5 Star Netherlands Tour Reviews — 421 to 450 of 1367

It's impossible for me to select one "most" memorable part of this trip since the entire week was fantastic. Living on the boat was a wonderful experience, mainly because the staff was great and the other travelers were so fun -- plus the food was excellent and the cabins were more spacious than I could have imagined. The biking was wonderful -- enjoyable and not too strenuous. Wieger stopped fairly often to share lots of info and to give us time for photos or coffee. The only bummer was that we were a week or two ahead of the tulip bloom, though the hyacinths were absolutely gorgeous and so fragrant. My only suggestion is maybe to have participants introduce themselves or have nametags the first day since it took me a few days to get everybody's names straight. :-}

The crew was super friendly and knowledgeable. We weren't a high-maintenance group, yet they took food allergies and similar needs into account with a smile.

Overall, this was a fantastic trip that fulfilled my decades-long dream. I'd highly recommend it to others, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. And I'd definitely do a smaller ship like this again rather than one of those gigantic long boats or a huge cruise ship where you don't get to know your shipmates. Part of the fun of this trip was getting to know others from around the world who had similar laid-back and active attitudes.

It was all perfect, a great experience and the Captain along with his wife and crew were superb

The staff and crew on the Iris did everything in their power to give us an enjoyable experience. It was obvious they all enjoyed their jobs and wanted us to share in that joy.

The barge and staff were fantastic! The meals were fabulous. The bicycle was much better than I anticipated. Overall it was a well organized trip. They kept us busy with biking and each night there was a walking tour. I highly recommend this trip and am planning another one on the same boat in the future.

The biking guides were personable, knowledgeable, well organized. The staff on board the Iris were top rate, helpful, interactive. The itinerary/biking paths followed/led were varied and quite interesting - loved biking through the villages and countryside. Most memorable: Keukenhof, biking past all the tulip fields, past the windmills, receiving tidbits of historical info from the guides.

Our 5 day trip aboard the Magnifique IV for the Netherlands tulip tour was magnificent! I can't say enough great things about the staff--each and every one was so helpful and accommodating. There was plenty of food at all times and the evening dinner was excellent. The rooms were small but clean and enough room for all of your belongings. The bikes were new and worked well. The only thing I would change about the trip was the weather (!) and perhaps I would have enjoyed eating lunch in the small towns we meandered through (versus packing a bagged lunch each day). Would definitely recommend this trip and will be booking with them again!

The Keukenhof gardens were spectacular. The food was also far above expectations.

Overall, a great trip. The crew and guides on the Iris were wonderful and helped to make the trip a memorable experience. Thought the tour itinerary was a great balance of Dutch culture, historic towns and places, canals, dikes and locks, windmills, and fields of flowers. Fun seeing the Netherlands on a bike. Chef was amazing and the Food was superb. Made good friends and enjoyed everyone on the bike tour. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of springtime in Holland.

The trip including the Kuganeuf gardens was terrific. Well organized and relaxing. Our bike guides were attentive to everyone's level and set a comfortable pace.

The Tulip Market and riding to the North Sea. The pace was great! Everyone on the boat was phenomenal! The food was outstanding, the entire boat was clean. We could not have asked for anything better. I highly suggest getting to know the Captin and crew! I can not say enough wonderful things about The Magnifique III crew!

What a wonderful experience I had never been to Europe or out of the country, and it did not disappoint

Wonderful holiday. Barge is very clean spacious and the food is outstanding. Snacks were always available after a ride and the crew is extremely accommodating. Each day our bikes were ready and off the barge, our guide was knowledgeable of the history, area and always showed us some hidden gems. We were a very large group 23 riders, I think the guide could have used another guide for assistance. The scenery speaks for itself

The most memorable part of the trip was bicycling to see the tulip fields, the parade of flowers, and one of the largest flower auctions in the world.

Oh wow, what an awesome trip!! From the scenery and sights to the food on the Fleur, everything was wonderful! The staff on the boat was welcoming and took good care of us. Our guides, Patrick and Karin, were great fun and knowledgeable.

This was my 4th Tripsite tour and was by far the best. The Fleur was delightful: clean and beautifully decorated. The food prepared by the amazing chef, Steffie, was amazing. Each day she presented a culinary treat that was on par with the finest restaurants. Our guides, Karin and Patrick, were knowledgeable and fun. We cycled past small villages, pastures of sheep and cows, saw amazing birds, and charming canals. Of course, the tulips were gorgeous every way you turned. We became friends with the other passengers, and the camaraderie made the trip even more fun. If you take this tour, you will not be disappointed. Just be prepared for all types of weather conditions and cold temperatures. An ebike made the cycling against the wind manageable. The entire trip will be a lifetime memory for me.

