Flower show in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Flickr:migiel
Your accommodations in Noorwijk

Purple tulips in Holland of course! Flickr:c_osett
4/5 (3 reviews)

Along the North Sea - a Tulip Tour Bike Tour

Netherlands Bike Tours

A bike tour in the heart of tulip country

  • Did you know that the North Sea Cycle Route is the world's longest signed international cycle route, passing through 7 countries?

    This bike tour in Holland focuses on the polder land of the North Sea and then also leads into the lovely inland. You will be based in Noordwijk aan Zee, founded around 1200 as a fishing village, and the perfect setting for a cycling holiday all year round!

    During tulip season, the area around Noordwijk is an important region for the bulb flower industry. In the past, the dunes were dug out and today have been transformed into fields for the cultivation of tulips and other bulb flowers.

    Highlights:

    • Tulip fields and Keukenhof (during Tulip Season)
    • Versatile region of Noordwijk
    • Endless sandy beaches and dunes of the North Sea
    • Fishing route and villages
    • Wonderful cycling infrastructure

    Best times to see the tulips in the fields is mid-April and the Keukenhof is opened from March 21 to May 10, 2020.

    A full list of all of our bike tours in the Netherlands can be found here.

  • 4 days/ 3 nights:

    Standard room: $ 593 £ 289 $ 508 € 324 $ 606 kr 3631 $ 358 Including dinners: $ 152 £ 74 $ 130 € 83 $ 155 kr 930 $ 92 Sea view room: $ 706 £ 345 $ 605 € 386 $ 722 kr 4326 $ 426 Including dinners: $ 152 £ 74 $ 130 € 83 $ 155 kr 930 $ 92

    7 days / 6 nights:

    Standard room: $ 1031 £ 504 $ 884 € 564 $ 1055 kr 6321 $ 623 Including dinners: $ 302 £ 147 $ 259 € 165 $ 309 kr 1849 $ 182 Sea view room: $ 1275 £ 622 $ 1,093 € 697 $ 1304 kr 7812 $ 770 Including dinners: $ 302 £ 147 $ 259 € 165 $ 309 kr 1849 $ 182

    extra options

    Electric bicycle rental (per day): $ 24 £ 12 $ 20 € 13 $ 24 kr 146 $ 14

    Extra nights

    Standard room including bike rental: $ 146 £ 71 $ 125 € 80 $ 150 kr 897 $ 88

    Sea view room including bike rental : $ 174 £ 85 $ 149 € 95 $ 178 kr 1065 $ 105

    please note

    Tourist tax payable on the spot approximately €3 per person/night.

    Rates are per person based on double occupancy.

    A non-refundable admin fee of 20 Euros per person is included in the deposit amount.

    Information to read before you book.

    We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.

    Please see our FAQ.

  • Travel

    Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).

    Local Travel

    From the Amsterdam Schiphol airport, you will take the train to Voorhout with a transfer in leiden. You can purchase train tickets at the airport’s “Arrivals Hall” at the train ticket counter. The train terminal is located just down the escalator from the Arrivals Hall. The train from the airport to Voorhout is about 30 minutes and costs about €7,20/person, one-way, second class. To look up train schedules in the Netherlands, this is the best website: http://www.ns.nl/en.

    Climate

    Please check local conditions prior to arrival. Holland is near or below sea level and experiences a Maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean with relatively mild winters and summers that are not too hot. Holland has the perfect climate and soil for the Tulips. Average high/low temp in °F for Amsterdam in April is 53°/41º and May 61°/46º. Don’t forget your layers and your rain gear!

    Remarks

    Please note: Tulip season in Holland extends from the end of March to the beginning of May but is dependent on temperatures and the weather. We cannot predict the weather (we wish we could) so cannot predict when the peak season will be! The general consensus is that the best time to see the tulips in bloom in the fields is mid April
    > Bike pick up is not available on Sundays!

    DOCUMENTS

    Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.

    *Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa

Where You’ll Stay

In the 3 star Prominent Inn Hotel located overlooking the North Sea.

What’s Included

  • Accommodations for 3 or 6 nights
  • 7-speed hybrid bicycle rental, 4 or 7 days
  • Breakfasts
  • Route descriptions & maps
  • *GPS tracks available for download to maps.me (Highly recommended)
  • *You must bring your own phone holder and battery pack

What’s Not Included

  • Train ticket to Voorhout, Taxi to Noordwijk
  • Local tourist tax, approx. €3 per person/night
  • Electric bicycle rental (3 available, advanced reservation required)
  • Bicycle Protection
  • Travel Insurance

Extra Stay

Extra nights possible by request.

