Tulip Tour - 8 Day

Day 1: Amsterdam, embarkation
Day 2: Amsterdam - Kudelstaart, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 3: Kudelstaart - Leiden,  34 mi. (55 km)
Day 4: Leiden - Keukenhof - Haarlem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Haarlem, Alkmaar, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Alkmaar - Schagen - Alkmaar, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 7: Alkmaar - Amsterdam, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
 

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
Embarkation begins at 3 p.m. The crew will welcome you aboard Quo Vadis with coffee and tea. Explore the Dutch capital on your own. All the major tourist highlights are within easy walking distance from the mooring location of the barge.

Day 2: Amsterdam - Kudelstaart, 23 mi. (37 km)
Leaving Amsterdam, you travel along the 'Amsterdam Forest', through Schiphol and Aalsmeer to Kudelstaart on "Westeinderplassen".

Day 3: Kudelstaart - Leiden, 34 mi. (55 km)
Today begins with an early ride to Aalsmeer so you have plenty of time to visit the largest flower auction in the world. From there you will pass through the beautiful Dutch landscape through the green heart of Holland in the direction of Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt. Along the way, visit a traditional Cheese farm. In the evening explore the old university city of Leiden.

Day 4: Leiden - Keukenhof - Haarlem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today you will bike to Lisse and then on to the famous ‘Keukenhof' flower gardens. The Keukenhof displays 6 million tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, and other bulb flowers. In the afternoon, you bike through the blooming fields of flowers to Haarlem.

Day 5: Haarlem, Alkmaar, 31 mi. (50 km)
Leave from Haarlem and bike to Spaarndam with a detour to the monument of the legendary figure, Hans Brinker. The route continues to the historic city of Zaandam, before your visit to the open-air museum "Zaanse Schans". Here, you can expect an Old Dutch museum village. From there you bike to Alkmaar, known for its Dutch cheese.

Day 6: Alkmaar - Schagen - Alkmaar, 31 mi. (50 km)
In the early morning the boat cruises to Schagen. Today's bike tour begins here and you will cycle through the flower fields of Anna Pauwlonapolder. The return journey takes you along the coast and the ‘Schoorlse Duinen' and ends back in Alkmaar.

Day 7: Alkmaar - Amsterdam, 28 mi. (45 km)
After a visit to the cheese market in Alkmaar, cycle through polders with beautiful villages such as Beemster, de Rijp, Schermer (mills). The tour ends back in Amsterdam where you have more time to explore.

Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
Tour ends after breakfast. Disembarkation by 10 a.m.

Day 1: Arrival aboard the Iris (2:30pm). Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans
Day 2: Zaanse Schans to Alkmaar
Day 3: Alkmaar to Haarlem
Day 4: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden
Day 5: Leiden to Gouda
Day 6: Gouda - St. John's Cathedral - Uithoorn
Day 7: Uithoorn - the Amstel River - Amsterdam
Day 8: Amsterdam, end of our tour after breakfast.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Uithoorn
The crew of the Iris welcomes you on board and you set off on a short cruise through the historic 16th century center of Amsterdam. You can enjoy the scenery from the sundeck. On the edge of the city, you will be able to take the bikes on a short test ride along the Amstel river. At the end of the afternoon, you will arrive in Uithoorn where you will spend the night.  

 Day 2: Uithoorn - Gouda, 22 mi. (35 km)
First on the agenda today is a visit to the Castle De Haar. Rated as the best castle in the Netherlands, it dates back to the 14th century and has been fully restored to its former glory complete with a moat, towers, and a beautiful garden. After touring the castle and grounds, there will be plenty of time to enjoy lunch or a nice drink in the palace gardens. Your bike tour continues to the town of Oudewater. The historic town square is built right over the canal. It is well known amongst cyclists because of its convenient location in the middle of many popular bike routes. From Oudewater, it’s only a short ride on the “dijk” (dike) to Gouda. Known for its cheese, the city center has quite a few cheese shops. You will be blown away by the Gothic Town Hall at the market square, which dates back to the 17th century.

