Overview
This 5-day bike and barge tour will take you through charmingly scenic landscapes, such as the polder flatlands of North Holland and the sandy dunes along the North Sea coast. You’ll cycle flat terrain on dedicated bike paths along dikes, canals, and bridges. This is the best biking Holland has to offer!
Discover the Zaanse Schans open-air museum, an authentic Dutch village in which the 18th and 19th century are brought to life. You can purchase cookies at the bakery museum, visit the warehouse where clogs are made, the cheese factory, pewter foundry, and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands.
Other highlights of this trip are the cheese capital Alkmaar and the historic city of Haarlem, with its cobbled streets, pretty canals, shops, and cafés.
The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam, which some call the smallest metropolis in Europe. In the heart of this historic city, you’ll find many unique museums, enticing shops, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed canals, all of which certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a highlight.
Highlights
- A short tour through Holland’s most beautiful places
- Historic cities Amsterdam, Alkmaar & Haarlem
- Zaanse Schans & cycling on the North Sea coast
- Small ship experience
A comprehensive list of all of our bike and barge tours in Holland can be found here.
Itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Zaandam
Day 2: Zaandam – Alkmaar, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 3: Alkmaar – Haarlem, 29 mi. (48 km)
Day 4: Haarlem – Amsterdam | Waterland loop, 18 or 26 mi. (28 or 43 km)
Day 5: AmsterdamParts in italics are covered by the ship. During days when several bicycle options are possible, not all mentioned highlights can be visited during the shorter cycling options.
All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change sometimes without prior notice. Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary
Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Zaandam
Embarkation and check-in takes place at 2 pm, with the crew welcoming you on board. Once all guests have arrived a short cruise will bring you to Zaandam, a town famous for its windmills. Here, your barge will berth for the night in the center of the city. Upon arrival, you can enjoy taking your new bike for a brief test ride through the surrounding area. In the evening, enjoy a short walk through Zaandam’s picturesque center.Day 2: Zaandam – Alkmaar, 27 mi. (44 km)
A pleasant 5 km bicycle ride leads you to ‘Zaanse Schans’. This old Dutch village is home to beautiful windmills still in use, traditional wooden houses and artisans like a cheesemaker and a clog maker. Zaanse Schans is in fact more than an open-air museum, as the people you’ll see around are actual inhabitants! Your tour continues through the ‘Land of Leeghwater’, a luscious green polder area. Stroll through the former whaler’s village of De Rijp and pass by the windmills of Schermerhorn. In the cheese city of Alkmaar, your barge will be waiting for you near the historic city center. As you wander through the streets of Alkmaar’s old town, you’ll be charmed by the beauty of its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and narrow, winding canals.Day 3: Alkmaar – Haarlem, 29 mi. (48 km)
After breakfast, you’ll cycle towards the North Sea coast. A great bike ride through the sand dunes is on the program today. In the afternoon, a local ferry will take you across the North Sea Canal, which is a major shipping route. Back on land, you’ll cycle to Haarlem: a pretty city of cobbled streets, historic buildings, grand churches, cozy bars, canals, top-notch restaurants, and antique shops.Day 4: Haarlem – Amsterdam | Waterland loop, 18 or 26 mi. (28 or 43 km)
Today the ship will take you back to Amsterdam. You can choose to take a last beautiful bike ride through the idyllic pastures and wetlands north of Amsterdam in Waterland or to discover this amazing city. Explore the flower market in the center, visit the Rijksmuseum or a modern art museum like the Stedelijk, or go shopping in the ‘Nine Streets’. There’s so much to do!Day 5: Amsterdam
Enjoy your last breakfast on board before disembarkation until 9.30 am. End of the tour.Boats & Bikes
- Princesse Royal
Deluxe Class Boat
This beautiful vessel features a beautiful salon with a spacious bar, a sun deck equipped with comfortable chairs, and a small whirlpool to relax in at the end of a long day of cycling. Delicious meals are served daily in the restaurant area. Read More
- Magnifique III
Deluxe Class Barge
Following the success of her sister ships, Princesse Royal and the Magnifique II, Magnifique lll was launched in 2018, adding to her owner/captain's portfolio of designing and constructing deluxe ships. The partially covered sundeck with sun loungers and a hot tub provide is the perfect spot for relaxation. The tastefully decorated lounge with large panoramic windows, located on the upper deck is wonderfully inviting and the combined light-filled restaurant, bar, and lounge adds to the ambience. Read More
