 ₪ 4140 NZ$ 1890 kr 12099 $ 1,172 Twin for single-use $ 2502 £ 1412 $ 2,198 € 1604 ₪ 6016 NZ$ 2746 kr 17579 $ 1,703 Twin $ 1995 £ 1126 $ 1,753 € 1279 ₪ 4797 NZ$ 2190 kr 14017 $ 1,358 Twin for single-use $ 2900 £ 1636 $ 2,547 € 1859 ₪ 6970 NZ$ 3182 kr 20368 $ 1,974 Extra Options
Electric bike: $ 156 £ 88 $ 137 € 100 ₪ 375 NZ$ 171 kr 1096 $ 106
Helmet: $ 16 £ 9 $ 14 € 10 ₪ 38 NZ$ 17 kr 110 $ 11
Electric bike: $ 187 £ 106 $ 164 € 120 ₪ 450 NZ$ 205 kr 1315 $ 127
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
Your final travel information will be emailed approximately one month before your tour date. For those who want to cycle self-guided, or are interested in having the route on your personal smart device, 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, all from your phone. In your final travel information, you will find the code you can use to access your specific tour. An account is not required.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
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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