Netherlands – Southern Holland Tour by Bicycle and Barge 2023

From € 739.00

It doesn’t get any better than the Southern Tour of Holland on board your home away from home, the ship De Amsterdam or Poseidon. Not only will you get the chance to visit a number of famous Dutch cities, but you will also uncover another side of Holland as you cycle through the countryside – the country’s “Green Heart”. It is here that you will see a landscape of water, meadows, grazing cows, windmills and picturesque farms… it is a landscape that is impossible to feel or look any more Dutch. In short the Southern Tour is the perfect tour for anyone wanting to see as much of “typical” central Holland as is possible in one week. What you will come away with at the end of the tour is a greater appreciation of why this part of the Netherlands attracts so many visitors from all corners of the globe every year.

Trip Type

Bicycle and Barge Tours, Easy Level, Self-Guided
Group Size

2 - 20
Reviews

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Locations

Netherlands
Trip Duration

8 Day(s) 7 Night(s)

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Trip code WT-CODE 4487

Route:

Technical Characteristics:

Tour Profile: Easy. This tour has daily cycling distances up to 50 km. Most of the cycle routes are classified as ‘easy’, because most of the way is over flat paths, so nearly all our trips are suitable for all cyclists, from very experienced to beginners and recreational cyclists with a basic level of fitness.

Distance: 198 - 288 km

Travel Season: Self-Guided Tours: Saturday Departures: Season A: April 1; April 8 and October 7, 2023
Season B: April 15; April 22; September 23 and September 30, 2023
Season C: April 29; September 9 and September 16, 2023
Season D: All other departure dates, weekly from May 6 up to and including September 2, 2023

Ship De Amsterdam

De Amsterdam is a very well equipped river cruise ship, built in 1991 and last refurbished in 2017. In recent years, the vessel has been operated for river cruises (4 star category) in Germany. In 2018, De Amsterdam make her first cycling cruises on the Southern Tour of Holland! The lower deck offers space to 30 twin cabins (11 m²). The upper deck has 18 twin cabins (11 m²) and 8 spacious suites (15 m²). All twin cabins have two separate single beds (200 x 80 cm), the suites have two separate beds set next to each other as a hotel style bed (200 x 160 cm) which, on previous request, can be arranged as two separate single beds. All 56 cabins aboard De Amsterdam have an individual climate control system, digital TV, wardrobe, mini-safe, hair dryer, 230V and 115V sockets and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.The twin cabins have a large picture window (140 x 90 cm) that can be partly opened. The suites have the same amenities as the twin cabins, but are larger and – in addition – also have a minibar, a “French Balcony” (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors) instead of a window. De Amsterdam has a spacious restaurant on the lower deck. The pleasant lounge on the upper deck has large windows around, which offers you a great view of the surroundings. There is also a bar with a dance floor. Wi-Fi is available. On the partially roofed sun deck, chairs and sun loungers invite for a stay. Here you can relax and have a drink and enjoy the scenery while sailing. Bicycles will be stored on a separate part of the sun deck.

Itineraries

Day 1

Amsterdam

Embarkation and check in is between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Amsterdam. Take the opportunity to go shopping, to explore downtown Amsterdam, to take a canal cruise or to visit a museum. At 5 p.m., welcome drink and safety instructions. Dinner and first briefing on board. First night on board in Amsterdam.

Day 2

Amsterdam – Breukelen / Breukelen – Utrecht 25 - 40 km / Utrecht – Rotterdam

Your first cycling tour starts in Breukelen. You’ll tour along the beautiful and winding river Vecht with its enchanting background of imposing castles, country houses and quant tearooms. You will follow the Vecht into the center of Utrecht where you will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful historical city center: the Dom Cathedral with its tower, the canals, special shops and nice cafes. In the afternoon you will continue by ship from Utrecht to Rotterdam.

Day 3

Rotterdam – Schiedam – Delft – Rotterdam 28 - 50 km

Today you will cycle today via the ‘jenever city’ of Schiedam and through the Delfland area to Delft, famous, of course, for its blue pottery. Visit the beautiful city center with its small canals, picturesque streets, bridges and alleys. For many guests a visit to the Delftware factory is one of the highlights of the tour. Afterwards you will cycle to Rotterdam, where you can enjoy a short city walk in the evening.

Day 4

Rotterdam – Alblasserdam with the “waterbus” / Kinderdijk – (Gouda) – Schoonhoven 30 - 58 km

Today you can cycle the first part or the “waterbus” will take you and your bicycle to Alblasserdam. After just a few minutes of cycling you will reach Kinderdijk, UNESCO cultural heritage, with its impressive row of 19 large windmills. You then have the choice between a longer cycling tour with a visit to the beautiful cheese city of Gouda or take a short bike tour through the Alblasserwaard. Both tours end in the “silver city” of Schoonhoven, where you can visit a silversmith.

Day 5

Schoonhoven – Oudewater – Utrecht 45 km / Utrecht – Haarlem

Today you will cycle from Schoonhoven through the beautiful “Green Heart” of Holland via small villages and quiet roads to Utrecht. On your way you can visit a traditional cheese farm and in Oudewater you can visit the Witches Weigh House. In the late afternoon the ship will sail from Utrecht to Haarlem.

Day 6

Haarlem – North Sea coast – Haarlem 40 - 50 km / Haarlem – Zaandam

Today you can choose from two cycling tours. Both tours take you through the beautiful Kennemer dunes, a national park where you can spot several bird species, Scottish Highland cows and Shetland ponies. After a visit to the seaside resorts of Bloemendaal and Zandvoort, you cycle through forests and the center of Haarlem back to the ship. The longer cycling tour leads to the largest steam engine in the world, the Cruquius pumping station and back to Haarlem. During dinner your ship will cruise to Zaandam. For departures dates between March 27 and May 1: From Haarlem you have the opportunity to visit the world famous Tulip exhibition park “Keukenhof” in Lisse (by bicycle or public transport; transfers/tickets/entrance fee not included).

Day 7

Zaandam – Amsterdam 30 - 45 km

From Zaandam your final day of cycling will take you to the open air museum the Zaanse Schans (free entry) with its beautiful windmills, an old Dutch village with traditional houses, a cheese farm and a traditional wooden clog maker. After exploring the museum you cycle through the recreational area of Twiske back to Amsterdam. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer. If you didn’t go for a canal tour on the first day, you will have the opportunity to do so today.

Day 8

Amsterdam

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:30 a.m.

Prices

Included:

7 nights’ accommodation in cabin in the booked category
Full board 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunches, 7x three course dinner, coffee and tea on board until 4 p.m.
Welcome drink
Use of bed linen and towels
Daily cleaning of the cabin
Climate controlled cabin
Daily briefings
Semi-guided cycling tours (guests cycle independently, tour lead also cycles with tour)
Some short walking tours
Maps and notes for cycling tours, 1 set per cabin
GPS tracks
Use of waterproof pannier bag
Live music on board
Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant – data use is not included
SGR insolvency protection
Carbon offset payment to our predetermined non-profit organization