Cycling the Dutch Countryside from Zaandam to Kampen
6 nights from €2138
5Land of knights, seafarers & cheese makers
"Victory begins at Alkmaar” – A tour for all ages with the inspiring stories of the people who made Holland (or we should really say ‘the Netherlands’). You’ll be riding on the country’s extensive network of safe and scenic cycle paths.
Not only will you cycle through beautiful and varied landscapes – from Dutch low-land ‘polders’ with Friesian cows to ancient fenland – but you will also visit historic towns with medieval houses, windmills and an impressive castle. The tour includes a steam train journey and a ferry boat crossing of the ‘Zuiderzee’. Our tours are rewowned for offering the most scenic routes.
You can start any day of the week except Saturday (subject to availablity) and your personal tour departure and finish are attended by our own expert staff. Back-up support is at hand throughout your tour. Your tour price includes hybrid bicycle rental (e-bike option available at a supplement), luggage transfers by courier and you will be staying in superior hotels within walking distance of the local sights.
There is an option on this tour of a family room for two adults and up to two children sharing during each overnight stay wich provides an attractive reduction on the tour price.
Daily Program
Please note: this tour begins on a cycling day. The tour operator recommends arriving a day early and booking an evening in Amsterdam.
Day 1: Zaandam – Alkmaar
26 miles/42 km
Your tour starts this morning with your personal welcome and introduction in Zaandam (about 10 minutes by train from Amsterdam).
Zaandam is famous for the Zaanse Schans with its many windmills, historic chocolate and biscuit factory, and green wooden houses. It also has a cheese factory and clog workshop! You'll then ride through lowland ‘polders’, crossing rives and canals on several small ferries (one operated by yourself manually).
The picturesque village of De Rijp has a choice of attractive cafés and restaurants – perfect for a refreshment stop. Later, you’ll arrive in the ‘other’ cheese capital of Holland, Alkmaar, which has had weekly cheese markets since the 17th century. Alkmaar played a pivotal role in the 80-years war with Spain in the 16th century, which led to the establishment of the Dutch Republic. It boasts hundreds of monumental buildings along it’s ancient canals and another highlight is beer museum ‘De Boom’ where you can taste a delicious selection of craft beers.
Overnight in Alkmaar.
Day 2: Alkmaar – Hoorn
23 miles/36km
Leave Alkmaar behind and turn once again to the lowland ‘polders’ on your way to Broek op Langedijk. Visit the ancient ‘floating’ auction where fruit and vegetables are brought to market on boats, sailing through the auction building. Next, you cycle past several striking windmills and imposing historic farms dotted across the green landscape.
Your final destination today is Hoorn. Founded around AD 1000, Hoorn has a rich history and was one of the most prominent ports in the East Indian spice trade during the Dutch Golden Age which is still evident in many beautiful historic houses. Its port is a popular area with several characterful cafés and restaurants.
Overnight in Hoorn.
Day 3: Hoorn – Enkhuizen
1h20m stream train ride followed by 14 miles/22km bike ride
Today is an even more special day, which starts with a ride to Medemblik on one of the beautifully restored steam trains making its way along canals and a patchwork of farmers’fields (steam train does not operate on Mondays). Medemblik has for centuries had a strategic position on the Zuiderzee – later the IJsselmeer lake – and boasts an impressive castle from 1288 as well as a picturesque harbour and several other attractions.
Cycle along the shores of the IJsselmeer lake to another charming historic harbour town, Enkhuizen. It’s not only home to the largest fleet of traditional sailing vessels in the Netherlands but also hosts the Zuiderzee Museum. This open-air museum is packed with houses, workshops, a school and much more from towns along the coast of the Zuiderzee (‘South Sea’) which became a huge lake in 1932. You can easily spend more than a day in Enkhuizen!
Overnight in Enkhuizen.
Optional extra day: To make the most of your visit, why not book an optional extra day here and stay one more night in Enkhuizen?
