North Holland Tour

*Aboard these boats, it is possible to do the tour as self-guided with route descriptions. Please specify at the time of booking if you wish to do this. Maps are available for a small, additional fee. Ask us for details.

Day 1: Boarding in Amsterdam by pm; optional cycling, 9 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Amsterdam - Volendam, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 3: Horn - Enkhuizen, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 4: Enkhuizen - Medemblik, sailing to Texel, 23 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Texel, roundtrip, 22/30/41 mi. (35/48/62 km)
Day 6: Texel - sail to Den Helder and cycle to Alkmaar, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 7: Alkmaar – Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 8: Departure

*All distances are approximate. The above-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: Boarding in Amsterdam by 4 pm; optional cycling, 9 mi. (20 km)
Boarding begins between 1 and 2 pm. Mooring location in Amsterdam is Oosterdok, near the Nemo Science Museum.  Please be prompt and plan on having completed your embarkation by 4 pm. You can bring your luggage on board at noon but cabins will not be ready for check-in.  When you arrive onboard, you can put your baggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is a great time to become acquainted with the guide, skipper, crew, and of course, your fellow passengers. The bicycles are distributed and straight from the moorings of the boat, you can have a short bike trip through quiet parts of town. If time permits, you can also bike outside the city.

Amsterdam first saw the light of day as a simple village at the mouth of the Amstel River but expanded rapidly with its famous rings of canals in the Golden Age (18th century). The palace on the Dam Square is sometimes called the 8th wonder of the world because it is built on 13,659 piles. Amsterdam, as we know it today, is famous for being able to cater to all tastes, including lovers of diamonds. In the evening, you dine on board. During the meal, the plans for the rest of the week are discussed.

Day 2: Amsterdam -  Volendam, sailing to Hoorn, 29 mi. (46 km)
 Amsterdam will be very quiet as you begin to cycle. A ferry takes you to the Amsterdam Noord quarter and soon you will be cycling through the rural area of Waterland. In this soggy peatland, the houses and villages are barely above the level of the water. You will visit the former Isle of Marken. It was not until 1957 that this island was connected to the mainland by a dike and it has retained its own particular character. The inhabitants are the only ones allowed to use their cars, so Marken can only be visited on foot or by bike. The route continues to the historic village of Monnickendam, which received its municipal charter in 1355.  Gouwzee dike to Volendam is next on the agenda. Originally Volendam was a small fishing community. Practically all its inhabitants used to wear their distinctive and picturesque traditional costumes. Volendam started as a settlement when Edam dug its new, shorter waterway to the Zuiderzee in the 14th century. The old harbor became superfluous, a new dike was built and soon farmers and fishermen settled down. In the second half of the 15th century, a new village came into being: Volendam. From Volendam, you sail in a northerly direction towards the city of Hoorn. Hoorn was a major trading town in the 17th century. From here ships sailed for the Dutch East Indies, (now Indonesia), America, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean. The most beautiful gable is in the former town hall; the Statenpoort which houses an interesting museum with paintings and exhibits concerning the V.O.C. The V.O.C. (United East Indies Dutch Trading Company) was a very powerful almost monopolistic trading company in the 17th century. During the evening walk, you will have the opportunity to get a good impression of this beautiful city with its rich past. 

Day 3: Horn - Enkhuizen, 19 mi. (30 km)
You continue on the dike with a wonderful view over the Markermeer on your right and West-Frisian villages on your left-hand side. The recently (1976) built dike from Enkhuizen to Lelystad (in the Noordoostpolder) appears on the horizon. This was meant to be a polder dike for a huge new polder: the Markerwaard. However, the plans were never executed. The environment and freshwater supply became more important. So today the dike is there, but no polder…
The trip for today ends in Enkhuizen, a town which came into existence when two adjoining villages joined. You can end your day with a visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum. This museum showcases the history of everyday life around the Zuiderzee until the middle of the 20th century. 

Day 4: Enkhuizen - Medemblik, sailing to Texel, 23 mi. (35 km)
If you haven't visited the Zuiderzeemuseum yesterday you'll have some time for a visit this morning. This museum, which consists of an indoor and outdoor part, shows you the history of everyday life around the Zuiderzee until the middle of the 20th century. The cycling route begins over the dike of the IJsselmeer, but we leave it to ride through a nature reserve and then some of the characteristic villages of West Friesland. Medemblik comes into view, one of the old Zuiderzee harbors with an illustrious past and a castle dating from the 13th century. You take a break here, and if you wish, you can board the boat.

