Bike and boat on Tulip tour - Leafde Fan Fryslân 2026

Holland by bike and sailboat on the Tulip Route aboard Leafde Fan Fryslân

Follow us on the Tulip Route in the Netherlands by bike and on board the Leafde Fan Fryslân for an exceptional experience. This bike and boat trip in Holland allows you to discover the tulip blooming in springtime from the city of Amsterdam or from Zaanse Schans (see departure dates in the information tab). This trip allows you to admire the Keukenhof gardens and the polders while passing through picturesque towns and villages. 
 
Points of interest of the trip in Holland : 
Keukenhof Gardens
Amsterdam
the Ijsselmeer lake
Alkmaar and Enkhuizen 
the polders
 
Day 1 - Amsterdam to Volendam  
 
You will be expected on the sailing boat Leafde Fan Fryslân between 1 and 2 pm. The crew will welcome you with coffee and tea.
At 2:30 pm the ship leaves the port of Amsterdam for the port city of Volendam. During the navigation, the guide will give you the necessary information about the trip, cycling and safety procedures in the Netherlands.
Upon arrival in Volendam, you will have the opportunity to try out your bike for a ride. After your dinner on board, you will follow the guide for a walk through the center of Volendam which borders the Ijsselmer lake.

 
Day 2 - Volendam to Hoorn (24 km) - sailing between Hoorn and Enkhuizen 
 
For this first cycling stage in Holland, a hearty breakfast will be followed by a tour in the direction of Hoorn, once one of the world's major ports.
On the way you can visit Edam and taste the famous cheese covered with red or yellow wax.
Edam was also once a very active port. Sailors used to take wheels of cheese with them on their voyages to trade for spices and other oriental riches.
Later in the afternoon, you will join the Leafde Fan Fryslân to sail to Enkhuizen, a town with centuries of maritime tradition. You can explore the so-called "herring town", its old harbor and its historic city center.

 
Day 3 - Enkhuizen to Oudeschild - full day sailing

Today, the boat will set sail for the port of Oudeschild on the island of Texel. You can test your sailing skills by hoisting the sails without any previous experience. Of course, you can also relax and enjoy the scenery along the IJsselmeer. During the sailing, you will enjoy a hearty lunch on board.

In the afternoon, the ship will arrive in Oudeschild on the Texel Island, the largest of the Dutch Wadden Isles.

No dinner will be served to enable you to explore the harbor. You can make yourself a picnic meal or thry one of the nice restaurants of Oudeschild.

 
Day 4 - Oudeschild to Den Helder | Texel Wadden Island: round trip (43 km to 48 km)
 
This cycling stage invites you to discover the island of Texel through charming natural parks and numerous flowering fields! The bike markers guide you through the picturesque villages to the Ecomare seal sanctuary. At the end of the bike ride, you can enjoy a well-deserved local beer by visiting the small brewery near Oudeschild.
In the late afternoon, the Leafde Fan Fryslân will take you back to the port of Den Helder.

 
Day 5 - Sailing from Den Helder to St. Maartensvlotburg - St. Maartensvloburg to Alkmaar by bike (32 or 53 km)
 
Head to North Holland to Den Helder, a piece of land between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer that is home to the largest flower bulb field in the world! 
Near Alkmaar, you can see the beautiful tulip fields as you drive towards the North Sea. Nearby, you can visit the village of Bergen. 
You will join the sailboat in the historical center of Alkmaar. You will be charmed by the old town of Alkmaar, its well-preserved 17th century buildings and its narrow, winding canals.
 
 
Day 6 - Alkmaar to Zaandam (47 km)
 

In the morning, you cycle towards Egmond and Limmen, passing colorful tulip fields. Along the way, visit Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden-museum dedicated to historical bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other bulbs bloom here.

The next destination is Zaanse Schans, on the banks of the Zaan River. This authentic village is like an open-air museum. With its green wooden houses, its windmills—the oldest dating back to 1673—and its traditional craftsmen, it feels like a journey back in time. As you stroll through the village, discover the clock museum, an authentic grocery shop, a clog maker, a period furniture seller, and a cheese dairy. The boat will be waiting for you in Zaandam.

