Itinerary

Tulip Tour with Boat & Bike

5 days / 4 nights | Ships: Magnifique II, Magnifique III and Fluvius | Colourful Spring around Amsterdam

Experience Holland in the best possible way: a gorgeous spring short break by bike and boat - dominated by flowers. This 5 day mini-cruise plows through the most beautiful season of the year and will take you to colourful areas in "the Garden of Amsterdam". Enjoy some unforgettable days on board of a premium passenger barge with excellent service and an alternating itinerary.

In Amsterdam there are many unique museums, enticing shopping and, recently added to the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage list, the canals in the heart of Amsterdam certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a highlight. Visit the famous flower market in the center of the capital and discover the "Zaanse Schans" including windmills, a traditional cheese maker, a clog maker and an authentic traditional Dutch village. Other highlights of this trip are the historic city of Haarlem, the world famous flower park "Keukenhof" near Lisse and the largest flower auction in the world in Aalsmeer.
The cycling tours are guided and your tour leader offers some city walks. Enjoy the personal service, delicious meals and excellent accommodation on board of the premium barges "FLUVIUS", "MAGNIFIQUE II" and "MAGNIFIQUE III"

Itinerary

Day 1: Embarkation in Amsterdam | Noon: Amsterdam – Zaandam

Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 1 PM to 2 PM in the centre of Amsterdam. Your five day tour will start with a short cruise to Zaandam famous for its windmills and cheese making where your barge will berth in the centre of the city. Upon arrival you can enjoy taking your new bike for a brief test ride through the surrounding area. In the evening enjoy a short walk through the picturesque centre of Zaandam.

Day 2: Zaandam – Zaanse Schans – Zaandam (Cycling 24 km / 14 miles or 34 km / 21 miles) | Zaandam – Haarlem

After breakfast you will enjoy a 5 km bicycle ride to the open air museum Zaanse Schans (entry incl.) which features beautiful windmills, traditional wooden houses, an old Dutch village, a cheese farm and a traditional wooden clog maker. In the afternoon after returning to your ship by bicycle you have a choice to make: you can either cycle (approx. 10 or 22 km/6 or 13 mi.) to Haarlem or take it easy while enjoying the scenery as your barge makes the approx. 2,5 hour trip. In Haarlem visit the historical inner city complete with the Grote Markt, St. Bavo church and the Teylers and Frans Hals-Museums. Your barge will be berthed in the centre of Haarlem for the night, so you will have time to enjoy a short city walk in the afternoon or in the evening

Day 3: Haarlem – Keukenhof – Oude Wetering (Cycling 39 km / 24 miles or 57 km / 35 miles)

Today you will ride your bicycle to the Keukenhof, arguably the most famous flower park in the world where you can admire hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and many other flowers in full bloom. After an extensive visit you will get back on your bicycle at noon and will head to the small village Oude Wetering where your floating hotel will be waiting for you.

Day 4: Oude Wetering – Amsterdam. Waterland cycling tour (Cycling 25 km / 16 miles and/or 28 km / 18 miles)

This morning you are in for a real treat – an early visit by bus (6.30 a.m.) to the biggest flower auction in the world at Aalsmeer. In the morning millions of flowers are auctioned off here and are instantly sent out to all parts of the world*. By 9 a.m. you will return on the your barge where a late breakfast will be waiting for you before you make your way to Amsterdam by bicycle or by barge. During the afternoon you either have the opportunity to make a last beautiful cycling tour through the wetlands of Waterland or to discover this amazing city. Visit the inner city flower market, go to a museum, do some shopping… there is just so much to do! Optional: end-of-day canal tour in Amsterdam.
*: The Aalsmeer flower auction is closed during weekends and on public holidays. This is an optional visit. Please be aware that on dates that are marked with an asterisk (*), a visit to the flower auction is not possible.

Day 5: Amsterdam

Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 AM: End of your trip. After consultation with the crew it may be possible to leave your luggage on board until approx. 3.30 pm to give you more time to explore the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

Note: All distances are approximate distances of recommended bike tours. Program and information provided are subject to change, such as, for example, changes in weather conditions. The company retains the right to change the program or to change the shipping time and/or the order of the program in the case it deems it necessary to do so.