Netherlands Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 481 to 510 of 1671

Great crew on the ship. Had a large group of 19. Was very satisfied with all aspects of the trip. On time, on schedule, and good value. The guide was able to assist a couple of people who wanted to find old family connections during the tour which made a very memorable trip for them.
We did arrive a couple of days early to get our bodies adjusted to the time change. Also spend a extra few days in Maastricht to take in the local sites. (well worth it) A day trip to Valkenburg was excellent.
Minor issues. Could have used a extra guide to split the group in two more compatible riding groups. With the large group it was hard to move through traffic( stopping at intersections or crossing roads) Dutch traffic was extremely polite and accommodating.
We were blessed with a couple of local people on the tour who assisted in filling in information for us tourists. Where to eat, what to try, tips on getting around, and what types of pastries or beers to try.
Map and GPS riding system worked wonderfully.

The most memorable aspect of our trip has to be the incredible staff members and friendly people of The Netherlands! Each of the staff was welcoming, engaging, and so hard working! We mostly experienced Cori as she led our biking group, and she proved to be a very effective leader. She was a highly capable biker, very knowledgeable about all things Dutch, and kept our group on schedule with a steady, relaxed attitude. The other bike tour leader Angela was also quite helpful and capable, always willing to help find an answer to support us. Another staff member who really caught our attention was Ingeborg. Talk about a hard worker! She was a jack of all trades with a wonderful disposition and demeanor that was so fun and friendly. We truly enjoyed her for the warmth of her personality as well as her dedication to serving our needs! Our Chef Jorde's menu selections, plating and presentation was fantastic. We sure missed him once we arrived back at home and had to cook for ourselves! The food was memorable, varied, and delicious. It was clear that the staff members, led by the Captain, had a collaborative team mentality that prioritized our comfort and needs. The days are quite structured between meals, biking, and daily agenda meetings. The communication from staff about each day's itinerary and the support with bikes and equipment was very effective at keeping the group informed and ready to roll. We prepared for the conditions by dressing in layers and brought rain gear, as the weather proved to be quite variable. And after being on a bike for a good portion of the day, we looked forward to the comfort of the barge with a soak in the hot tub a delicious dinner, and a good night's rest. The variety of sites visited and terrain covered by both bike and barge was very enjoyable. From the city of Amsterdam to the Netherlands countryside with the windmills, the gorgeous tulip fields and gardens, and ultimately to the North Sea coastline, we enjoyed it all!

Bike tour through the fields of tulips was life changing. Our amazing tour guide took us through farmland so we could enjoy the tulips up close as well as see all the baby farm animals. Every aspect of the trip was fabulous. I highly recommend this trip to those who love being active outdoors.

The crew of the Quo Vadis and the guide were excellent, treated us like family. Food was excellent and plentiful. Bikes were great. The only thing I would suggest is that you put mirrors on the bikes for safety reasons. USA people are not used to having someone pass on our left without an announcement or bell ring.

The country side was breathtaking. The history of the country from the Middle Ages to post WW2 was fascinating.

I highly recommend this tour. It was more comprehensive than any other bike tour I have taken, with unique opportunities to interact directly with locals - i.e. millers who tended a windmill, a baker with an extensive collection of WWII memorabilia in the back of his bakery, a boat captain who took us for a ride through the canals in his small boat, etc. Most nights also included a walking tour of the historic city centers for those who wanted to participate.

The crew aboard the Quo Vadis were so friendly and accommodating, the food was delicious, and our bike guide (Rikko) shared a wealth of information about the history and culture of the area.

Lots of most memorable parts of the trip - biking the countrysides and quaint towns throughout Flanders and Holland and the food and service on board Magnifique II.

Excellent tour. I would recommend this to any biking enthusiast. The countryside was idyllic, the tour leaders very knowledgeable, and the boat and staff were awesome!!

Everything about this trip was enjoyable. Excellent barge and crew. Friendly group of riders. Beautiful biking routes each day.

There were many memorable parts of the trip, all enjoyable. The barge, the guests and the crew were all great. I used an e-bike which was not great. I am barely 5’ 1” and the bike was a “small” and too big/heavy for me. It should have been an X-small. Another woman of similar size had a small and fell numerous times. I was disappointed that there was no alternative offered. I am an experienced rider and the heavy weight of the bike affected balance especially on curves. I’ve been on a number of bike trips and quality bikes and safety was a number one concern. Also there were no rear view mirrors. This was a safety concern. The answer I received was that the rear view mirrors are not used in the Netherland. This does not make sense as we got helmets and the people in the Netherlands don’t wear helmets. Why would we not be provided with rear mirrors.

Absolutely fantastic crew and guide. The barge, food (chef Koen fantastic), and crew were amazing. Sailing Home Vessel very well appointed and kept up. Bikes were in great condition.

enjoying the beautiful countryside on bikes with friends .

The tour exceeded expectations from the guide, the staff, the meals, the group, accommodations to the daily activities of cycling, walking tours after dinner in the stopovers and 'inside info' about where to have coffee and apple tart, shop or visit e.g. the Sint Janskerk in Gouda. Already researching the next one.

Dress in layers and if you're of borderline cycling ability, book an e-bike. You will be glad when you cycle along the North sea.

