Holland Bike & Sail - Tulip Tour

Day 1

Our adventure starts in the early afternoon as you board the Leafde fan Frysln in Amsterdam. After getting settled on board, the ship will leave the harbour at 2:30pm and sail to Zaandam. In the late afternoon, we will have the option to take a short ride. After enjoying a delicious dinner on board, our leader will take us on a guided walk through the beautiful city centre of Zaandam.

Day 2

In the morning, we cycle to the charming hamlet of Zaanse Schans. Renowned for its operating windmills (the oldest of which dates back to the 17th century), Zaanse Schans is a traditional village that lies on the banks of the river Zaan. Stroll through the village, looking out for the clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a clog maker and a cheese farm.Our cycling tour continues to Limmen and Egmond-Binnen where we have the chance to bike through colourful tulip fields. Nearby, well visit the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to the preservation of rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other special flowers are planted here. We continue cycling to Egmond at the North Sea, once more passing through the tulip fields.Our ship will be waiting near the historical city centre of Alkmaar. This town is well known as a Dutch cheese city. Wander through the streets and be amazed by the beauty of Alkmaars old town, with its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and narrow, winding canals.

Day 3

Today we cycle north of Alkmaar where we will find the most beautiful tulip fields on the way to the North Sea. The sandy beach here is one of the most wonderful to walk along in the entire Netherlands, the perfect spot for feeling the wind in your hair or simply enjoying the view. Close by and certainly worth a visit is the artists' village of Bergen. We will continue on and cycle through the North-Holland Dune reserve to Den Helder: this piece of land wedged between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer boasts the worlds single biggest flowering bulb field. In one word: spectacular!/Please note: total distance covered this day can vary from 33 to 50 km / 21 to 31 miles depending on the cycle routes you choose./

Day 4

During breakfast the ship will sail to the island of Texel, the largest of the Dutch Wadden Isles. Here there are various options in terms of cycling routes so you can ride as much as you want. Whichever route, cycle through delightful natural parks, and bike through fields of blooming flowers! Pass through picturesque villages and landscapes and visit the Ecomare seal sanctuary. At the end of the day, we can enjoy a locally-brewed, well-deserved beer during a visit to the small brewery near Oudeschild./Please note: total distance covered this day can vary from 15 to 65 km / 9 to 41 miles depending on the cycle routes you choose./

Day 5

Today we will set sail to Enkhuizen. Relax and enjoy the sailing and scenery as you progress along the IJsselmeer. In the afternoon, the ship will arrive in Enkhuizen, an old city with many centuries of maritime tradition. Spend some time exploring here: the herring city boasts a beautiful old harbour and an old town full of history.

Day 6

In the morning we sail along the Ijsselmeer to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn, which was, in the 17thcentury, one of the worlds foremost harbours. Our afternoon ride goes to Volendam, a small and picturesque fishing harbour on the shores of Lake IJsselmeer. Along the way, well pass Edam, which is known for its famous Edam cheese, covered in red or yellow wax. While this adorable village is now renowned for cheese, it was once an industrious shipyard and port. Thats why, in the 17thcentury, the towns specialty became one of the most popular cheeses in the world. Sailors took wheels of Edam on their voyages the cheese doesnt spoil easily and could be traded for spices and other riches of the East.

Day 7

Today well take a bus through the oldest tulip fields of Holland to the famous Keukenhof Gardens. There will be plenty of time here to discover the most beautiful bulb park in the world Keukenhof is the place where spring springs. It features an overwhelming blaze of colours: seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acre setting of traditional and modern gardening architecture. Here we will also find various hyacinths, daffodils, and many other vibrant flowers.In the afternoon the bus takes us back to Amsterdam where we spend our final night on the Leafde fan Frysln.

Day 8

Our adventure ends after breakfast. Disembark until 9:30am in Amsterdam.