Day 4: Enkhuizen – Lemmer
21-26 miles/34-42km
Another special day sees you cross the IJsselmeer lake by ferry boat to Stavoren (1h30m) – enjoy this nautical experience on the large, sturdy ship. Stavoren, the oldest town in Friesland province, is home to plenty of characterful Friesian houses and has a rich seafaring history dating back to before 1000AD.
Cycle further through Friesland, which boasts beautiful lakes and canals, forests, small villages, and plenty of wildlife. There is a choice of two different, equally attractive routes, either 42 km past the town of Sloten or a shorter version of 34 km. Your final destination today is the charming fishing village of Lemmer, home also to the largest still-operational steam-powered pumping station in the world (a UNESCO monument).
Overnight in Lemmer.
Day 5: Lemmer – Blokzijl
27 miles/43km
The highlight today is the National Park of Weerribben-Wieden, one of the most breathtaking nature areas in the Netherlands and the largest marsh and fenland in Northwest Europe. Thanks to human hands cutting peat and reed, a unique landscape was created, full of lakes, canals, reedlands, marshes and forests, dotted with historic villages. It’s a breeding ground for exceptional plant and animal species - water soldiers and lillies are at home here, while yellow iris and cottongrass add colour to the landscape, and you may spot the large copper butterfly for example.
Overnight in Blokzijl.
Day 6: Blokzijl – Kampen
22 miles/35km
After a good night’s sleep, cycle through the quaint village of Dwarsgracht to Giethoorn, affectionately known as the 'Dutch Venice', but much more rural and a must-see destination. Its bridges link the narrow paths to small islands with quaint farmhouses adorned by painted shutters and thatched roofs.
You'll cycle further through the National Park Weerribben-Wieden on your way to the Hanseatic town of Kampen on the banks of the River IJssel. It has one of the best preserved old town centres of the Netherlands, including the gates of the ancient city wall and a windmill called d'Olde Zwarver (‘the Old Vagabond’). Colourful murals, old commercials from the last century, including elaborate Art Nouveau versions, are another attraction.
Overnight in Kampen.
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast, check out and return to Amsterdam (1h30m by train) or travel to your next destination.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Alkmaar: The Fallon Hotel
Hoorn: Hotel De Magneet
Enkhuizen: B&B Villa Enkhuizen
Lemmer: Hotel Lemmer
Blokzijl: Hotel Restaurant Geertien
Kampen: Boetiek Hotel Kampen
Bikes
Touring Bicycle
Your bicycle will be prepared for your arrival, taking into account your gender, height, personal requirements, and your accessory reservation. The rental bikes available are 8-speed multi-geared adult bikes, in both men's and ladies' models, and are manufactured by Koga. Their top-class aluminum standard models are built according to our own critical standards and specifications and are the best rental bikes you will find in Holland. Equipped with:
Gates carbon belt drive system
Shimano internal gear hub (no chain or derailleur)
Index shifter
Reliable front and rear disc brakes
Head and tail lights
Reinforced tyres with reflective stripes
Mudguards
Electric Bicycle
Aluminium E-Bikes from the leading Dutch brand KOGA, featuring:
Bosch mid-drive motor for intuitive, reliable support
Low step-through frame
Comfortable riding position
Gates carbon belt drive system with Shimano internal gear hub (no chain or derailleur)
Index shifter
Front and rear disc brakes
Head and tail lights
Reinforced tyres with reflective stripes
Battery capacity supports a full day of cycling; charging needed only at night
Available in various sizes to suit each rider
Road Bicycle
Giant road bikes designed for performance
Lightweight carbon frames for stiffness and aerodynamic efficiency
Integrated disc brakes for smooth, powerful stopping in all conditions
High-quality Shimano components, including brakes, cassette, and gears
Available with manual shifting or Di2 electronic shifting
Children’s Bicycles and Accessories
A wide range of bikes and trailers are available and suitable for children of all ages.
| Bike Assortment | Age |
| Child trailer | 1-3 years |
| Child seat | 2-4 years |
| Trailer bike/tag along | 4-6 years |
| Follow me | 7-8 years |
| Child tandem | 3-8 years |
| 20" child bike | 7-8 years |
| 24 " child bike | 8-11 years |
| 26 " child bike | 11-13 years |
Accessories
Included with the bike rental:
- A toolkit
- Tire repair kit
- Mini-pump
- Cable-lock
- Water bottle
- Breakdown assistance
Additional equipment available upon request for an additional charge:
- Helmet
- Poncho
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
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 not mandatory on this tour, but available upon request for an additional charge. We recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Surface and terrain
On this tour, you'll bike from south to north and from west to east since the most common wind direction is southwest.
