Castles and walled towns

In the Middle Ages a treaty existed among many trading towns that were located nearby waterways. On this cycle tour through the eastern part of the Netherlands you will visit several of these so-called Hanseatic towns. In the vicinity you will find lots of grand castles and estates often situated in pretty nature areas.

You leave Amsterdam by barge and head for Wijk bij Duurstede, a fortified town founded in the year 1500 bC. You visit National Park De Hoge Veluwe and the Kröller Müller Museum, which owes a fine collection of Van Gogh paintings. From Arnhem you pass castle Rosendael and follow the river IJssel through Doesburg in the direction of hanseatic town Zuthpen. Your cycle tour takes you through the typical rural villages like Lochem and you make a stop for a visit to Mansion Verwolde. In Deventer you leave the barge and pedal on the banks of the river IJssel to the hanseatic town of Kampen. An evening walk through the historical centre shows you lots of monumental buildings.

After a sailing trip on the lakes between the new and the old land you leave the barge in the hanseatic town of Harderwijk. A roundtrip by bike leads through the moorlands and the forestries that surround this lively town. Spakenburg is a former fishing village that values religious traditions. The costumes you see here are typical for this village and the surrounding area. Through the attractive port town of Muiden you cycle back to Amsterdam.

In the evening you can see and experience the glory and history of Amsterdam by making a roundtrip of the canals.

Schedule
- subject to changes -

Saturday day 1: Individual arrival cycle ride 15 km/9 miles
After the embarkation in Amsterdam you’ll be sailing the Amsterdam-Rijn Kanaal to Wijk bij Duurstede, the stop for the night. In the evening there’s a short ‘warming-up’ cycle trip in the vicinity which passes the castles Zandenburg and Walenburg.

Sunday day 2: cycle ride ± 50 km/31 miles
The barge sails the river Nederrijn to the locks near the village Heveadorp, where the cyclists disembark to start their cycle trip. You will cycle to National Park ‘De Hoge Veluwe’ . In this park you will find the museum Kröller-Müller, where you’ll find a fantastic exhibition of Vincent van Gogh paintings. A visit to the famous sculpture garden is also very worthwhile. The cycle trip ends in Arnhem, where the ship is moored in the river Nederrijn.

Monday day 3: cycle trip ± 50 km/31 miles
Today you will cycle past castle Rosendael to the ferry near Rheden. The ferry takes you across the river IJssel and the trip continues through the villages Doesburg and Brummen to the hanseatic walled town of Zutphen, situated at the river IJssel.

Tuesday day 4: cycle trip ± 60 km/38 miles
While the barge stays in Zutphen, you will make a roundtrip. You pass castle Vorden and the rural communiy of Lochem. After a visit to Mansion Verwolde you follow the Twente Kanaal back to Zutphen. Alternatively you may wish to spend a day shopping and/or go visiting musea in Zutphen. The Stedelijk Museum has an interesting cultural-historical collection that creates a telling image of Zutphen and its surroundings.

Wednesday day 5: cycle trip ± 60 km/38 miles
Today you sail by barge to the hanseatic town of Deventer, where the cyclists disembark. Enjoy the picturesque landscapes while following the river IJssel to Diepenveen, castle Oude Rande and the rural estate Hoenderloo. Through the village of Windesheim the trip ends in Kampen, a historic hanseatic town.

Thursday day 6: cycle trip ± 30 km/19 miles
Today’s motto is ‘relaxing aboard’ as there’s a 4 hrs sailing trip to Harderwijk, where you’ll stay for the night. In the afternoon there’s a cycle trip through the rural area around Harderwijk.

Friday day 7: cycle trip ± 60 km/38 miles
By barge you will sail to Spakenburg today. After the disembarkation you will cycle to Spakenburg, a former fisherman's village which is still famous for the traditional costumes. Via a lake area called Ankeveense Plassen you cycle to the attractive port town of Muiden. You continue cycling to your hotel barge right in the centre of Amsterdam. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk through the centre or you may (on your own account) go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals by touring boat.

Saturday day 8: End of trip or extension
After breakfast you say good bye to your tourleader and the crew say. Your bike & barge holiday has come to an end.

WHAT´S INCLUDED IN THE TRIP:

Price per person	Euro 649 in a double cabin, Euro 145 single supplement. Please ask for availabilty. 1/2 room may be booked sharing with another participant.
Calendar 2012	June: 16th - 30th July: 21st - 28th August: 11th Early bookings recommended
Days/nights	8 days/7 nights
Included services	Stay aboard (8 days/7 nights) w/toilet and shower Full-board (breakfast+packed lunch + 3-courses dinner) Map with marked route. Information package. Tourleader. Visit Mansion Verwolde. Visit National Park Hoge Veluwe. Visit Kröller Müller Museum (exhibition van Gogh). Several city walks. Bicycle with gears and pannier. Compensation Bicycle damage.
Additional expenses	Journey there and back. Drinks aboard. Excursions out of program
Discounts	Additional person (adults only) in 3 or 4 person cabin: -18% Child sharing cabin w/2 full paying adults, age 0-3yr: -60% age 4-11 years: -30 %