Bike and Barge North Holland Tulip Tour

Day 1: Enkhuizen

Our trip starts Saturday afternoon in Enkhuizen-a gorgeous harbor town that's a short train ride from Amsterdam. After settling in we enjoy a walk about town and partake of the famous Zuiderzee Museum. Both an indoor and fascinating open-air museum, we will witness life as it was over a hundred years ago as an authentic fishing village on the Ijsselmeer.

Our first evening celebrates a Welcome Dinner with the ship crew and guests!

Day 2: Province of Flevoland-Cycling Tulip Fields

This morning we sail during breakfast across the Ijsselmeer Lake to the Urk- once an isolated island with history dating back 1,000 years.

Here we start a fun cycling route to visit colorful flower fields and tulip growers of Flevoland province. Flevoland is the second largest area next to North Holland for growing tulips.

Along the way we stop to visit the museum and walk the tiny former island of Schokland, the first Dutch monument of UNESCO. We'll also stop at an interesting dairy farm to hug the cows and enjoy high tea with the owners.

Day 3: Makkum

During breakfast, the Elizabeth sails us to the town of Lemmer.

The highlight today is Frisian countryside- peaceful roads winding through green pastures, canals, and charming villages. Not to mention cycling along the gorgeous Ijsselmeer shoreline.

Along the way, we enjoy historic towns of Workum and Hindeloopen to explore their narrow streets, canals, and centuries-old buildings. Let's stop for coffee and Dutch cake at a local bakery- Suzie's treat!

Day 4: Texel

This morning we head either by boat or thrilling cycle along the famous Afsluitdijk encloser dam to Den Oever in North Holland.

We enjoy the rural charm of this former island, Wieringen, into the friendly town of Hipolytueshof for a personal tour at the Onderneming - a real functioning windmill! The millers will have coffee and cake ready for us before our tour!

Elizabeth meets us on route afterwards for a beautiful sail to the Wadden Island of Texel.

Day 5: Day off in Texel

We get to see the sunrise as we enjoy breakfast on Texel Island this morning.

It will take a full day to totally explore this unique island with its beaches, pictuesque fishing villages, and nature preserves.

Suzie and Lydia guide you to some of their favorite sights and secluded bike paths!

Day 6: Den Helder-Tulip Cycling

We head by fast ferry to Den helder, home of the Royal Netherlands Navy. We are docked at the impressive Willemsoord shipyard initiated by Napoleon during his reign in Netherlands.

Today we enjoy a memorable route along the paved paths of dunes along the North Sea and through one of the world's largest bulb growing region - the Julianadorp polder.

Special this week is how the main village comes alive in a spring celebration of colorful flower mosaics and decorated streets- called Bloemendagen. We return to Den Helder through more colorful flower fields and neighborhood bike paths.

Day 7: Cheese Market in Alkmaar

After breakfast we will train to the beautiful city of Alkmaar to see it's famous Cheese Market. This exciting tradition, a favorite of our guests, with porters wearing white dress and straw hats is not to be missed.

Depending on how the group feels, we can opt to take the short train rides to Alkmaar and then to our final destination of Enkhuizen.

Some guests with energy to spare will train to Alkmaar and cycle the 27 lovely miles back to Enkhuizen.

No matter the option, you have time to sightsee iconic Alkmaar(on your own or with guide, Jen) and it's open air market, and stop in lively Hoorn with Guide, Lydia, to sightsee her hometown.

Day 8: Good Bye to the Netherlands

Saturday morning we will have an early breakfast, say our goodbyes to our cycling friends and wonderful crew and disembark at 9 a.m. for home.

Seven nights / 8 days on sailing hotel, in lovely double occupancy rooms with lower berth sleeping. All rooms have private bathroom.
All hearty breakfasts, 6-packed lunches for picnics and 6 wonderful dinners.
Afternoon snacks
Special visits to cheese farm, working windmill, Zuiderzee outdoor Museum, Alkmaar cheese market, bakery/coffee stops, and exciting things Suzie finds along the way!
All ferry fees
Touring ebike rental with pannier
Town walks
Suzie and Lydia as hosts and guides

Trip Difficulty

The Netherlands terrain is mostly flat, but we can experience wind and rain which are weather factors that impact cycling experience and ability.

So, we recommend this trip for an athletic/active person or experienced recreational cyclist who can complete the daily miles under some adverse weather — if it should be present- and likes to average 10 mph on easy/flat terrain while enjoying a leisurely trip.

We will average 25 miles on most days and advocate a "stop and smell the roses" philosophy to cycling. Our group cycles together as a shared experience. You are always welcome to take a break from cycling and enjoy sailing from the sundeck of our Elizabeth — quite a delightful experience!

We do not use the assistance of a support vehicle on our Bike and Barge tours. Please also note that itinerary and mileage can change due to weather conditions or docking changes.

Transportation

Amsterdam is serviced by Schiphol Airport, located just a few miles from the city center where our boats are located. There is both excellent public transportation and reasonably priced shuttle service available from the airport to the city.

As with all European trips, we advise our cyclists to arrive a few days early to acclimate to the time change, get acquainted with the new culture and sightsee beautiful Amsterdam.

Additional Information

Please contact us for general trip information and registration information.

Upon registration we will send you a Welcome Letter full of pre-trip details including how to get to the trip start, bike rentals, suggestions on packing, trip area and contact information, cycling and travel websites to enhance your trip experience, etc.

We are delighted to host our tour on the Hotel Boat Clipper Elizabeth. The ship features comfy cabins with private bath, a lovely eating salon and lounging area, and outside deck to enjoy a drink and views of the water.