Netherlands Tour Reviews — 271 to 300 of 1996

The cycling itself.
Meeting other cyclists.
Certain staff members approach were very appreciative and attentive and others not so much.
Meals were not great. Made mostly from frozen or highly processed food. Lack of availability of free cold drinking water for cyclists was a concern.

The first few days of bicycling around the Netherland were the best, after that it became a bit monotonous with lots of farm land.
The boat was great.
The food was ok but would benefit from more fresh vegetables and fruits and salty snacks after the day of biking.
The hospitality staff were a bit too rigid in applying rules for access to drinking water or coffee. We were refused a glass of drinking water because the kitchen was closed but there was water at the bar!!!
There should be more guides to help with issues when biking. At one point we had one guide for 60 people biking in two different routes! It was difficult navigating at times and would require more support.

The actual traveling on the dykes and through all the villages was fantastic. Several of the overnight stops were in good locations for walking to restaurants etc but several others were far away from the centre of town with very limited options. We were disappointed that when we picked up the bikes there was no one from the company onsite to make sure the bikes were okay. We had two that were not in good condition (missing head light, no place for front bag, missing charger, seat that would not stay in place). Having been on many bike tours in Europe, this was the first time there was no one on site to help with fixing these issues. Also when returning the bikes the same issue with just the hotel taking the keys for the bikes. We expect more care with bikes than this.

Trip was great overall. De Holland was also very good, rooms, etc., were very good. Food was ok. On board staff seemed a bit rigid & could have been a bit more flexible. Tour guides were very good though there could have been at least one or two more guides for the number of people riding. Boat crew were very good. Overall, a great trip & would do it again & recommend it to others.

The crew were amazing! It was wonderful watching them as a well oiled team and they were always cheerful. Fabulous food, the ship was spotless and the guides were informative.

How our guide, Ronald, guided us into new discoveries each day, how he added info and history on special places, and how he kept us all on the road together.

The beautiful landscape and communities we road through as well as expert guides. The crew of the Iris and the amenities were amazing also.

My wife and I rented e-bikes for the trip which allowed us more time to enjoy the sights and restaurants along the way! The routes chosen for us were perfect and navigation was easy with the information and GPS tracks provided through Tripsite. One highlight was the scenery as it transitioned though cities, pastoral country-side and the beaches of the Netherlands. Another highlight included the many people we chatted with along the cycle paths or at picnic tables as we ate our lunch/snacks - it's amazing what we had in common with the people we met along the way! Biking is definitely an adventure we will do again.

What an amazing trip . We lucked out with beautiful sunny, weather and two good friends as cycling mates. We thoroughly enjoyed cycling from Amsterdam to Bruges The guibo app along with paper information/maps and route numbers helped us successful stay in course. The distance travelled each day was doable and allowed us with time to enjoy leisurely lunches, explore churches/historical buildings and local markets.( great tips in info / map booklet provided) We even dipped our toes in the north sea at two of the sandy beaches,The category A hotel choices were great and centrally located in cities/ towns,. We especially enjoyed the historical hotels -Hotel Mondragòn and Hotel Mauritz . Kudus to the chef at hotel, Mauritz where we enjoyed the best rack of lamb ever.Although we only met three additional cyclists from the Dutch bike company, we had many opportunities to meet other travellers and locals who thoroughly enhanced our experience. Ending at the Velotel in Bruges also gave us the opportunity to meet other cyclists and learn about their trips and travels. We’re ready for our next cycling adventure . Thank you very much.

Our Skipper Willie is amazing! Watching her maneuver our large schooner into tight spaces was remarkable. She was also excellent informing us about conditions, explaining the dam, etc. On the other hand, she was very sensitive to the needs of her crew and willing to help do anything when needed.

Biking was great, even with constant modifications to the initial itinerary. Our tour guide was vigilant and made sure everyone stayed or got back on track! We really enjoyed getting to know our guide, he certainly made our experience more enjoyable.

The Merlijn is a beautiful boat, very clean and up to date. The bikes are brand new, easy to use. The food was wonderful and the staff so friendly and attentive. I don't have anything negative to say about this experience, it was so much fun.

The two guides, Hetty and Tim, made the trip. Meals in the Iris were very good. The crew was friendly and helpful. Bikes were comfortable and were easy to use. The nine day trip was perfect.

