Bike and boat on Tulip tour - Leafde Fan Fryslân

The Tulip Route on board the sailing boat Fan Fryslân

Experience a boat trip on board the sailing ship Leafde Fan Fryslân in the Netherlands on the Tulip Route. This trip can be done from Zaanse Schans or Amsterdam (see information tab). 
This route with its exceptional landscapes is accessible to all cyclists. A cycling trip in the Netherlands is a must for all cycling lovers. 

Day 1 - Zaanse Schans to Alkmaar

Boarding of the Leafde Fan Fryslân between 1 and 2 pm. You will be welcomed by the crew with coffee and tea. The sailboat is moored next to Zaanse Schans, a village known for its original windmills built next to the river Zaan. The oldest working windmill was built in 1673. The inhabitants used them to grind mustard seeds, spices and paint components, to extract vegetable oil and to saw wood.

After visiting Zaanse, the sailboat will sail towards Alkmaar. During this cruise through the Dutch countryside, you will enjoy a first dinner at sea.

Day 2 - Tour around Alkmaar - 33 km

Today you will discover the North-Holland dune reserve. This is an area of 5,300 hectares of forest and dunes with a unique landscape. The dunes are the source of drinking water for almost all of North Holland. After a visit to the beach and the village of Bergen, you will go to Alkmaar to enjoy the city center.

Day 3 - Alkmaar to Den Helder - 30 km

Your bike ride takes you north from Alkmaar through the most beautiful tulip fields to the North Sea. You arrive at one of the most beautiful beaches in the Netherlands. Nearby, you can visit the village of Bergen. You will then drive through the North Holland Dune Reserve towards Den Helder: a piece of land wedged between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer that is home to the largest field of flower bulbs in the world.

Day 4 - Den Helder to Oudeschild / Texel Island - 43 km

During breakfast, the sailboat will sail to the island of Texel, the largest of the Dutch islands. Today, choose the size of your route to discover the island of Texel. You will pass through beautiful nature parks and fields of flowers! The markers guide you through picturesque villages to the Ecomare seal sanctuary. At the end of your bike ride, you can enjoy a well-deserved local beer in the small brewery near Oudeschild.

Day 5 - Oudeschild to Enkhuizen - day trip

Today, the Leafde Fan Fryslân will set sail for Enkhuizen. You will be able to help with the navigation and the hoisting of the sails. Previous sailing experience is not necessary. You can also relax and enjoy the sailing and the landscape along the IJsselmeer.

During the sailing, you will enjoy a hearty lunch on board.

In the afternoon, the ship will dock in Enkhuizen, an old town with centuries of maritime tradition. Take time to explore the "city of herrings" with its beautiful harbor and historic downtown.
No dinner will be served tonight, so you can explore the town. You can pack a picnic lunch or dine in one of Enkhuizen's lovely restaurants.

Day 6 - Enkhuizen to Hoorn / Hoorn - Volendam - 28 km

In the morning we drive along the Ijsselmeer to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn, which in the 17th century was one of the world's first ports. In the afternoon, you will reach Volendam, a small picturesque fishing port on the shores of Lake IJsselmeer. On the way, you will pass through Edam, a town known for its famous cheese, covered with red or yellow wax.
Sailors used to take wheels of Edam cheese with them on their voyages to trade for spices and other riches from the Orient.

Day 7 - Volendam to Keukenhof - Amsterdam / bus trip

Today, a bus ride will take you through the oldest tulip fields in Holland to the famous Keukenhof Gardens. You will discover the most beautiful bulb park in the world. It presents a firework display of color: seven million tulips in bloom in a magnificent 80 acres of traditional and modern garden architecture. You can also admire a diverse array of hyacinths, daffodils and many other flowers.
In the afternoon, the bus will take you back to Amsterdam for a restful night on board the sailboat.

Day 8 - Amsterdam

Your trip on the Tulip Route ends after breakfast. You can disembark until 9:30 am.

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 (28 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.
 
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. Maartensvolburg to Alkmaar by bike (33 or 55 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 - Keukenhof - Alkmaar - bus trip
 
Today, a bus tour through the oldest tulip fields of the Netherlands takes you to the famous Keukenhof garden, the most beautiful bulb park in the world. It offers a firework display of color with its seven million blooming tulips and a diverse array of hyacinths, daffodils and many other bright flowers. In the afternoon, the bus will take you back to Alkmaar where the Leafde awaits you.
 
 
Day 7 - Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans (42 km)
 
This morning you will drive through colorful tulip fields towards Egmond and Limmen. You will pass the Hortus Bulborum, a unique museum-garden dedicated to the preservation of rare and historical bulbs. 
Over 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other special flowers are planted here. You will then reach Zaanse Schans, famous for its windmills built on the banks of the Zaan River. This tiny village is dominated by its working windmills. They were once used to grind mustard seeds, spices and paint components, extract vegetable oil and saw wood into boards.
 
 
Day 8 - End of the cycling trip in Zaanse Schans
 
End of your bike and boat trip in Holland. After breakfast, you can disembark until 9:30 am.

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:

Departure dates 2023:

Departures from Zaanse Schans on Sundays 02/04, 16/04 and 30/04/2023

• Low season : 02/04
• High season: 16/04 and 30/04

Departures from Amsterdam on Sundays 09/04 and 23/04/2023

• Low season : 09/04
• High season : 23/04

Included:

• Full board stay: 5 picnics, 1 lunch on board, 6 dinners on board and 1 picnic dinner
• coffee, tea, welcome cocktail
• sheets and towels
• guided tour
• daily cabin cleaning
• 1 bus excursion including a visit to the Keukenhof park
• waterproof bags
• road-book and maps

Not included :

• Transportation to the departure point
• Personal expenses
• Tours
• A fuel surcharge may be required on board due to the increase

Options:

• Renting of a VTC or VAE
• Helmet
• Personal bike space (mandatory if no bikes are rented)
• Theft insurance for rented bikes
• Cancellation insurance
• Additional night(s) at the beginning or end of the tour in a hotel in Amsterdam

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain :

Flat, very rolling roads and paths. 90% of the program is on bicycle 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 65 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. We offer boats with up to 80 seats in cabins of 2 and 3 people.

Accompaniment:

Here are the people in charge of your bike boat vacation:
On board, the captain and his crew. They are in charge of the good progress of the vacations on the boat, and bring the boat from stage to stage. The cook prepares the meals.
The tour is without a guide, a morning briefing on the tour will present the route each day.

Meals :

Breakfasts: on the boat, you will find a hearty, Dutch breakfast, worthy of a cyclist.

Lunches: after breakfast, you will prepare your own 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, along with a cake.

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 anti-theft device. 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 of Enkhuizen is very well served: several trains circulate towards and from France daily.
The Thalys is the fastest train to Amsterdam, and the equivalent of the TER will take you to Enkhuizen in one hour.
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.