Along the North Sea - a Tulip Tour Map

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length4–7 days
From€324 Rates
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Tour Dates

2020
Arrival possible daily, year-round. The best time to see the tulips is early to mid-April.

Skill Level

Easy self-guided based tour over flat terrain and bike paths; daily distances can be varied.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Along the North Sea - a Tulip Tour Map

This tour is very flexible in regards to length. Below you will find the routes that are available and you can choose based on your personal preference and lenth of stay.

Bulbfields Route (visit the Keukenhof), 23-27 mi.
This route is especially attractive during the Spring when a lot of the bulbs are in bloom. But also at other times of the year because of the wide variety of bulbs being grown, particularly in August and September when lots of dahlias and gladioluses are in full bloom. From Noordwijk, the route goes through the center of Noordwijkerhout, where you can visit the old little white church. Passing the Oosterduinse Lake (you can go for a swim during the summer) and along the Leidsevaart (canal), you’ll arrive at the bulb fields near Hillegom. Via a very narrow bike path along a small creek and over the historic Veenenburgerlaan (road), you will arrive at the Keukenhof (the famous annual flower show) near Lisse. Passing the old ruin of fortress Teylingen, you’ll arrive in Voorhout. On the way to Rijnsburg, you’ll follow de Elsgeester road through the Elsgeester polder (polder =land reclaimed from the sea) back to Noordwijk.

Meijendel Route, 23-28 mi.
This route meanders over quiet bike paths through the dunes going south of Noordwijk and over the busy boulevard of the town of Katwijk to the water conservation area of Meijendel. At the 1.25 mile long boulevard in Katwijk, you will find the St. Andreas Church from the year 1572 and the light tower from 1605. It is one of the oldest in the country. During the summer months, you’ll find a “bomschuit” from 1911 in front of the lighthouse. The small version of this ship was used to fish for shrimp. Through the water conservation area, you’ll cycle to the rich region of Wassenaar-Zuid. Via the old town center, the route goes to the recreation area of the Valkenburgse Meer (meer=lake). Here you can visit the Railroad Museum. Following the “Oude Rijn” (Old Rhine), you’ll cycle through the center of Rijnsburg and via the Elsgeesterpolder (polder = reclaimed land) back to Noordwijk.

Vlietland Route, 32-37 mi.
Going South, your Dutch bike tour now takes your through dunes and brings you to Katwijk and Wassenaar. You will pass castle Duivenvoorde if you follow the description to visit the castle. Following the Vliet (a canal) you reach the recreation area the Vlietland. Going straight through the University city of Leiden back to Noordwijk. You have the opportunity to leave the route and visit the old center of Leiden. *The first extension makes a detour through the center of Leidschendam and follows the Vliet (canal) until the drawbridge. *The second extension from the drawbridge directs you to the recreation area of Vlietland. Besides an excellent view over the lake with its water birds, you can run into Scottish Highlanders as well. (cattle). These two extensions give you the opportunity to cycle 32.1 or 35.7 miles. And with the two extensions, a total of 36.9 miles.

Wijde AA Route, 38 mi.
(translation: The “Wijde Aa” is a canal) This bike route brings you via Noordijkerhout and the bulb fields near Lisse to the “Rooversbroekpolder” (polder = reclaimed land). Cycling along the Ringvaart (canal) of the Haarlemmermeerpolder and along the Braassemermeer (meer=lake), you will arrive at the little ferry over the Paddegat. You’ll reach Woubrugge and soon the beautiful bike path along the “Wijde Aa” after which this route is named. You will see some old windmills near Hoogmade. Via Rijpwetering, through the scenic polders, you’ll arrive in Warmond and from there back to Noordwijk-binnen (an old historic center) and Noordwijk.

