Your cruisers: MS Flora and MS Gandalf

A homely, friendly boat: the MS Flora. The well-attuned board crew takes excellent care of its guests and are very good at telling the odd anecdote or two. The atmosphere on board is friendly and the cabins are fitted very comfortably. You can explore small towns from the centrally-located mooring points. And if you prefer not to go exploring on your bike, you can stay on board the boat.

On the river boat MS Gandalf your skipper will welcome you into a familiar atmosphere. The manageable groupsize makes it easy to socialize with the other passengers. The two sundecks offer a lot of space to relax in the sun. Thanks to the solar panels mounted on the double roof there is no need for the generator to run at night, making it easy to sleep in the evening.

Day 1: Individual arrival in Amsterdam

On this cycling holiday you will have the opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful cities in Europe: Amsterdam! There are a number of activities to help you pass the time including a canal tour, a stroll through the Old Town, extended shopping tours or a visit to one of the many museums. Other highlights include the Vondel Park, the Artis Zoo or the infamous red-light district. Boarding begins at 14.00.

Day 2: Amsterdam – Zaandam (by boat), Zaandam – Haarlem, approx. 40 / 55 km

Today, after your short boat trip, you will visit the museum town of Zaanse Schans, which is one of the top tourist attractions in the Netherlands. A unique residential and working and trading quarter with museums, mills, shops, old crafts and trades, restaurants, an information centre and an excursion service will ensure that you are transported back in time. After your visit you will then cycle on towards Haarlem.

Day 3: Haarlem – Leiden, approx. 40 / 50 km

You will leave Haarlem with its warehouses built by the 17th century merchants and cycling along the North Sea you will pass through the sea-side villages of Noordwijk and Katwijk aan Zee, which both offer beautiful sandy beaches, and onwards towards the university city of Leiden. Rembrandt was born here and opened his first studio here. Also interesting is the Archaeological Museum, the most significant of its kind in the Netherlands with an original Egyptian temple.

Day 4: Leiden – Delft, approx. 35 / 40 km

You will cycle towards the seat of the royal family, The Hague. Along with many old buildings the town also offers a number of modern architectural designs which have all been given fitting nicknames by the city’s residents: the fountain-pen or the lemon-squeezer. Continuing on you will come to the well known sea-side resort of Scheveningen. In Delft you will have reached your destination for the day.

Day 5: Delft – Kinderdijk (by boat), Kinderdijk – Gouda, approx. 25 – 65 km

Delft is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. The Old Town is home to a number of attractions and is filled with houses in the Gothic style and from Renaissance times. By boat you will visit the impressive harbour of Rotterdam. Almost 7 % of the Dutch gross domestic product is generated here. From Kinderdijk with its 19 windmills in a row, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will continue on by bicycle to the cheese-producing town of Gouda.

Day 6: Gouda – Kudelstaart, approx. 55 km

Gouda should not only bring the famous cheese to mind. Tobacco pipes, syrup waffles and earthenware products are also symbolic of the town along with the glass windows of the Johanneskirche or the Gothic-style Town Hall. Cycling from the point where the Dutch rivers IJssel and Gouwe meet, you will continue on through the canal-filled landscape of Southern Holland towards the pretty town of Kudelstaart.

Day 7: Kudelstaart – Amsterdam, approx 30 / 40 km or Kudelstaart – Amsterdam (by boat)

Early in the morning you will head for the famous flower auction in Aalsmeer (not included), returning afterwards to the ship which will bring you over the Amstel and back to Amsterdam. There you will have the opportunity to experience the incomparable atmosphere of this extremely charming town and let yourself be carried away with the colourful nightlife of the city on this your last evening of the holiday.

Day 8: Individual departure

After breakfast your bike and barge tour in South Holland onboard the MS Flora or MS Gandalf comes to an end. After breakfast you will disembark and return home.

You can book the trip on the MS Flora with on-board tour guide. On the tour with the MS Gandalf you will also be accompanied on the bike tours by a tour guide.

Types of rental bikes

• 7-gear unisex bike hub gears with free-wheel (MS Gandalf)
• 24-gear unisex bike, derailleur gears with free-wheel (MS Flora)
• E-bike (both ships)

Fittings

Panier, bike lock