Your own 8-day Tulip Tour Houseboat Holiday 

Boat for 2 x guests in double cabin with ensuite. (space for 2 x guests sleeping in living area)

Famous for its windmills, cheese, tulips and of course, canals, the Netherlands is the perfect destination for enjoing a boating holiday! Captain a boat and discover picturesque towns and villages, art and history museums and the stunning Natura 2000 listed national park. Natural waters are great for swimming and of course bikes on board mean that you can enjoy the national pastime of cycling!

Kerkdriel is a great location to have a boat base, as in addition to the warers being calm and ideal for beginners to boating, they are also perfect for swimming and fishing. Surrounding the waterways is beautiful flora and fauna inlcuding the 'De Biesbosch' national park which is one of the largest found in the Netherlands. It is recognised as a wetland of international importance and is listed as a Natura 2000 area by the EU Habitat and Birds Directives.

The town of Gouda is famous for its tasty cheese but even if you don't like cheese, we recommend a visit to explore the charming old town with the Sint-Jans church, famous for its impressive stained glass windows, also the markets and bustling streets.

One of the many cruising routes on offer from Kerkdriel will lead you and your crew to Leiden, where you can take your bikes and in an hour's bike ride, be at the famous Keukenhof Bulb Gardens. Cruise to Montfoort and leave your houseboat there for collection instead of returning to Kerkdriel (150 EUR one-way charge)

Included in your houseboat holiday:

• Your boat for 8 x days (Saturday to Saturday or any other day except Sunday, subject to availability) excellent well-crafted boat with a capacity of 2 guests. Departure is between 3-6pm Saturdays; return your boat between 8-9am the following Saturday. For other possibilities of extended days, shorter breaks and weekends - please contact our office: [email protected] 
• Captain's handbook: preparation and advice for a trouble free cruise from start to finish
• Navigation chart/waterways guide: vital for a well-organised cruise. In it you will find the location of locks, water fill-up points, places of interest etc. 
• Base location map: instructions for locating your departure base easily
• Navigation instruction: video giving advice for the navigation and security instructions to live aboard your cruiser.
• Boat equipment, all equipment necessary for navigation
• Boat insurance
• Instructions on navigating the waterways and your temporary boat licence
• Breakdown assistance available 7 days per week during base operating hours
• Inventory: a list of all interior and exterior equipment
• Crockery etc. enough for everybody on board
• Bedding: sheets, blankets or duvets, pillows and pillow cases
• Hotel package: Cleaning price, Set of towels for each passenger, Kitchen towels kit

Not included:

• Boat fuel: you start with a full tank (All consumables such as oil, fuel, gas etc. used are included in your charge. All cruisers are fitted with a meter which is read on your departure and on your return. The number of hours of engine fuel used will be invoiced according to the rate displayed at the base. On average between 30-60 EUR per day.)
• A bond of 1000 EUR (repaid to you at the end of your cruise if the boat and its equipment are brought back clean, in good condition and undamaged, at the time and place agreed on)
• Barbecue rental: 40 EUR
• Power converter rental 12/220v: 10 EUR
• Wifi on board: 50 EUR
• Deck mattress: 10 EUR each: comfortable and foldable mattress for relaxing on theroof or front deck of your boat
• One-way cruise: 150 EUR (collect houseboat at Kerkdriel, leave houseboat at Montfoort)
• A one hour navigation instruction is required in the Netherlands at a cost of 50 EUR to be paid at the time

• One-way cruise: from 150 EUR (not available in all regions, and charge is according to distance for recovery between the bases)
• Final cleaning (required) internal and external at end of cruise: outside 50 EUR, inside 100 EUR (total clean 150 EUR)

Option for 'all inclusive' package:

• Fuel package + cleaning price
• Waterways map
• Set of towels for each passenger
• Kitchen towels kit
• 2 x bikes
• May be collected and paid on arrival (from 430 EUR)

Please check with our office for availability of boats and for the dates you require: [email protected]

Price is calculated for 2 guests. Boat hire is 2 x individual price.

If you would like to go on your own to Keukenhof to see the famous tulip gardens, hire your houseboat during March, April or early May. Cruise to Leiden and take the bikes on board for an hour's ride to the gardens. Enjoy your day there and cruise to Montfoort to leave your houseboat there for collection. (one-way charge from 150 EUR).

Slow Tours offers a number of other Houseboat Holidays in Europe

Ask us about your houseboat hire: departures any day except Sunday; boats available from 2-10 guests; boats available in many parts of France, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary and Portugal: find the right boat and location for you at [email protected]

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