After Medemblik, the route goes through a polder, Wieringermeer, which was created at the same time as the famous Afsluitdijk in 1932. This created new land out of the old Zuiderzee and turned the inland sea (IJsselmeer) into the largest sweet water basin of The Netherlands.

The food crisis resulting from the 1st World War created a need for more agricultural land so, in 1927, work on the Wieringermeer commenced. The dikes and pumping stations were built in the open sea. The polder itself was reclaimed during a period of mass unemployment and most of the work for preparing the land for agricultural use was done by hand and horsepower.

Halfway over the polder, you can step onboard again or otherwise ride through a forest to the fishing town of Den Oever. Sail by boat over the Wadden Sea to the harbor of the island of Texel.

Day 5: Texel, roundtrip, 22/30/41 mi. (35/48/62 km)
Today you could if you would like, you can visit the beach or take a bike ride on the island of Texel. There are numerous bicycle paths here. In the north, you have the nature reserve ‘de Slufter’, with an open connection to the sea.

The largest village on the island is Den Burg, which could easily be the prototype of the typical Dutch town with its circle of canals around an old church. You will find most of the shops on the island in this village. The local museum is a good representation of island life and is housed in a building dating from 1599. De Koog is the principal bathing resort and is only a stone's throw away from the widest beach on the island. As well as a nature center, which has a lot of information about the flora and fauna to be found on Texel, De Koog has a rescue center for seals.

Cocksdorp is entered through a tunnel of interlocking tree branches, which give it a unique character. If you cycle to the most extreme northerly tip of the island you may be able to see Vlieland, the next island making up the chain of Wadden islands. This part of the island is called the Slufter, a nature reserve open to the sea and the rhythm of the tides.

The villages of Den Doorn, Oosterend, and de Waal have escaped modern architectural influences and are now officially protected. In Den Hoorn, some of the old 'Commandeurs' dwellings have been preserved. These were the houses belonging to the captains of the whaling ships that sailed from Texel. The oldest church is situated in Oosterend. In clear weather, you can see the neighboring island Vlieland. Oudeschild, where the boat is moored, was the entrance port of the island until 1962.

Day 6: Texel - sail to Den Helder and cycle to Alkmaar, 37 mi. (60 km)
The ship takes you back to the mainland, where you disembark in the city of Den Helder, the Dutch naval port, situated at the mouth of the Noord-Hollandskanaal or further south at the canal. Today you ride through the dunes (the dunes between Schoorl and Bergen have the highest dunes in The Netherlands) and over the Hondsbossche Zeewering (seawall) with its spectacular view over the North Sea. On your left, you will see the dunes, and on your right, the sweep of a 5 km long dike keeping the sea at bay. This was at once time all dunes. However, in 1421, in what is known as the St Elizabeth's Floods, the dunes were swept away along with the village of Hondsbossche. The dike replacing the dunes is called the Hondsbossche Sea Dike. If the weather allows you to cross to the island of Texel, you will head straight for Den Helder. Otherwise, you will take a leisurely tour around the land bounded by the dikes. This part of the country, known as the Kop van Noord Holland (head of North Holland), is well known for bulb growing with the town of Anna Paulowna at its center. The bulbs bloom in April and May.

The stage ends in Alkmaar, which boasts almost four hundred buildings on the monument list, and typical Old-Dutch canals and harbor. Alkmaar is often called the cheese town as the weighing and selling of cheese in the 'Waag' (weighing house) was a popular activity in the past.

Day 7: Alkmaar – Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam, 37 mi. (60 km)
The last stage of the week takes you through the ‘droogmakerij’ land with the 17th-century towns of Schermerhorn, Graft and De Rijp. In Zaandam, you will visit the world-famous hamlet and open-air museum of Zaanse Schans. A unique place where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area.

The last stretch of the trip takes you through ’t Twiske (the Twiske) Leisure Park. Since the beginning of the Christian era, the peat region around the Zaan had been used for cattle grazing. In the peatland, ditches were dug to help to drain the land. The dried peat was used as fuel. Once you are back at the barge in Amsterdam it is time to take leave of your bikes. In the afternoon there is still some time to go into town and after dinner, you may want to finish off your trip by going on a city walk or taking a trip on one of Amsterdam’s canal boats.

Day 8: Amsterdam - Day of departure
Breakfast as usual, and departure by 10 AM.

