Holland’s Southern Relax Tulip Tour – 8 Days
Type of tour: Guided
Level: 1
Duration: 7 Nights
Distance: 20 Miles/day average
Dates: Saturdays: Apr 4 – May 9, 2015 (minimum 12 participants)
Tour price: 885
Start city: Amsterdam, Holland
End city: Amsterdam, Holland
Tour Description
Between April and mid-May we offer special tulip bicycle tours in the Netherlands. The program is quite similar to the Southern Tour Relax, but in springtime this tour will be centered around the Tulip theme and of course you visit the “Keukenhof”.
The tulip originated in Turkey. The tulip bulb reached The Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. The flower and bulb were thought to be so special that a lively trade arose quite quickly. In 1634 there was one single bulb that was so expensive that a whole canal-side house in Amsterdam cost the equivalent. In 1637 the government took the speculation in hand and the bulbs dropped in price drastically. The bulb and flower became “normal.” Today Aalsmeer controls a market share of 44% for the turnover of bulbs and tulip flowers.
The route leads through vast fields of tulips. You will of course visit the world-famous, 32-hectare park The Keukenhof, where you can admire the wonderfully colourful fields with flowering bulbs in peace and quiet.
From Leiden it is simple to take the bus and spend a wonderful day at the Keukenhof. At the end of the day you’ll catch the bus back to Leiden. The bus admission costs are included in the tour price. Between Leiden and Haarlem you will cycle through the bulb fields.
Highlights: Guided Daily Program: Guided The following planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. Day 1: Amsterdam – Ouderkerk – Uithoorn (12 miles/20 km) You will leave Amsterdam cruising on the river Amstel to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. From Ouderkerk you will cycle your first kilometers through the polder Ronde Hoep to Uithoorn. During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the global planning of the week are discussed. Day 2: Uithoorn – Gouda (28 miles/45 km) Day 3: Gouda – Kinderkijk – Rotterdam – Delft (25 miles/40 km) In Rotterdam you embark and from there the ship takes you to Delft. Delft, the town famous for its pottery, the ‘Delft blue’. The Prinsenhof Museum is housed in the former St Agatha’s monastery. In 1572 William of Orange chose the convent as one of his residences. It was from here that he led the revolt against the Spanish tyranny of Holland. He was murdered on the steps of the Prinsenhof on July 10, 1584, by Balthazar Gerards, a Spanish sympathiser. Two bullet holes in the wall of the stairs bear witness to this event. Day 4: Delft – Katwijk – Leiden (25 miles/40 km) A tranquil cycle path through the dunes leads you to Wassenaarse Slag. Here some remains of the Atlantikwall can still be seen. Five bunkers are connected by nearly 3,000-feet-long brick tunnels. Now the underground network serves as a bat reserve. Continue through the dunes, to Katwijk aan Zee, an old fishing village. The old inhabitants of Katwijk still speak their own dialect, ‘Kattuks’. Following the course of the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) river we cycle to Leiden. Leiden boasts 14 museums, including the Rijksmuseum. The ship is moored near the Zijlpoort, a gate that once formed part of the city walls. Day 5: Leiden – visit to Keukenhof Day 6: Leiden – via the flower bulb fields to Haarlem (23 miles/37 km) Once in the city of Haarlem you make a short tour through the city to see some typical ‘hofjes’ (almshouses), old houses around a central courtyard, now usually housing elderly people. These ‘hofjes ‘ are definitely worth a visit. Haarlem, which rendered its name to Harlem, New York, is a lively city with good shopping possibilities. The ship is berthed in the city centre, with a view of St Bavo’s Church and with easy access to the Grote Markt with its many outdoor cafés. Day 7: Haarlem – Amsterdam (25 miles/40 km) The Buitenhuizen ferry takes you across the North Sea Canal and from there you cycle to the Zaanse Schans. The Zaanse Schans, with its traditional weatherboard houses, warehouses and windmills may give you the feeling of stepping back into the 17th or 18th century. Yet this is no open air museum, but a lively neighborhood where people live and work. Among other things a cheese farm, a clog maker and an old bakery can be visited here.” Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam Included Services: Guided Bike Rentals: Guided All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge: Pedals: Seats: Helmets: Bike Insurance: Electrically assisted bike:
When you arrive on board the ship, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers.
Overnight near Uithoorn
From Uithoorn you will continue your tour over country roads, banks and channels through the Green Heart and polders to the city known for its cheese: Gouda. Who thinks of Gouda, not only thinks of cheese, pipes, ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle-waffle) and pottery, but also of stained-glass windows, a fairy-like town hall and atmospheric canals. Gouda is beautiful Old-Dutch city with a mostly intact city centre. As on most days, after dinner you will take a walk through the city.
Overnight near Gouda
From Gouda you cycle past scenic polders via Kinderdijk to Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest group of windmills in the Netherlands. The windmills at Kinderdijk were still actively used until 1950. These days, a large pumping station is responsible for controlling the water level in the polder. Here you can visit a windmill.
Overnight near Delft
From Delft we cycle in the direction of The Hague, through the Haagse Bosch, a large park, and past the Royal Huis ten Bosch Palace.
Overnight near Leiden
Today you visit the Keukenhof gardens, the most beautiful spring park in the world. Keukenhof is the place where the spring breaks. In the Keukenhof various gardens and gardening styles can be found: the English Landscape Garden, the Historical Garden, the Natural Garden, the Japanese Natural Garden, the Formal Garden and three special colours gardens. Spread throughout the entire park there are approximately eighty sculptures from well-known Dutch artists. There are also several other art objects, such as the collection ‘Surprising Tulips’.
Overnight near Leiden
From Leiden you cycle through wonderful flower beds in the direction of Haarlem. In the period of March to May the bulb fields are blooming, starting with daffodils and followed by hyacinths, tulips and lilies.
Overnight near Haarlem
From Haarlem you sail to Spaarndam, a picturesque village on the edge of Haarlem, in the direction of Amsterdam. Spaarndam’s name comes from the dam built in the Spaarne River to limit the danger of flooding from the sea. Here you can find the statue of Hansje Brinker on the IJdijk. Hansje is a character from an American novel, which saved the country from flooding by putting his finger in the dike.
Overnight near Amsterdam
After breakfast at 10:00 am the tour ends and you make your way to your homeward connections.
Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:
The bikes will have FLAT pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
If you plan to bring your own seat, please ensure that it is a universal seat post.
Helmets can be rented through the tour company for 10 Euros per week. They must be ordered with booking, and may NOT be rented on board. A helmet is required for children in the Netherlands (helmets are included with renting of children’s equipment, but not for adults). Alternatively, we recommend bringing your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons.
You can purchase bike insurance with your booking, if you would like. It costs € 15 for a hybrid touring bike, and € 40 for a electrically assisted bike.
Your electrically assisted bike has 24 gears, a detachable lithium-Ion battery, hand brakes, pannier bags, a good lock, water bottle.. We draw your attention to the fact that you will be held responsible for damage to or theft of the bike, as long as the bike is not on board. (the E-bike has a value of more than € 2000). Never leave it unattended. Always lock it and fasten it to a fixed object, and don’t forget to remove the information panel from your steering wheel. You can insure this bike with Cycletours for € 40 per bicycle. If you didn’t arrange cycle insurance when booking you can do this on board (the first day). Payment in cash is required.