The after dinner guided walks through the various towns we stopped at were an added bonus to the tour

I cannot say enough great things about our trip from Brugge to Amsterdam! The Captain and Crew of the Merlijn were awesome, and our intrepid tour guide, Francien was great!
What a wonderful way to experience Belgium and the Nederlands; riding through the countryside, towns, polders, and along the canals on every manner of bike path.
We were spoiled by the food provided by Christina; a delicious breakfast buffet, tasty sandwiches in our packed lunches for the ride, and gourmet meals for dinner with a little bit of history about the dishes.
Our cabin was comfortable and cozy, and the dining room and lounge were always adorned with fresh flowers.
If you want to experience travel in a unique way, then this is the way to go:)

The guides and crew were all wonderful and did everything within their power to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. The Iris was a very comfortable boat. The cycling took us through varied landscapes. Helmets waterbottles and panniers are provided so no need to bring with you.

The cycling was the highlight of the trip for us, we thoroughly enjoyed the pace and travel through small towns and villages along the way. Of course the tulips fields are also quite a sight! Although the weather did not always cooperate - we like the motto “there is no bad weather - only poor clothing choices”. Be prepared.

We had a great trip. The magnifique lll was a perfect boat and the crew was terrific. They all worked as a team to give us a good experience. Our bicycle guides, Corrie and Marie Jose were patient ant good humoured. They gave us choices and good length of rides. The bicycles were in good condition and easy to use. We enjoyed touring the countryside and the cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges.The food was delicious onboard. I would definitely recommend this trip.

Biking through the Netherlands was an unforgettable experience, particularly during the tulip season. The lush green farms, cows mooing, sheep bleating, birds singing and the people were so friendly. The sights we saw were incredible. Quo Vadis did not disappoint! The captain and crew aim to please and they did. Our tour guides were amazing. All set the bar high! The food was great, our rooms were small but cozy and very comfortable and the common area was relaxing. I highly recommend this trip! We can't wait for another trip!

This tour had so many highlights that it’s hard to pick just one. I fell in love with the Netherlands ! The variety of bike paths that our guide took us on was astounding. The history and the wonderful compassionate people were a huge highlight . The staff on the boat were fantastic, hard working but always found time to help us and answer all our many questions. One of the advantages of being on a small vessel is that you get to know the people that are working their and their personalities.
I also highly recommend an e-bike for those that aren’t big bike riders . We rode over 100 miles and I fell in love with my very comfortable and speedy 5 speed !!

It was an active adventure where you got to see so much of the country not just the tourist attractions.

This was a good mix of cycling to sightseeing and sailing. The boat and crew were the highlight as well as cycling through tge dunes, the island of Texel, and the tulip fields.

The room on the boat was clean with enough room to get around, the shower had a lip to contain the water and there were hooks and a closet for clothing. The group size of
23 was good to get to know everyone. The cycling in Netherlands was amazing - there were special bicycle lanes everywhere and the scenery was beautiful. We paid extra for special diets and unlike on other bike and barge trips, this one was worth it!

This was a most beautiful memorable lifetime trip . I am recommending to all .all of the staff on the sailing home were superb. You felt most comfortable as if you are in your own home and the cycling tour guide was exceptional. The chef gave us such wonderful meals. The skipper and the support staff were so kind and superb.

Riding through the countryside and seeing all the baby animals and, of course, the tulips! The Keukenhof Gardens was absolutely spectacular. There is so much to see in Amsterdam, I'd suggest spending a few extra days there either before or after the barge trip-you just might want to avoid Kings Day! I also recommend using an electric assist bike-more enjoyable and less stressful.

Everything was great, especially the boat staff and the food !

Biking guides were kind, knowledgeable and well organized.

The bicycles were new and of great quality. They fitted everybody with an appropriately sized bike.

Touring through the countryside of The Netherlands in the spring was fabulous. The routes were better than we anticipated. We even got to put our feet in the North Sea.The GPS App was really useful for see where you were even though we had a guide.

The food was exceptionally good. An on board chief prepared a different mean every night. We even got to dine with the Captain!

We are talking about doing another trip sooner than later. We only did a 5 day tour as the 7 day was booked. We would recommend the 7 day. 5 days is too short.

Highly recommend the Bike and Boat operators of the Magnificent II & III! Very professional and customer focused!

Overall the trip was great! The boat was nice, the rooms had more space than I expected, and the boat staff were superb! My only "opportunity for improvement" comment is that for a group of 25, the cycle tour company needs to provide more than one guide. Though our guide was very nice and knowledgeable, he was not good at making sure all 25 of us stayed together, made it through red lights, knew where the rest of the group was, etc. On more than one occasion, we had multiple people get far enough behind that they got lost and didn't know where they were supposed to go.

The countryside was breathtaking and our guide Ed Kimmel was so knowledgeable about his country and so proud to be Dutch.

My suggestions are:
For people 5’2” or shorter need a better bike fit. The seat and handlebars must be adjusted so you can reach the seat with your foot on the ground.

Suggestion for peddlers to ride together and electric bikes together but all in the same group. The peddlers need momentum the e bikes do not so it’s difficult when the riders are mixed.

Loved the intimate atmosphere of the barge. Get a chance to know the other passengers and crew.

The barge, service, crew, meals & hospitality all exceeded my expectations. This was a very well planned itinerary and was implemented seamlessly. Riding past tulip fields and the amazing day at Keukenhof Garden is something I will never forget!