Day 1: Embarkation: Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam – Zaandam | Zaandam - Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 3: Dune tour, Alkmaar – Alkmaar, 20 or 25 mi. (33 or 40 km) | Alkmaar – Den Helder
Day 4: Den Helder – Oudeschild* | North Sea island of Texel: round trip from/to Oudeschild (your choice 9 - 41 mi./15 - 65 km) | Texel – Den Oever
Day 5: Den Oever – Stavoren | South-west Friesland round trip from/to Stavoren, 27 or 34 mi (43 or 55 km)
Day 6: Stavoren – Medemblik | Medemblik – Hoorn – Enkhuizen, 19 or 31 mi (30 or 50 km)
Day 7: Enkhuizen – Volendam | Volendam – Waterland – Amsterdam, 22 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km)
Day 8: Disembarkation: Amsterdam

Parts in italics are covered by the ship. A knowledgeable and multilingual tour leader is available onboard. He/she will provide you with all the necessary tour information during daily briefings. You will cycle the tours independently, at your own pace, with the help of a detailed cycling map, GPS-tracks, and printed route notes. The tour leader will also be cycling the daily tours and can – for assistance – be reached on his/her mobile phone in cases of emergency or technical breakdown of the bicycle. During days when several bicycle options are possible, not all mentioned highlights can be visited during the shorter cycling options.

Day 1: Embarkation: Amsterdam
Embarkation and check-in starts at 2 PM in Amsterdam. Take the opportunity to go shopping or explore downtown Amsterdam, world-famous for its canals, its quirky ‘leaning’ buildings, museums, the Anne Frank House, the Waterlooplein Flea Market, the Dam Square in the historical center and heart of the city. An optional canal tour is a unique way to see the capital of Holland from another side. Be back on board by 5 pm as you will enjoy your welcome meeting, drink, followed by dinner and first briefing on board. First night on board in Amsterdam.

Day 2:  Amsterdam – Zaandam | Zaandam - Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, 27 mi. (44 km)
The first bike trip of this tour takes you via small villages through the beautiful flat and green polder landscape. You will cycle out of Amsterdam via a well-maintained cycling track. The first stop is the open-air museum ‘Zaanse Schans’ with its beautiful windmills, traditional wooden houses, an old Dutch village, a cheese farm, and a traditional wooden clog maker. After exploring the museum, you will cycle through the "Land of Leeghwater", a green polder area between  Amsterdam, Alkmaar, and Hoorn. Leeghwater was a 17th Century scientist, who invented a revolutionary system to reclaim marshland from the sea by pumping out water with a system of windmills, smaller and larger canals. Stroll through the former whaling village De Rijp and pass by the windmills of Schermerhorn. Your ship De Holland will be waiting for you near the historical city center of Alkmaar.  

Day 3: Dune tour, Alkmaar – Alkmaar, 20 or 25 mi. (33 or 40 km) | Alkmaar – Den Helder*
Today you can discover the beautiful North Holland Dune Reserve. This is a 5.300-hectare  forest and dune area with unique landscapes. In these dunes, the drinking water for almost the whole province of North Holland is gained. After a visit to the beach and artists village Bergen, you will return to Alkmaar where you can visit the wonderful city center. In the afternoon, the De Holland will sail over the North Holland Canal to the navy harbor of Den Helder.

Day 4: Den Helder – Oudeschild*| North Sea island of Texel: round trip from/to Oudeschild (your choice 9-41 miles/15-65 km)** | Texel – Den Oever
During breakfast the Angela Esmee will cross the Marsdiep, a deep tide-race between Den Helder and Texel Island to the harbor of Oudeschild.** You will quickly understand why the island of Texel is a favorite destination for many tourists as you cycle around this enchanting Dutch island. Charming villages, beautiful beaches, and areas of natural importance are crisscrossed by a network of cycling tracks, making all areas of the island easily accessible. Swim at one of the wide sandy beaches, visit the seal sanctuary “Ecomare” and/or cycle the beautiful “Thijsse-route” (with signposting, approx. 25 miles) through picturesque villages and landscapes. At the end of your cycling tour, you can enjoy a locally brewed beer during a visit to the small brewery in the harbor of Oudeschild. In the evening the boat will return to Den Oever on the mainland. The highlight of the evening will be a night of live music on board.

** In case of unfavorable weather conditions, the captain may decide to sail to Texel on Monday evening or not at all.  In the latter case you can reach Texel by ferry (price approx. € 5 pp, not incl.).