Most of the cycling will be flat and along paved routes and cycle paths. The distance varies each day, and on the longer days you have options to shorten the mileage by train. The cycling is sometimes broken up by ferry rides across waterways.
How to get there
Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schipol Airport
Nearest train station: Zaandam central station (start) and Kampen Zuid station (finish)
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
Reviews
- ★★★★★ MMDJ
The BEST of Holland
From the moment we met Peter, we knew that our tour would be wonderful. Everything from the bikes to the GPS to the planning was top-notch. Both two 50-somethings and two teenagers had a tremendous time being outside during the day (taking scenic routes) and in wonderful towns and hotels at night. Truly a great trip! Note that the cycling is a little bit strenuous...not bad, but not nothing, either!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8/18/19
- How many tours have you completed?
- A couple
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ kellyandvicky
Well-planned tour that showed the best of Holland!
We had a wonderful trip through the northern coastal areas of Holland; the route was perfect and the hotels were excellent. More specific to our situation: our children (3 and 5) got a little bored after too much time on the bike, but that is not a fault of the tour operators. I suspect that we are in the minority in terms of age range?
Having said that, we had a wonderful time and experienced so many things that we know our children (and us!) will remember throughout our lives. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, comfortable accommodations, and the amazing cycling experience that is Holland. I would recommend doing this tour in combination with 1-2 full days in the larger cities so that you get the experience of the smaller towns (and daily life in Holland) in combination with the excitement and sights of the metropolitan areas.
Specific to cycling: the itinerary and cycling routes were perfect; the tour operators have clearly researched the best paths to take through the country. Coming from the chaotic mess of cycling in America, we were very happy to ride with our children along the suggested routes.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ like2bike
Outstanding Tour Operator, Lovely trip in the Netherlands
We have been on around 8 bike trips and speaking from experience, Tulip Cycling is top notch/one of the best, if not the best. Peter provided all that was needed for an excellent adventure. Peter was friendly, positive, and he was meticulous in ensuring that the cyclists have a positive experience. He takes care of each group of cyclists, on an individual basis, so that each group gets the attention that they need to operate the Garmin device.
Positives:
* GPS/Garmin navigation, so you can simply rely on the Garmin to direct you. This is very useful, since there are so many opportunities to turn the wrong way in the Netherlands. Using a Garmin made a huge difference.* Detailed maps in case you get lost (we didn't).
* Ability to contact tour operator any time. Individualized service, including an interview at the end of the trip.
* Bikes were excellent, well maintained, locks worked well, breakdown assistance was available.
* We got really bad colds/bronchitis on day 3 of the trip, and we couldn't bike for the rest of the trip. But the trip wasn't over--we took buses and trains to get to each hotel, which worked out well. Peter brought our bikes to each hotel, in case we might want to use them. Incredible extra service!
* Hotels were excellent, and they were at or near the town centers. This is an important point--many other tour operators book top notch hotels outside of town. Being at the center of town, you can easily explore the town and select a suitable place for dinner. Also, most of the hotels had charm/grandeur and many were high end establishments. They were each unique and were not mainstream establishments.
* This tour is excellent. The tour takes you to small charming villages/cities in the Netherlands, heading north of Amsterdam. This is an excellent tour if you want to avoid large cities and traffic. The charming towns and villages were each unique and there was much to see and explore. A lovely trip, we would highly recommend this tour. The route was flat and landscapes were nice. The route was designed well to avoid traffic.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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