Super Tulip Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam. Embarkation between 1 and 2 pm near Central Station. Cruising to Spaarndam and cycling to Haarlem, 9 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Harlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Leiden - Kudelstaart, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Visit to flower auction. Cruising to Amsterdam. Cycling to Wormerveer via Zaanse Schans, 28 mi.  (45 km)
Day 5:  Wormerveer - Alkmaar, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Alkmaar - Purmerend, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 7: Purmerend - Amsterdam, 13 or 22 mi. (20 or 35 km)
Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam

*All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even at very short notice,  due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam. Embarkation between 1 and 2 PM near Central Station. Cruising to Spaarndam and cycling to Haarlem, 9 mi. (15 km)
After arrival on board the barge, 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. You are asked to be on board no later than 2 pm.  At 2:15 pm the barge sets off for Spaarndam, also known as the village of Hansje Brinker. From here, take an easy ride into the city of Haarlem. This city, which rendered its name to Harlem, New York, is a lively city with good shopping possibilities. At the same time, there are many interesting 17th-century sights here. Back on board, after the bike ride, the program for the next day and the rest of the week will be explained to you at dinner time.

Day 2: Harlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today's route leads you through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit of the Keukenhof gardens, the most beautiful spring park in the world. The Keukenhof is an overwhelming blaze of colors, seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres' background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. (Tickets are included in the tour price.) You also can admire the various hyacinths and many other colorful flowers. You spend the night in Leiden, which is a historic city with many little courtyards, façades, and historical buildings built between the 15th and 18th centuries. Leiden, meaning ‘built on waters’, came into existence around 800 AD as a market place at the confluence of the rivers Old and New Rhine, the Vliet and the Mare. It was a center for the medieval linen industry. For a long time, it was second only to Amsterdam in importance. Leiden is also the city where Rembrandt van Rijn was born.

Day 3: Leiden - Kudelstaart, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today you bike from Leiden to Kudelstaart, a small town bordered by the Westeinderplassen, around the Haarlemmermeer. You will go right through the green heart of Holland, an area with small cycle paths, lakes, small rivers, and cows. 

Day 4: Visit to flower auction. Cruising to Amsterdam. Cycling to Zaanse Schans - Wormerveer, 28 mi. (45 km)
In the early morning, you can visit one of the many flower auctions in Aalsmeer. Everyday ‘Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer’ sets the world price for flowers and plants. This happens by bringing supply and demand together by means of the auction clock- a fascinating process during which large and small batches of flowers are sold within fractions of seconds. As a visitor to Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, you will walk over a specially designed gallery, enjoy the gorgeous flowers, and experience the hustle and bustle of the auction. The flowers and plants that are sold at the auctions are exported all over the world, a wonder of logistics. Later you will have breakfast while sailing in the direction of Amsterdam.

Between the Schiphol and the city, you disembark to continue your tour by bike along the river Amstel and right into the city. A ferry will transport you to the other side of the river ‘IJ’. Here you leave the city behind and continue your tour through lush green polders towards the world-famous hamlet of Zaanse Schans. A unique place where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area.

Day 5: Wormerveer - Alkmaar, 28 mi. (45 km)
From Wormerveer you will cycle to and through the most beautiful dunes of the Netherlands and if weather permits, you may like to swim in the North Sea during your lunch break at the beach. Today's overnight stay is in cheese town Alkmaar, a historic, lively city with many quaint shops. A little less than 400 heritage sites, canals, and harbor dominate the townscape. 

Day 6: Alkmaar - Purmerend, 22 mi. (35 km)
Today you'll cycle into the polder landscape of the Beemster and Purmer, part of a big green polder area. The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is an exceptional example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. Its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dikes, and settlements are all laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. Also on the agenda is a visit to one of the big water mills at the Rijp. Graft and De Rijp are two proud, typical 17th-century villages that enjoyed great prosperity at the height of the fishing and whaling industries. You spend the night in Purmerend.

Day 7: Purmerend - Amsterdam,  22 mi. (35 km)
Purmerend lies at the edge of an area called ‘Waterland’ where roads and water are nearly on the same level. Visit the nice village of Zunderdorp and Ransdorp. Those that wish to lengthen today's route can cycle the long route to Edam and Volendam and if time permits, you can cross the lake Gouwzee to admire the traditional fisherman’s village, Marken, with its typical wooden houses. 

The day ends in Amsterdam.

Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
Disembarkation by 10 am.

Day 1: Embarkation in Amsterdam
Day 2: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden (incl. visit to Keukenhof) 
Day 3: Leiden - Kudelstaart
Day 4: Visit to flower auction, sailing to Amsterdam and cycling to Wormerveer via Zaanse Schans
Day 5: Wormerveer - Alkmaar
Day 6: Alkmaar - Purmerend
Day 7: Purmerend - Amsterdam, via Monnickendam
Day 8: Amsterdam

*All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even at very short notice,  due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

Average daily distances of 40 to 50 km.

Day 1: Embarkation in Amsterdam
Board the Feniks by 2 pm. Once all guests are on board, the boat cruises to Haarlem and enjoy a short bike ride to test your rental bike. 

Day 2: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden (incl. visit to Keukenhof) 
Today's trip leads you through the oldest bulb fields of Holland and along the Keukenhof.  An overwhelming blaze of colors; millions of flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres’ background of gardening architecture. You also can admire the various hyacinths, narcissus, and many other colorful flowers. You spend the night in the oldest university town of Holland: Leiden. 

Day 3: Leiden - Kudelstaart
Cycle around the Haarlemmermeer. This polder once was the biggest lake in Holland. The cycle route leads through the green heart of Holland on small cycle paths. You'll pass a lot of cows, farmland, and water. Your destination for today is Kudelstaart. 

Day 4: Visit to flower auction, sailing to Amsterdam and cycling to Wormerveer via Zaanse Schans
Early in the morning, visit the Aalsmeer, the biggest flower auction in the world. Disembark on a canal in Amsterdam to bike to the ferry which brings you across the "IJ".  You continue your tour through the green polders to the famous Zaanse Schans. A unique place of wooden houses and mills. Mooring in Wormerveer.

Day 5: Wormerveer - Alkmaar
From Wormerveer, you will cycle through the most beautiful dunes of the Netherlands and if weather permits, you may have your lunch break at the beach. Today's overnight stay is in cheese town Alkmaar, a historical and lively city. 

Day 6: Alkmaar - Purmerend
Today you can discover the descent of Beemster cheese. The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is an example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. It has preserved intact its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dikes, and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. There will be time to visit the windmills at the Rijp.

Day 7: Purmerend - Amsterdam, via Monnickendam
Purmerend lies at the edge of an area called ‘Waterland’ where roads and water are almost on the same level. Visit the villages Zunderdorp and Ransdorp. The better cyclists can cycle the long route to Edam and Volendam. In Amsterdam, you can look back at cycling seven days in great variation of typical Dutch landscapes, towns and many highlights. 

Day 8: Amsterdam
End of the tour after breakfast.