Southern Tour

Day-To-Day Itinerary

On the Liza Marleen, Wending, and Zwaan:

*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: Amsterdam, boarding must be completed by 2:00 pm! Sailing to Spaarndam and cycling to Haarlem, 9 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Haarlem – through the dune area – Leiden, 24/30 mi. (38/48 km)  
Day 3: Leiden – Delft, 30 mi. (49 km)  
Day 4: Delft 
Day 5: Delft – sailing to Rotterdam/Kinderdijk – cycling to Gouda, 27/32 mi. (44/52 km)
Day 6: Gouda – Uithoorn, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Uithoorn – Amsterdam, 25 mi. (40 km) 
Day 8: Amsterdam

Day 1: Amsterdam, boarding, complete by 2:00 pm; Sailing to Spaarndam and cycling to Haarlem, 9 mi. (15 km)
After arriving on board the ship, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew, and of course your fellow passengers. The first part of the tour will take you by boat to Spaarndam, known as the village of Hansje Brinker, and from here take an easy bike ride into the beautiful city of Haarlem. You  must be very prompt in boarding as the boat will depart the mooring shortly after 2 pm.
Back on board, the program for the next day and the rest of the week will be explained to you as you enjoy a lovely dinner. 

Day 2: Haarlem – through the dune area – Leiden, 24/30 mi. (38/48 km)  
Today starts with a short tour by bicycle to the center of Haarlem, where you can see some of the city's typical almshouses. Upon departure from Haarlem you may cycle to the 'Cruquiusgemaal' (Cruquius Pumping Station), one of the three steam-powered pumping stations that drained the Haarlemmer Lake between 1849 and 1852. Now a museum, it gives you an excellent idea of the Dutch 'battle against the water'. During the summer months, cycle through the dunes to the beach.

Day 3: Leiden – Delft, 30 mi. (49 km)  
You leave the city and cycle South along the Vliet canal. In Voorschoten you turn westwards towards the coastline. At 'Wassenaarse Slag' you can take a break on the beach. 
The Wassenaarse Slag is an entrance to the beach near the Dutch town of Wassenaar. The coastline is over 8 km long.
The route to Delft takes you along the water once again. The old center is a well-preserved medieval city with canals, a magnificent town hall, and a royal tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk. It is well worth a visit.

Day 4: Delft  
Today you can enjoy the day at your leisure. You can stay in Delft and discover the old center, visit The Hague by public transport, or go to Rotterdam by bike.
Delft  
Delft is a beautiful town to wander through and learn more about the famous dutch painter, Vermeer at the Vermeer Center or visit the Nieuwe Kerk. When the weather is clear the view from the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) is spectacular. A large part of the Southern Tour can be seen from here!
The Hague
The city of The Hague has wide avenues, parks and stately mansions. Possible visits are Peace Palace (housing the International Court of Justice), the 'Binnenhof' with the 13th-century 'Ridderzaal' (Knights' Hall), seat of the Dutch Government and Parliament. Every third Tuesday of September the Queen's Speech is delivered in the Ridderzaal. The Mauritshuis, a former palace, is now a famous museum with paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Rubens. It also houses 'Panorama Mesdag', the largest panoramic, circular painting in the world, depicting 19th-century Scheveningen. Of the many royal palaces in The Hague, only a few are still operational. You may see the Noordeinde Palace and the Huis ten Bosch Palace.
Rotterdam  
This bustling city has many architectural highlights, some interesting museums, and is the main port of Holland. Skyscrapers stand in the scaffolds and  rise steadily towards the stars. On the Maas River, Erasmus Bridge is the gateway to the Kop van Zuid district. The modern architecture makes up what is known as ‘Manhattan on the Maas’. Here you can find the New Orleans and the Maastoren, the highest residential tower and the highest office building in the Netherlands. With so much of the city changing on a daily basis, it is internationally known as a city of architecture. The city also offers historical significance and some interesting museums such as the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, where you can find Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Dali, and Dutch Design. 

Day 5: Delft – sailing to Rotterdam/Kinderdijk – cycling to Gouda, 27/32 mi. (44/52 km)  
The barge will take you to the center of Rotterdam, giving you the best view of the modern architecture of this port. Your cycling day starts in Kinderdijk and then takes you through the Alblasserwaard, situated in between rivers. You'll enjoy the lovely scenery or water and meadows. The many inundations and the slowly sinking surface made water management essential in this fenland. Canals and ditches were dug and windmills were constructed. Nineteen of these windmills remain today. Their job has nearly been taken over by electric pumping stations. After a visit to one of the mills, you will continue on bike. 
The long route leads via the 'storks' village' of Groot-Ammers. Here you cross the river Lek and enter Schoonhoven, renowned for its silver industry. 

Day 6: Gouda – Uithoorn, 25 mi. (40 km)
From Gouda, you will continue your tour over country roads, banks, and channels through the Green Heart and polders to Uithoorn. Gouda is most known for its cheese but is also popular for its pipes, ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle-waffle,) pottery, and stained-glass windows. You will surely enjoy exploring its fairy-like town hall, atmospheric canals, and mostly intact city center. As on most days, after dinner, there will be plenty of time to take a city walk.

Day 7: Uithoorn – Amsterdam, 25 mi. (40 km) 
Today you will cycle into a polder and along the river Waver and Amstel. Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel.
Almost without noticing, you enter Amsterdam, following the Amstel River. The extensive network of bicycle paths ensures a relatively easy way back into the city, showing you some remarkable sites in the center. Then it is time to say goodbye to your bike. Before the farewell dinner, you may want to go for a walk in town. At night there you may want to take a canal trip or go on a city walk through the center of the city.

Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
End of the trip after breakfast.

On the Anna Maria Agnes:

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
Day 2: Amsterdam – Breukelen | Breukelen – Utrecht, 19 or 25 mi. (30 or 40 km) | Afternoon: Utrecht – Rotterdam
Day 3: Rotterdam – Schiedam – Delft – Rotterdam, 25 mi. (40 km)  | Evening: Rotterdam – Dordrecht
Day 4:  Dordrecht – Kinderdijk |   Kinderdijk – (Gouda) – Schoonhoven, 15 or 32 mi. (25 or 50 km)
Day 5: Schoonhoven - Oudewater - Utrecht, 32 mi. (50 km) | Afternoon: Utrecht - Beverwijk
Day 6: * Beverwijk – North Sea coast – Haarlem – Beverwijk, 21 or 32 mi. (35 or 50 km) | Evening: Beverwijk – Zaandam
Day 7: Zaandem - Amsterdam, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 8: Departure 

All distances are approximate. The above-planned itineraries are subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc. On days that two distances are provided, you can choose between the longer and shorter route.

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
Embarkation and check-in begin at 2 PM. While you are in Amsterdam make sure you take the opportunity to do some shopping, visit a museum, or enjoy a canal tour (reduced price tickets available on board, until 10 PM). A canal tour is a unique way to see the capital of Holland from a different perspective. Your first night on board will be spent in Amsterdam, so you will have plenty of time to explore the city.

Day 2: During breakfast: Amsterdam - Breukelen | Breukelen - Utrecht, 19 or 25 mi. (30 or 40 km) | Afternoon: Utrecht - Rotterdam
During breakfast the MS Anna Maria Agnes will cruise to Breukelen. Following the distribution of bicycles, your first day of cycling is along the beautiful and winding river Vecht with its enchanting background of imposing castles, country houses, and quaint tearooms. There is simply no better way to start a bike tour. You will follow the Vecht into the center of Utrecht where you will have the opportunity to explore the Dom Cathedral tower and the beautiful center of the old village. In the afternoon you will continue by ship from Utrecht to Rotterdam, your destination for the day. In the evening enjoy a short city walking tour.

Day 3: Rotterdam - Schiedam - Delft - Rotterdam, 25 mi. (40 km) | Evening: Rotterdam – Dordrecht
You will cycle today via the "jenever" city of Schiedam (jenever is a traditional Dutch gin) and through the Delfland area to Delft which is famous, of course, for its blue earthenware. Visit the beautiful city center with its small canals, picturesque streets, bridges and alleys. For many guests a visit to the Delftware factories of “Royal Delft” is one of the highlights of the tour. In the evening enjoy a dinner cruise from Rotterdam to Dordrecht with arrival at around 8 PM. In the evening, enjoy a short walk around the city of Dordrecht.

Day 4: Dordrecht - Kinderdijk |  Kinderdijk - (Gouda) - Schoonhoven, 15 or 32 mi. (25 or 50 km)
First thing this morning the barge will cruise from Dordrecht to Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills. All 19 windmills have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight of the entire trip. You will have the opportunity to visit one. You then have the choice between a longer bike tour with a visit to the beautiful cheese city of Gouda or a short bike tour through the Alblasserwaard. Both tours end in the “silver city” of Schoonhoven on the Lek River, where you can visit a silversmith. In the evening, enjoy a small cheese tasting on board the barge.

Day 5: Schoonhoven - Oudewater - Utrecht, 32 mi. (50 km) | Afternoon: Utrecht - Beverwijk
Today you will cycle from Schoonhoven through the beautiful “Green Heart” of Holland via Oudewater (visit the Witches Weigh House) to Utrecht. Near Oudewater you can visit a traditional cheese farm where you can also buy delicious farm-made Gouda cheese. In the late afternoon the barge will cruise from Utrecht to Beverwijk, your destination for the night. In the evening enjoy live music on board.

Day 6: *Beverwijk - North Sea coast - Haarlem - Beverwijk, 21 or 32 mi. (35 or  50 km) | Evening: Beverwijk - Zaandam
You will have the choice between two bike tours today, with both finishing in the historic city of Haarlem. If you are up to the challenge the longer tour takes you through the sand dunes of the North Sea coastline via Bloemendaal and Zandvoort; the shorter tour heads inland to Haarlem. On both tours you will cycle back to Beverwijk. In the evening your barge will cruise to Zaandam.

Day 7: Zaandam - Amsterdam, 19 mi. (30 km)
From Zaandam, your final day of cycling will take you to 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 continue to cycle through the recreational area of Twiske to 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. From Zaandam, you will cycle to the open air museum "Zaanse Schans" (a.o. traditional wooden houses, windmills, cheese farm and wooden shoe manufacturing). Continue the bike tour through the recreational area "Twiske" to Amsterdam. You'll arrive back in Amsterdam in late afternoon and have the evening to spend there. If you didn’t go for a canal tour on the first day, you will have the opportunity to do it today.

Day 8: Disembarkation in Amsterdam
Disembarkation after breakfast: End of your trip.

Parts in italics above will be covered by the ship.

*Aboard Anna Maria Agnes - Departures on April 5, 22, 29, and May 6, 2017, a visit to the Keukenhof is offered on day 6. Transfer & entrance fee not included.

Be sure to check out all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bicycle tours.

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• Southern Tour
• Sul da Holanda
• Tour del Sur de Holanda