Heart of Holland
Netherlands Bike + Barge Tours
Biking and boating historic cities in the Netherlands through the green heart of Central and Southern Holland
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€954 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
On this bike and boat tour in Holland, you will discover the "Groene Hart" or Green Heart of the country, a sparsely populated rural area surrounded by cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
This is the heart of the Holland of old: peat meadows, grazing cattle, windmills, typical villages, and lots of water.
It is also the stuff of the Dutch masters who captured this polder landscape bathed in that infamous otherworldly Dutch light in many works of art.
Contrast the old and the new on this lovely bike and boat tour in Holland!
Highlights
- Biking through the Green Heart
- Historical Amsterdam
- Rijksmuseum and Delft porcelain studio
- Small boat atmosphere
- Gouda, the Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, and Leiden
- Cycling the North Sea Coast.
Looking for something different? Here is a complete list of bike and barge tours in the Netherlands.
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.
Flora, Lena Maria, & Gandalf
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 50 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 mi. (45 or 55 km)
Day 7: Kudelstaart – Aalsmeer – Amsterdam or Kudelstaart to Amsterdam, 19 or 23 mi. (approx. 30 or 37 km)
Day 8: End of the tour; disembarkation in AmsterdamParts in italics undertaken on board. Shorter routes may not feature all highlights in the itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam
Lena Maria and Gandalf: Embarkation/check-in begins at 2 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. A tour introduction takes place at 3 pm, followed by the distribution of bicycles, and a short test ride with your tour leader. Dinner is served on board this evening.
Flora: Embarkation and check-in begin at 2 pm. You can bring your luggage on board at 11 am but cabins will not be ready for check-in. After unpacking your luggage in your cabin, you will still have plenty of time to explore this famous city. Treat yourself to a canal tour, visit one or more museums, or simply do some shopping. An introduction to the tour will take place at 5:30 pm during which the crew will be introduced and your first dinner on board will be served, your rental bicycle will also be distributed 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 by 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, famously known for its 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 mi. (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 the crew.*Please note that if you choose the shorter route, you may miss some of the mentioned highlights.
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Boats & Bikes
- Flora
Standard Class Barge
Touring BikeElectric Bicycle (E-Bike)![]()
Trek X300 (or similar brand/model) • Unisex (step-through) frame … • Frame sizes: 45, 50, 55 and 60 cm … • Handbrake … • Shimano gearing … • 24 speeds … • Adjustable Bontrager Nebula saddle … • 28… Read More![]()
Trek TM2+ (or similar brand/model) • Limited number available, request at the time of booking … • 5 speeds … • 5 support levels … • Handbrakes … • Bosch motor … Accessories … • Accessories … •… Read MoreCaptain 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
- Gandalf
Standard Class Barge
Touring BicyclesHybrid Gazelle Chamonix (or similar brand/model)![]()
Hybrid Velo de Ville C100 (or similar brand/model) • Aluminum step-through frame … • Shimano Nexus gearing … • 7 speeds … • V-Brakes … • Impac Streetpac 47-622 tires … • VDV City saddle … • 28… Read MoreElectric Bicycle (E-Bike)![]()
• Step-through frame … • Shimano gearing … • 7 speeds … • Gel-saddle (adjustable) • Handbrakes … • Frame lock … • 28" Wheels … Accessories: • Detachable pannier bag … • Helmet rental included and… Read More![]()
Velo de Ville CEB 200 (or similar brand/model) • Limited number available, request at the time of booking … • Wh 400 battery … • Bosch Intuvia, Bosch Purion display … • Max. 25 km/h motor speed … •… Read MoreThe classic MS Gandalf is a comfort class passenger ship that can accommodate 20 guests. Almost everything on this barge is on one level, including the comfortable salon which has scenic panoramic windows. Read More
- Lena Maria
Standard Class Barge
Touring BicyclesHybrid Gazelle Chamonix (or similar brand/model)![]()
Hybrid Velo de Ville C100 (or similar brand/model) • Aluminum step-through frame … • Shimano Nexus gearing … • 7 speeds … • V-Brakes … • Impac Streetpac 47-622 tires … • VDV City saddle … • 28… Read MoreElectric Bicycle (E-Bike)![]()
• Step-through frame … • Shimano gearing … • 7 speeds … • Gel-saddle (adjustable) • Handbrakes … • Frame lock … • 28" Wheels … Accessories: • Detachable pannier bag … • Helmet rental included and… Read More![]()
Velo de Ville CEB 200 (or similar brand/model) • Limited number available, request at the time of booking … • Wh 400 battery … • Bosch Intuvia, Bosch Purion display … • Max. 25 km/h motor speed … •… Read MoreThe 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
Flora
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- Welcome drink
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, 7 three-course dinners
- Coffee and tea on board
- Daily cabin cleaning
- Welcome drink
- Daily tour briefings
- Detailed maps and route descriptions, one set per cabin
- 7-speed hybrid city touring bike (Velo de Ville C100 or Gazelle Chamonix) with a unisex frame, handbrakes, gel saddles, integral frame lock, pannier bag, repair kit with pump
- GPS tracks
- WiFi (You may pay a small fee. Do note that due to steel construction of the ship, the signal strength and download speed will not be what you are accustomed to.)
