By Bike and Boat to the Tulip Blossom

The picturesque capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is the starting point of your journey by bike and boat to the Tulip Blossom. After embarkation at 2 p.m. and the welcome by the crew, it is "Cast off! Off to Zaandam!". After a short cruise, you will arrive at your overnight destination for today, Zaandam. Your ship will drop anchor in the city center. Explore the city on the Zaan on foot or take your first test ride on your (rental) bike.

Start today directly after breakfast for a short bike ride to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans. After a few kilometers by bike you will reach this special place, where once stood 65 shipyards and over 1000 windmills. Marvel at some of the remaining examples and gain insight into Dutch life in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the afternoon, you'll be spoilt for choice: you can cycle the section to Haarlem or make yourself comfortable on the deck of your ship for a 2.5-hour cruise. In your overnight destination of Haarlem, it's worth visiting the Grote Markt along with the imposing Grote Kerk, which rises 80 meters into the sky. A detour to the Frans Hals Museum is also recommended, as is a tour of the city's canals in a rented boat (not included).

From Haarlem you cycle today in the direction of Keukenhof. For flower lovers and those who want to be, a true paradise. Around seven million bulbs, mainly tulips, are planted year after year in this 32-hectare garden. Experience a unique tulip bloom on your trip by bike and boat between March and May, which guarantees a colorful stay. Only a few kilometers away is your destination for today, Oude Wetering. The small community is located in the Groene Hart – the Green Heart – of the Netherlands.

Get up! The earlier, the better. Because, today it goes to the world's largest flower auction in Aalsmeer (only open on weekdays). After a bus transfer, you already take part in the Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer at about 6:30 in the morning. Witness how millions of flowers are auctioned and then sent all over the world. Back on the ship, a late breakfast awaits you as you cruise back to Amsterdam. There, stroll along the historic canals and visit one of the many famous museums, such as the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. A visit to the Amsterdam Bloemenmarkt, where flowers, plants and bulbs have been traded since 1862, is worthwhile, as is a flying visit to the Tulip Museum in Prinsengracht. If you prefer to go for a bike ride in the afternoon, you can cycle through the beautiful Waterland region north of Amsterdam.

After breakfast around 9:30 a.m., your journey by by bike and boat to the Tulip Blossom unfortunately already ends. It follows the disembarkation and the individual departure.