- Magnifique IV
Deluxe Class Barge
Following the overwhelming success of the premium barges Princesse Royal, Magnifique II (2016), and Magnifique III (2018), we are proud to now offer a new addition, the Magnifique IV. Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 4 nights onboard the selected vessel in a climate-controlled cabin
- 4 breakfasts
- Packed lunches
- 4 three-course dinners
- Coffee & tea on board
- Welcome drink
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Climate-controlled cabin
- Daily briefings
- Fully guided cycling tours
- Some short walking tours
- Entrance windmill Schermerhorn
- Entrance to “This is Holland” experience
- Maps & notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Use of a helmet
- Use of a waterproof pannier bag
- Fees for ferries
- Wi-Fi
What’s Not Included
- Drinks
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Entrance fees & excursions (not mentioned under inclusions)
- Transfers to/from the docking place
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
Princesse Royal
Thursday, May 6, Monday, May 10, Friday, May 14, Tuesday, May 18, Saturday, May 22, Sunday, & May 30, 2021
Thursday, June 3, Monday, June 7, Friday, June 11, and Tuesday, June 15, 2021Cabin type Twin $ 1366 £ 710 $ 1,220 € 814 kr 124459 ₪ 3329 ¥ 139733 Mex$ 15118 NZ$ 1501 NOK 9833 zł 3592 S$ 1209 kr 9740 $ 886 Premium twin $ 1584 £ 823 $ 1,415 € 944 kr 144336 ₪ 3861 ¥ 162050 Mex$ 17533 NZ$ 1741 NOK 11403 zł 4166 S$ 1403 kr 11296 $ 1,028 Single $ 1702 £ 884 $ 1,520 € 1014 kr 155038 ₪ 4147 ¥ 174066 Mex$ 18833 NZ$ 1870 NOK 12248 zł 4475 S$ 1507 kr 12134 $ 1,104 Twin/single-use $ 1919 £ 997 $ 1,714 € 1144 kr 174839 ₪ 4677 ¥ 196296 Mex$ 21238 NZ$ 2109 NOK 13813 zł 5046 S$ 1699 kr 13683 $ 1,245 Triple* $ 1316 £ 684 $ 1,175 € 784 kr 119872 ₪ 3206 ¥ 134584 Mex$ 14561 NZ$ 1446 NOK 9470 zł 3460 S$ 1165 kr 9381 $ 854 Premium triple* $ 1534 £ 797 $ 1,370 € 914 kr 139749 ₪ 3738 ¥ 156900 Mex$ 16975 NZ$ 1686 NOK 11041 zł 4033 S$ 1358 kr 10937 $ 995 *The third bed is only for children 16 years and younger
Magnifique III
Tuesday, July 6, Sunday, July 11, & Thursday, July 15, 2021
Cabin type Twin $ 1366 £ 710 $ 1,220 € 814 kr 124459 ₪ 3329 ¥ 139733 Mex$ 15118 NZ$ 1501 NOK 9833 zł 3592 S$ 1209 kr 9740 $ 886 Upper deck suite $ 1853 £ 963 $ 1,655 € 1104 kr 168799 ₪ 4515 ¥ 189516 Mex$ 20504 NZ$ 2036 NOK 13336 zł 4872 S$ 1640 kr 13210 $ 1,202 Single $ 1702 £ 884 $ 1,520 € 1014 kr 155038 ₪ 4147 ¥ 174066 Mex$ 18833 NZ$ 1870 NOK 12248 zł 4475 S$ 1507 kr 12134 $ 1,104 Twin/single-use $ 1919 £ 997 $ 1,714 € 1144 kr 174839 ₪ 4677 ¥ 196296 Mex$ 21238 NZ$ 2109 NOK 13813 zł 5046 S$ 1699 kr 13683 $ 1,245 Suite/triple-use $ 1802 £ 936 $ 1,610 € 1074 kr 164212 ₪ 4393 ¥ 184366 Mex$ 19947 NZ$ 1981 NOK 12973 zł 4739 S$ 1596 kr 12851 $ 1,170 Magnifique IV
Thursday, June 24 and Monday, June 28, 2021
Friday, July 2, 2021Cabin type Twin $ 1366 £ 710 $ 1,220 € 814 kr 124459 ₪ 3329 ¥ 139733 Mex$ 15118 NZ$ 1501 NOK 9833 zł 3592 S$ 1209 kr 9740 $ 886 Upper deck suite $ 1853 £ 963 $ 1,655 € 1104 kr 168799 ₪ 4515 ¥ 189516 Mex$ 20504 NZ$ 2036 NOK 13336 zł 4872 S$ 1640 kr 13210 $ 1,202 Twin/single-use $ 1919 £ 997 $ 1,714 € 1144 kr 174839 ₪ 4677 ¥ 196296 Mex$ 21238 NZ$ 2109 NOK 13813 zł 5046 S$ 1699 kr 13683 $ 1,245 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
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy, guided bike and boat tour on flat terrain along the network of cycling routes (fietsroutenetwerken) that makes Holland a cycling paradise! This cycling infrastructure consists of 30,000 km of cycle routes, cycle bridges, cycle tunnels, cycle ferries, and special signposting.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam International Airport (Amsterdam Schiphol).
Local Travel
Trains to Amsterdam Central leave from platforms 1, 2, or 3 which are all on the 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. We will provide detailed docking/mooring information in your final travel information.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. There are many good websites to use to research regional weather including average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more. Don’t forget your rain gear!
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to research travel requirements and 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, blank visa pages required for your destination (s), and any other requirement.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU citizens: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and the destination country.
EU-citizens: (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad, or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months from the end of your tour.
*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?
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