It was a great way to see a lot of the country in a short period of time, without feeling stressed by schedules. Marcel was particularly excellent as a tour guide and information resource. The crew was friendly and accommodating. The food was good enough- I didn't expect 5-star meals , but there was lots of it, and most meals were quite tasty. The Hanseatic League map was great, and coupled with the Ride with GPS app, I never felt concerned that I was lost or stranded in a foreign country. The length of rides was appropriate, and when my bike began to squeak mid-trip, a new bike was immediately provided.
On the TripSite side of things, Carla was very helpful with scheduling

It was a great way to see a lot of the country in a short period of time, without feeling stressed by schedules. Marcel was particularly excellent as a tour guide and information resource. The crew was friendly and accommodating. The food was good enough- I didn't expect 5-star meals , but there was lots of it, and most meals were quite tasty. The Hanseatic League map was great, and coupled with the Ride with GPS app, I never felt concerned that I was lost or stranded in a foreign country. The length of rides was appropriate, and when my bike began to squeak mid-trip, a new bike was immediately provided.

What an incredible trip and we are SO thankful to have chosen the Merlijn barge. The crew were so nice and the barge was beautiful. I would HIGHLY recommend this trip and this particular barge. They have GREAT bikes available, incredible tour guides, helmets with speakers in them to help make the tour very safe and informative.

The scenery. The culture. The guest connections and the helpful guides, not to mention a few amazing dinners.

I like the size of the group. The crew were hospitable. The food on the barge was delicious !

The rides and the landscape and the quaint communities were great.
The staff was super and the food was top notch.

The route, along with sites were outstanding. Great Captain and Crew.
Overall outstanding trip.

This was an amazing trip, the boat was clean and well appointed, the crew and tour leaders were exceptional, the food was incredible and the rides each day were so lovely riding through the country side and in and out of all the little towns and bigger cities. We did the guided tour and were so happy we did. Our tour guides were informative and communicated well about what to expect each day. Our first bike/barge trip and we are hooked!

The staff on the boat were awesome. Friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge and tips. Staff were Marius (captain), Harm (bike guide), Barbara (chef), and Peter (assistant to all). Harm provided a map of the day’s plan at breakfast. The bikes were adjusted as needed. It was great seeing the country from the bike trails. Navigating through the cities was daunting but Harm got us all safely to the boat wherever it was docked. There was opportunity to explore in the evenings after dinner. Barbara is a most accomplished chef with an easy going manner and good humour. Dinners were much looked forward to! Dietary needs were accommodated. The large dining/lounge area was bright. There were 2 outdoor sitting areas, one with a hard roof. It was enjoyable to sit outside and enjoy conversation with the other passengers. There was always the option of staying on the barge for the day instead of biking. The only improvement I would suggest is more planned washroom stops. I would, without hesitation, recommend this trip.

The scenery was wonderful, the guides were full of care for clients, the food was fantastic, the beds were comfortable, but the best part was the friendships formed between staff and clients throughout the journey.

The only thing I could say is that the entire trip was just wonderful. The staff, the captain, the accommodations, the food, and the people were just awesome!

The biking guides did a wonderful job making sure we were safe and secure a while biking through those nice bike trails in the Netherlands. They took breaks when you needed it. We stopped at small villages, traveled through Farmfields and saw a lot of the Netherlands including sheep, cows, canals, windmills and fantastic farmlands. The islands were great with loads of green scenery. The beaches were pretty with white sand and lots of kites sailing the skies. The stops at places like the aquarium, the planetarium and the old shipwreck museum was pretty cool too!

I started out with a pedal bike and was even able to make 31 miles through Texel Oudeschild Loop.
However, the last two days I decided to rent an E bike. Their E bikes are custom-made and actually you could pedal without assistance if you don’t want to use the E part of it. I would recommend to get the E bike as you could relax a little more on the biking tour. If you go, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time!

The cycle pace, the scenery and the camaraderie of the guests and two guides.

The food and lodging were fantastic. The crew was up beat and helpful.

I liked working with Tripsite because I got assigned a contact and she (Britney) was helpful and responsive.

Our route for our trip had to be changed because a bridge was being repaired. The guides were not as familiar with the history and highlights of the new route. But they did pretty good.

A fantastic trip exploring the Netherlands - amazing tulips, windmills, sand dunes, canals…. The crew on the Iris were amazing and the meals were excellent. Thomas and Tim were great guides and we learned much about the country at each of our stops. Meeting others who enjoy cycling was a big part of the experience.

A fabulous trip! The staff/crew could not have been any better. Biking was so much fun on the ebikes and they made it very easy.

I really enjoyed the tour of the cheese farm in Gouda! Plus the evening walks after dinner were very informative!

From the meticulously repurposed barge, to the fantastically beautiful daily rides with an expert guide, to the daily on-board meals made with heart, this was one of the best tours of our lives. I recommend it to anybody that likes to hop on a bike (there was lots of e-bikes). Coen is a real master captain, and he spares no energy sharing his commitment to detail and perfection.