Amsterdam & The Sea by Bike and Boat

A journey of Dutch discovery

It wasn't until the 17th Century that large parts of the area north of Amsterdam were recovered from the lingering grip of the ocean to become the typical Dutch landscape of polders, mills, harbors, and tulips.

The route on this dynamic Dutch bicycle tour brings you over small dykes and country roads, riding past a number of windmills that are still in working order. You can really get a feel for the old Dutch atmosphere in Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam, and Volendam, where your eyes will be dazzled and delighted by traditional costumes, sail ships, and longjohns drying on the clotheslines!

Day 4 of the tour sees you sailing to Texel, an inspiring island home to thousands of sheep, myriad bird species, and a magnificent nature reserve. Back on the mainland, the route brings you to Holland’s most beautiful dune area. These are also the only kilometers you will be cycling above sea level!

Alkmaar provides a unique picture of life in ancient times. As the capital of Dutch cheesemaking, Alkmaar boasts its own lively cheese market and intriguing weigh houses. And for another look into life in traditional Holland, Zaanse Schans, a lovely little hamlet on the River Zaan, charms its visitors with mills, houses and shops selling traditional Dutch crafts.

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Highlights

• Beautiful Dutch landscapes of polders, mills, harbors, and tulips
• Enkhuizen - Traditional Dutch town
• Texel - Island with rich nature reserve
• Zuiderzeemuseum
• Holland's most beautiful dune area
• Alkmaar - Capital of Dutch cheese
• Traditional fishing villages
• Zaanse Schans

Learn More

Learn more about guided tours.

Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Amsterdam.

Daily program

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam (9 miles/15 km)
The barge is moored at the Oosterdok in central Amsterdam, near the train station. You are expected to arrive at the barge on Saturday between 3 PM and 4 PM. When you arrive on board, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the tour leader, skipper and crew, and of course, your fellow passengers. Once everyone is ready, the tour guide will take you on your first short bike ride around the northern and more quiet part of Amsterdam. During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the global planning of the week are discussed. Instructions on cycling and safely procedures will also be given.

Day 2: Amsterdam – Volendam | Cruise to Hoorn (28 miles/45 km)
This morning you'll leave Amsterdam. A ferry takes you to the Amsterdam Noord quarter from where you'll set off cycling through the rural area of Waterland. In this soggy peat land, the houses and villages are hardly above the level of the water.

You'll then visit the former isle of Marken, which was not connected by dike to the mainland until 1957, and which retains its own particular character. The inhabitants are the only ones allowed to use their cars, so Marken can only be visited on foot or bike! The route then continues to the historic village of Monnickendam, which received its municipal charter in 1355.

Next, you'll continue your way along the Gouwzee dike to Volendam, which became a settlement when Edam dug its new, shorter waterway to the Zuiderzee in the 14th Century. The old harbor became superfluous, a new dike was built, and soon, farmers and fishermen settled, creating a village by the 15th Century. In days of old, practically all Volendam's inhabitants wore their distinctive and intriguing traditional costumes!

From Volendam, you'll sail in a northerly direction towards the city of Hoorn. During the evening walk you'll have the perfect opportunity to gain an impression of this beautiful city and its rich past.

Overnight near Hoorn.

Day 3: Hoorn – Enkhuizen, visit Zuiderzeemuseum (28 miles/45 km)
You'll continue on the dike with a wonderful view over the Markermeer on your right and West-Frisian villages on your lefthand side. The recent (1976) dike from Enkhuizen to Lelystad (in the Flevoland Polder) appears on the horizon. This was meant to be a dike for a huge new polder: the Markerwaard. However, the plans were never executed - with time, perception changed, and the environment and fresh water supply became more important. So today, you'll find the dike, but no polder!

The day's cycling ends in Enkhuizen, a town created when two adjoining villages amalgamated. You can end your day with a visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum. This museum, which consists of an indoor and outdoor section, shows you the history of everyday life around the Zuiderzee until the middle of the 20th century. Enkhuizen itself is a charming, historical harbor town.

Overnight in Enkhuizen.

Day 4: Enkhuizen – Medemblik | Cruise to Texel (22 miles/35 km)
Today's cycling tour starts on the IJsselmeer dike, then passes through a nature reserve and the typical West-Frisian villages of Oostwoud, Twisk and Opperdoes. You'll emerge into Medemblik, the oldest city in West-Friesland (1289), which boasts an illustrious past and the commanding Radboud Castle, dating back to the 13th Century. At Medemblik, hop back on board and sail the IJsselmeer and Wadden Sea to the enchanting isle of Texel.

Overnight in Texel.

Day 5: Texel loop tour (22, 30, or 39 miles/35, 48, or 62 km)
The isle of Texel, which is one municipality, is the largest of the Dutch Waddeneilanden (Wadden islands), at 20 km long and 8 km wide. Texel is highly appreciated by bird-watchers since, during springtime, around 80 different species of bird breed on the island, mainly in the dune areas. In total, Texel visitors and inhabitants have reported sightings of around 300 different bird species! You'll find that a tour around this island, following its numerous cycle tracks, is well worth the effort.

