Cycling holidays Holland: North Sea coast, flat polder land and IJsselmeer towns

Travel by bike & boat: A unique concept, where a bike holiday and a journey on a comfortable ship are combined. Cycling cruises are ideal for those who like to cycle during the day and explore beautiful areas, without giving up a comfortable way of travelling. During our tours you don't have to pack and un-pack your suitcases every day to travel from one beautiful place to the next!

During this cycling cruise you will explore the beautiful province of North-Holland with its flat polder landscapes and windmills, the beautiful North Sea coast, the island of Texel and the many picturesque harbor towns along coast of the IJsselmeer lake.
Explore the rich tradition in the flat "polder land", along the North Sea coast and in romantic fishing villages. You will cycle across a distinctly rural, former lake and marsh land. Since the 17th century, this area has been reclaimed from the sea, in ancient times by pumping it dry with windmills. Green flat polder-landscapes with quiet cycle tracks, the stretching North Sea beach and the beautiful sand dunes will alternate each other. For many guests one of the highlights on this tour is the extremely bike friendly island of Texel. Beautiful flat landscapes, small dreamlike farm villages and picturesque harbor villages along the IJsselmeer, with an ancient history, will dominate the second part of the tour.

Other highlights are a.o. the open air museum "Zaanse Schans", the city centre of Alkmaar and the old harbour cities Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam and of course Amsterdam with its canals. This (and much more) is what the rural, through nature molded Northern tour offers. You will live and travel in a cozy atmosphere on board of the ANGELA ESMEE, for many years the beloved ship on this tour. In the winter of 2011/12 this vessel will be refurbished, extended and upgraded (see ship's description).

Route

Day 1 (Saturday) Amsteram: Arrival and embarkation

Afternoon: between 2 and 6 PM embarkation in Amsterdam (centre). Explore downtown Amsterdam: time for shopping, to visit a museum or to make a canal tour: this is an unique way to see the capital of Holland from another side. Approx. 06:30 PM short "dinner cruise" to Zaandam.

Day 2: Zaandam – "Zaanse Schans" – Alkmaar (ca. 50 km / 31 miles)

A visit of the open air museum "Zaanse Schans" with a.o. traditional wooden houses, windmills, cheese and wooden shoe ("clog") manufacture is recommended. Bike tour through the beautiful polder-land. Evening in Alkmaar.

Day 3: Alkmaar – St.-Maartensvlotbrug – Den Helder (ca. 40 or 60 km / 25-37,5 miles **) | Evening: Den Helder – Texel

Bicycle tour from Alkmaar via artist village Bergen to the North Sea. Along the beach, through the dunes and the flat "polder- and coast land" to the naval port of Den Helder. Evening: Cross the Marsdiep with your ship to the harbour Oudeschild on the island of Texel.

Day 4: Island of Texel: Oudeschild – Oudeschild (as desired 10 - 65 km / 6 - 41 miles**) | Evening: Texel – Den Oever

Round trip on the largest of Dutch islands, Texel. Through beautiful natural areas with the possibility to have a break on the most beautiful beaches. Recommended: pay a visit to the seal sanctuary "Ecomare" and/or cycle the beautiful "Thijsse-route" (with signposting, approx. 25 miles) through picturesque villages and landscapes.

Day 5: Den Oever – Medemblik | Medemblik – Enkhuizen (ca. 30 or 50 km / 19-31 miles **)

Bike tour from Medemblik through the inland or along the IJsselmeer (former "Zuiderzee") coast to Enkhuizen: beautiful harbour, historical town and the very interesting "Zuiderzeemuseum".

Day 6: Enkhuizen – Hoorn – Volendam (ca. 50 km / 31 miles)

Bike tour via Hoorn (short visit of historical town) and "cheese town" of Edam to the old fishing harbour of Volendam: taste the famous smoked eel "paling" or salted herring.

Day 7: Volendam – Waterland – Amsterdam (ca. 35 - 50 km / 22 - 31 miles **)

A bike tour through the beautiful "Waterland" area with its hundreds of small lakes and canals, visit a cheese farm, if you wish with a de-tour to the former island of Marken, through the "Garden of Amsterdam" back to the capital city. Afternoon and evening in Amsterdam. If you didn't go for a canal tour on the First day, you will have the opportunity to do it today.

Day 8: Amsterdam

After breakfast you will disembark: End of tour.

**: Both possibilities are being offered: the guest can choose.
All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours.
When you don't wish to cycle, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbor. Program + details barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.

On the arrival day is it possible to put your luggage already on board as from 9 AM. Daily individual bike tours in you own pace: tour description, maps and daily briefings of the bike tour. During the day the tour leader is cycling the daily bike tour as well and in case of emergency or breakdown can be reached on his/her cell phone.

Included:

Tour and accommodation on board 8 days / 7 nights (Sat.-Sat.) from/to Amsterdam, cabin in the booked category
Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x picnic lunch during bike tours, 7 x three course dinner)
Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
Daily short cleaning of the cabin
Welcoming drink and -speech on the first evening
Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours, during the day the tour leader can be reached on his cell phone
Printed instructions and detailed maps for the daily bike tours
Daily coffee and tea till 4 PM

Not Included: Transfers to/from the docking place in Amsterdam; rental bicycle (optional), other transfers, parking fee, entrance fees & excursions, fees for ferries, drinks on board, personal insurances, gratuities (at your discretion).

Cycling Tracks

The quality of cycling tracks is very good: usually you will cycle on paved tracks without any gradients of note.

Rental Bicycles

The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring or trekking bikes with normal mount (ladies model), with 7 or 8 gears, hand brake and/or pedal brake and pannier bag. Other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children's bikes, tandems etc.) can only be rented on request and in exceptional cases. Requests with a minimum of 2 months before departure date and only valid after a written confirmation by the tour operator.
A rental bicycle is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at no extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles. In Germany bikers are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. Bike helmets are not available on board.

How to get to Amsterdam

Arrival by train at Amsterdam Centraal (main railway station). From the train station to the berth at the Sumatrakade/Azartplein take a small ferry, taxi or bus.
Arrival by car: Parking in Amsterdam: Park & Ride (P+R) Zeeburg, Zuiderzeeweg 46. Secure parking garage with attendant for approx. € 98.00 for a total parking time of 7 days including a free ticket to the railway station or to town for up to 5 persons per car. Tram 26 (IJtram) takes you to the main railway station, bus numbers 37 or 245 to the city centre.
Arrival by plane: You can take the "Sneltrein" from the airport Amsterdam Schipol. It runs every 10 minutes to the railway station Amsterdam Centraal and takes about 20 minutes.