Due to a sailing event in Amsterdam, Sail Amsterdam 2020 this tour will not end in Amsterdam but in Wormerveer. You can take a train from Wormerveer that brings you back to Amsterdam in 15 minutes.
Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Zaandam
Embarkation and check-in. The crew will be waiting to welcome you on board between 1-2pm. Once all guests have arrived a short cruise will bring you to Zaandam, a city famous for its windmills. Here, your barge will berth in the center of town for the night. Upon arrival you can take your new bike for a brief test ride through the surrounding area. Enjoy a short walk in the evening through the picturesque center of Zaandam.
Day 2: Zaandam – Zaanse Schans museum – Hoorn (41 km/26 mi. or 51 km/31 mi.)
After breakfast set out on your first cycling tour to the Zaanse Schans open air museum for a short visit. Continue cycling through small villages in the beautiful historic polder named De Beemster. Today’s bike tour ends in the town of Hoorn, former home of the Dutch East India Company and one of the world’s most important harbors in the 17th century.
Day 3: Hoorn – Volendam | Volendam – Marken (ferry) | Marken – Waterland – Muiden | Muiden – Vianen (39 km/24 mi. or 46 km/28 mi.)
While enjoying breakfast the ship will bring you to Volendam, a small, picturesque fishing harbor on the shores of Lake IJsselmeer. From here you’ll take a ferry to the former island of Marken. Explore this charming, authentic village before continuing your cycling journey along the coastline to IJburg, a new and modern part of Amsterdam that was recently built on land reclaimed from a lake (that was previously the sea). From here you’ll cycle to the historical town of Muiden with its 14th century waterfront castle. Today’s cycling tour ends near the village of Weesp, where you’ll rejoin your ship. Around 5pm the ship departs for Vianen and you can enjoy dinner while cruising. Spend the evening and night in Vianen, a small fortified town on the Lower Rhine river.
Day 4: Vianen – Schoonhoven | Schoonhoven –Kinderdijk| Kinderdijk–Rotterdam (waterbus ferry) (32 km/ 19 mi.)
During breakfast the ship will sail to Schoonhoven, the “Silver City”, where today’s cycling tour starts. The tour takes you through the Alblasserwaard polder to Kinderdijk, a village famous for its impressive row of 19 large windmills. Listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage site, these windmills are a definite highlight of any trip to the Netherlands. From nearby Alblasserdam you’ll board the “Waterbus” fast ferry, which will take you and your bicycle into the center of Rotterdam in about 20 minutes. With its vibrant waterfront, this city is Europe’s largest port. In the afternoon, you have time to explore the most interesting corners of the inner city. Dinner on board is not included this evening, so you can enjoy a wonderful meal at one of Rotterdam’s many restaurants.
Day 5: Rotterdam – Gouda (35 km/21 mi or 45 km/27 mi.)
After breakfast, bike right through Rotterdam and follow the winding river Rotte to leave the city. You’ll soon find yourself cycling through the “Green Heart of Holland” to Gouda, the cheese and candle capital of Holland. Take your time in the afternoon and evening to enjoy this beautiful historical city, with its old market square and Weigh House, where cheese used to be weighed. A visit of the cheese museum with cheese tasting is on the program.
Day 6: Gouda – Leiden – Oude Wetering (33 km/21 mi. or 54 km/34 mi.)
Start the morning with a visit to Gouda’s St. John’s church, with its renowned stained-glass windows. Today’s cycling tour takes you from Gouda through the typical scenery of the Green Heart of Holland, with its green landscapes, expansive views, small canals and tiny lakes – all below sea level! Today’s long cycling option leads through Leiden, the birthplace of the famous painter Rembrandt and home of the oldest university in the Netherlands. The cycling journey ends in the small village of Oude Wetering, where the ship will be docked for the night.
Day 7: Oude Wetering – Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Wormerveer (28 km/18 mi.)
The ship sails early this morning to take you to Amsterdam. During the afternoon you can choose to take a last beautiful bike ride through the wetlands of Waterland north of Amsterdam, or to discover this amazing city on foot and by public transport. Visit the inner-city flower market, explore a museum or do some shopping… there’s so much to do! At the end of the afternoon the ship will be waiting for you in Wormerveer where you will enjoy the farewell dinner.
Day 8: Wormerveer
Enjoy a final breakfast on board before disembarking in Wormerveer by 9.30am.