 
 
Day 7 - Zaandam - Keukenhof - Amsterdam (bus excursion)
 
Today, give your legs a rest and hop on the bus. It will take you through the oldest tulip fields in the Netherlands to the famous Keukenhof Park. This botanical garden dedicated to tulips will dazzle you with every color imaginable. No fewer than 7 million tulips bloom across more than 32 hectares. At the end of the day, the bus will take you back to the boat in Amsterdam.
 
 
Day 8 - End of the cycling trip Amsterdam
 
End of your bike and boat trip in Holland. After breakfast, you can disembark until 9:30 am.

Sailboat tours depend on the strength and direction of the wind. The crew adapts the program according to these hazards to enable you to make the most of this unique experience. All participants are invited to take part in discussions to adjust the program.

To access the description of the sailboat : click here

General Information:

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Level of comfort of the boat : standard
• Languages spoken on board : English, dutch
• Children's rates : contact us

Dates 2026:

• Low season : 29/03, 05/04
• High season  : 12/04, 19/04, 26/04

Included:

• Full board stay: breakfasts, 5 picnics, 1 lunch on board, 6 dinners on board (no dinner on day 3), coffee, tea, welcome drink
• Sheets and towels
• Guided tour (English-speaking guide)
• Daily cabin cleaning
• 1 bus excursion including a visit to the Keukenhof park
• Waterproof bags
• Road-book and maps
• Wifi

Not included :

• Drinks other than coffe and tea
• Transportation to the departure point
• Personal expenses
• Visits
• Fees for the ferries
• Parking

Options:

• standard bike and e-bike rental
• Helmet
• Parking for own bike (mandatory if no bikes are rented)
• Theft guarantee for rented bikes
• Cancellation insurance

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain :

Flat, very rolling roads and paths.

Climate:

Contrary to popular belief, the temperature in the Netherlands is similar to the temperature in France. Near the coast, the climate is sometimes windy.

Technicality :

0 to 53 km of riding per day, or about 3 to 5 hours of cycling.
Easy to follow route. No difficulties, accessible to all.

Bibliography :

Guide and maps on the Netherlands on cartovelo.fr

Participants:

You will meet on board an international community of all ages, men, women, singles and couples with children. This boat offers 38 places maximum in 20 cabins.

Accompaniment:

Here are the people in charge of your bike boat vacation:

• On board are the captain and his cabin boy. They are responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the vacation on the boat and transport the boat from one stop to the next. The cook prepares the meals.
• The tour is with an English-speaking guide, who pedals alongside the group.

Meals :

• Breakfasts: on the boat, you will find a hearty, Dutch breakfast.
• Lunches: after breakfast, you will prepare your own "packed lunch" (sandwiches, fruits, snacks, drinks).
• Snacks: after the day's ride, you will find various drinks such as tea and coffee prepared for your return.
• Dinners: at least three dishes of very good quality. After dinner, you will have the choice between coffee and tea.

Other drinks, such as wine, beer, lemonade and mineral water, are not included but can be purchased on board at a reasonable price.

Cycling:

• Upon departure on Saturday afternoon, you will be assigned a bike that matches your size. After a test ride, you will sign a receipt. The bike (7 speeds) will be at your disposal all week long until Friday afternoon, the day of the bike's delivery. The bikes will be equipped with panniers.
• If you take your own bike, it cannot be insured against theft by our company, you will have to make the necessary arrangements with your usual insurance company. Do not forget your bike lock. The return of your bike will be at your expense.

Transportation :

• By train: The departure cities of the bike and boat tours are served by the railway. The station is very well served: several trains circulate towards and from France daily. 
• By plane: AMSTERDAM International Airport.

Your vehicle:

We strongly advise against parking cars on the streets of Amsterdam and Enkhuizen. Information on guarded parking in the city can be found on the following website: parkingcentrumoosterdok.nl/.

Cancellation insurance: 

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in case of cancellation of your stay, you can take out a cancellation insurance. For more information, click here.