Itinerary

Cheese Town Alkmaar, beaches and the Island of Texel

Individual cycletour with excellent hotels and luggage transport – 7days / 6 nights 

A cycling trip through North Holland is one of the best cycling vacations in the Netherlands. The province of North Holland with beautiful landscapes and sights. Discover the beautiful windmills of North Holland, such as those at Zaanse Schans. This historic site offers a glimpse into the past of the Netherlands and is definitely worth a visit. This bike tour includes a visit to the cheese town of Alkmaar, where you can enjoy delicious Dutch cheeses and a cozy atmosphere.

Texel is highly recommended if you love nature. This island is known for its beautiful beaches and vast dune areas. You can enjoy hiking, cycling and enjoy the peace and quiet. The cities of Hoorn and Volendam will not be missed during your cycling holidays in North Holland. Hoorn is a historic city with beautiful old buildings and cozy terraces. Volendam is known for its traditional costumes and fishing port, where you can eat delicious fresh fish. Do you love history and shopping? During your bike tour, be sure to visit the capital city of Amsterdam with its many museums and sights. We offer an Amsterdam Experience package and with this you can take a boat trip through the canals of Amsterdam and explore the city while walking to discover the Royal Palace Amsterdam along the way. During the months April and May you will also cycle along the famous Dutch tulip fields and see the beauty of these flowers. The fields are the national pride and symbolize the arrival of spring.

In short, North Holland has plenty to offer for a wonderful cycling holiday in The Netherlands. 

Highlights of this bike tour

✔ Volendam old harbour town with traditional costumes

✔ Zaanse Schans, museums, windmills and handicraft shops

✔ Cheese market Alkmaar*

✔ Henri Willig farm*

✔ he Island of Texel

✔ Historic Harbour city Hoorn

✔ Den Helder Navy Museum

✔ Capital of The Netherlands Amsterdam*

✔ Famous Dutch tulips during the months April and May

* Optional

Itinerary

Day 1: Individual arrival in Hoorn

Hoorn
Your first hotel is located in or near the historic town of Hoorn. Hoorn has an impressive harbor, museums, restaurants and stores. Here you will find beautiful old buildings, pleasant shopping streets and nice terraces on the waterfront. The ideal start to your bicycle tour in the Netherlands. In addition, Hoorn has a rich maritime history and was an important trading port during the Dutch Golden Age. Today, it is a popular tourist destination with charming cobbled streets, waterfront restaurants and museums showcasing Hoorn's history and heritage. With its mix of history, culture and natural beauty, Hoorn is a fine destination for visitors looking to explore the Netherlands off the beaten path. 

Day 2: The Eilandspolder, Old Dutch town de Rijp and World Heritage polder De Beemster 
From Hoorn to Volendam approx. 46 km 

Today's cycle route will first take you from Hoorn to the Eilandspolder past the Old Dutch village of Schermerhorn. From the dike along the Eilandspolder, a beautiful low moorland nature reserve, you can see the plots of land which for centuries have only been accessible by boat. Schermerhorn is the first nice village on the route.  In Schermerhorn you could visit the museum windmill. After Schermerhorn you cycle further to Westbeemster on the edge of the Beemster polder; this polder is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. You will continue cycling along the dike to the town of De Rijp; this town still breathes the atmosphere of the 17th century. Middenbeemster, in the middle of the Beemster polder is the central place here. Here you will see a monument of Jan Adriaansz Leeghwater, the one who realized the first reclamations and is therefore historically a famous Dutchman. It is worthwhile to drive around Middenbeemster for a while and explore the town with its historic buildings by bike. Finally, the bike route passes through Purmerend (historic cattle market) to Volendam. Near Volendam you can make another small turn to Edam; the town is famous for its Edam cheese.  At the harbor in Volendam you can end the day with a delicious portion of freshly caught fish.

Day 3: Volendam – Alkmaar: The polder landscape and the Zaanse Schans (distance approx. 50 km) 

Alkmaar

From Volendam you cycle along the river Zaan and soon the windmills of the Zaanse Schans come into view. Here you can immerse yourself in village life on the Zaan in the 17th century. See the clog maker, taste cheese specialties and smell the scent of freshly smoked eel. Workshops, houses, stores and historic mills can be visited. In an oil mill, sawmill, grain mill or polder mill, you can see how the Dutch used wind and water in many ways with the help of mills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique Dutch heritage with monumental houses, mills, old workshops, etc.  A visit to one of the mills along the Zaanse Schans is also worthwhile. From the Zaanse Schans you cycle through the polder and along the Alkmaardermeer and Uitgeestermeer in the direction of Alkmaar. Today's destination is the old Dutch town of Alkmaar. Alkmaar, also called "cheese city”. On every last Friday of the month (March through September) and on every Tuesday evening in the months of July and August, the cheese market takes place here. Besides the historic market, the small alleys along the canals, the cheese museum and the beer museum De Boom are also worth a visit in Alkmaar. You can discover the city from the water on a canal cruise or browse and store in the historic and trendy alleys of the d'oude Stad district. 

Day 4: From cheese city Alkmaar to Den Helder in the “head” of North- Holland (distance approx. 62 km)

Den Helder
Today you cycle from the town of Alkmaar through the North Holland dune area, along the beaches towards the head of North Holland. Den Helder is a lively port city and municipality located in the province of North Holland. The city is known for its maritime history and has an important naval base. Den Helder has beautiful beaches and dune areas where you can walk, bike and enjoy nature. Den Helder also has several attractions, such as the Naval Museum, where you can learn all about the Dutch Navy. You can also visit Fort Kijkduin, a historic fort with an interesting history. In Den Helder you will also find pleasant shopping streets, restaurants and terraces where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks. In short, Den Helder is a versatile city with something for everyone and definitely worth a visit during your cycling holiday in Holland. 

Day 5: The largest Dutch Wadden Island (distance approx. 60 km) 

Texel
Texel is the largest Wadden Island in the Netherlands and has beautiful sandy beaches and picturesque towns to visit. During your bike tour on the largest Wadden Island you will cycle along the dunes and beaches of Texel. Cycling on Texel is a great way to discover the island. Texel has more than 130 kilometers of bike paths that lead through beautiful dunes, forests and past picturesque villages. The island is relatively flat, making it ideal for both recreational cyclists and more experienced cyclists. Because Texel is not that big, you can easily cycle around the entire island in one day. Along the way you will pass cozy beach bars, cute stores and viewpoints where you can enjoy beautiful views. Don't forget to get off every now and then and enjoy the peace and nature on Texel. 

Day 6: From Den Helder the Marine city to the harbor city Hoorn (distance approx. 65 km)  

Hoorn   
Today you will arrive back at the starting point of your cycling holiday. In Hoorn you can visit the historic town center or do some more shopping in one of the shopping streets of this cozy harbor town.  

Day 7: Departure towards home 

After breakfast you will leave for home.