Day 5: Den Oever – Stavoren | South-west Friesland, round trip from/to Stavoren, 27 or 34 miles (43 or 55 km)
The vessel will cross the large inland lake IJsselmeer to sail to Stavoren in the Province of Friesland. You can opt for a shorter or longer cycling tour: discover the nature area of Gaasterland or explore a part of the wide lake district, that Friesland is well-known for. You can also combine both options. Night in Stavoren, one of the famous 11 cities of Friesland.

Day 6: Stavoren – Medemblik | Medemblik – Hoorn – Enkhuizen, 19 or 31 miles (30 or 50 km)
Sail to Medemblik during breakfast. Take the short pedaling from Medemblik along the IJsselmeer (former “Zuiderzee”) coast directly to Enkhuizen, where you can spend the afternoon. Enkhuizen is an old city with many centuries of maritime tradition. The “herring city” boasts a beautiful old harbor, a historic old town center and the very interesting “Zuiderzeemuseum“. If you prefer a longer cycling tour, ride from Medemblik to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn, in the 17th century one of the world’s leading harbors and name giver of Cape Horn. Enjoy your lunch break and make a short stroll of the old city. Continue by bike through some picturesque rural villages to Enkhuizen. In the evening you enjoy a short city walking tour.

Day 7 (Fri): Enkhuizen – Volendam | Volendam – Waterland – Amsterdam (Approx. 35 or 50 km/22 or 31 mi.)
During breakfast, the ship will sail to Volendam. Your final day of cycling will lead you through the beautiful area of ‘Waterland’ with its hundreds of small lakes and tiny canals, where you will have the opportunity to visit a cheese farm. Recommended (extra miles) is a detour to the former island of Marken, to continue through the water shaped region of Waterland back to the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer. If you didn’t go for a canal tour on the first day, you will have the opportunity to do so today.

Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast, disembarkation, and end of the tour.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans
Day 2: Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar
Day 3: Alkmaar - Den Helder
Day 4: Den Helder - Texel
Day 5: Texel - Wadden Sea - Stavoren
Day 6: Stavoren - Lemmer - Urk
Day 7: Urk - Lelystad - Amsterdam
Day 8: Amsterdam

Average daily distances are 35 - 55 km.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans
Check-in begins at  3:30. You can drop your luggage off beginning at 10 am but please note that the cabins will not be ready for check-in. The Merlijn sets sail at 4:30 pm for Zaanstad for mooring overnight. Once you board, as you enjoy a complimentary beverage, you will be introduced to the crew, and be informed about the tour, the ship and safety.  Dinner will be during the cruise. In the evening there is a city walk through the picturesque scenery of de Zaanse Schans.

Day 2: Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar
After breakfast, you will have more time to stroll through the very interesting area of Zaanse Schans, best known for its collection of well-preserved historic windmills and houses. In its 18th and 19th century heyday, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills. Here you will get a sense of ancient Dutch history. The cycling route leads from here to Alkmaar,  through an attractive Dutch landscape. After dinner, you can take part in an evening stroll through this pretty city.

Day 3: Alkmaar - Den Helder
Today you will cycle through a part of the Netherlands that is ‘Dutch nature at its purest’. Meadows, canals, lovely farms and houses, and more, showcasing rural Holland.  Your tour ends in Den Helder, the most northern part of the province of North Holland.

Day 4: Den Helder - Texel
While you enjoy your breakfast, the Merlijn navigates to the isle of Texel, sailing very close to open sea. If you look very carefully, you may see England. After arrival in Texel, you will have the opportunity to cycle this island, featuring dunes, beaches and of course, great bike paths. You will have the chance to visit a cheese farm today or tomorrow and if you want to take a break from cycling you will definitely enjoy the nature and the sea. Dinner is on your own this evening and you will enjoy experiencing local cuisine.

Day 5: Texel - Wadden Sea - Stavoren
You will be able to cycle more this morning on this beautiful island. Early afternoon, the Merlijn will sail across the Wadden Sea to Stavoren, providing you a stunning view of the shallow body of water with tidal flats and wetlands. It has great biological diversity and is an important area for both breeding and migrating birds. You may even spot some seals. Early evening we will arrive in Stavoren. Enjoy your stroll through this ancient harbor city!

Day 6: Stavoren - Lemmer - Urk
Your bike tour starts in Stavoren and takes you through the charming landscape of the province of  Friesland, with lots of small canals and lakes, to Lemmer. Here you will board the Merlijn to sail to Urk, once an island and still a very traditional fishery village. There is a lighthouse, a fishing museum and the old part of the town is very authentic and you will enjoy a walk through it.

