Bike and Barge Holland: Tulip Tour
Magnifique / Magnifique II / Magnifique III
The Tulip Mini Tour cruise centres on the fascinating city of Amsterdam called, by some, the smallest metropolis of Europe. Highlights of the city include the UNESCO heritage-listed canal system, its quirky 'leaning' buildings, Anne Frank's home, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and Dam Square, the very centre and heart of the city, world class shopping and much, much more. During the tour you can visit the famous Bloemenmarkt, the world's only floating flower market in the centre of Amsterdam and will discover the open air museum 'Zaanse Schans' with its beautiful windmills, traditional wooden houses, an old Dutch village, a cheese farm and a traditional wooden clog maker and enjoy guided bicycle tours and some city walks. Other highlights include the historic city of Haarlem, the world famous flower park 'Keukenhof' near Lisse and the largest flower auction* in the world at Aalsmeer. *:The flower auction is not open in the weekends and holidays; instead we offer a free tour through the famous canals of Amsterdam.
MS Magnifique:
The MS Magnifique is 63 meters long, accommodates approx. 32 - 35 guests, sails under Dutch flag and management and was completely modernized in 2010 and extended with 14 meters during winter 2012/13. The lower deck has 17 cabins: 11 twin cabins (approx. 11 M², 2 single beds next to each other), 4 premium twins (approx. 14 M², 2 single beds next to each other, small sitting area), 2 single cabins (approx. 8 M²); all cabins have portholes (all portholes are fixed for safety reasons), shower and toilet, individually regulated air conditioning, flat screen TV (satellite); if requested, an extra bed is available in some twin cabins (above one of the other beds). On the upper deck there are a tastefully furnished salon with restaurant, bar, lounge with wide screen TV, large windows, Wi-Fi (with limited data use). Two partly covered teak wooden sun decks with chairs and tables & cycle shed (front deck), and with a whirlpool/Jacuzzi and barbecue on the aft deck.
MS Magnifique II:
The luxurious MS Magnifique II was constructed between March 2015 and February 2016. The 63 metre-long barge can accommodate 35 guests and sails under the Dutch flag and management. The lower deck has 14 cabins, 1 is a premium twin cabin (approx. 13 M², 2 single beds next to each other, small sitting area), 12 are twin cabins (approx. 11 M², 2 single beds next to each other) and 1 single cabin (approx. 8 M²); the upper deck has 4 beautiful suites with large panoramic windows (approx. 14 M², 2 single beds next to each other, small sitting area). The cabins on the lower deck have portholes (all portholes are fixed for safety reasons), upper deck suites have a 2 metre wide window (one of which can be opened). All cabins have en-suite facilities (shower and toilet), individually regulated air conditioning, a flat screen satellite TV; if requested an extra bed is available in some twin cabins (above one of the other beds). On the upper deck there is a tastefully furnished salon with a restaurant, bar, a lounge with a wide screen TV, large windows and Wi-Fi (limited use of data). There is a partly covered teak wooden sun deck with chairs and table on the aft deck for the use by guests and a cycle shed (front deck).
Tour Details Holland: Tulip Tour | MS Magnifique (II)
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 (not open in the weekends and holidays*). 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.
*: instead thereoff we offer a free tour through the famous canals of Amsterdam.
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.
Triple cabins are on request available (limited). Please contact us if you want to book a triple cabin.
BICYCLES:
The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring bicycles of the German brand VSF 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 and Belgium cyclists are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. There are some bike helmets available on board (for free).
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:
up to 35
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
- Vegetarian meals are possible at no surcharge. All diets and vegetarian meals must be booked and confirmed well in advance
- If requested, an extra bed is available in some twin cabins (above one of the other beds)
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)