Day 3: Gouda - Leiden, 25 mi. (40 km)
A visit to the region of Gouda would not be complete without seeing how the famous Gouda cheese is made. Today's route is relatively urban through the outskirts of Rotterdam. THe little bridges and tunnels along the way make it so that you hardly have to stop or cross a road! Take a short tour through a greenhouse area where many export products are grown. Close to the end of the route, it’s then finally time to visit the cheese farm. Located in the Polder, so below sea level, this biological cheese farm is run by a family that does the whole process of cheese making right there on the farm. You’ll be able to see how it’s made, taste some of the products, and purchase some to take home. The day ends in the old town of Leiden, where the boat docks in the city canal, surrounding the old part of Leiden, once a defense against the Spanish soldiers. This is just a short walking distance to the city center.

Day 4: Leiden - Haarlem, visit of Keukenhof, 31 mi. (50 km)
Holland is known for its amazing cycle paths and today's route showcases a bike highway! Designed to have no traffic lights and no road crossings, this is truly an amazing ride out of town. Also on the agenda is a visit to the most famous flower garden in the world: the Keukenhof! Made up of 79 acres of garden with approximately 7 million flowers. While the Keukenhof is mostly known for its tulips, there are also Hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, and irises. Before and after your visit to the Keukenhof, your ride will also lead right through the flower growing fields. Then it's off to Haarlem with its historic and intact inner city made up of big market square, terraces, and a dominating church. This evening, you will be able to take advantage of this beautiful city and have dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants. 

Day 5: Haarlem - Alkmaar, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today’s route takes you through the dunes and to the beach for lunch. After this, our Tulip theme returns with a visit to the Hortus Bulborum, a historical garden preserving the old varieties of tulips. Take a tour with the local volunteers who are very proud of their unique work. Have a cup of tea at their local shop and enjoy this hidden garden. The day ends in Alkmaar which is also called the cheese city. In the evening be sure to walk through its nice canals and alleyways.

Day 6: Alkmaar - Zaanse Schans, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today’s theme is windmills! First, you ride through the polder to an old water pumping mill which was used to pump the lake dry for farming. You can get all the way to the top of the mill and see the cogs turning. After this , continue to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans where the barge will be docked.  At the Zaanse Schans, you’ll get a glimpse of what living in the Zaan district must have been like back in the 18th century: farmsteads, paths, wooden houses, warehouses and windmills, ditches and fields. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh bread or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. You do not want to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns, and workshops.

Day 7: Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam, 9 mi. (15 km)
Your last cycling day includes a countryside ride to Amsterdam. Enjoy a coffee at the lake in the nature reserve Twiske and after that, enter Amsterdam from the north side on very easy bike paths. The day ends with a ferry ride across the IJ lake into the city, right to where the ship is docked. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Amsterdam. This evening is a farewell dinner on board.

Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to your companions, guides, and crew. After 9.00 AM the crew and guides need to start cleaning and preparing for the next tour. Check out time: before 9.00 AM.

Day 1:  Amsterdam - Spaardnam | Spaarndam - Haarlem, 3 or 8 mi. (6 or 14 km)
Day 2: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 23 mi. (38 km)
Day 3: Leiden - Zoeterwoude | Zoeterwoude -  Gouda, 19 or 24 mi. (31 or 40 km)
Day 4: Gouda - Alphen a/d Rijn | Alpehn a/d Rijn - Kudelstaart, 12 or 27 mi. (27 or 44 km) 
Day 5: Kudelstaart - Flower auction | Aalsmeer - Amsterdam | Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans, 19 or 25 mi. (32 or 41 km)
Day 6: Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, 18 or 24 mi. (29 or 40 km)
Day 7: Alkmaar - Amsterdam, 22 or 33 mi. (37 or 54 km)
Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam 

All distances in italics are covered by ship. The tours on the Allure, Sarah, and Mecklenburg will be accompanied by one tour guide. The Zwaantje and Fleur will have two tour guides as long as there are 18 or more guests. During days when two distances are possible, and only one tour leader is included, he/she will make a choice to guide the longer or the shorter option after consultation of the group. Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Spaardnam | Spaarndam - Haarlem,  3 or 8 mi. (6 or 14 km)
Boarding takes place between 1 and 2 pm. It is possible to bring your luggage on board earlier at 11 am but your cabin will not be ready for check-in. It is important to be on time as the boat leaves the harbor at 2:00 pm. During this first short sailing, you can enjoy coffee, tea or another beverage, while being introduced to the crew, the boat and the program ahead. Upon arrival in Haarlem, there is an opportunity to test your bike and to have necessary adjustments made to ensure a comfortable ride throughout the week! Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm this evening and each evening and on most nights, a town walk will be offered by your guide.

