Of all countries, Holland offers the most fabulous gentle cycling for it is wonderfully flat and has an astonishing network of well signed & tarmacked bike paths with traffic lights for cyclists. It also has a stunning mix of heritage rich towns, beautiful coastline, picture postcard countryside and maritime history, staying in the heart of these historic towns within walking distance of an excellent choice of restaurants for dinner.
Highlights include the cheese towns of Edam and Alkmaar (including its grand houses), the maritime history of Hoorn, Radboud Castle in Medemblik, the picturesque village of De Rijp and the fascinating windmills of Zaanse Schans. Here you will also find a bakery museum (with the smell of chocolate and freshly baked biscuits!), a clog workshop, a cheese maker and a mustard factory.
During the tulip season (April and early May) you also have a chance to cycle through the blooming tulip fields between Leiden and Haarlem, where the Keukenhof flower gardens are located.
The tour has a very relaxed itinerary which coupled with its traffic free and flat cycling makes it an ideal choice for families.
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
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from £2,195 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
7 nights
Start & Finish
Starts daily from 29 March to 27 September from Leiden, finishes Amsterdam. (Not available during Grand Prix - 1st week September). From Amsterdam Schipol airport, Leiden is 20 minutes and Amsterdam 15 minutes by very regular direct train
Hotels
- Classic
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Very individual and stylish 3 and 4 star hotels providing a continental breakfast everyday
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
Activity level
Gentle cycling (1) More info...
Electric bikes
Available
Mileage
6 days of cycling 15-30 miles (25 - 48 km) per day
Terrain
Flat
What’s included?
Ensuite accommodation every night with breakfast. The services of our friendly local Hosts. Luggage transfers between hotels. Touring bikes and accessories. 24/7 phone contact number. Adventure Handbook with our local tips. GPS Routes on an App with waterproof phone holder. Guidebook or OS maps. Protection of your funds. Advice, help and guidance planning your trip.
Read About Our Trips for further details
Traffic-free
95%
Options
- Extend the tour with additional nights in Amsterdam or any of the stops en route.
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic
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1. Day one
Leiden
Arrive in Leiden and settle into the stylish boutique hotel Nieuw Minerva. Leiden has often been called the most beautiful city in the Netherlands. This isn’t surprising, considering its rich history that’s still visible everywhere in the charming city centre.
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2. Day two
Leiden to Haarlem
After breakfast you meet with your local host. They will brief you on your trip and explain your route notes and tour package. Your host will have your cycling equipment to hand and will ensure all is fitted correctly for you. During April and the first half of May your first day will be a riot of colour as you ride through the fabulous flower fields and the famous ‘Keukenhof’ flower garden. After mid-May the ride will take you through the coastal area and the lovely villages of Katwijk aan Zee and Noordwijk aan Zee. Your overnight stay will be in the heart of the city of Haarlem. Check out the old Dutch charm of this achingly pretty city. The cobbled streets are lined with historic buildings and grand churches and museums with plenty of antiques shops and cafes to tempt you.
26 miles (42 km)
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3. Day three
Haarlem to Alkmaar
Today's ride takes you to Zaanse Schans. where in the Dutch Golden Age, thousands of windmills powered saws for shipbuilding and the paper industry. See the green timbered houses that define this region, a historic chocolate and biscuit factory, a cheese factory and a clog workshop. You finish today in the ‘other’ Dutch cheese capital - Alkmaar, -which still has a cheese market every Friday morning from April to September and Tuesday evenings in July and August. Alkmaar also played a central role in the 80 Years' War with Spain in the 16th-century, which led to the establishment of the Dutch Republic. It has hundreds of monumental buildings along its ancient canals and you won't want to miss the beer museum "De Boom" where you can taste a delicious selection of craft beers.
30 miles (48 km)
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4. Day four
Alkmaar to Medemblik
Leaving Alkmaar behind, turn back to the lowland polders on the way to Broek op Langedijk. Visit the old floating auction where fruits and vegetables are brought to market on boats, sailing through the auction building. Next, you pass several striking windmills and imposing historic farmhouses scattered throughout the green landscape. Medemblik has held a key strategic position on the Zuiderzee – later Lake IJsselmeer – for centuries and has an impressive castle from 1288, allegedly built on the foundations of King Radboud's even older castle. It has a bustling harbor with charming houses and other attractions, including the steam engine and the bakery museums.
23 miles (37 km)
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5. Day five
Medemblik to Hoorn
If you want a day out of the saddle there's a great option to get to Hoorn on one of the beautifully restored steam trains that service this route (except Mondays). Otherwise, you’ll have the choice of cycling the short, direct route that runs through a mosaic of farmers' fields with canals and monumental farmhouses, or the longer route via the historic port of Enkhuizen. There, you’ll find the wonderful and engaging open-air Zuiderzee Museum. During the tulip season, you can find more eruptions of color just outside Hoorn. Founded around the year 1000 AD, Hoorn was one of the most important ports in the East Indian spice trade during the Dutch Golden Age, which is still evident in many beautiful historic houses. Its port is a popular area with several cozy cafes and restaurants and is home to a large fleet of traditional sailing ships.
15 or 28 miles (25 or 45 km)
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6. Day six
Hoorn to Edam
Your scenic route today takes you to the picturesque village of De Rijp and on, through the green plains of the ‘polders’, to Middenbeemster, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Imagine the 49 windmills that were responsible for keeping the land dry. Amsterdam’s wealthy merchants built magnificent houses here, with beautifully landscaped gardens. The shady central square is a great place for a coffee break, or lunch. Then, cycle to Edam. This quaint waterfront village, famous for its cheese as well as its traditional sailing boats, is a great place to spend the night.
28 miles (45 km)
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7. Day seven
Edam to Amsterdam
If you're in Edam on a Wednesday morning in July or August, you can visit the weekly cheese market before heading out on today's ride. In nearby Volendam, ships wonderfully old and new tie up. Don't miss the notable and delicious delicacy of smoked eel and then head for the short ferry crossing to the former island of Marken. Now connected to the mainland by a causeway, the peninsula is well known for its traditional wooden houses and the traditional costume that is still worn by some locals. Further south along the coast you reach the small historic town of Monnickendam and tiny but elegant Broek in Waterland. Your final stretch will be a ride along a scenic canal into the capital of Holland, Amsterdam. Your local host will be at your disposal for the end of the tour.
23 miles (37 km)
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8. Day eight
Depart Amsterdam
Depart Amsterdam at your leisure or stay an extra night or two to explore this fascinating city.