Tulip Tour - 7 day

Day 1: Dordrecht - Rotterdam
Day 2: Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Gouda, 22 to 25 mi. (35 to 40 km)
Day 3: Gouda - Leiden, 22 to 25 mi. (35 to 40 km) | 15 to 19 mi. (25 to 30 km)
Day 4: Leiden - Keukenhof  - Haarlem, 15 to 19 mi. (25 to 30 km)
Day 5: Haarlem - Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, 28 to 31 mi. (45 to 50 km)
Day 6: Alkmaar - Schagen, 19 to 22 mi. (30 to 35 km) | 34 to 37 mi. (55 to 60 km)
Day 7: Departure from Schagen

Day 1: Dordrecht - Rotterdam
In the afternoon, check-in and embark on Merlijn as it sets sail. Enjoy a welcome drink while meeting the crew and receiving an overview of the tour, ship, and safety briefing. Crossing Europe's busiest river intersection, you’ll soon see Rotterdam’s skyline emerge. Dinner will be served during the cruise, and later, you’ll have the opportunity for an evening stroll along some of Rotterdam’s highlights.

Day 2: Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Gouda, 22-25 mi. (35-40 km)
Enjoy breakfast while cruising, followed by a bicycle introduction where your guide will explain traffic rules and group cycling etiquette. At the first docking point, your ride begins through the picturesque Dutch polder landscape. Visit Kinderdijk, famous for its 19 iconic windmills, originally built to drain the Alblasserwaard polder—an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuing on, you’ll cycle to Gouda—known worldwide for its famous cheese, candles, and stroopwafels (syrup waffles). Depending on the schedule, you will have the opportunity to visit a traditional Dutch cheese farm, where hard-working farmers open their doors for you to see the cheese-making process. Dinner is served on board, and the night is spent docked in Gouda.

Day 3: Gouda - Leiden, 22-25 mi. (35-40 km) or short route 15-19 mi. (25-30 km)
Spend the morning exploring Gouda, including a guided tour of the St. Jan Cathedral, home to 72 world-famous stained glass windows known as the “Gouda Glasses.”

Your bike tour starts after the visit, taking you through the Green Heart of Holland. Leaving Gouda, you’ll pass through Boskoop, famous for its horticulture nurseries, particularly its 774 tree and plant farms spread across long, narrow strips of land divided by canals. The day ends in Leiden, where Merlijn awaits.

Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt, is home to Holland’s first university (1575) and remains a world-renowned center of science. Its large student population gives the city a lively and welcoming atmosphere. After dinner, you’ll have time to explore Leiden’s charming center.

Day 4: Leiden - Keukenhof - Haarlem, 15-19 mi. (25-30 km)
While you enjoy breakfast, Merlijn will sail through the Kager Plassen, a scenic network of Dutch lakes. Your bike ride starts near Keukenhof, home to nearly 7 million flower bulbs planted annually, making it the largest flower garden in the world.

After admiring the breathtaking tulips and other flowers, you’ll continue cycling to Haarlem, taking in the stunning Dutch landscape along the way. In the evening, explore Haarlem’s historic center and perhaps end the night with a glass of the famous “Jopen” beer, brewed locally in the Jopen Church.

Day 5: Haarlem - Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, 28-31 mi. (45-50 km)
Start the morning cruising out of Haarlem, passing through scenic narrow waterways. Once docked, you’ll set off on another ride, stopping first at Zaanse Schans, where you’ll experience a living museum of historic Dutch life, complete with traditional green wooden houses and working windmills.

Continuing your tour, you’ll ride through classic Dutch countryside to Alkmaar, famous for its open-air cheese market (held on Fridays). Take a stroll through this charming town before returning to Merlijn for the evening.

Day 6: Alkmaar - Schagen, 19-22 mi. (30-35 km) or extended route 34-37 mi. (55-60 km)
Today’s route takes you through Noord-Holland, a province known for having the highest density of tulips per square meter. If you haven't seen enough tulips yet, this is your final chance to witness the colorful flower fields in full bloom. Your guide will lead you through some of the most stunning wildflower landscapes, though timing depends on nature—farmers cut tulips when ready, separating flowers from bulbs for sale.

Along the way, you’ll pass meadows, canals, farmhouses, and classic Dutch scenery before returning to Merlijn, waiting in the northernmost part of the province. In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a leisurely cruise to Schagen, where you can relax on the outdoor terrace or in the lounge with a drink, soaking in the last sights of the Dutch countryside.

The evening features a farewell dinner, a chance to thank the crew and celebrate with your fellow travelers before your final night onboard.

