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Heart of Tulips 9-day Deluxe Bike & Barge Tour (MAGX)
Experience the Netherlands in bloom on this deluxe 9-day bike and boat journey, combining scenic cycling, rich Dutch heritage, and the exceptional comfort on your deluxe barge. Designed for travelers who appreciate active vacations as much as refined relaxation, this springtime tour brings together flower-filled landscapes, historic towns, and classic waterside scenery in one beautifully paced itinerary.
Your journey begins with a comfortable arrival in Amsterdam, where you’ll enjoy an overnight hotel stay before boarding the ship. From there, each day reveals a different side of Holland in the spring: the windmills of Zaanse Schans, the timeless charm of Alkmaar and Haarlem, the world-famous Keukenhof gardens, and quieter, more exclusive places such as Hortus Bulborum, where rare and historic flower bulbs are preserved, far from the usual crowds. Along the way, you’ll cycle at a relaxed pace, with several days offering a choice of shorter or longer routes.
This tour has a carefully balanced rhythm of cycling, cruising, sightseeing, and time to relax. It is designed to feel active, but never rushed and also easy. An important part of that comfort is the support van, which accompanies the cycling program. Along the way, it serves picnic lunches and refreshments in on selected days, adding an extra layer of ease and care to the journey. It also offers flexibility for guests who prefer not to complete the full cycling route on a given day. That means you can enjoy each ride with more peace of mind, knowing that extra support is always nearby. Together, these thoughtful details make this a refined and deeply enjoyable way to experience the Netherlands in the spring.
Step aboard the newest and most refined superior class ship — a vessel that reimagines what it means to travel Europe by water. Designed exclusively, this all-suite ship invites you into a world of serene luxury, understated elegance, and impeccable personal service. With space for just 32 guests, the experience on board is intimate, peaceful, and entirely personal. Far from the bustling “highways” of conventional river cruising, the barge travels along secluded waterways and hidden river routes, offering guests a more personal, off-the-beaten-path journey through Europe’s countryside.
Each of the 16 suites is a private retreat, combining elegant design with modern comforts. No matter which deck you choose, your suite offers the ambiance of a boutique hotel with ever-changing riverside views. All suites are air-conditioned, with the temperature easily adjustable to your personal preference. For added convenience, there is a TV for in-suite entertainment, and a mini safe for your personal belongings.
If you would like a Premium Hybrid bike (154 EUR) or E-Bike (287 EUR), please enquire at [email protected] when booking
Slow Tours offers a range of Tulip Tours Netherlands
Arrival in Amsterdam: Welcome to Holland
Upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Amsterdam, where your spring journey can begin at a relaxed pace. After check-in, there's time to settle in before an informal gathering to meet your fellow travelers. In the evening, enjoy a hosted welcome dinner: a perfect introduction to the days ahead.
Meals included: dinner
A gentle start through Waterland: Amsterdam to Zaandam 30km
After breakfast, your luggage will be collected and transferred directly to the ship, allowing you to begin the day comfortably and worry-free. Following a bike-safety talk and bike fitting in front of the hotel, you'll set out on your first ride through the peaceful Waterland region toward Broek in Waterland. Along the way, enjoy a picnic lunch served from the support van in a scenic setting near a village church. In the afternoon, you'll board your floating home for the week, where you'll be warmly welcomed by the captain and crew. As the barge begins its first cruise toward Zaandam, there'll be time to settle into your suite and ease into the rhythm of life on board. In the evening, enjoy a walk through Zaandam’s historic harbor area, where the atmosphere of old Holland still lingers along the waterfront.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Windmills, flowers & Dutch heritage: Zaandam to Alkmaar 39km or 50km
This morning’s ride begins with one of Holland’s quintessential sights: Zaanse Schans, where traditional windmills, workshops, and houses create a vivid picture of Dutch heritage. Unlike a museum village, Zaanse Schans is still actively lived in, which gives it a wonderfully authentic atmosphere. From here, continue cycling north through the countryside toward Hortus Bulborum, a unique historical garden dedicated to preserving rare and traditional bulb varieties. Thousands of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other spring flowers grow here each year.
The day ends in Alkmaar, the celebrated Dutch cheese town, where canals, gabled houses, and beautifully preserved streets create one of the loveliest historic centers in the Netherlands. This evening is yours to enjoy in town, with dinner at your own cost.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Cheese market and dune landscapes: Alkmaar to Haarlem 50km
Rise early for a special visit to the famous Alkmaar cheese market before it opens, when the market square is still being prepared and the day’s historic ritual is just beginning to take shape. It's a wonderful opportunity to experience this famous Dutch tradition in a more intimate and authentic way. Later, cycle south toward Haarlem through the sweeping landscapes of the Noordhollands Duinreservaat, where dunes, open skies, and coastal scenery offer a striking contrast to the flower-filled countryside of previous days. Along the way, you might nevertheless notice colorful bulb fields beginning to appear in the landscape.
