Highlights of Holland

This tour offers an attractive combination of towns and countryside in Holland. It starts with a sailing trip right across the centre of Amsterdam.
Soon after having left the city behind, it appears that amidst the larger Dutch towns lies a splendid rural area: the Green Heart. One moment you'll be cycling in the middle of quiet lakes, the next you'll experience the old Dutch atmosphere in the historical centre of towns like Haarlem and Leiden.

Furthermore this tour will show you the North Sea beach, dune areas and old port towns like Hoorn which breathe the Dutch Golden Age.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Flower Park Keukenhof (only departure May 1st & 8th)
Amsterdam: visit Museum The Rembrandt House
Zaanse Schans: open air museum including several windmills
Hoorn: port town dating from the 17th century
Schermerhorn: visit museum windmill
Landscapes of Rembrandt (cycle tour along the river Amstel)

Schedule
- subject to changes -

Saturday day 1: cycle trip ± 20 km/13 miles
After your embarkment in Amsterdam, you’ll be sailing right through the centre of Amsterdam. There’s a short cycle trip following the banks of the river Amstel ending in Uithoorn / Kudelstaart.

Sunday day 2: cycle trip ± 55 km/34 miles
Today you’ll cross the real Green Heart of Holland: on cycle paths through the lake areas of the Langeraarse Plassen and Braassemer Meer. Your trip ends in the university town of Leiden. A city walk in the historical centre of this birth place of Rembrandt with its numerous courtyards is certainly recommendable.

Monday day 3: cycle trip ± 50 km/31 miles
Today’s itinerary leads to the seaside resort Katwijk and then through the dune area to Zandvoort. If weather permits, you may spend some time on the beach. Cycling along the path which was used by fishermen’s wifes to go to the market, you’ll end up in Haarlem. The small and surveyable centre invites one to do some shopping in this ‘best shopping town of the Netherlands’. Don’t forget to sit down and have a drink on one of the terrasses at the big market place.

Tuesday day 4: cycle trip ± 50 km/31 miles
The first village you arrive in is Spaarndam (the village of Hans Brinker). After the crossing of the North Sea canal by ferry, you continue cycling through rural villages like Nauerna. You visit open air museum the Zaanse Schans and continue following the river Zaan and the Knollendammer canal to our cheese town Alkmaar.


Wednesday day 5: cycle trip ± 55 km/34 miles
Today the boatel stays in Alkmaar. There’s a cycle trip to the unique wooded dune area near the villages Bergen and Schoorl and to the Hondsbossche Zeewering, a sea wall. You’ll have plenty of time to have a drink at an outdoor café or to walk on the beach. If you feel like it, you are of course, free to spend a day on your own sightseeing in Alkmaar or relaxing at the seaside.

Thursday day 6: cycle trip ± 45 km/28 miles
After passing Oterleek and Avenhorn, you arrive in Hoorn. After you have got acquainted with this historical port town, you take the road along the coast from where you have a splendid view over the IJssel Lake. Thereafter you take a ride following the canal ‘Beemsterringvaart’ to Purmerend. On the way we visit the museum windmill in Schermerhorn.

Friday day 7: cycle trip ± 50 km/31 miles
First you cycle to and look around in the picturesque village of Edam. Then you visit the fishing village of Volendam. Take your time for a break and enjoy the atmosphere and the people in traditional costume. The cycle trip continues along the coastline of the IJssel Lake through Uitdam and Durgerdam. Via the ferry crossing the IJ, you arrive at the finish of your tour in the centre of Amsterdam. You visit the Rembrandt House, where the painter lived for years with his wife Saskia. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk though the centre or you may go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals.

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