Amsterdam & The Sea by Bike and Boat

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam
9 miles/15 km

The barge is moored at the Oosterdok in central Amsterdam, close to the train station. You are expected to arrive on Thursday between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM. Upon arrival, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. This is also a great opportunity to meet the tour leader, skipper, crew, and your fellow passengers.

During dinner on board, the program for the following day and an overview of the week’s itinerary will be discussed. You will also receive instructions on cycling and safety procedures.

In the evening, or on Friday morning, the tour guide will take you on your first short bike ride around Zaandam. You will visit the world-famous hamlet and open-air museum of Zaanse Schans—a unique place where people live and work, featuring original houses and historic windmills from the Zaan River area.

Day 2: Wormerveer – Alkmaar (25 miles/40 km)

After a hearty breakfast, we hop on our bicycles. From Wormerveer, you will cycle through some of the most beautiful dunes in the Netherlands. If the weather is favorable, you may even enjoy a swim in the North Sea during your lunch break at the beach.

Today’s overnight stay is in the historic cheese town of Alkmaar. This lively city is home to nearly 400 heritage sites, charming canals, and a bustling harbor. Alkmaar’s famous weigh house—the first in the country—is where cheese was traditionally weighed and traded, reflecting the town’s long-standing connection to this iconic Dutch product.
Overnight in Alkmaar.

Day 3: Cycle Alkmaar – Den Helder | Cruise to Texel
31 miles/50 km

From Alkmaar, we cycle north into the area of the Schoorlse Duinen (Schoorl Dunes), home to the highest dunes in the Netherlands. Over the past century, many pine trees have been planted here, creating a pleasantly wooded landscape. Bergen, an artists’ village, attracts painters, writers, and architects from across the country. Along the way, you will pass the unique nature reserve Het Zwanenwater (The Swans’ Water), with its lakes and boggy hollows nestled among the dunes. A little further on, you will ride along the Hondsbossche Zeewering (Hondsbossche Sea Dike), offering spectacular views of the North Sea.

From Den Helder, the Dutch naval port, we set sail to Texel, the largest of the Netherlands’ Wadden Islands. Texel is renowned for its diverse landscapes, abundant sheep, and rich birdlife. The surrounding Wadden Sea is a truly unique environment—the largest continuous system of intertidal flats in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight in Texel.

Day 4: Texel loop tour
22, 30, or 39 miles/35, 48, or 62 km

The island of Texel, which forms a single municipality, is the largest of the Dutch Waddeneilanden (Wadden Islands), measuring approximately 20 km in length and 8 km in width. Texel is highly valued by bird-watchers: in spring, around 80 different species breed here, mainly in the dune areas, and over 300 species have been recorded on the island overall.

Cycling around Texel is a wonderful way to explore its varied landscapes, with numerous cycle paths available. You can choose from round trips of 35, 48, or 62 km, while the tour guide will accompany the group on the 35 km route.
Overnight in Texel.

Day 5: Cruise to Medemblik | Cycle Medemblik – Enkhuizen, visit Zuiderzeemuseum
22 miles/35 km

From Texel, we sail across the IJsselmeer to Medemblik. First, we pass through the locks in the Afsluitdijk, a 32 km-long dike that has protected the Netherlands from the sea for over 90 years. Upon arrival in Medemblik, we hop on our bicycles. This historic fishing town, where land and water meet, offers a fascinating blend of past and present.

Today’s ride concludes in Enkhuizen, a town formed by the amalgamation of two neighboring villages. You may wish to end your day with a visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum, which combines indoor and outdoor exhibits to showcase everyday life around the Zuiderzee up to the mid-20th century. Enkhuizen itself is a charming old harbor town, perfect for a leisurely evening stroll.
Overnight in Medemblik.

Day 6: Enkhuizen – Hoorn
19 miles/30 km

After a final morning stroll through the streets of Enkhuizen, you continue cycling along the dike, with the Markermeer stretching out to your left and picturesque West-Frisian villages to your right. On the horizon, you will see the dike from Enkhuizen to Lelystad in the Noordoostpolder, completed in 1976. Originally intended as part of a massive new polder, the Markerwaard, the project was never realized. Over time, priorities shifted toward preserving the environment and securing freshwater supplies. Today, the dike stands alone, without a polder behind it.

We spend the night in Hoorn, a historic port city on the Markermeer that played a key role as a VOC city during the Dutch Golden Age (1602–1702).
Overnight in Hoorn.

Day 7: Cruise to Volendam | Cycle Volendam – Amsterdam
28 miles/45 km

The day begins with a sail to Volendam, originally a small fishing village that has now become a popular tourist destination. From here, your final cycling stage starts. You first ride to Monnickendam, where you can admire the town’s many historic gables, plaques, churches, and towers.

Next, you cycle to Marken, a former island known for its charming green-painted wooden houses and distinctive character. Near the lighthouse, a small beach offers a perfect spot for lunch and, if you wish, a refreshing swim in the fresh waters of the IJsselmeer.

The last part of the ride takes you through Waterland, a unique area where houses and other buildings sit almost at water level and the ground is noticeably soggy—hence the name. By late afternoon, you will arrive back in Amsterdam. Once back on the boat, it is time to say goodbye to your bikes. There is still some time in the afternoon to explore the city, and after dinner, you may choose to end your trip with a stroll through Amsterdam or a ride along its famous canals.
Overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 8: Amsterdam

End of tour after breakfast (disembarkation by 10:00 am).

Don't want the trip to end? Add a day tour in Amsterdam to the end of your itinerary! View all of our Amsterdam day tours here.

This program is subject to change without notice.