Day 7: Departure from Schagen
Enjoy one last breakfast on board before checking out. Transportation to Amsterdam is available, or you can travel independently. Despite being a small town, Schagen offers good train connections for further travel.

Day 1: Arrival in Schagen, cruise to Den Helde
Day 2: Den Helder - Alkmaar, 19-22 mi. (30-35 km) | Optional 34-37 mi. (55-60 km)
Day 3: Alkmaar - Haarlem, 28-31 mi. (45-50 km)
Day 4: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 22 to 25 mi. (35-40 km)
Day 5: Leiden - Gouda, 22 to 31 mi. (35-50 km)
Day 6: Gouda - Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht, 15 to 28 mi. (25 to 45 km)
Day 7: Departure from Dordrecht 
 

Day 1: Arrival in Schagen, cruise to Den Helder
Your Netherlands cycling adventure begins in Schagen. Check-in begins in the afternoon aboard Merlijn. Enjoy a welcome drink while meeting the crew and fellow travelers. After a short introduction and safety briefing,  the boat cruises through a narrow Dutch canal toward Den Helder, the northernmost city of Noord-Holland and home to the Royal Dutch Navy. As you settle into your cabin, you may catch your first glimpse of the famous Holland tulip fields from your porthole, the perfect start to your tulip tour in the Netherlands.

Day 2: Den Helder - Alkmaar, 19-22 mi. (30-35 km) | Optional 34-37 mi. (55-60 km)
After breakfast and a guided bike fitting, your first cycling tour begins through the province of Noord-Holland, known for having the highest concentration of tulips in the Netherlands. Cycle past colorful tulip fields, wildflowers, canals, farmhouses, and green meadows. Your guide will navigate through the most scenic routes of the region though keep in mind, tulips are cultivated for both flowers and bulbs, and harvested when ready, so the timing of seeing these magnificent blooms does largely depend on weather.

You arrive in the historic cheese city of Alkmaar, famous for its traditional Friday cheese market. In the evening, enjoy a guided walk through the charming old town before returning to Merlijn. 

Day 3: Alkmaar - Haarlem, 28-31 mi. (45-50 km)
Today’s bike ride showcases classic Dutch landscapes, including green wooden houses, historic windmills, and open polders. If possible, you may visit a working windmill to experience authentic Dutch heritage. Continue cycling south toward Haarlem, hunting for more blooming tulip fields along the way. Later, cruise aboard Merlijn into the vibrant city of Haarlem. In the evening, explore Haarlem’s historic center and perhaps enjoy a local “Jopen” craft beer at the famous Jopen Church brewery.

Day 4: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 22 to 25 mi. (35-40 km)
This morning, the boat brings you closer to the world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower garden in the world. With nearly 7 million bulbs planted annually across 80 acres, Keukenhof is the highlight of any spring tulip tour in Holland. After exploring the spectacular flower displays independently, continue cycling through breathtaking Dutch countryside toward Leiden, birthplace of Rembrandt, and home to the Netherlands’ first university (est. 1575). This city offers a lively atmosphere filled with canals, historic buildings, and vibrant cafés. One evening during the tour, you’ll experience authentic Dutch cuisine at a local restaurant ashore, a cherished Merlijn tradition.

Day 5: Leiden - Gouda, 22 to 31 mi. (35-50 km)
Today’s ride takes you through the scenic Green Heart of Holland, passing through Boskoop, known for its extensive horticulture and nursery fields divided by narrow canals. Depending on the group’s preference, your guide will offer a shorter or longer cycling route. You'll visit a traditional Dutch cheese farm, where you’ll learn how authentic Gouda cheese is made and enjoy tastings. Arrive in Gouda, world-famous for its cheese, as well as its syrup waffles (stroopwafels), candles, and the magnificent St. Jan Cathedral, home to 72 renowned stained-glass windows known as the “Gouda Glasses.” Dinner is served on board, and the Merlijn docks overnight in Gouda.

Day 6: Gouda - Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Dordrecht, 15 to 28 mi. (25 - 45 km)
Cruise early along the scenic Hollandse IJssel River toward modern Rotterdam, nicknamed “Manhattan on the Maas” for its striking skyline. Cycle through Rotterdam’s architectural highlights before crossing the river by ferry to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 19 historic windmills built to manage water levels in the Alblasserwaard polder. After exploring this iconic Dutch windmill landscape by bike, continue cycling to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands.

Celebrate your final evening aboard Merlijn with a farewell dinner alongside your cycling companions.

Day 7: Departure from Dordrecht 
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye. You may continue your European travels or depart for the airport. We recommend extending your stay to explore Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland with its historic harbor and charming canals.