North Amsterdam by bike and boat on the tradition route aboard the Wending
Explore the Dutch countryside by bike on the Tradition Route for a unique stay aboard the Wending.
The northern route follows routes through the famous Dutch polders and the most beautiful dune region in the Netherlands: from Bergen to Schoorl. Also discover the island of Texel, charming Dutch villages and of course the beautiful city of Amsterdam on this exceptional bicycle cruise.
The highlights of the stay:
- The fishing villages of Volendam and Enkhuizen
- Texel Island
- Beemster Polder
- Windmills at Zaanse Schans
Day 1 - Amsterdam, boarding at 4 p.m. / 15 km
Boarding between 3 and 4 pm at Oosterdok in central Amsterdam and storage of your luggage in your cabin. Meet the guide, skipper, his crew and other passengers. Then, you can try your bike for a short tour north of Amsterdam. The program of the stay will be explained to you at dinner time.
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, was in the 12th century a simple village on the banks of the Amstel river which had an open connection with the sea. The marshes and the sea around Amsterdam are now polders. The Zuiderzee (the south sea) became the IJsselmeer (the lake of IJssel).
Day 2 - Amsterdam - Hoorn 45 km
In the morning, you take the ferry north out of Amsterdam. You cycle through the beautiful region of Waterland, here the roads and houses are almost at the same level as the water!
Then you visit Marken which was an island barely a century ago. You can only visit Marken on foot or by bicycle. Car traffic is prohibited there, except for residents.
After Marken, you cycle to the historic town of Volendam, once a small fishing village. Now it is an important tourist center, where some locals still wear the traditional costume.
You then sail to Hoorn, also an important port town in the 17th century where you can admire old facades, canals and bridges.
Day 3 - Hoorn - Enkhuizen 45 km
The route to Enkhuizen follows the dike with a magnificent view of the Markermeer on the right and the small Dutch villages on the left. The Enkhuizen dike in Lelystad was built recently to create a new large polder: the Markerwaard. But the project was not successful as the environment and the supply of fresh water became a priority.
The stage ends in Enkhuizen. Here you can visit the Zuiderzee Museum, which shows everyday life on the Zuiderzee seaside, life before the construction of the Afsluitdijk. This dike transformed in 1932 the Zuiderzee (a sea in open connection with the North Sea) into IJsselmeer (a lake in fresh water).
Day 4 - Enkhuizen - Medemblik, then navigation to Texel 35 km
You follow the IJsselmeer dike and then continue your way through typical villages of the region. At Medemblik, where Radboud Castle bears witness to a glorious past, you board the Wending to sail the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee (the Wadden Sea) to the island of Texel. The Waddenzee is known to be the world's largest uninterrupted system of mudflats and sandbanks. There is a multitude of habitats there: tidal channels, sandbanks, seagrass meadows, mussels, mudflats, salt marshes, estuaries, beaches and dunes. As well as many different species of plants and animals, including marine mammals such as seals.
Day 5 - Texel, round trip 35/48 or 62 km
The island of Texel is the largest island in the Netherlands with an average length of 20 km and a width of 8 km. Texel is very popular with ornithologists because there are no less than 300 different species of birds. The dune ridge presents a hilly expanse of flowers and wild grasses and the beaches are very wide. The wheat fields alternate with the meadows colonized by cows. A visit to this island with its many cycle paths will leave you with excellent memories. The guide will follow the 35 km loop
Day 6 - Texel - Alkmaar 60 km
The boat takes you back inland and you disembark at Den Helder, the main port of the Netherlands Navy. By bike, you cross the dunes and the Zwanenwater, which is an impressive nature reserve, with its lakes and marshes.
On the dike of Hondsbossche Zeewering, you have a beautiful view of the North Sea. Towards Schoorl you contemplate the highest dunes in the country. Over the past century, many pine trees have been planted there and the dunes are covered with dense forest.
The stage ends in Alkmaar, a beautiful historic town with 400 monuments classified as national monuments, one of the most famous of which is the Grote Kerk which dates from the 15th century. Alkmaar is known as the 'city of cheese' because it was weighed and sold Waag-style cheese (an ancient word for 'balance').
Day 7 - Alkmaar - Amsterdam 60 km
First, visit the mills and museum at Schermerhorn. You then cross some remarkable polders. In the 17th century, 2 lakes were drained and turned into agricultural land. The Beemster Polder is an impressive example of land taken from water. It has preserved its landscape of fields, roads, canals, dikes and developed villages.
On the road to Amsterdam you will discover Zaansche Schans, with its traditional wooden houses, warehouses and superb windmills. You have the possibility to visit a cheese factory, a clog factory and a traditional bakery.
Back in Amsterdam, leave your bike to enjoy a final evening on the town.
Day 8 - Amsterdam
End of stay after breakfast before 10am.
Due to the navigation plan, the route may be reversed or changed.