Country Estates Route, 23-35 mi.
This route goes through the beautiful dunes south of Noordwijk to The Hague. The “Coepel” dunes lie between Noordwijk and Katwijk up until the “Wassenaarse Slag” and the nature reserve “Berkheide”, followed by the wooded water conservation area of “Meijendel”. You’ll cycle through The Hague, passing the Peace Palace, the Royal Palace Noordeinde and the “Binnenhof”. Then via the “Haagse Bos” (bos=forest), you’ll enter into Wassenaar, where you’ll continue the route. The country estates seen en route include De Wittenberg, Rust en Vrede, De Wiltzanck, Hartenkamp, Backershagen and the Pauw. The route will also pass the “Valkenburgse Meer”, a recreation area that also has the Railroad Museum. You’ll cycle along the “Oude Rijn” (Old Rhine River) to Katwijk aan de Rijn. Over the terrain of the “Van den Berghstichting” (an institution for people with a mental handicap), the route will bring you back to Noordwijk.

Fisherman's Path, 11-30 mi.
This route goes through the dunes, passing Langevelderslag, along the water conservation area of Amsterdam to Zandvoort. From there via the beautiful Fishermans path, you bike to an area called “Kraantje Lek” and then through the rustic town of Aerdenhout. Riding further, you’ll pass the mansion of “Huis te Vogelenzang” and cycle through the bulb fields near De Zilk. Then via the dunes, you’ll ride back to Noordwijk.

Westeinder Lakes Route, 32-43 mi.
From Noordwijk, you go North through the dunes to Zilk and around Vogelenzang to the estate “Oud Woestduin. Via the small forest “Groenendaal” you’ll reach the old center of Heemstede with its “Oude Slot”, a castle dating back to 1290. Past the large pumping house and the museum, “de Cruquius”, the route crosses “the Ringvaart” (a canal). You’ll pass the outskirts of Haarlem going to Vijfhuizen. From there you follow an old dike. Along this dike, you will find some fortifications, part of an old defense system around Amsterdam. In Aalsmeer, you will pass the Historic Garden and the Westeinder Lakes. Along the canals, the Amstel, and the Drecht you arrive at the Braassemer Lake where you will cross the canal, the Oude Wetering by ferry. Via the town, Nieuwe Wetering you follow the canal, the Ringvaart to the Buitenkaag. The route continues via Sassenheim and Voorhout back to Noordwijk.

You can view all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news.

Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064

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Tour Reviews

  • Marlene Z. 7 months ago     Verified Reviewer

    Biking through the dunes of the North Sea is incredible. The rental bike is a heavy Dutch model and it is windy so you make like an e bike. The fresh herring and fish are amazing. Also there is bus 385 that runs from train in Voorhout to Noordwijk for 2 euro 20. So you don't need that 20 euro cab.

     Reply

  • Julie M. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    Best Part: Cycling to Delft. The town was beautiful!

     Reply

  • D. Van Ruiten 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    The Hotel and Bike store did not know each other and the hotel had to look up on map where the bike store was. It would be better if upon arriving at the hotel, they could point us in the right direction immediately.
    Our GPS on the bikes were a little old - very small- so it was hard to make out sometimes - if we were following the map correctly. We had to double check on our own phones a few times which gets into roaming charges.
    The bikes were clean and had good tires/brakes so that was good.
    Both staff at hotel and bike stores were good.

     Reply

  • Martha 5 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    My husband and I had a wonderful trip. Doing loop rides from one location, instead of moving from one city to another each day, was perfect. It allowed us to become familiar with the area (so many restaurants to try!) and to modify the routes if we desired (for example, one day we cycled to the train station and took a train to Leiden instead of doing a long ride). The folks at TripSite are not kidding when they claim that the Netherlands is a bike friendly place. Certainly the nicest and safest cycling we have experienced! It is hard to say which route was my favorite but Widje AA has a taste of everything - dunes, blub fields, canals, windmills, and charming villages.

     Reply

  • philippa 9 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    My daughter and I had a fabulous trip last easter. The cycle routes were both pretty and the instructions were easy to follow. Neither of us are avid cyclists but the distances were right for a whole days trip. Thank you.

     Reply

  • Debbie 9 years ago     Verified Reviewer

    Very enjoyable trip but found the route descriptions hard to follow without detailed map to accompany them. This we rectified by purchasing locally but would have been useful to have at the outset. Would also recommend that bikes are supplied with clipboard on handlebars to make following the maps easier. Constantly stopping to check directions was tiresome. Very comfortable hotel and beautiful beach with stunning scenery. Lovely people and on this occasion .... stunning weather. Great fun

     Reply

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