Day 2: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 23 mi. (38 km)
Get ready to pedal through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit to the infamous Keukenhof gardens! This is the most beautiful flower garden in the world, an overwhelming blaze of colors as seven million flowering tulips rise up in a magnificent background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. It is here that Spring begins. Hyacinths, narcissus, and many other flowers dazzle as well. After being saturated with color and scent,  the cycling continues ending in the historic city of Leiden, who unabashedly boasts of its own beauty and charm. In the evening, there will be an opportunity to experience this enchanting place for yourself, strolling along the canals and alleyways, viewing the historical buildings, and, like Rembrandt himself, be inspired by its beauty.

Day 3: Leiden - Zoeterwoude | Zoeterwoude -  Gouda, 19 or 24 mi. (31 or 40 km)
The day begins with a sailing breakfast! Imagine enjoying your morning coffee as the stunning Dutch scenery passes by! The boat will moor in Alphen from where the cycling itinerary begins and leads through the ‘green heart’ of Holland. Near Zoeterwoude, you will visit the cheese farm to learn about the cheese-making process and of course, to sample the wares! Holland is not just famous for its Tulips as you will come to know! In the afternoon, you reach Gouda, famous for the Gouda cheese. If truth be told, Gouda ("How-da" as the locals say) is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of the world's cheese consumption, The market square here is lovely with its Gothic town hall and  Saint John Cathedral, famous the world over, whose stain glass windows flood the interior with a diffused light and impress with understated elegance. 

Day 4: Gouda - Alphen a/d Rijn | Alpehn a/d Rijn - Kudelstaart, 12 or 27 mi. (27 or 44 km) 
This morning, you stay in Gouda and will have the opportunity to do some shopping and to visit the market square with its cheese weigh house or you can visit the St. John's church. Once back on board the barge, you take off at noon enjoying a light lunch on board. From Alphen aan den Rijn, you bike through the green hear of South Holland via the Drecht River and the Amstel-Drecht channel to Kudelstaart.

Day 5: Kudelstaart - Flower auction | Aalsmeer - Amsterdam | Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans, 19 or 25 mi. (32 or 41 km)
Today begins early! Coffee is served at 7 am and then at 7:15,  you cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer, the largest of Europe. Here huge quantities of flowers are trucked in and sold every day, after which they are distributed all over Europe.  Back on board, you will enjoy a late breakfast and then another cycling itinerary takes you through the ‘Amsterdamse Bos’, west of Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the Zaan River area. The hamlet is dominated by fully operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint, and oil and for sawing wood into planks. As you walk through the village you will see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker, and a cheese farm and get a sense of early history in Holland.

Day 6: Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, 18 or 24 mi. (29 or 40 km)
First on the agenda is the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history are still evident here in the wooden facades, beautiful church, and town hall. From here, your ride continues across the Beemster Polder, an almost untouched open polder landscape, after which, you visit the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder and the  Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. Then it is off to Alkmaar, known as a Dutch cheese city. As you wander through the streets you'll be amazed by the beauty of Alkmaar's Old Town, with its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and narrow, winding canals! Dinner this evening will be on your own!

Day 7: Alkmaar - Amsterdam, 22 or 33 mi. (37 or 54 km)
Once again, this morning, you will enjoy your breakfast as the boat cruises the Dutch canals, followed by Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to the preservation of rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers are planted here. As the cycling continues, you pedal through the unique Waterland back to Amsterdam. In the late afternoon or evening, there is time for a canal tour through the famous canals of the city.

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, your adventure officially ends! Departure from the boat by 9 am.