Overnight in Texel.

Day 6: Cruise Texel – Den Helder | Cycle Den Helder – Alkmaar (37 miles/60 km)
The ship takes you back to the mainland, where you disembark in the city of Den Helder, the Dutch naval port, situated at the mouth of the Noord-Hollandskanaal.

Today’s route takes you through the dunes. You'll pass by the unique nature reserve known as Het Zwanenwater (The Swans’ Water), with its lakes and boggy hollows. A little further on, you'll cycle on the Hondsbossche Zeewering (Hondsbossche Sea Dike), with a spectacular view of the North Sea. Entering the area of the Schoorlse Duinen (Schoorl Dunes), you'll find the highest dunes in the country! Thanks to the planting of many pine trees during the last century, the area is now pleasantly wooded, adding to the picturesque quality of the scenery.

You'll bike on to Bergen, an artists’ village which attracts many painters, writers and architects, before riding on to today's destination - Alkmaar. Also known as the 'City of Cheese', Alkmaar's weigh house (used for the weighing and trading of cheese) was the very first in the country.

Overnight in Alkmaar.

Day 7: Alkmaar – Zaanse Schans – Amsterdam (37 miles/60 km)
Around the Schermer Polder you'll find beautifully preserved original windmills, used for pumping water out of the area. You'll visit these picturesque windmills, the museum at Schermerhorn, and walk around the iconic village de Rijp.

The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th Century, is an exceptional example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. It has preserved its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes and settlements, which are all laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. These unique features earned Beemster a UNESCO world heritage listing!

Near Zaandam, you will visit the world-famous hamlet and open air museum of Zaanse Schans. This is a unique place where people live and work amongst the original houses and windmills from the River Zaan area.

An extensive network of bicycle paths ensures a relatively easy way back into Amsterdam, showing you some remarkable sites in the center of the city. Then it's time to say goodbye to your bike! Before the farewell dinner, you may want to take a walk into town or even enjoy a canal trip.

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.

Surface and terrain

The terrain for the tour is mostly flat with occasional, moderate hills. The tour follows a leisurely pace.

Boats

• Anna Antal
• Wending

These barges are former working river vessels, converted specifically for this kind of passenger vacation. The barges comply with the strict safety regulations set forth by the Dutch Shipping Inspection Authorities. Do not expect a luxury cruise ship. The experience of the tour is built around guests being active cyclists. The layout of the barge supports a social environment in common spaces.

How to get there

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Nearest train stations: Centraal Station

There is a direct train that leaves 6 times per hour from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station. It takes about 16 minutes. The price for a train ticket Schiphol Amsterdam is €5 per person for a single journey.

A taxi from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport to the barge in Amsterdam takes about 30 minutes. It costs about €50. A taxi from the Central Train Station in Amsterdam to the barge takes about 5 minutes: Costs about €10.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights accommodation on board (including bed linens and towels)
• Breakfast and dinner on board
• Lunch packages when on the road
• Coffee and tea on board
• Tour guide
• Road book (1 per cabin)*
• Ferry fares on the route
• At least 3 city walks with tour guide
• Free Wifi (limited availability in lounge and on deck)
• GPS tracks (upon request)

*The road book (1 per cabin) includes the detailed itinerary. Although the tour is guided, if you wish to cycle any of the days on your own, you may request the GPS tracks to assist you with navigation.

Note: special wishes concerning meals as dietary or vegetarian food can be provided upon request. Extra fees may apply. Please inform us when booking your tour.

Bike rentals

Bikes available to be rented (booked in advance at the time of booking) include:

• Hybrid touring bike, 24-speed
• Electrically assisted bike, 24-speed, detachable lithium-Ion battery, unisex*
• Children's bike, child seats (rear of bike), trailer bike (one-wheeled bicycle attached to adult hybrid bike), bike trailer
• Bike insurance included with bike rental

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge:

• Helmet
• Pannier bag
• Lock
• Water bottle
• Repair kit (when cycling self-guided)

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

Helmets:
Helmets are available with your bike rental. A helmet is required for children in the Netherlands; however, we recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own helmet.

More information about the electrically assisted bike
Your electrically assisted bike has 24 gears, a detachable lithium-Ion battery, hand brakes, pannier bags, a good lock, water bottle and you can get a repair kit. We draw your attention to the fact that you will be held responsible for damage to or theft of the bike, as long as the bike is not on board. (the E-bike has a value of more than €2000). Never leave it unattended. Always lock it and fasten it to a fixed object, and don’t forget to remove the information panel from your steering wheel. If you didn't arrange cycle insurance when booking you can do this on board (the first day). Payment in cash is required.

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