Day-To-Day Itinerary
Each boat has a slightly different itinerary and also vary in what is included and not included. All distances are approximate. The planned itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.
Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam – Zaandam | Zaandam - Zaanse Schans – Haarlem, 24 or 34 mi. (40 or 55 km)
Day 3: Haarlem – North Sea coast – Leiden, 25 or 34 mi. (42 or 55 km)
Day 4: Leiden – Delft, 22 or 34 mi. (35 or 41 km)
Day 5: Delft – Rotterdam – Kinderdijk | Kinderdijk (Schoonhoven) – Gouda, several options from 15 to 41 mi. (23 to 66 km)
Day 6: Gouda - Kudelstaart, 28 or 34 miles (45 or 55 km)
Day 7: Kudelstaart – Aalsmeer – Amsterdam or Kudelstaart to Amsterdam, 19 or 23 miles (approx. 30 or 37 km)
Day 8: End of the tour; disembarkation in Amsterdam
Parts in italics undertaken on board. Shorter routes may not feature all highlights in itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam
Embarkation/check-in begins at 2 p.m and lasts until 5 pm. You can leave your luggage on board from 11 am and can then set out to explore the city center, located within walking distance. This is a great opportunity to go on a canal cruise. An introduction takes place at 5:30 and the first dinner on board is served; the rental bicycles are also handed out at this time.
Day 2: Amsterdam – Zaandam | Zaanse Schans – Haarlem, 24 - 34 mi. (40 - 55 km)
You visit the lovely open-air museum ‘Zaanse Schans’ after a short cruise to Zaandam. An old 18th and 19th century Dutch village was reconstructed in the museum, where you can visit windmills, a cheese-maker, and a clog maker. You then cycle to Haarlem, where you are able to stroll through the lovely city center and the Grote Markt (market square) in the evening. If preferred, today’s bike tour can also be extended with a visit of the sea locks of IJmuiden and the Kennemer Dunes.
Day 3: Haarlem – North Sea coast – Leiden, 25 or 34 mi. (42 or 55 km)
You cycle along the North Sea Coast and through the dunes, via the seaside resorts Noordwijk and Katwijk aan Zee. The day ends in Leiden, one of the oldest university cities. Here you can follow in the footsteps of the famous painter, Rembrandt, through the beautiful old city center.
Day 4: Leiden – Delft, Several options for mileage from 15 (23 km) to 41 mi. (66 km)
From Leiden you cycle to Delft, where a Delft Blue porcelain studio can be viewed and visited. The royal crypts of the House of Orange are also located in the beautiful center of Delft. From Delft you can also visit The Hague. If you prefer not to cycle here, you can also take the or per train or tram. Highlights of today's route include the Binnenhof, the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis), and the Scheveningen seaside resort.
Day 5: Delft – Rotterdam – Kinderdijk | Kinderdijk (Schoonhoven) – Gouda, several options from 15 to 41 mi. (23 to 66 km)
You travel per boat through the remarkable international port of Rotterdam, from Delft to Kinderdijk. The Kinderdijk offers an impressive view of 19 windmills in a row. From here, you cycle a shorter distance directly to Gouda, known for its famous cheese. You can also choose to take the longer route via Schoonhoven, also known as the silver city.
Day 6: Gouda - Kudelstaart, 28 or 34 mi. (45 or 55 km)
You cycle to the small town of Kudelstaart, straight through the idyllic South Holland landscape with numerous little canals. At the mooring place on the banks of the Westeinder Plassen (“West End” Lakes), you can enjoy the beautiful view.
Day 7: Kudelstaart – Aalsmeer - Amsterdam, 19 or 23 miles (approx. 30 or 37 km)| or Kudelstaart - Amsterdam
Early in the morning you can visit the large flower auction at Aalsmeer (entrance fee not included). After breakfast, you can choose to cruise through the City of Amsterdam to the mooring place or cycle into the city through the city park Amsterdamse Bos or along the Amstel river. Take some time to enjoy the attractions in the city center during the afternoon and evening.
Day 8: End of the tour; disembarkation in Amsterdam
Bid the crew farewell and disembark after breakfast by 9:30 am. Please check your cabin for personal items. Before you leave, do not forget to hand over your cabin key to the crew. If you wish you can leave your luggage on board until noon, you may do so but please confirm with crew.
*Please note that if you choose the shorter route, you may miss some of the mentioned highlights.
Day 1: Den Bosch
Day 2: Den Bosch - Woudrichem
Day 3: Woudrichem - Dordrecht
Day 4: Dordrecht to Alblasserdam | Alblasserdam - Kinderdijk - Gouda
Day 5: Gouda - Leiden
Day 6: Leiden - Haarlem
Day 7: Haarlem - Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam
Day 8: Amsterdam
Parts in italics undertaken on board.
