Cycling the Netherlands on the Tulip Route aboard the Wending
Cross the green heart of Holland and the Kagerplassen Lakes on short cycling routes between the cities of Delft, Leiden, Haarlem and Amsterdam. Sail aboard the Wending, a comfort cruise ship for a unique and unforgettable cycling trip.
On the Tulip Route, discover the great Dutch painters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. You can also admire the flowering of tulips during the months of April and May.
The highlights of the stay:
- The historic cities Haarlem, Delft, Leiden
- Keukenhof, the most beautiful flower park in the world
- The windmills of Kinderdijk
- Gouda, city of cheese
Day 1 - Amsterdam - Oude Wetering (sailing) bike tour (10km)
Boarding between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m at Oosterdok in central Amsterdam.
On board, after leaving your belongings in your cabin, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while getting better acquainted of the Anna Antal crew and participants. You leave Amsterdam on a cruise along the Amstel River to Oude Wetering.. During dinner on board, the guide gives you the week's program and safety instructions. You can take you bike for a 10 km-ride through the Ronde Hoep polder towards Oude Wetering.
Day 2 - Oude Wetering - Gouda, 45 km
From Oude Wetering you continue your journey on country roads and along canals through the Green Heart and the polders to reach the town known for its cheese: Gouda.
You will also discover the "stroopwafels" (Dutch wafers), pottery, or even earthenware.
Gouda is an authentic Dutch town with an almost historic town center.
After dinner you can follow the guide on foot to discover the city.
Day 3 - Gouda: 40 km by bike to Kinderdijk then navigation to Rotterdam
From Gouda you cross the Alblasserwaard to Rotterdam.
Kinderdijk is known for its old windmills, they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These mills were still used until 1950 to regulate the water level. From Kinderdijk, take the ferry to Rotterdam, wher the Wending awaits to take you to Delft, the city known for its pottery, "the blue of Delft".
Possibility to visit the Prinsenhof museum which is located in the former Monastery of Saint Agatha.
Day 4 - Delft - Katwijk - Leiden, 36 / 48 km
You cycle towards The Hague through the Haagse Bosch Forest and past the Royal Palace, Huis ten Bosch. You ride on a cycle path through the dunes towards Wassenaarse Slag, a secluded beach access to the dune ridge north of The Hague. The eight kilometers of beach are known for their beautiful natural areas, such as Meijendel, the largest single-piece dune strip in South Holland.
Here still exist traces of the Atlantikwall (Atlantic Wall), the great line of defense 2,685 kilometers in length, built by the Germans during World War II. The underground corridors and bunkers now form a bat nature reserve and have a protected status.
At the Wassenaarse Slag you will find breweries with a view of the North Sea.
Further on, in the dunes, is Katwijk aan Zee, an old fishing village. Passing through the Oude Rijn ("old Rhine") you arrive in Leiden. It is another historic town with many hofjes ’, old facades and buildings from the 15th to the 18th century.
Day 5 - Leiden and Keukenhof park
Visit the Keukenhof Gardens, an impressive and colorful collection of millions of flowering bulbs, in a setting of beautiful traditional and modern gardens. The many flowers like rhododendrons and azaleas are beautiful. The pavilions will surprise you with unique flower displays. And among the richness of colors, you will see some surprising works of art.
Keukenhof is the showcase for the horticultural sector in the Netherlands, in particular bulb culture. The park is the setting for 7 million spring-flowering bulbs, a living catalog of 100 exhibitors. Over 20 flower shows allow 500 flower growers to present all their cut flowers and potted plants.
To get to Keukenhof you take public transport. Keukenhof bus tickets and entrance fees are included in the price of the Tour.
Day 6 - Leiden - via the flower fields - Haarlem, 40 km
From Leiden, you drive through beautiful bulb flower fields towards Haarlem. During the period from March to May, the bulb flower fields are in full bloom: first daffodils, then hyacinths, tulips and lilies.
In Haarlem you can admire the ‘hofjes’ (houses built around a small courtyard) and the typical city canals. You can admire the large central square (Grote Markt), the town hall and St. Bavo's Church. Haarlem, which gave its name to Harlem, New York, is a bustling city ideal for shopping. The museums not to be missed are:
- the Teylers Museum (one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands)
- the Frans Hals Museum (one of the old Dutch masters, those painters who worked during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century).
After dinner, the guide offers a stroll around the city.
Day 7 - Haarlem - Amsterdam 40 km
You sail to Spaarndam, a picturesque village near Haarlem. The name Spaarndam comes from the dam built in the Spaarne river to limit the risk of flooding from the sea. On the IJdijk dyke is the statue of Hansje Brinker, a character from an American novel who saved the country from a flood by plugging a hole in the dike with his finger.
You cross the North Sea Canal by the Buitenhuizen ferry (the only connection between the ports of Amsterdam in the North Sea), then you cycle towards Zaanse Schans.
The village of Zaanse Schans, with its traditional wooden houses, warehouses and windmills, will take you back a few centuries. It is also a bustling place where people live and work. You can visit a cheese factory, a clog factory and a traditional bakery.
Back in Amsterdam, it's time to leave your bike.
Day 8 - Amsterdam
End of stay after breakfast before 10am.
Due to the navigation plan the route may be reversed or modified
