Holland’s Venice & Hanseatic Towns
Netherlands Bike Tours
Bike like the Dutch!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length5 days
- Prices from€655 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Zwolle, a lovely Hanseatic town, overlooking four rivers, is the perfect setting for this bike tour in Holland. The province of Overijssel is one of the most scenic provinces and varied landscape in Holland.
On this tour, you will bike like the Dutch in some of the locals' favored places.
You have three options for accommodations for this tour, the Pelser Tower, a renovated medieval defense tower, the luxurious Hotel Bilderberg Wientjes, or the Hotel Fidder. The town itself has a beautiful medieval center, with lots of well preserved and archeologically interesting buildings. Although most of the city wall no longer exists, there are still some of the gates and towers surviving.
Highlights
- Veluwe Forest Area
- National Park of the Wieden
- IJssel River and the lowlands near Lake Veluwemeer
- Hanseatic towns of Kampen, Hattem, and Hasselt
- Picturesque villages of Giethoorn and Elburg
You are provided route descriptions and maps for four cycling itineraries and you choose what you would like to do each day!
Click this link to browse all of our bike tours in Holland!
Itinerary
On this 5 day tour, you will decide each day which route you would like to cycle.
Route 1: Zwolle - IJssel river - Hattem - Zwolle, 25 mi. (40 km)
Route 2: Zwolle - Kampen - Elburg - Zwolle, 31 mi. (51 km)
Route 3: Zwolle - Veluwe - Zwolle, 30 mi. (50 km)
Route 4: Zwolle - Wieden National Park - Giethoorn - Meppel - Zwolle, 28 mi. (45 km)Route 1: Zwolle - IJssel river - Hattem - Zwolle, 25 mi. (40 km)
In the morning, you will be met at the train station of Zwolle for a very thorough tour explanation including an explanation of the pre-programmed GPS device which will ensure a relaxed and stress-free tour. You can begin biking on this first day through the old historic town of Zwolle while your luggage will be delivered to your hotel. After visiting Zwolle, you can continue south along the lovely IJssel river on quiet, scenic bike lanes. Around lunchtime, you will arrive in the quaint village of Wijhe. You can then take a ferry to the other side of the IJssel river, and bike back to Zwolle by a different route, passing through the picturesque Hanseatic town of Hattem before checking in at your hotel.Route 2: Zwolle - Kampen - Elburg - Zwolle, 31 mi. (51 km)
After a relaxed breakfast, you are in for a lovely ride to Kampen, a beautiful Hanseatic town in which you will want to take some time to meander. In between Kampen and Elburg, the route leads through the lowlands near lake Veluwemeer (part of lake IJsselmeer, former sea). Elburg itself is an old fortified village worth a visit. In the afternoon, as you cycle back, you will pass through lowlands, farmland, and forest areas to Zwolle again.Route 3: Zwolle - Veluwe - Zwolle, 30 mi. (50 km)
Today you will discover the Veluwe. This forest-rich ridge of hills features many different landscapes, including woodland, heath, small lakes, and Europe’s largest sand drift. The Veluwe is a popular tourist destination and is especially beloved by bikers as it has a unique maze of quiet bike lanes to enjoy! The north part of the Veluwe stretches till Zwolle so you will be biking through this unique nature reserve almost all day. South of Hattem you will pass a small watermill with some great estates and restaurants along the way. The ‘Heerderstrand’ lake, which you will also pass, is a great place for a swim, weather permitting. A common sighting in the heather fields near De Dellen are the herds of grazing sheep and if you are lucky you will meet the shepherd. Afterward, the route leads to the village of Heerde which has a lovely center ideal for a lunch break or coffee stop. Finally, you will bike by a former train trail back to Zwolle once again.Route 4: Zwolle - Wieden National Park - Giethoorn - Meppel - Zwolle, 28 mi. (45 km)
The final ride is maybe one of the best rides you can experience in Holland! Cycling to the north, the route passes through the quaint Hanseatic town of Hasselt, and then to the National Park de Wieden. This area is North Western Europe’s largest cane and swamp area and is a mixture of canals and lakes. While biking you will be amazed by the lovely villages and finally the highlight of Giethoorn. The picturesque thatched farms surrounded by the lovely canals are what make this village the Dutch Venice. The final ride is from Giethoorn to the historic town of Meppel where our local representative will be waiting to bring you back to your hotel in Zwolle.Regardless of the order of the routes you cycle, your tour price includes the night of Day 4.
Be sure to check out all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.
Hotels & Bikes
Accommodations
There are three options for accommodations during this tour; Pelser Tower, Hotel Fidder, or Hotel Bilderberg Wientjes.
Bicycles
Hybrid bike
Your bicycle will be prepared for your arrival, taking into account your gender, height, personal requirements, and your accessory reservation. The rental bikes available are multi-geared adult bikes, in both men's and ladies' models, and are manufactured by Koga. Their top-class aluminum hybrid models are built according to our own critical standards and specifications and are the best rental bikes you will find in Holland. Included with the bike rental:
- A toolkit
- Tire repair kit
- Mini-pump
- Cable-lock
- Water bottle
- Breakdown assistance
Electric bike
The Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive motor offers optimum service life and reliability. The seamless integration of strength, rotation, and speed sensors results in spectacular intuitive support. The E-bike is provided with 400Wh Li-ion batteries with the longest life cycle available and supports your daily bike trip without any problem. Charging is only necessary at night.