Day 1: Den Bosch
Check in on board the Merlijn at 4 pm. Den Bosch, also know as 's-Hertogenbosch, is a wonderful city full of historic buildings and medieval architecture, great shops and welcoming cafés and restaurants. In the evening, after dinner on board, you will enjoy a boat tour of the centuries-old canal system.
Day 2: Den Bosch - Woudrichem
Woudrichem is a charming medieval city surrounded by water and green
Day 3: Woudrichem - Dordrecht
Today your cycling itinerary includes cycling through Biesbosch National Park, one of the largest national parks of the Netherlands and one of the last extensive areas of freshwater tidal wetlands in Northwestern Europe. Dinner on board and overnight in Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland, actually situated on an island, bordered by five different rivers. Today it remains a very important seaport and is known for its shipbuilding.
Day 4: Dordrecht to Alblasserdam | Alblasserdam - Kinderdijk - Gouda
During breakfast, enjoy a morning sailing to Alblasserdam, followed by a bike tour to Kinderdijk and Gouda. Kinderdijk is a must see with its 19 windmills, designated a Unesco World Heritage site. Most of the current mills were built in 1738 and 1740, and form two stairways of 8 mills each to pump water to a higher level every time it reaches the next mill in line, a testament to the Dutch's ingenuity in battling the sea. Gouda, of course, is famous for its cheese! Dinner on board and overnight in Gouda.
Day 5: Gouda - Leiden
After your visit to the city of Gouda, you will cycle to Leiden deep into the Groene Hart, the Green Heart of Holland. Crisscrossed with canals and lovely 17th century architecture, and a town center rivaled by none, Leiden is known for its university, the oldest in the country, and for being the birthplace of Rembrandt. Did you know it was here that the pilgrims raised the money to lease the Mayflower! Dinner on board and overnight her.
Day 6: Leiden - Haarlem
Enjoy the view from your bicycle - the scenery from Leiden to Haarlem is picturesque, authentic Holland. You will overnight in Haarlem, a lovely contrast to your rural cycling. Haarlem is cobbled streets and winding canals. It is the Grote Markt and the Grote Kerk.
Day 7: Haarlem - Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam
From Haarlem, the route leads to the Zaanse Schans, an open air "living museum". An 18th and 19th century Dutch village was reconstructed, displaying the traditional architecture of the area (green wooden houses) and has several functioning windmills and craftsmen's workshops, which are open to visitors. The day's final destination is Amsterdam.
Day 8: Amsterdam
End of tour
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This tour is run by Boat Bike Tours and the Merlijn.
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Heart of Holland Boats + Barges
Flora (formerly Jelmar) Netherlands Standard Plus Class Boat The Flora, recently renovated during the winter of 2006/2007, has 10 twin cabins with level beds, washbasin, and shower/toilet. The well upgraded ship is ready to receive new guests while sailing in the Netherlands.
Merlijn Germany, Netherlands Comfort Plus Class Boat The Merlijn has 12 luxurious cabins with two comfortable airbeds that can be pushed together or separated, a desk, a wardrobe closet, a hairdryer, and a safe. The lounge is comfortably furnished in a modern style with a restaurant area and lounge near the bar. You can enjoy fresh air, water, and nature in all weather on the sun deck. The entire ship is climate controlled and you can adjust the temperature in your own cabin.
Lena Maria Belgium, Netherlands Comfort Class Boat 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.
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Customer Feedback
Yun S. 1 year ago
Best Parts: Easy booking process, online Q & A instant answers. Safe bike routes, great time on bikes!
Boat: Flora (formerly Jelmar)
Reply
Bruce N. 1 year ago
Most Memorable Part: Biking the rural/countryside of Holland
Boat: Flora (formerly Jelmar)
Reply
Shirley 2 years ago
We just completed this trip (may 13 - 20), and loved the experience. The rural scenery was so lovely - however if you are looking for more than peaceful pastures and canals for 6 days, then this might not be the trip for you. The first day of biking was into a strong wind for 55 km which made it very challenging. I would recommend an e-bike! The bikes were very heavy, the gears changed easily, the saddlebags and bike locks worked very well. Although we had maps, 2 GPS, a discussion of the route by the captain....we still got lost every time we went through a city. There were several times that the map showed a road number however that number was not found on the road signs. The food was served family style and was plentiful. The boat was small but suitable for the 19 passengers, the bathrooms were tiny but there was plenty of hot water for showers.
Negatives - no ice for our water bottles; no fans or air conditioning for the couple of days that were extremely hot; our rooms Read more… were never cleaned; the captain tended to be curt; the maps were not always accurate.
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