Cycling the Netherlands on the Tulip Route aboard the Wending
Discover the green heart of Holland and the Kagerplassen lakes on short cycling tours, connecting Delft, Leiden, Haarlem and Amsterdam. Embark on the comfortable cruise ship Wending for a unique and memorable cycling adventure.
On the famous "Tulip Route", follow in the footsteps of great Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. In spring, from the end of March to May, you can also enjoy the spectacular tulip blooms.
Highlights of your Tulip Route cycling cruise in Holland:
- Immerse yourself in the historic cities of Haarlem, Delft and Leiden
- Visit Keukenhof, the largest flower park in the world
- Admire the UNESCO World Heritage windmills of Kinderdijk
- Taste cheese specialties in the city of Gouda
Day 1: Amsterdam to Oude Wetering (sailing) then cycling loop (approx. 10 km)
Embark at Oosterdok, in the heart of Amsterdam, between 12:30 and 13:30. After settling into your cabin, share a welcome coffee or tea, then meet your guide and the crew of the Anna Antal. You then leave Amsterdam by sailing on the Amstel River to Oude Wetering. During dinner on board, your guide will explain the week’s programme and safety instructions. At the end of the day, you will take charge of your bikes during a short ride of about 10 km around the village.
Day 2: From Oude Wetering to Gouda (45 km)
Starting from Oude Wetering, you will cycle through the Dutch countryside along the canals, through the “Green Heart” and the polders, to Gouda, famous for its cheese. You will also discover the production of “stroopwafels” (caramelised wafers), pottery and earthenware.
Gouda offers an authentic and preserved city centre. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to follow your guide on foot for a night tour of the city.
Day 3: From Gouda to Delft (40 km by bike via Kinderdijk)
From Gouda, you will cycle to Rotterdam through the Alblasserwaard region. The route will take you to Kinderdijk, a must-see UNESCO site for its historic windmills that were once used to manage the water level.
From Kinderdijk, a ferry will drop you off in Rotterdam where you will board the Wending again towards Delft, famous for its blue earthenware. Don't miss a visit to the Prinsenhof Museum, housed in the former St. Agatha's Monastery.
Day 4: From Delft to Katwijk then Leiden (36 or 48 km)
You will leave Delft for The Hague, crossing the Haagse Bosch forest and passing the royal palace Huis ten Bosch. Then, a cycle path will take you through the dunes to Wassenaarse Slag, an isolated seaside access north of The Hague. This area is renowned for its unspoiled nature, including Meijendel, the largest dune belt in South Holland.
Here you can still see remains of the Atlantikwall (Atlantic Wall) built during the Second World War, with its bunkers now converted into bat shelters. Take a break at one of the local breweries on the beach, before continuing to Katwijk aan Zee, a former fishing village. You will then follow the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) to Leiden, a historic city with many courtyards (hofjes), where buildings dating from the 15th to the 18th century still exist.
Day 5: Leiden and Keukenhof Gardens
You will visit Keukenhof, an exceptional park where millions of tulip bulbs, rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in varied gardens, both classic and modern. The flower exhibitions and the works of art scattered throughout the park are also worth a visit.
Keukenhof highlights Dutch horticultural know-how, in particular bulb cultivation, with almost 7 million plants in flower in spring. The bus journey (public transport) and entrance to the park are included in the price of the stay.
Day 6: From Leiden to Haarlem via the tulip fields (40 km)
Leaving Leiden, you will cross impressive fields of bulb flowers in full bloom (depending on the season: daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, lilies) to Haarlem.
In Haarlem, don’t miss the typical “hofjes” (houses overlooking an inner courtyard) and the picturesque canals. You can admire the Grote Markt (large square), the City Hall and the Saint Bavo Church. Ancestor of New York’s Harlem, this lively city is full of interesting shops and museums, including:
- The Teylers Museum (the oldest in the Netherlands)
- The Frans Hals Museum (dedicated to the famous painter of the Dutch Golden Age)
After dinner, your guide will take you on a walking tour of the city to take in its atmosphere.
Day 7: Haarlem to Amsterdam (40 km)
In the morning, you will sail to Spaarndam, a charming village near Haarlem. Its name comes from the dam built on the Spaarne River to contain flooding. On the IJdijk dike, you will see the statue of Hansje Brinker, the hero of an American novel, who is said to have saved the region from a flood by plugging a leak with her finger.
You will cross the North Sea Canal with the Buitenhuizen ferry, then head to Zaanse Schans. This village with its wooden houses and period mills is still inhabited and lively, home to a cheese dairy, a clog factory and a traditional bakery.
At the end of the day, you will return to Amsterdam and return your bikes.
Day 8: Amsterdam
After breakfast, the trip ends around 10am.
Note: Depending on the sailing conditions, the itinerary may be reversed or modified.