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- Welcome drink
- 7 Breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, 7 three-course dinners
- Coffee and tea on board
- One weekly cabin cleaning
- Fully guided cycling itinerary
- Daily tour briefings
- 7-speed hybrid city touring bike (Velo de Ville C100 or Gazelle Chamonix) with a unisex frame, handbrakes, gel saddles, integral frame lock, pannier bag, repair kit with pump
- Detailed maps and route descriptions, one set per cabin
- GPS tracks
- WiFi (You may pay a small fee. Do note that due to steel construction of the ship, the signal strength and download speed will not be what you are accustomed to.)
Lena Maria & Gandalf
What’s Not Included
Flora, Lena Maria, & Gandalf
- Individual arrival and departure to/from the boat
- Drinks on board
- Entrance fees and excursions
- Fees for ferries/water bus
- Electric bike ( Velo de Ville CEB 200 with Nexus 7 gears and crank Bosch motor (400 WH) offering 4 support levels). Available with supplement. See pricing.
- Helmets (available with a supplement. See pricing.)
- Cycling guide on the Flora
- Gratuities
- Bike protection
- Trip Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
Flora
Saturday to Saturday
May 8, May 15, May 22, May 29, June 19, June 26, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, & August 14, 2021Cabin type
May 8 All other dates Twin bed $ 1508 £ 821 $ 1,398 € 954 ₪ 3616 NZ$ 1577 kr 9723 $ 1,130 $ 1587 £ 864 $ 1,472 € 1004 ₪ 3805 NZ$ 1659 kr 10233 $ 1,189 Twin for single use (one per departure) $ 2179 £ 1186 $ 2,021 € 1379 ₪ 5225 NZ$ 2278 kr 14050 $ 1,632 $ 2297 £ 1250 $ 2,131 € 1454 ₪ 5509 NZ$ 2402 kr 14814 $ 1,721 Triple (one bunk bed)* $ 1350 £ 735 $ 1,252 € 854 ₪ 3237 NZ$ 1411 kr 8704 $ 1,011 $ 1429 £ 778 $ 1,325 € 904 ₪ 3426 NZ$ 1494 kr 9214 $ 1,070 Gandalf
Saturday to Saturday
June 12, June 19, June 26, July 3, July 10, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 4, September 11, & September 18, 2021Cabin type June 12 - Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Twin cabin/lower deck $ 1666 £ 907 $ 1,545 € 1054 ₪ 3995 NZ$ 1742 kr 10743 $ 1,248 $ 1587 £ 864 $ 1,472 € 1004 ₪ 3805 NZ$ 1659 kr 10233 $ 1,189 Triple cabin/lower deck $ 1603 £ 872 $ 1,486 € 1014 ₪ 3843 NZ$ 1676 kr 10335 $ 1,201 $ 1524 £ 829 $ 1,413 € 964 ₪ 3654 NZ$ 1593 kr 9825 $ 1,141 Twin cabin/single-use $ 2416 £ 1315 $ 2,241 € 1529 ₪ 5793 NZ$ 2526 kr 15579 $ 1,810 $ 2297 £ 1250 $ 2,131 € 1454 ₪ 5509 NZ$ 2402 kr 14814 $ 1,721 Flora
Saturday departures
May 14, May 21, May 28, June 4, June 18, June 25, July 2, July 23, July 30, August 6, & August 13, 2022Cabin type
May 14 All other dates Twin bed $ 1587 £ 864 $ 1,472 € 1004 ₪ 3805 NZ$ 1659 kr 10233 $ 1,189 $ 1650 £ 898 $ 1,530 € 1044 ₪ 3957 NZ$ 1725 kr 10641 $ 1,236 Twin for single use (one per departure) $ 2298 £ 1251 $ 2,131 € 1454 ₪ 5511 NZ$ 2403 kr 14819 $ 1,722 $ 2393 £ 1303 $ 2,219 € 1514 ₪ 5738 NZ$ 2502 kr 15431 $ 1,793 Triple (one bunk bed)* $ 1429 £ 778 $ 1,325 € 904 ₪ 3426 NZ$ 1494 kr 9214 $ 1,070 $ 1492 £ 812 $ 1,384 € 944 ₪ 3578 NZ$ 1560 kr 9621 $ 1,118 Gandalf