Tulip exchange

Just the whole trip everything was memorable, the barge crew, the ride leader & cycling. The Barge itself, the food and peolple

Coan & Christina own and operate the 50 meter 1930 converted cargo ship Merlijn along with a crew of 3 and a bike guide. The attention to detail , ,new equipment and bikes. The difference is other tour vessels are owned by larger companies and hire a captain a crew with older bikes.
Our guide Francien was very good, had 20 years experience and took us places that you would not see on a self guided tour. In the evenings after our on board gourmet dinner she would take who wanted to go on a tour of the city or town.
The scenery was amazing and a boat canal side tour in Gent was arranged. Our groups average was between 55 and 73 and everyone was able able to keep up a good pass on regular and e bikes.
We will be taking another tour they offer in Germany next year

The landscapes of Holland are wonderful. The paths chosen were sensational. The hotels met our expectations. Unfortunately the weather was very cold in the month of April. But I want to go back to do another tour of Holland.

We took this trip obviously for the tulips but what a pleasant surprise to have such an amazing crew and guide team. The meals were gourmet, the lunches amazing, snacks waiting on our return and a friendly face welcoming us back. The captain mingled with us when not driving the ship to its next location. And the guides..Wim and Brian did a fabulous job Wims knowledge is amazing. And then there were the little towns we biked through that we would have never seen any other way! A total experience that well exceeded my expectations! Bravo!

We are so glad we choose the authentic Holland tour on the de Holland. It was a great blend of forests, wetlands, and Hanseatic cities! The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the food was excellent. I highly recommend this tour.

This trip exceeded our expectations. EVERYTHING was well done.... We would highly recommend....

The most memorable part of my trip was the time we rode our bikes around the tulip fields. The scenery was breath taking!

I also really enjoyed my time on the Magnifique III

This trip was amazing. The pre-planning info, the easy to follow arrival, and the overall organization made my first trip an enticement for future excursions. The crew iof the Iris and our guides were engaging and easily created a family-like experience. Every day was greeted with smiles and experiences which made all of us feel the excitement of the voyage. Thank you for the great memories!

Beatiful scenery, nice people, windy whether :)

The bike rides and the food.

Oh my, this is a difficult question as every part of our trip on the IRIS Tulip Tour was memorable! We loved the biking and felt totally immersed into the Dutch culture as we meandered through cute villages, lush green grazing pastures adorned with baby animals (lambs, ducks, goats, cows), by castles, windmills, and, of course, the spectacular, vibrant tulip fields! Our tour guides were, hands down, the best tour guides ever!! Genuinely, wonderful people who were so knowledgeable about their culture and history and eager to share! Each stop we made on our bikes whether it for a coffee break, lunch break, or a site to see, was unique and fabulous! We loved the different cafes (w/ to-die-for pastries and treats), lunch stop areas (an old schoolhouse; a beach on the North Sea; adorable towns), and the many Dutch experiences (castles, windmills, cheese farm, tulip fields, and the spectacular tulip gardens at the Kuekenhof)! The boat staff and meals were amazing also . . . first class!!! We all felt spoiled and loved. Our rooms were perfect with plenty of space - with every detail of design being well thought-out. Last, but not least, we relish the friendships we developed with our delightful fellow bikers/bargers! If you enjoy "active" vacations, then this is a trip of a lifetime!!!

Suggestions for others:
1. Be sure to do some bike rides (and make sure you are comfortable on a bike) before coming on this trip. Also, if you plan on using an electric bike, practice at home first.
2. Rain pants and a good raincoat were my best pre-trip investments! Dress in layers and be prepared for all types of weather! The weather is not a problem if dressed properly. Also, bring two pairs of gloves so you always have a dry spare pair.

The whole trip exceeded my expectations. The first day was incredible and each day after brought unexpected experiences. The ship was very comfortable , the food exceptional and the tour guides friendly and knowledgeable.
I’m glad I brought along enough clothes to layer. It was colder than I expected, but I was always warm.
Thanks for putting a great trip together, I’ll send friends your way. It was the perfect week to see the tulips at their peek.

What a wonderful way to see Holland, world famous tulips, get daily exercise, eat healthy & wonderful food, and meet new friends!
For future tour bikers I would strongly recommend an E-bike. The terrain is 100% flat but the frequent high winds (take warmer clothes than you might think you need), made it more pleasant to enjoy the surroundings on an E-bike. The guides, Brian and Wim, were fun, informative, helpful and had good chemistry between themselves, making for a great atmosphere for the week. And the food prepared by Martina was delicious. She and her staff were always accommodating with every request. It was a perfect, tulip-filled week in Holland!

The trip itself was 5 stars. One suggestion; consider finding a way to offer and/or provide non American customers the Tripsite riding vest. They would have been very useful (close to being necessary) when riding through busy urban sections. There were several occasions when I or my wife were doing “corner duty” and members of our group did not recognize us. Also very helpful for the “sweeper” to recognize, count, and verify whether or not all members of the group are ahead of them. I respect wearing the vest is not mandatory, but almost all people in the group were wearing them - and we would have absolutely done so as well if we had known the vest was available. Our emails from Tripsite did not mention or offer the riding vest. We asked our fellow riders where they obtained their vests, we thought perhaps they were provided on the boat? Anyways - we quickly learned it was mention in an email - so I reviewed our Tripsite emails - nothing there - I asked Tripsite staff via email about the vest - the answer was that non American Tripsite customers are not offered vests. It’s a little thing, and in some aspects, this is a big thing, from a riding and inclusion perspective. Very much encouraging Tripsite to consider finding a way to offer and get riding vests to non American customers - that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.