The green heart of Holland by Bike + Boat

Historic towns and cultural Treasures

map The green heart of Holland by bike + boat

Route

Tour profile / Level 1

Flat, well-prepared bike paths and side roads - well suited for children!

Day 1: Amsterdam

Embarkation and check-in from 2 pm, where the crew will welcome you on board in the city center of Amsterdam. After stowing your luggage in your cabin, an introduction to the tour will take place at 3 pm. Afterwards, your rental bikes will be distributed and your tour guide will take you for a first test ride before heading back on board for the first dinner.

Day 2: Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans – Haarlem, approx. 40-55 km

After a short trip by boat, you disembark in Zaandam and start your first bike ride to visit the charming open-air museum "Zaanse Schans" near Zaandam. Afterwards, you will continue cycling towards Haarlem. In the evening you can stroll through the picturesque city and have a look at the ’Grote Markt’ (market place). If you want to cycle more kilometers, you can extend the tour to the coastal town of IJmuiden and the Kennem dunes and cycle along the fortifications of Amsterdam (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Day 3: Haarlem – North Sea – Leiden, approx. 42-50 km

After an invigorating breakfast, you will cycle along the North Sea coast today, passing the resorts of Noordwijk and Katwijk aan Zee before finally reaching the lively university city of Leiden, birthplace of the famous artist Rembrandt van Rijn. Numerous small canals, lined with historic 17th-century houses, run through the fabulously beautiful old town. A spot you should definitely take a look at. The longer bike tour today takes you via Cruquius and Hillegom.

Day 4: Leiden – Delft, approx. 35-41 km

From Leiden you continue cycling to the city of Delft, which gave its name to the famous blue porcelain. There is an opportunity to visit a porcelain factory. Another attraction in the center of Delft is the tomb of the royal family of Orange. The longer bike tour takes you from Leiden to The Hague, with its Binnenhof (Parliament building) and Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) and then on to Delft.

Day 5: Delft – Rotterdam – Gouda, approx. 23-66 km

This morning you will take the ship from Delft through the impressive international port of Rotterdam. You can start your bike tour directly in Rotterdam or you can take the first stretch in about 30-40 minutes across the river by "water bus" (your bike comes on board) to Alblasserdam. From here it is only a few kilometers to Kinderdijk, world famous for its 19 large windmills standing in a row. From Kinderdijk you cycle directly to the cheese city of Gouda. If there is still air and desire for a few more bike kilometers, you can also extend the tour via the silver town of Schoonhoven to Gouda. Dinner (not included) will be in Gouda at a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).

Day 6: Gouda – Kudelstaart, approx. 45-55 km

The highlight of today’s bike tour is the idyllic natural landscape of South Holland. Your way towards Kudelstaart, where the ship is waiting for you, will take you past countless canals, traditional farms and small villages. At the pier on the shore of the Westeinder Plassen ("Westend Lakes"), you can make yourself comfortable during dinner or afterwards with a glass of wine and enjoy the wonderful view.

Day 7: Kudelstaart – Amsterdam, approx. 30-37 km

If you like, you can visit the world’s largest plant and flower trading place in Aalsmeer in the early morning (optional, not included in the price). After breakfast, you can either stay on board and take the ship to the dock in Amsterdam or set off through the Amsterdamse Bos urban forest or along the Amstel River. Also today, you have the option of cycling along Amsterdam’s fortress belt (UNESCO World Heritage Site). When you are in Amsterdam, don’t miss out on taking a canal tour in the afternoon and evening, visit Anne Frank House, Rembrand House, Royal Palace on the Dam and many more fantastic sights of the city.

Day 8: Amsterdam

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 am.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Due to varying wind and weather conditions as well as organizational necessities, we reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary.

Please keep in mind that the ship is both your hotel and a machine that needs to be maintained and operated - both during the day and at night. Operational noise is therefore unavoidable.

Services

  • 7 nights in outside cabin of the booked category 

  • Full board (7x breakfast, packed lunch for bike tours, 6x three-course dinner)

  • Coffee and tea on board

  • Welcome drink

  • Use of bed linen and towels

  • Daily cabin cleaning

  • Fully guided bike tours

  • Rental pannier

  • Ferry and Waterbus fees

  • WIFI (limited data)

  • GPS tracks

  • Detailed maps and information material per cabin

  • For the environment’s benefit: use of a biodegradable water bottle and compensation of the CO2 emitted by the NGO Justdiggit.

Dates & Prices

Dates

Merkmale

    Season / Period
    Type
    S1   03.05. - 10.05.25
    MV GANDALF
    S2   31.05. - 07.06.25
    MV GANDALF
    S2   12.07. - 19.07.25
    MV GANDALF
    S2   06.09. - 13.09.25
    MV GANDALF

    Extras

    Bicycles & Equipment
    7-speed (SARAH and GANDALF) 91
    24-speed (FLORA) 91
    E-Bike 245
    own bike/own E-bike 14/28
    Rental helmet 10
    Rental bike disclaimer 14
    Rental bike disclaimer E-Bike 28
       
    Additional nights*
    Amsterdam (dbl/sgl) 122/213
    Amsterdam Arrival Saturday (dbl/sgl) 153/244
    *no addidtional nights possible on following dates: April 18-20, April 25-26, May 07-10, May 19-21, June 06-08, June 21-22, June 24-25, August 29-31 and September 27-30
       
    Extras and Discouts
    Gluten free or lactose free diet 70

     

    Info: 3-bed cabins are just possible for 2 adults and 1 child up to 15,99 years. 3 adults are not possible!


