Bike and Barge Holland: Tulip Tour
MS Fluvius
Your tour starts in Amsterdam. You cycle from the Twiske nature reserve to Zaandam, where you can marvel at an astonishing array of windmills, wooden houses, museums and stores of yesteryear, all in their original timber construction. Once aboard our barge we proceed to the picturesque village of Spaarndam. From there, you cycle on to Haarlem. This city is full of courtyards and monumental buildings. On many occasions, Haarlem has been acclaimed as the best place to shop in The Netherlands. On Day 3, a visit to the world's largest flower gardens of Keukenhof in Lisse is on the agenda. You will be amazed at the millions of flowering bulbous plants, such as tulips, hyacinths and crocuses. At the end of the day, we pull in for the night along the banks of the Westeinder Plassen (lake).
Early on the morning of Day 4, visit the world's largest flower auction** in Aalsmeer. From there, the barge returns to Amsterdam. You can either climb aboard, or get back on the bike and cycle to the capital. In the afternoon, visit the museums, the stores or - if you want to wonder at even more spectacular floral displays - check out the well-known flower market. Your tour ends on Day 5 after breakfast. (** the auction is closed in the weekends and on holidays, therefor we offer you a free ticket for the canal tour in Amsterdam instead).
MS Fluvius:
On this very beloved tour sails the small and comfortable river barge MS FLUVIUS for max. 36 guests. On board of this cosy ship are a total of 19 cabins (ca. 10 M² = 108 square feet) with shower + toilet, all with 2 low beds and air-conditioning, individual adjustable, and ventilation system; 3 cabins on the upper deck (supplement) and 16 cabins on the lower deck. All cabins have a window (all windows are fixed). The salon with bar is a large room for common use and has a semi-separate restaurant area. On the large and partially roofed sun deck of the ca. 70 Meter long river barge are sitting places (tables + chairs) and storage room for the bikes. The river barge sails under Dutch flag and had its sailing area in Holland, Belgium and Germany for many years and it is a very popular small river barge for boat & bike tours.
Tour Details Holland: Tulip Tour | MS Fluvius
Day 1: Embarkation: Amsterdam | Noon: Amsterdam - Zaandam
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 2 PM to 4 PM in the centre of Amsterdam. Your five day tour will start with a short "dinner cruise" to Zaandam famous for its windmills and cheese making where your barge will berth in the centre of the city. In the evening enjoy a short walk through the picturesque centre of Zaandam.
Day 2: Zaandam - Zaanse Schans - Zaandam (Approx. 10 km/6 mi.) | 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 plenty of time to enjoy a short city walk in the afternoon or in the evening.
Day 3: Haarlem - Keukenhof - Kudelstaart* (Approx. 40 km/ 25 mi.)
Today you will ride your bicycle to (alternatively you can take the bus - not incl.) 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 (or by taxi - not incl.) and will head to Kudelstaart where your floating hotel will be waiting for you on the shores of the Westeinder Lakes.
*: Depending on availability of berths the ship could possibly be moored in the next village Oude Wetering or Aalsmeerderbrug.
Day 4: Kudelstaart* - Aalsmeer - Amsterdam (Approx. 35 km/22 mi.)
This morning you are in for a real treat - a visit to the biggest flower auction** in the world at Aalsmeer. Early in the morning millions of flowers are auctioned off here and are instantly sent out to all corners of the world. By 10 AM you will return to your barge in Aalsmeer where an elaborate brunch will be waiting for you before you make your way to Amsterdam by bicycle or, if you choose, on board the barge. During the afternoon and evening you will have plenty of time to discover this amazing city. Visit the inner city flower market, go to a museum, do some shopping or enjoy a boat trip through the canals... there is just so much to do!
Bike tours: Kudelstaart-flower auction approx. 6 km (3 mi.); flower auction- Aalsmeer approx. 3 km (1 mi.); Aalsmeer-Amsterdam (Veemkade) approx. 25 km (16 mi.).
**Entry flower auction: approx. EUR5. The flower auction is closed in the weekend and on holidays, therefor we offer you a free ticket for a canal tour in Amsterdam in stead.
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. 3.30pm to give you more time to explore the beautiful city of Amsterdam.
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.
Minimum number of passengers for this tour is 16.
BICYCLES:
The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring bicycles with normal mount (ladies model), 7 gears, handbrake and/or pedal brake and pannier bag. Other bikes (e.g. children's bikes, "slip streamers", tandems, etc.) and child saddles (front or rear) on these tours are only available after prior request (by booking) and confirmation and in very limited numbers. Bike rent is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles or E-bikes (at no extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator is in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles. In the Netherlands cyclists are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. There are no bike helmets available on board.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The General Conditions (travel conditions) of Boat Bike Tours apply to cycling cruises, as well as to confirmation and cancellation of such tours. In principle, children are very welcome on board. However, before booking, we advise you to satisfy yourself that your child is able to manage a cycle trip of approx. 55 km (34 mi.). Of course you may stay one or more days longer on board (children under the age of 18 years must be under supervision). The interior of the ship is a non-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck. As a safety measure, a statutory smoking ban applies in all cabins; this means that all cabins and rooms on board are non-smoking areas.
Characteristics:
Operator:
Participants:
from 16 up to 36
Tourtype:
guided
Children:
no
Regions:
Amsterdam, Harlem, Lake Yssel, North Holland
Countries:
Netherlands
Benefits:
- Tour and accommodation on board in the booked category 5 days/4 nights from/to Amsterdam
- Full board
- breakfast, (picnic) lunch, three course dinner
- Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
- Welcome drink, presentation of barge and crew and briefing on the first evening
- Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours (free)
- daily fully guided bike tours
- Daily coffee and tea till 4 PM
Start date: on request
End date:
Duration:
Price:
Click to order
Startdate
Middate
On request
Additional costs:
- All other costs: on request (bikehire, cabin categories, additional nights, transfers and so on)