Day 1: Arrival to Amsterdam | Cruise to Volendam and test ride of bikes (6 miles/10 km)
Your week of sailing and cycling starts in Amsterdam. The crew welcomes you on board at 2:00pm. Once all guests have checked in, the ship sails under motor to Volendam. From the port of one of these former fishing villages, a short warm-up ride leads you through the rural nature reserve of Waterland with its many villages.
Overnight in Volendam.
Day 2: Cycle Volendam loop | Cruise Volendam – Hoorn (22 miles/36 km or 31 miles/51 km)
A very Dutch start of the day: you cycle to a nearby, family-run cheese and clog shop for a short demonstration of cheese and clog making, and of course a cheese tasting. Continue pedaling along the dikes to Purmerend, in the heart of a polder named De Beemster, 11½ feet (3.5 meters) below sea level. It was created more than 400 years ago, when the Dutch transformed an inland lake into pasture land. Divided into a tight geometric pattern of squares and quadrants, it is recognized by UNESCO as “a creative masterpiece.”
Your next destination is Edam, a lovely town whose lanes and canals deserve a stroll. Edam is known worldwide for its cheese covered in red or yellow wax. This practical solution keeps the cheese fresh for a long time, so 17th-century sailors could take it on their voyages or trade it for spices and other riches of the East.
Via the main dike of the IJsselmeer you arrive at the promenade of Volendam, where the ship is docked. You will have some time on your own to check out the souvenir shops. After dinner, let the historical city center lure you into a digestive walk. Later in the evening, the ship sails to Hoorn.
Overnight in Hoorn.
Day 3: Hoorn – Enkhuizen (16 miles/26 km or 27 miles/44 km)
Through small rural hamlets and villages, today’s ride brings you to Enkhuizen. Pass by windmill De Krijgsman (The Warrior), the highest windmill in the province of North-Holland and one of a handful of old Dutch windmills still in use to produce flour commercially. The area is also known for its many greenhouses, where vegetables are grown.
In the 17th century, Enkhuizen was one of the wealthiest cities in Holland, thanks to its harbor that shipped then-costly spices from Asia. Be astonished by the stately mansions, canals, churches and city walls that to this day reflect the city’s rich history and wealth.
Overnight in Enkhuizen.
Day 4: Cruise Enkhuizen – Stavoren | Cycle Stavoren loop (15 miles/25 km or 23 miles/37 km)
Weather permitting, we sail across the IJsselmeer to the port of Stavoren in Friesland (approximately 4 hours). On board, you can help the captain sail the ship if you wish. Or you can simply sit back on deck and enjoy the invigorating journey while keeping watch for marine birdlife.
Upon arrival, a bike tour is planned that first takes you to Hindeloopen, a picturesque and lively fishing village. From there you go to Workum, home to the Jopie Huisman Museum. This museum is dedicated to the work and life of the Frisian realist painter Jopie Huisman, whose work is very much loved by the Dutch.
Overnight in Stavoren.
Day 5: Stavoren – Lemmer (20 miles/33km or 25 miles/40 km)
Following the dike along the IJsselmeer we arrive in Gaasterland, renowned for its sandy heights that are over 32.8 feet (10 meters) high. The name Gaasterland derives from gaasten, the Frisian word for these elliptically shaped heights. They were formed during the Ice Age, when boulder clay from Scandinavia was deposited on this terrain.
Leaving the dike, you enter the Rijsterbos, a 300-year-old forest. Through this wooded area you ride to the town of Balk and along the tree-lined river Luts, that flows through the center of town. Shortly afterward, you’ll arrive at the fortress city of Sloten. With less than 800 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest cities in The Netherlands. Take the time to leisurely wander the narrow streets, to relax and to find a spot for a lunch on your own.
The last stretch of today’s tour brings you to the fishing port of Lemmer, where the ship moors for the night. Dinner will be served on board. An after-dinner stroll into town is definitely worth your while.
Overnight in Lemmer.
Day 6: Cruise Lemmer – Urk | Cycle Urk loop (15 miles/25 km)
In the morning we sail across the IJsselmeer to the port of Urk. On board, you can help the captain sail the ship if you wish. Or you can simply sit back on deck and enjoy the invigorating journey while keeping watch for marine bird life. In Urk you may stroll through the narrow streets and alleys. The houses in this picturesque fishing village were built close to one another on elevated grounds to protect them against the water, and that is still visible today.
In the afternoon a short optional bike optional bike ride is planned through the Northeast polder (Noordoostpolder).
Overnight in Urk.
Day 7: Cruise Urk – Lelystad | Cycle Lelystad – Blocq van Kuffeler | Cruise Blocq van Kuffeler – Amsterdam (12 miles/20 km or 24 miles/39 km)
After breakfast, you’ll disembark for your last half-day of cycling. You’ll ride through the Oostvaardersplassen—a nature reserve on new land left to find its own balance like nature did in old times on old land. Sections of the ride wind through forested areas, while others give you panoramic views of expansive reed beds and marshes. This is a birdwatchers’ paradise.
The ship picks you up in the small harbor of Oostvaardersdiep for the return voyage to Amsterdam. Celebrate this marvelous week around the Ijsselmeer while having a farewell dinner aboard the ship.
Overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast: End of the tour and disembarkation by 9:30am.