This itinerary roughly follows the coastline of the former Zuiderzee, now called IJsselmeer. Lively harbour towns with lots of traditional sailing boats and a variety of landscapes are the ingredients of this remarkable tour.

From the old Dutch harbour town of Hoorn you cycle across the polder landscape, so typical for this region, to Enkhuizen. Here you embark for to sail to Friesland. You pass lakes, waterways and canals before you arrive in Ossenzijl, situated in the heart of national reserve the Weerribben.

Cycling through this unique marshland you reach Blokzijl or Vollenhove, two small towns formerly located at the Zuiderzee.A roundtrip by ‘punter’ on the small canals of Giethoorn, the ‘Venice of the North’, is certainly worth a try!

From Zwartsluis, a ferry takes you to the other side of the Zwarte Water (Black Water). Cycling on top of the Kamper Zeedijk you reach the hanseatic town of Kampen. Passing the beautiful conserved fortified town of Elburg you cycle through the forestries before arriving in Harderwijk.

Spakenburg is a traditional village, where you can still find people wearing their traditional costumes. The cycle trip takes you through the exurb of Blaricum to the walled town of Naarden.

A roundtrip of the Amsterdam Canals migth be a nice closing of your holiday.

 

Schedule for the boat & bike trip
- subject to changes -

Saturday day 1: Individual arrival bicycling 15 km/9 miles
After your embarkation in Amsterdam, your boatel sails the IJ and through the locks to the IJssel Lake. The sailing trip to Hoorn takes about 4 hours. In the evening we will make a test ride in and around Hoorn.

Sunday day 2: cycle ride ± 30 km/19 miles
Today’s cycle trip leads through the Noordholland scenery and shows villages with names like Nibbixwoud and Hoogkarspel. In Enkhuizen we embark and make the crossing to Lemmer in the province of Friesland. In the evening your guide invites you for a walk through this characteristic port.

Monday day 3: cycle trip ± 35 km/22 miles
The province of Friesland is well-known for its numerous lakes and other waterways. That’s why today you’ll be passing some canals and a lake called ‘Tjeukemeer’.
Your cycle trip ends in the tiny village of Ossenzijl, on the edge of of National Park the Weerribben. We could certainly recommend to you to pay a visit to the visitor’s centre of this natural reserve which is unique for Europe. Following the Kalenberger canal, today’s cycle trip ends in Blokzijl/Vollenhove.

Tuesday day 4: cycle trip ± 40 km/25 miles
The barge stays in Blokzijl/Vollenhove and the cyclists paddle via Steenwijk to Giethoorn, also known as ‘the Venice of the North’. One of the possibilities here is renting a ‘punter’, the local boat, to make a trip. After leaving Giethoorn, we’ll pass the lake Beulaker Wijde and through Dwarsgracht we return in Blokzijl/Vollenhove.
As an alternative you could spend the day on your own and make a trip by canoe or by bike in the natural reserve the Weerribben.

Wednesday day 5: cycle trip ± 60 km/37 miles
Today we’ll pass the lakes Belter Wijde and Schutsloter Wijde on our way to Zwartsluis. In this lively town, situated on a crossing of waterways, you’ll find it nice to sit down on one of the many terraces. We’ll reach Genemuiden by ferry and cycle on top of the Kamper Zeedijk, an old dike, to the hanseatic town of Kampen. The ship will be moored at the river IJssel.

Thursday day 6: cycle trip ± 45 km/28 miles
Our first stop, a ‘must’, is in the splendidly preserved fortified town Elburg. After having passed Nunspeet, we enter the moorlands of Elspeet and the forestries around country estate Huis te Leuvenum. Finally we reach Harderwijk, a cosy port that is known for its dolphinarium.

Friday day 7: cycle trip ± 60 km/38 miles
The barge takes you to Spakenburg. This former fishermens village has a traditional harbour and is known for its traditional clothing still worn by lots of locals.
Next we’ll pass villadom Blaricum and cross the wood- and moorlands of the Tafelberg. After a short visit to 14th century Naarden-Vesting, a fortified town. Alongside the IJ-Lake and via Muiden you arrive back in Amsterdam. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk though the centre or you may (on your own account) go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals.

Saturday day 8: End of trip or extension
After breakfast your guide and the crew will say good-bye and your stay aboard has come to an end.