Children’s bikes and accessories
A wide range of bikes and trailers are available and suitable for children of all ages.
Bike Assortment Age Child trailer 1-3 years Child seat 2-4 years Trailer bike/tag along 4-6 years Follow me 7-8 years Child tandem 3-8 years 20" child bike 7-8 years 24 " child bike 8-11 years 26 " child bike 11-13 years Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodation for 4 nights
- Breakfast buffets
- Tour briefing & bike fitting
- 8-speed touring bicycle (higher handlebars and upright riding position) bicycle including waterproof handlebar bag & breakdown assistance
- Equipment insurance
- Detailed route descriptions on GPS device & maps
- Additional tourist information
What’s Not Included
- Lunches
- Dinners (can be included for supplement)
- Beverages
- Train tickets from Amsterdam to Zwolle
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Arrivals are possible daily from April 1 to September 30, 2023
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2023
Hotel Fiddler Twin/double $ 1103 £ 580 $ 954 € 655 kr 96946 ₪ 2702 ¥ 105152 Mex$ 13100 NZ$ 1186 NOK 7639 kr 7788 $ 706 Single room $ 1574 £ 829 $ 1,362 € 935 kr 138388 ₪ 3857 ¥ 150102 Mex$ 18700 NZ$ 1693 NOK 10905 kr 11117 $ 1,008 Dinners included N/A Pelser Tower Twin/double $ 1170 £ 616 $ 1,013 € 695 kr 102866 ₪ 2867 ¥ 111573 Mex$ 13900 NZ$ 1259 NOK 8106 kr 8263 $ 749 Single room $ 1600 £ 842 $ 1,384 € 950 kr 140609 ₪ 3919 ¥ 152510 Mex$ 19000 NZ$ 1721 NOK 11080 kr 11295 $ 1,024 Dinners included N/A Hotel Bilderberg Wientjes* Twin/double, from $ 1322 £ 696 $ 1,144 € 785 kr 116187 ₪ 3238 ¥ 126022 Mex$ 15700 NZ$ 1422 NOK 9156 kr 9333 $ 846 Single room, from $ 1574 £ 829 $ 1,362 € 935 kr 138388 ₪ 3857 ¥ 150102 Mex$ 18700 NZ$ 1693 NOK 10905 kr 11117 $ 1,008 Dinners included $ 253 £ 133 $ 219 € 150 kr 22201 ₪ 619 ¥ 24081 Mex$ 3000 NZ$ 272 NOK 1749 kr 1783 $ 162 *Price depends on time of booking. Please contact us.
Extra Options
Electric bike rental (includes bike protection): $ 84 £ 44 $ 73 € 50 kr 7400 ₪ 206 ¥ 8027 Mex$ 1000 NZ$ 91 NOK 583 kr 594 $ 54
Extra night(s):
Hotel Fidder:
Twin/double room: $ 116 £ 61 $ 101 € 69 kr 10213 ₪ 285 ¥ 11077 Mex$ 1380 NZ$ 125 NOK 805 kr 820 $ 74 Single room: $ 204 £ 107 $ 176 € 121 kr 17909 ₪ 499 ¥ 19425 Mex$ 2420 NZ$ 219 NOK 1411 kr 1439 $ 130 Pelser Tower:
Twin/double room: $ 133 £ 70 $ 115 € 79 kr 11693 ₪ 326 ¥ 12682 Mex$ 1580 NZ$ 143 NOK 921 kr 939 $ 85 Single room: $ 212 £ 112 $ 184 € 126 kr 18649 ₪ 520 ¥ 20228 Mex$ 2520 NZ$ 228 NOK 1470 kr 1498 $ 136 Hotel Bilderberg Wientjes:
Twin/double room from: on request
Single room from: on requestExtra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy self guided bike tour based in one hotel. You will bike like the Dutch on the wonderfully maintained cycle network.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS)
Local Travel
The Amsterdam Schiphol train station is located directly below the airport. Customer service desks are situated close to the red and white checkered cube at Schiphol Plaza. Staff at the desk will also be able to provide you with train departure information and general information on traveling by train in Holland. Train from the airport to Zwolle is generally about 1 1/2 hours and entails one transfer. From the train station in Zwolle, we suggest a taxi to your first hotel.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The Netherlands is a country that boasts a typical maritime climate with mild summers. Spring and fall can be unpredictable in regards to high/low temperatures and of course, since this is Holland, always bring rain gear. Because the Netherlands is flat, wind can be a factor.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to research travel requirements and to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, blank visa pages required for your destination (s), and any other requirement.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU citizens: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and the destination country.
EU-citizens: (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months from the end of your tour.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this 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.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
We definitely recommend that you spend a day or two in Amsterdam and book an extra day or days in Zwolle. This tour is designed so that you can bike directly from the train station and your bike fitting to enjoy your first route. If you prefer your arrival day to be a day that you can simply check-in and enjoy your accommodation and surroundings, please specify that you would like to book an extra night.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Tulip Cycling.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
Reviews
David and Lisa V.
3 weeks agoVerified Reviewer
Tripsite Customer Reviews
David and Lisa V.
3 weeks ago
Verified Reviewer