    Best - Price - Guarantee

    If you would verifiably receive better conditions and/or prices from another tour operator at the time of booking we guarantee at least the same conditions PLUS 1 handlebar bag for FREE!
    All prices per person in EUR

    Ship

    Welcome on board!

    Our three ships convince with comfort and a pleasant atmosphere - let Flora, Gandalf and Sarah enchant you!


    MV FLORA

    The Flora is a small, cozy and comfortable passenger ship that has been successfully sailing the Green Heart of Holland Tour for several years.
    The nostalgically furnished salon with bar has a quaint atmosphere and serves as a dining and lounge area. WLAN (Wi-Fi) is available. The sun deck is a great place to enjoy the evenings on board and during the cruise you can let the landscape glide by. >>more


    MV GANDALF

    The Gandalf is a small and comfortable passenger barge. The ship, owned and operated by skipper Hans Petrus, sails under Dutch flag has been sailing in various areas in The Netherlands and Belgium for many years. The crew will do their best to make you feel at home. >>more


    MV SARAH

    The Sarah, with her length of 45 meters and width of 6.6 meters, is a comfortable and cozy passenger barge. During the conversion of the barge from cargo vessel to passenger barge, the owners of the Sarah decided to choose quality instead of quantity. The Sarah is spaciously built for a small group of passengers of max. 20-22 passengers and offers an attractive, "feels-like-to-be-at-home" atmosphere. >>more

    Bicycle

    Rental-Bicycles & equipment

    The following bikes are available for rent:

    • 7-speed touring bikes (available on SARAH and GANDALF)
    • 24-speed touring bikes (FLORA)
    • E-Bikes (all ships)

    Electric bikes | E-Bikes | Pedelecs

    We provide you with modern quality e-bikes with 7- or 8-speed hub gears and step-by-step selectable assistance for pedalling power. The range of the battery depends on the support level, riding style, body weight and terrain.

    IMPORTANT: book early, because of limited capacity!


    Bicycle breakdowns

    Breakdowns can happen, also when bikes are well serviced and maintained. Flats can be fixed by yourself. If there’s a difficult repair you may call the local representative. Please don’t get any repairs done on the bike without informing the tour operator/local representative and their approval.


    Bringing of own bikes

    Bringing your own bicycles on the boats is ony available in a limited number and a fee needs to be paid as there is not much space. Due to safety reasons you must not charge your E-Bike batteries in your cabin!

    If you bring your own bicycle, please pay attention to the following aspects: You are personally responsible for your own bike on board and ashore. Protect your bike against theft on board, as well as on land with a lock. The bikes will be brought on board and from board by the crew. Due to the local conditions we cannot prevent scratches and damages on the bikes.

    Please understand that we cannot accept any liability. The bikes on board are exposed to weather conditions because the parking is not covered. Please bring along your own spare material and repair kit for your bike. The fees for parking of own bikes on board you can find under prices.

    Useful

    Arrival - Parking - Departure

    Arrival by plane

    Airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) 
    From airport per train to Amsterdam Centraal - duration approx. 20 min. - costs approx. € 10,-.


    Arrival by train

    Train station: Amsterdam Centraal (near the docking station) For details see your final travel documents.

    Taxi from Trainstation to docking station approx. 5min and € 15,-


    Arrival by car

    Almost everywhere in Amsterdam - within the Ringweg ring road - parking is only allowed in official car parks and multi-storey car parks. Parking in the city centre of Amsterdam is now charged at around €5,-/hour. There are several car parks in the city centre. Some are connected to the parking guidance system. The blue and white signs of this system point to the next car park where there are still free spaces. Parking on yellow kerbs is prohibited. Caution: Wheel clamps (Wielklemm) may be used. Fines for parking violations are high.

    Oosterdock car park
    A monitored multi-storey car park right next to the Central Station (exclusively for cars up to 2.10 m high). The economy rate is about € 275,- per week. No advance reservation possible. You can find more information >>here.

    Centralparking.nl/Valet Parking Services
    We are happy to reserve a parking space for you on request and subject to availability. On the day of arrival, your car will be picked up at the pier and returned to the ship on the day of departure. Cost per week (8 days/7 nights) - car: approx. € 185,- (payment in cash on site) >>booking-form.

    For more information and other P+R parking spaces, please visit the Iamsterdam page under "Plan your trip" / "Transport" / "Parking in Amsterdam".


    Additional Information

    Diet: (i.e.: lactosefree, glutenfree) possible on request, supplement € 70,- payable locally. (except vegan diet) Must be booked at least 14 days prior to departure.

    3-bed cabin just possible for max. 2 adults and one child up to 15,99 years!

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