Bike & Barge Tour in Northern Holland

During this fascinating cycling cruise, you will discover the best of what the beautiful Provinces of North-Holland and Friesland offer. Explore flat “polder” landscapes – a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments – the North Sea coast, towering sand dunes, long sandy beaches, historic windmills, the island of Texel and the many picturesque harbour towns along the coast of IJsselmeer Lake. It is without a doubt a tour not to be missed! Nowhere else in the world will you find an area as fascinating as the Dutch Provinces of North Holland and Friesland, two areas rich in tradition.

Over the course of your week, you will be able to discover typical Dutch culture and cycle through a flat “polder land”, extensively reclaimed over the centuries from the North Sea and the former Southern Sea (now IJsselmeer). What you will soon realize is the truth behind the proverb “God created the earth but the Dutch made Holland”, such has been the extent of land reclamation in the region you will be cycling through. Since the 17th century in an effort to save disappearing land from encroaching water, protective dikes have been built, low lying land has been pumped dry and tidal dams have been created in creeks to prevent flooding, with the result that today’s green flat polder landscape is full of agricultural enterprise.

Given the Dutch love for cycling, the region is crisscrossed with many quiet cycle tracks that stretch from one end of the region to the other. You will be amazed by the beauty of the North Sea beaches, the towering sand dunes – who said there were no hills in Holland! – the extremely bicycle-friendly island of Texel, the beautiful flat landscapes, small dreamlike farm villages and romantic picturesque harbour villages. During the second part of the tour, you will cross the large lake IJsselmeer to Stavoren in the Province of Friesland. Other highlights during your week tour include the open-air museum “Zaanse Schans”, the historic city centre of Alkmaar and the old harbour cities of Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam, the islands of Texel and Marken and – of course – Amsterdam with its beautiful canals.

Your Accommodation:

Your ship is the youngest member of the “family”. The comfortable ship was completely renovated and converted in 2017/2018. There are two tour leaders on board during the tours with this ship. The ship was used for cycling cruises for several years on the Danube river. Look forward to meeting nice people, riding beautiful bike tours and spending pleasant hours on board. In the salon / bar with large panoramic windows on the upper deck, you can review the day’s experiences in a pleasant way while enjoying a beer or a glass of wine. Your physical well-being is taken care of in the tastefully furnished and air-conditioned restaurant on the lower deck. The spacious and partly covered sundeck offers space to let the landscape pass comfortably in a deck chair. The bicycles are stored on the rear part of the sun deck.

All cabins are ‘outside cabins’ that are equipped with two single beds, TV, mini safe and individually controlled air conditioning. Each cabin has a bathroom with shower, toilet and hairdryer.

Upper deck: There are 8 suites (approx. 15 m² / 161 sq.ft) with a French balcony and opening floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, two single beds, set together as a queen size bed and a small seating area.
On the upper deck there are also 13 twin cabins (approx. 10 m² / 108 sq.ft) with two separate single beds; 1 double cabin (approx. 10 m² / 108 sq.ft) with a double bed (140×200 cm) and 2 single cabins (approx. 7 – 8 m² / 75.35 – 86.11 sq.ft). The cabins on the upper deck have a panoramic window that can be opened.

Lower deck: There are 25 twin cabins with two separate single beds and a large window with an upper hinged window that can be opened for ventilation.

Included in the Bike and Barge Tour:

• 8 days/7 nights
• 7x Breakfast
• Packed lunches
• 7 x 3-course dinners
• Coffee and tea on board till 4pm
• Welcome drink
• Use of bed linen and towels
• Daily cleaning of the cabin
• Climate-controlled cabin
• Daily briefings
• Semi-guided cycling tours (guest cycle independently, tour leader also cycles the tour)
• Some short walking tours
• Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
• GPS tracks
• Use of a waterproof pannier bag
• Ferry ticket to Texel 
• Wi-Fi available in restaurant - data use not included
• Live music on board

Not included in the tour:

• Coffee and tea on board after 4pm
• Drinks
• Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
• Helmet rental (10 EUR)
• Bike insurance (14-28 EUR)
• Personal insurances
• Gratuities (at your discretion)
• Entrance fees and excursions 
• Fees for ferries (except for Texel)
• Transfers to/from the docking place
• Parking fees
• SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person)

Notes:

• Twin Upper Deck Cabins (FROM 1049 EUR p.p) or Suite Upper Deck Cabins (FROM 1299 EUR p.p), are available on request!
• If you are a single traveller, please enquire for upper deck cabin upgrades! (FROM 1419 EUR)
• All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
• A knowledgeable and multilingual tour leader is available onboard. He/she will provide you with all necessary tour information during daily briefings. You  will cycle the tours independently, at your own pace, with the help of a detailed cycling map, GPS-tracks and printed route notes (available onboard).
• The tour leader will also be cycling the daily tours and can – for assistance – be reached on his/her mobile phone in cases of emergency or technical breakdown of the bicycle.
• During days when several bicycle options are possible, not all mentioned highlights can be visited during the shorter cycling options.
• If you don’t feel like cycling for a day (or more) you are welcome to relax and onboard while the ship is sailing. But please note: lunch will not be served on board. So you can enjoy your packed lunch.  

Arrival/parking/departure:

• Parking in Amsterdam (valet parking): prices and pre-booking on request.

If you would like to rent a bike (91 EUR), E-bike (245 EUR), please contact our office when booking: [email protected]

(2026 PRICES) If you would like to rent a bike (91 EUR), E-bike (252 EUR), please contact our office when booking: [email protected]

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