Explore the rich tradition in the flat "polder-land", along the North Sea coast and in romantic fishing villages. You will cycle across a distinctly rural, former lake and marsh land. Since the 17th Century, this area has been reclaimed from the sea, in ancient times by pumping it dry with windmills. Green polder-landscapes with quiet cycle tracks, the stretching North Sea beach and the beautiful sand dunes will alternate each other. For many guests, one of the highlights on this tour is the extremely bike friendly island Texel. Beautiful flat landscapes, small dreamlike farm villages and picturesque harbor villages along the Ijsselmeer, with an ancient history, will dominate the second part of the tour. Other highlights are amoung others the open air museum "Zaanse Schans", the city centre of Alkmaar and the old harbour cities Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam. This (and much more) is what the rural, through nature molded Northern tour offers. 

The medium-sized river cruiser has 31 cabins and accommodation for approx. 60 guests. The cruiser has mainly twin cabins with 2 single beds (next to each other), all cabins with window (the windows on the upper deck can be opened, but for safety reasons those on the lower deck are fixed) and en-suite, private bathroom with shower + toilet and a climate control and ventilation system;  21 cabins on lower deck, 10 cabins on upper (top) deck (supplement). A limited number of triple / quadruple / single cabins is available on request. On upper deck: a cosy, combined salon-restaurant with a bar and an information- + check-in-desk. The spacious, partially roofed sun deck offers sitting places to passengers and storage room for the bicycles. 

Additional Information

Dates Season 2011 Southern Tour:
Early Season: departure dates April 23 and 30
Late Season: departure dates September 10
Main Season: all other departure dates, weekly from May 7 up to and incl. September 3

Rental bicycle: 55,00 EUR per week.  

The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring or trekking bikes with light-weight frames and normal mount (ladies model), with 7 gears, hand brakes & hub brake and pannier bag. Prices of other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children's bikes, "slip stramers", tandems, parent-and-child tandems etc.) and child's saddles (front or rear) are on request.
Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at not extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles.
In the Netherlands, bikes are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. Bike helmets are not available on board.

Departure location: Amsterdam (center) Oosterdok

Departure time: 14:00

Duration: 1 week

Please note:

We advise you to book this tour at least a couple of months in advance.

When booking online, you pay a deposit of 20% directly and after confirming availability we will contact you with the invoice for the remaining 80%.

To book this tour, please click on the calendar on the right. 

Day 1 (Sat):  Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam Evening: Amsterdam - Zaandam Afternoon: as from 2 PM embarkation in Amsterdam (centre). Explore downtown Amsterdam: time for shopping, to visit a museum or to make a canal tour (reduced tickets available on board): this is an unique way to see the capital of Holland from another side. Approx. 06:30 PM: short "dinner cruise" to Zaandam.

Day 2 (Sun): Zaandam - "Zaanse Schans" - Alkmaar ca. 50 km / 31 miles A visit of the open air museum "Zaanse Schans" with a.o. traditional wooden houses, windmills, cheese and wooden shoe ("clog") manufacture is recommended. Evening in Alkmaar.

Day 3 (Mon): Alkmaar -  St.Maartensvlotbrug - Den Helder    ca. 40-60 km / 25-37,5miles** Evening: Den Helder - Oudeschild (island of Texel) Bicycle tour from Alkmaar via artist village Bergen to the North Sea. Along the beach, through the dunes and the flat "polder- and coast land" to the naval port of Den Helder. Evening: Cross the Marsdiep with your ship to the harbour Oudeschild on the island of Texel (depending on weather conditions: also possible on Tuesday morning, or by ferry, not included).

Day 4 (Tue): Island of Texel: Oudeschild - Oudeschild ca. 10 -> 65 km / 6,25 -> 41 miles** Round trip on the largest of Dutch islands, Texel. Through beautiful natural areas with the possibility to have a break on the most beautiful beaches. Recommended: pay a visit to the seal sanctuary "Ecomare" and/or cycle the beautiful "Thijsse-route" (with signposting, approx. 40 km/25 miles) through picturesque villages and landscapes.

Day 5 (Wed): Morning: Oudeschild - Den Oever - Medemblik (or on Tue. evening) Medemblik - Enkhuizen   ca. 30-50 km / 19-31 miles** Bike tour from Medemblik through the inlands or along the IJsselmeer (former "Zuiderzee") coast to Enkhuizen: beautiful harbour, historical town and the very interesting "Zuiderzeemuseum".

Day 6 (Thu): Enkhuizen - Hoorn - Volendam     ca. 50 km / 31 miles  Bike tour via Hoorn (short visit of the beautiful historical town) and "cheese town" of Edam to the old fishing harbour of Volendam: taste the famous smoked eel "paling" or salted herring.

Day 7 (Fri): Volendam - Amsterdam     ca. 35-50 km / 22-31 miles**Through the beautiful "Waterland" area with its hundreds of small lakes and canals, if you wish with a de-tour to the former island of Marken, through the "Garden of Amsterdam". Afternoon and evening in Amsterdam. If you didn't go for a canal tour on the first day, you will have the opportunity to do it today.

Day 8 (Sat): Amsterdam After breakfast: disembarkation and end of tour.

DETAILS NORTHERN TOUR:

Barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons **: Both possibilities are being offered: the guest can choose. All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bicycle tours.

Bold printed parts in italics will be covered  by ship. 

Things To Bring

- Photo / Video Camera  

- Printed Voucher 

Inclusions

- 8 days / 7 nights (Sat-Sat), from/to Amsterdam, Northern Tour;
- Accommodation: Twin cabin with at least 1 window and climate control and ventilation system, shower + toilet, central heating; use of bed sheets, duvets and towels (change of towels on request), light cleaning of cabin during tour; salon with restaurant/lounge and bar; partially roofed sun deck with tables + chairs
- Full board: 7 x (tasty Dutch bikers') breakfast buffet on board; 7 x three-course dinner on board; 6 x packed picnic lunch for bike tours; daily coffee and tea till 4 PM; diet and special wished on request.
- Welcoming drink and -speech on the first evening
- Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours,
- Use of printed instructions and detailed maps for bike tours

Exclusions

- Surcharge cabin upper deck (if booked and pending availability: 70,00 EUR p.pers.)
- Transfers to/from place of (dis)embarkation in Amsterdam / other transfers
- Parking fee
- Rental of bicycle (optional: 55,00 EUR per week for 7-speed leight-weight bicycle)
- Entrance fees & excursions, fees for ferries
- Drinks on board, personal insurances, gratuities (at your discretion).

Cancellation Policy

In the event of cancellation by the Customer, the following percentages shall be due:
- More than 84 days prior to sailing 10%
- (incl.) 84 to 42 days prior to sailing 30%
- (incl.) 42 to 28 days prior to sailing 60%
- (incl. 28 to (incl.) 1 day(s) prior to sailing 90%
- Day of embarkation (no show) or later 100%
Cancellation costs in % of the tour price (agreement).

Cancellation must be made by fax, with receipt to be confirmed by Supplier, or by registered mail. The date of cancellation shall be the date of receipt by the Supplier.

Departs

On Saturdays April 21, April 28, May 05, May 12, May 19, May 26, June 02, June 09, June 16, June 23, June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, August 04, August 11, August 18, August 25, Sept. 01 and Sept. 08, 2012.

Pickup/Departure

Amsterdam (Center), Oosterdok


Any questions? Please contact us: phone number: +31(0)299 411111

Drop-Off

Same as above.

Additional Locations

Zaandam, Netherlands
Alkmaar, Netherlands
Medemblik, Netherlands
Volendam, Netherlands