Itinerary for the self-guided hotel bike tour

Saturday day 1: Individual arrival in Hoorn
Arrival in the starting point, your hotel in Hoorn. In the evening you have your diner in a restaurant in the centre of Hoorn. After your diner in a monumental building from where you can see the traditional sailingships on the Havenhoofd.

Sunday day 2: cycle ride ± 35 km/22 miles
After breakfast you leave for your first real bike ride: along the coast line of the IJssel Lake you cycle to Enkhuizen, another splendid port from the rich Dutch past. From here you make the crossing by ferry to Stavoren in the Province of Friesland (± 80 minutes). From Stavoren it is a one hour bike ride to your next hotel in Rijs.

Monday day 3: cycle trip ± 45 km/28 miles
From Rijs, the cycle trip leads via Lemmer. From here you ride along The Tjeuke Lake and several tiny rural villages like Echtenerbrug to Ossenzijl. You’ll be staying overnight in hotel ‘De Kluft’ located in the National Park De Weerribben.

Tuesday day 4: cycle trip ± 40 km/25 miles
Just outside Ossenzijl, you cycle in to the national reserve ‘De Weerribben’. Via Steenwijk, the route leads to Giethoorn, ‘Venice of the North’. You can make a cruise on the canals with a 'punter' ( a traditional barge especially used on these small canals) or just make a strol in this fascinating village.
The next part of today’s trip leads straight across some huge lakes and ends in Zwartsluis, a nice little town situated at a crossroad of waterways.

Wednesday day 5: cycle trip ± 70 km/44 miles
You take a small ferry to Genemuiden and cycle to the hanseatic town of Kampen, a town full off monuments. After this town, the road leads to Elburg, a former fishing-town with a beautiful harbour. Your itinerary leads through heath land and forestries and finally ends in Harderwijk.

Thursday day 6: cycle trip ± 50 km/31 miles
At the beginning of today’s cycle ride there’s a huge area of woods and moorland, which you’ll be crossing till Nijkerk. You may wish to visit the local cheese farm or the steam pumping station and then head for your hotel in Eemnes.

Friday day 7: cycle trip ± 30 km/19 miles
Through Blaricum, a villadom, and the Tafelberg moorlands you arrive in Naarden-Vesting. This is one of the finest walled towns in the Netherlands. Following the pictoresque river Vecht, you reach the finish of your tour in Weesp. If you feel like visiting Amsterdam at night: it’s only ± 20 minutes by train!


Saturday day 8: End of trip or extension
After breakfast you leave your hotel for you homeward journey.

WHAT´S INCLUDED IN THE BOAT & BIKE or SELF-GUIDED TRIP:

Price per person by boat	Euro 635 per person in a double cabin, Euro 123 single supplement if available. 1/2 may be booked sharing cabin with another guest.
Discounts all tours	Additional person (adult only) in 3-or 4-person cabin:-18% Child staying in same room/cabin w/2 full paying adults, age 0-3 years: -60% 4-11 years: -30 %
Other options	Self-guided trip from hotel to hotel: departing on Saturdays/Sundays either from Hoorn or Weesp Euro 669 per person in a double room Euro 239 single supplement Euro 539 third person sharing a double room
Calendar 2010 for boat & bike trips	June: 12th July: 3rd - 24th - 31st August: 7th - 21st Important: Early bookings recommended for boat trips
Calendar 2010 for self-guided tours hotel by hotel starting Horn	June: 19th, 26th July: 3rd, 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th, 24th & 25th, 31st August: 1st, 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th
Self-guided tours hotel by hotel starting from Weesp	May: 15th, 22nd & 29th June: 5th & 12th August: 21st & 28th September: 4th & 11th
Days/nights	8 days/7 nights
Included services guided boat trips	- Stay on boat - Full board (breakfast + packed lunch + 3-courses dinner, drinks are not included - Bicycle with gears and pannier - Detailed map with marked routes - Tourleader - Information package - Route descriptions - Several city walks - Visit Mill/Cheese farm - Compensation bicycle dammage
Included services in the self-guided bike tours from hotel to hotel	- Stay in different hotels (7 nights) - Half-board (breakfast + 3-courses dinner) - Bicycle with gears and pannier - Detailed map with marked routes - Information package - Route descriptions
Additional costs on self-guided tours	- Journey there and back either from Hoorn or Weesp - Bicycle insurance Euro 17 per person - Luggage transport from hotel to hotel Euro 77 p.p. - Ferry crossing Enkhuizen-Stavoren Euro 15 p.p.
Links	Train tickets European railways