Saturday departures
June 11, June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, August 13, August 20, August 27, September 3, September 10, & September 17, 2022Cabin type May - Sept. 16 Sept. 17 Twin cabin/lower deck $ 1729 £ 941 $ 1,604 € 1094 ₪ 4147 NZ$ 1808 kr 11150 $ 1,295 $ 1666 £ 907 $ 1,545 € 1054 ₪ 3995 NZ$ 1742 kr 10743 $ 1,248 Triple cabin/lower deck $ 1666 £ 907 $ 1,545 € 1054 ₪ 3995 NZ$ 1742 kr 10743 $ 1,248 $ 1603 £ 872 $ 1,486 € 1014 ₪ 3843 NZ$ 1676 kr 10335 $ 1,201 Twin cabin/single-use $ 2511 £ 1367 $ 2,329 € 1589 ₪ 6023 NZ$ 2626 kr 16195 $ 1,882 $ 2417 £ 1315 $ 2,241 € 1529 ₪ 5795 NZ$ 2527 kr 15584 $ 1,810 Extra Options
Flora & Gandalf
Electric bike rental $ 158 £ 86 $ 147 € 100 ₪ 379 NZ$ 165 kr 1019 $ 118 Helmet rental (advanced reservation required) $ 16 £ 9 $ 15 € 10 ₪ 38 NZ$ 17 kr 102 $ 12 Canal tour of Amsterdam (Advanced reservation required. Ticket will be waiting on board.) $ 22 £ 12 $ 21 € 14 ₪ 53 NZ$ 23 kr 143 $ 17 Flora & Gandalf
Electric bike rental $ 158 £ 86 $ 147 € 100 ₪ 379 NZ$ 165 kr 1019 $ 118 Helmet rental (advanced reservation required) $ 16 £ 9 $ 15 € 10 ₪ 38 NZ$ 17 kr 102 $ 12 Canal tour of Amsterdam (Advanced reservation required. Ticket will be waiting on board.) $ 22 £ 12 $ 21 € 14 ₪ 53 NZ$ 23 kr 143 $ 17 Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy, self-guided (on the Flora) or guided (on the Lena Maria and Gandalf) bike and boat tour with average daily distances between 10 and 34 miles (15 and 55 km). The majority of the time you will cycle on dedicated bike paths or county roads, but there are times when entering or exiting towns/cities that you will share the road! On most days there will be a choice between two cycling options: a shorter/longer or quicker/slower tour (this depends on the day-to-day program). Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option. GPS tracks are available.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam International Airport also known as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
Local Travel
Trains to Amsterdam Central leave from platforms 1, 2, or 3 which are all on floor below the airport terminal. Tickets can be purchased either at the ticket desk on the arrivals level or at the yellow machines using Euro coins or credit/debit cards (pin required!) The direct trains to the Amsterdam train station run every 10 to 15 minutes between 6:00 am and 12:30 am and the trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Short taxi ride to mooring location, or depending on the boat, embarkation point may be within walking distance. Docking/mooring information will be provided in your final travel information which we send approximately one month before your tour date.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. There are many good websites to visit to research average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and other weather-related facts. The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Please see below for Monthly Weather Averages.
