For our best of Holland cycling tour, we have combined our most interesting and picturesque bike routes with what we think are the most characterful hotels to create the ultimate luxury gentle holiday on two wheels. Most of the hotels are in unique buildings with fine settings offering outstanding service. Holland of course provides the most fabulous gentle cycling for it is wonderfully flat and has an astonishing network of well signed & tarmaced bike paths. It also has a stunning mix of heritage rich towns, beautiful coastline, picture postcard countryside and maritime history.
The ride takes you to some of our favourite cities - Amsterdam, Leiden, Dordrecht and Utrecht, each unique and brimming with that typical old Dutch character. You also reach the dunes on the North Sea coast and the islands with their historic villages. Discover how rural and quiet the countryside can be where windmills and polders take the spotlight. More than half of the landscape has been reclaimed from the sea leaving a unique maze of dykes, locks and colourful waterways and bridges. This is the best of Holland.
Holiday details
Price
- Luxury
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from £3,240 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
7 nights
Start & Finish
Starts and finishes Amsterdam - Daily from April 1st to October 1st. Not available during Grand Prix last weekend in August
Hotels
- Luxury
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Two 5* star hotels, three 4* star and two 4* 'boutique' hotels,
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
Activity level
Gentle cycling (2) More info...
Electric bikes
Available
Mileage
6 days of cycling 20 - 26 miles (32 - 41 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.
Taxi Amsterdam to Haarlem. 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
Luxury
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1. Day one
Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam and settle into your hotel overlooking one of the city's most scenic canals in the centre of the city. The 17th- century canals of Amsterdam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and a delight to wander around. But the city holds much more to explore than just historic canals. Why not visit the revitalised Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum or the Stedelijk Museum. Or, maybe Anne Frank's House is a 'must see' for you?
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2. Day two
Amsterdam to Leiden
Shortly after breakfast we will transfer you to Haarlem once a major North Sea trading port surrounded by a defensive wall with cobbled streets and gabled houses. Here you will meet your local host who will brief you on your itinerary, provide your route details and check your bicycle is correctly adjusted for you. Then, head through verdant woodland towards the beach town of Zandvoort and join the coastal cycle path south through the sand dunes. During tulip season, turn inland again to find yourself amidst swathes of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips in the breathtaking ‘bulb region’, and visit the famous Keukenhof flower garden. At other times of the year, continue on the coastal cycle path where you’ll find several hip beach pavillions – great for a lunch break. When you’re ready, progress to lively Leiden, home to the country’s oldest university, to stroll along atmospheric canals and the Burcht van Leiden medieval fortification. Don't miss the Lakenhal’s fine art collection, the Hortus Botanicus and the many welcoming cafés and excellent restaurants.
22 or 27 miles (36 or 44 km)
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3. Day three
Leiden to Delft
Head to the North Sea again, to Katwijk aan Zee, to appreciate dune vistas and more fresh, salty air on the coastal cycle path. You’ll pass through a lovely forested area near Wassenaar, home to the acclaimed Voorlinden modern art museum. Continue through the classic seaside resort of Scheveningen to the royal city of The Hague. Make sure you explore this elegant governmental hub – we recommend the Mauritshuis museum (home to Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ and many other Golden Age treasures), the Peace Palace, the Panorama Mesdag and the Escher museum. The final leg of today’s ride takes you along a glorious canal up to the historic town of Delft. It retains a large number of historic buildings along its canals and has a very cosy ambiance. It’s well known for the blue and white ceramics, as well as its most famous former resident, Johannes Vermeer.
25 or 29 miles (41 or 46 km)
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4. Day four
Delft to Dordrecht
Set off via Vlaardingen’s pretty centre before reaching Schiedam and tasting the legendary ‘jenever’ or ‘genever’ spirit, traditional Dutch gin, in the distillery that dates back to 1695. It also boasts Holland’s tallest windmills. Another rare intact 15th century riverside village is next at Delfshaven. The Pilgrim Fathers were exiled here in 1620 and started their journey to England from here on the Mayflower before setting of on their epic transatlantic crossing. The Pilgrims Church, stands to this day. Further on in cosmopolitan Rotterdam, the gleaming Erasmus Bridge is testament to the renaissance of Dutch urban architecture after the city’s decimation in WWII. Hop on a leisurely water bus (40 minutes) to reach Dordrecht, Holland’s oldest city, which is wedged between three rivers. It shows off its rich history, including a museum with many Golden Age ‘Dutch master’ paintings.
23 miles (38 km) plus water bus
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5. Day five
Dordrecht to Gouda
Not far from Dordrecht, you’ll find Kinderdijk's lush pastures and its 19 UNESCO-listed windmills, several of which still double as homes to this day. Make sure you join a tour of one of them, explaining the internal workings, and life of the families that used to live here hundreds of years ago. Then, green meadows beckon with cows and optional visit to a cheese farm (subject to opening times). If you have enough stamina, continue to Schoonhoven, the historic town of silversmiths, and then along the winding river Vlist, with thatched farmhouses, ‘knotwilgen’ and plenty of birdlife. Finally, you’ll arrive in Gouda which is not only famous for cheese but also the birthplace of medieval philosopher Erasmus and the stroopwafel delicacy. It’s got a beautiful ancient town hall and very impressive stained-glass windows in the St. John's Church, made between the years 1350 and 1600.
25 or 30 miles (40 or 49 km)
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6. Day six
Gouda to Utrecht
Gouda’s famous and bustling cheese market takes place every Thursday morning from April 3rd to August 28th, 2025 (except May 29th). Cycle along the scenic IJssel River, past quaint riverside towns such as Oudewater – perfect for a relaxing coffee or lunch stop and a visit to the Witches Weighing House. Next, track the winding Lange Linschoten, past old, fortified farms and through the pretty villages of Montfoort and Jutphaas. Approaching Utrecht, you'll feel the vibrant energy of this lively university city that combines youthful verve with café culture and mediaeval charm. Drink in innovative Dutch design at the Rietveld-Schröder House, listen to the ‘music machines’ in Museum Speelklok or check out the Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, at 112.32 metres (368.5 feet).
27 miles (44 km)
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7. Day seven
Utrecht to Abcoude
Say goodbye to vibrant Utrecht to cycle along the shimmering River Vecht that runs North from Utrecht and flows into Lake IJsselmeer near Amsterdam. It is lined with several castles and the country houses of rich 17th-century Amsterdam merchants, with beautifully laid-out gardens. Pass by the formidable Slot Zuylen castle, the Loosdrecht lakes and villages like Breukelen, Loenen and Baambrugge which exude storybook charm. When you see the spire of the St. Nicholas church in Abcoude, on the scenic Gein tributary, it signals your journey's end. Your local host will be at your disposal for the end of the tour.
22 miles (36 km)
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8. Day eight
Depart Amsterdam
Enjoy your final breakfast and depart at your leisure. There is a direct train connection from Abcoude to Amsterdam Central Station which takes 25 minutes.