Day 7: Urk - Lelystad - Amsterdam
Early in the morning, the boat will navigate from Urk to Lelystad, along the coast of Holland's new land, the youngest province of Flevoland. Once this was the ‘Zuiderzee’, an open sea. Flevoland was reclaimed in the sixties and has become the 12th province of the Netherlands. After some cycling,  you board the Merlijn again, for a three-hour cruise to Amsterdam. Farewell dinner on board and last overnight stay.

Day 8: Amsterdam
Breakfast, check out and departure.

Extend your stay in Holland,  go on a ride through the canals, or visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh museum.

Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam - Hoorn
Day 2: Hoorn - Enkhuizen, 12 - 16 mi. (20 - 26 km)
Day 3: Enkhuizen - Lemmer | Lemmer roundtrip, 32 - 45 km
Day 4: Lemmer - Stavoren | Stavoren - Oudeschild (Island of Texel), 33 km
Day 5: Island of Texel | Oudeschild - Den Helder, 70 km
Day 6: Den Helder - Sint Maartensvlotbrug - Alkmaar, 16 - 34 mi. (25 - 55 km)
Day 7: Alkmaar - Wormerveer | Wormerveer - Amsterdam, 18 mi. (28 km)
Day 8: Departure

Parts in italics are covered by the ship. A knowledgeable and multilingual tour leader is available onboard. He/she will provide you with all the necessary tour information during daily briefings. You will cycle the tours independently, at your own pace, with the help of a detailed cycling map, GPS-tracks, and printed route notes. 

Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam - Hoorn
Embarkation begins at 3 pm.  At 5:30, the MS Serena will depart Amsterdam for Hoorn. Located by the Ijsselmeer Lake, the largest lake in the Netherlands, Horn was once one of the most important Dutch East India Company centers. Today, Hoorn is an idyllic town with a rich historical town center.

Day 2: Hoorn - Enkhuizen, 12 - 16 mi. (20 - 26 km)
Before leaving Hoorn, be sure to check out some historical buildings dating back to the 17th century: Regentur of Westfriesland, the town’s scales at the Rodesteen, the harbor tower as well as the storage houses at the old quai. Today you are cycling from Hoorn to Enkhuizen.  Highly recommended is a visit the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen.

Day 3: Enkhuizen - Lemmer | Lemmer roundtrip, 20 - 28 mi. (32 - 45 km)
By ship, you will navigate over the IJsselmeer to Lemmer and then begin your loop bike ride over the Oosterzee Buren to the Tjeukemeer, further to Munnekeburen, then around the Rottige Meente over Scherpenzel and Schoterzijl back to Lemmer with its historical old town and the beautiful gable houses. Suggested is a  visit to the largest still-functioning steam pumping station in the world, “Woudagemaal”.

Day 4: Lemmer - Stavoren | Stavoren - Oudeschild (Island of Texel), 21 mi. (33 km)
You cycle today to Sondeler Leien Lake and from there through the woods of Rijsterbos passing the Mokkebank (a birds’ reservation) to the Roode Klif at Stavoren. Back on board, you navigate to Oudeschild on the Island of Texel.

Day 5: Island of Texel | Oudeschild - Den Helder, 44 mi. (70 km)
Today you will enjoy a loop ride on the biggest North Sea Island of the Netherlands - Texel. There are many distances to choose from today (29, 32, 47, or 70 km). At about 6 pm, back on board the ship, you will navigate to Den Helder.

Day 6: Den Helder - Sint Maartensvlotbrug - Alkmaar, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
In the morning your cycle route leads through the dunes to Alkmaar. If you prefer a shorter ride, It is possible to board the Serena in St. Maartensvlotburg and ship the rest of the way to Alkmaar. As an alternative, you wait to start cycling tour in St. Maartensvlotburg,=.

Day 7: Alkmaar - Wormerveer | Wormerveer - Amsterdam, 18 mi. (28 km)
In the morning you have the opportunity to visit the cheese market in Alkmaar (April to September). At midday,  you will navigate to Wormerveer and can visit the open-air museum Zaanse Schans. You will then cycle through the nature reserve and recreation area Het Twiske to Amsterdam. area Twiske to Amsterdam.  In the afternoon you should take part in a “Grachtenrundfahrt” (canal ride on the channels of Amsterdam in small boat).

Day 8: Departure
Disembarkation by 9 am.