Remarks
A discounted ticket for a 1-hour canal cruise through Amsterdam is offered, which is offered at the discounted price of approximately €13 (€14 in 2021). Please book this at time of reservation and we will invoice you for this. You can collect it on board of your ship on the first day of the tour.
Important to know
Covid 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.
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.
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?
Photos
![Tulip fields in the Springtime in Holland! ©Hollandfotograaf]()
![Biking the countryside of the Netherlands. ©Hollandfotograaf]()
![Kurhaus in Scheveningen, The Hague, the Netherlands. Flickr:Christopher A. Dominic]()
![City Hall in Gouda, South Holland, the Netherlands. ©TO]()
![Klompen as decorations, footwear or souvenirs. Zaanse Schanse, Zaandam, the Netherlands. ©TO-Mrs. Elzer]()
![Zaanse Schans, Zaandam, the Netherlands. ©TO]()
![Sunset over Schoonhoven in South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Diet Bos]()
![Harbor entry in Schoonhoven, the Netherlands. Flickr:Ronald van der Graaf]()
![Famous cheese market in Gouda, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:bert knottenbeld]()
![Scorpionfly in the Netherlands. ©holland fotograaf]()
![Bike path along the windmills in Zaandam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:kismihok]()
![City Hall in Gouda, the Netherlands. ©holland fotograaf]()
![Biking & boating in Kinderdijk, Molenwaard, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Luca Casartelli]()
![Klompen for sale at the Zaanse Schans on the River Zaan, North Holland, the Netherlands. Photo via Flickr:Zicario van Aalderen]()
![Windmills are everywhere in Holland. These in Zaandam, the Netherlands. Flickr:Moyan Brenn]()
![Sunny afternoon in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Moyan Brenn]()
![Delftblue to be found in Delft, north of Rotterdam and south of The Hague, the Netherlands. Flickr:bert knottenbeld]()
![Tulips in Holland, of course! Flickr:nikontino]()
![Zijlpoort, Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Jan]()
![Bike rest in the Zaanse Schans, Zaandam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Anne Dirkse]()
![Harbor and Town Hall in Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Roman Boed]()
![Cityscape of Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. CC:Simmerguy269]()
![Aalsmeer is home to the largest flower auction in the world. Flickr:Hans Splinter]()
![Cube houses in Rotterdam, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Andrea Depoda]()
![Haarlem in North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:David Baron]()
![Zaanse Schans, Zaandam, the Netherlands. Flickr:iorek7z]()
![Amsterdam glows at night. Flickr:Syuqor Aizzat]()
![Bread and cheese shop in Schoonhoven, the Netherlands. Flickr:bert knottenbeld]()
![Bike rest in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Francesca Cappa]()
![Along the Zaan River on the Heart of Holland Bike Tour. Flickr:Peter Visser]()
![Summer evening in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Moyan Brenn]()
![Canal house boats in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Sergey Galyonkin]()
![Biking past Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Francesca Cappa]()
![Oude Rijn in Leiden, the Netherlands. CC:Erik Zachte]()
![Traditional Dutch herring sandwich! ©TO-Fam. Peuten]()
![Boats in Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Roman Boed]()
![Horseback Riding and Tulip Fields in Holland! ©Hollandfotograaf]()
![Famous landscape of Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:briyyz]()
![Windmill in Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Tambako the Jaguar]()
![Delft blue at the Zaanse Schanse, Zaandam, the Netherlands. Flickr:Zicario van Aalderen]()
![Rembrandt's Night Watch in Delft Blue at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:bert knottenbeld]()
![Nieuwe Kerk at Market Square in Delft, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Fabio Bruna]()
![Tulip fields in the Heart of Holland in the Springtime! ©Hollandfotograaf]()
![Vermeer girl in Delft Blue. Flickr:bert knottenbeld]()
![The windmill row in Kinderdijk, South Holland, the Netherlands. Flickr:Leonardo Angelini]()
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