By day’s end, you'll arrive in Haarlem, one of the Netherlands’ most elegant historic towns. Its lively Grote Markt (main square), handsome facades, and the magnificent St. Bavo Church make it a delight to explore. With the ship moored close to the city center, there'll be time for a stroll through town in the late afternoon or evening.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
A celebration of spring: Haarlem to Haarlem 47km
Today is devoted to one of the best-known spring highlights in the Netherlands: Keukenhof, widely regarded as the world’s most famous flower park. Cycling through the surrounding bulb-growing region, you'll be immersed in a landscape of vivid color before arriving at the gardens themselves, where millions of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other spring flowers are displayed in spectacular form. Winding paths, tranquil ponds, elegant pavilions, and beautifully designed garden rooms reveal the Dutch love of flowers from one captivating perspective to the next. After taking time to enjoy Keukenhof at leisure, continue by bike through the flower fields of the surrounding countryside before returning to Haarlem, where the barge awaits, and enjoy another restful evening on board.
Meals included: breakfast
From flower trade to open water: Haarlem to Zaandam | cruise to Hoorn 30km
This morning begins early with a coach transfer to Aalsmeer for a visit to the world’s largest flower auction, where the extraordinary scale and precision of Dutch floriculture come vividly to life. After returning to the ship, breakfast is served on board before you begin the day’s ride toward Zaandam, passing through places such as Spaarndam, a charming village just outside Haarlem. Then, you'll rejoin the ship and begin a scenic cruise toward Hoorn across the IJsselmeer. As you sail, you'll pass the landmark Paard van Marken lighthouse. During the cruise, your tour leader will give an onboard lecture about the landscapes, history, and culture of the region.
In the evening, enjoy a small boat tour through the historic center of Hoorn: a memorable way to experience this former trading town from the water.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Tulip country and historic harbors: Hoorn to Volendam | cruise to Huizen 25km or 55km
Today’s cycling route takes you into the northern tulip-growing region, where flower fields may appear in surprising places depending on the season’s planting cycle. Because tulips are rotated from field to field, each departure has the excitement of discovering where the colors are at their best. In the afternoon, you'll continue toward Volendam, one of the Netherlands’ best-known harbor towns, where the ship awaits to welcome you back on board. From here, you'll enjoy a sailing dinner as the Magnifique X cruises on to Huizen, bringing together the pleasures of cycling, scenery, and relaxed cruising in one elegant day's experience.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Fortified towns and a grand finale: Huizen to Amsterdam 35km or 49km
Your final day's ride leads from Huizen toward two of the most charming fortified towns in the country. First comes Naarden, renowned for its remarkable star-shaped defenses, followed by Muiden, whose atmospheric harbor and historic castle lend the town a timeless appeal. From Muiden, continue along quiet roads toward Amsterdam, where your tulip journey comes full circle. Returning to the capital by bike is a fitting end to a week of spring flowers, historic towns, scenic waterways, and life aboard the Magnifique X. In the evening, gather one last time on board for a farewell dinner, celebrating a memorable journey through Holland in bloom.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Departure from Amsterdam – Farewell to Holland
After breakfast, it's time to say farewell. A transfer is included to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Meals included: breakfast
Tours marked with are special prices.
| Start | End | Max. No. Guests | Accommodation | Price p.p. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30 2027 | Apr 07 2027 | 32 | Single rooms | 0€ | ||
| Double rooms | 3,199€ | |||||
| Apr 20 2027 | Apr 28 2027 | 32 | Single rooms | 0€ | ||
| Double rooms | 0€ | |||||
| Apr 27 2027 | May 05 2027 | 32 | Single rooms | 0€ | ||
| Double rooms | 0€ |
If you would like to drive yourself before or after your tour, ask us for a quote on any brand new Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicle for driving in Europe.
Pick up your vehicle from most capital cities in Europe and return it to your drop off destination. Top insurance cover. Email [email protected] for a competitive quote
Wander the World Without Worry
Local language barriers. Lost passport. Unexpected medical expenses. Sometimes, our trips don’t go as planned. That’s why Slow Tours Pty Ltd wants you to have the most robust travel advisory and protection for your vacation.
Ask us for a quote [email protected]
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