Day 1: Amsterdam to Kudelstaart, 12 mi. (20 km)
Day 2: Kudelstaart - Gouda, 6, 20, or 33 mi. (10, 32, or 53 km)
Day 3: Gouda - Rotterdam - Delft, 17 mi. (27 km)
Day 4: Delft -The Hague-Leiden, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 5: Leiden - Hoogmade - Leiden, 8 mi. (13 km)
Day 6: Leiden Harlem, 13 mi. or 24 mi. (21 or 39 km)
Day 7: Haarlem - Amsterdam, 5 or 17 mi. (8 or 27 km)
Day 8: Amsterdam

On some days a shorter tour is optional (for example on Monday 6 or 20 or 33 miles). This means, however, that you would possibly miss some of that day’s highlights.

Day 1: Amsterdam to Kudelstaart, 12 mi. (20 km)
The crew will welcome you aboard the Elodie with coffee and tea. The boat will sail through the center of Amsterdam to the locks of the Nieuwe Meer. At the Nieuwe Meer, you will leave the boat for your first cycle trip. In the evening your guide will give you a more detailed explanation of the program.

Day 2: Kudelstaart - Gouda, 6, 20, or 33 mi. (10, 32, or 53 km)
The day begins early with a visit to the flower auction in Aalsmeer. You will see the world biggest flower auction at work. Every day the world's market prices for flowers and plants are being determined right here in this building. Millions of flowers and plants find their way all over the world when the auction starts. You will proceed through the green heart of Holland towards Gouda. Along the route, you can enjoy the views of windmills, lakes, and green pastures. 

Day 3: Gouda - Rotterdam - Delft, 17 mi. (27 km)
Gouda is famous for its cheese and beautiful town hall, from here you will cycle to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO protected windmill park. From here, you will take the fast ferry to Rotterdam, the largest port in the world were the Elodie will be waiting for you to take you to Delft. Delft has a beautiful historical center. Here you will find the church where the members of the royal family, beginning with William of Orange, are buried.

Day 4: Delft-The Hague-Leiden, 24 mi. (39 km)
Before leaving Delft, pay a visit to a studio where earthenware is hand-painted with the famous "Delfts Blauw" (Delft's blue). On the bicycle, ride to the seat of government capital, The Hague. The houses around the hunting castle "de graven van Holland" (The Earls of Holland) grew into a town, and the castle got its name, 's-Gravenhage. The area is exceptionally cycle-friendly and that makes a visit by bicycle something special. You cycle along the many cycle paths, straight through the city where you can admire the government buildings, museums, and stately mansions. The town ends abruptly on the beach of Scheveningen with its charming boulevard and fishing port. The Hague has many attractions such as "Panorama Mesdag", a painting of enormous measurements, 14 meters high and a circumference of 120 meters. At the end of the day, you cycle back to the university town of Leiden. 

Day 5: Leiden - Hoogmade - Leiden, 8 mi. (13 km)
In the morning, set out for a short bike tour to visit a Dutch cheese farm where you can admire and taste the art of Dutch cheese making. In the afternoon there will be plenty of time to spend in Leiden. The oldest Dutch university town has a charming and lively center. The Elodie lies in the center of Leiden, a good place to get acquainted with this historical town.

Day 6: Leiden Harlem, 13 or 24 mi. (21 or 39 km)
Early in the morning, set sail out of Leiden. Outside Leiden, you begin to pedal to the Keukenhof. This flower exhibition has everything Holland has to offer when it comes to flowers. You can expect to be overwhelmed by colors at this time of year when most flower bulbs show their beauty. After the Keukenhof, continue on the bicycle to Harlem. 

Day 7: Haarlem - Amsterdam, 5 or 17 mi. (8 or 27 km)
In the morning there is the possibility to do a short cycle trip to the statue of Hans Brinker. The Elodie will pick you up along the route to Amsterdam (e.t.a. 12.00). Amsterdam is certainly well worth spending more time because of its many possibilities: a boat tour around the canals, the Van Gogh museum, and the Rijks Museum; or just savor the atmosphere. For dinner, you can pick one of the many nice restaurants in the center of town.

Day 8: Amsterdam
Departure after breakfast.