Bike and boat on Tulip tour - Wapen Fan Fryslân

Holland by bike and sailboat on the Tulip Route

Do you want to live a unique and unforgettable experience? The discovery of the Tulip Route in the Netherlands by bike and aboard a sailboat will keep these promises. This Holland bike trip invites you to experience the blooming tulips in spring starting from the city of Amsterdam or Zaanse Schans. You will have the opportunity to visit the Keukenhof Gardens and admire the polders as you pass through picturesque towns and villages.

Points of interest during your stay in Holland:

• Keukenhof Gardens
• Amsterdam
• lake Ijsselmeer
• Alkmaar and Enkhuizen
• the polders

Day 1 - Amsterdam to Volendam  

You are expected on the sailing boat Wapen Fan Fryslân between 1 and 2 pm. The crew will welcome you with coffee and tea.

At 14:30 the ship leaves the port of Amsterdam. During the sailing to Volendam, the guide will give you all the information about the trip, cycling and safety procedures in the Netherlands.

At the end of the afternoon, you can try out your bike. After your dinner on board, you will follow the guide for a walk through the center of Volendam, a picturesque village on the shores of Lake Ijsselmer.

Day 2 - Volendam to Hoorn (28 km) - sailing between Hoorn and Enkhuizen 

On this first day of cycling, a hearty breakfast will be followed by a bike ride to Hoorn, a former city of the Dutch East India Company, which in the 17th century was one of the world's major ports.

On the way, you will pass through Edam, known for its famous cheese, covered with red or yellow wax.
If this beautiful village is famous for its cheese, it was once a very active port. Sailors took wheels of Edam cheese on their voyages to trade for spices and other riches from the Orient.
Later in the afternoon, you will join the ship to sail to Enkhuizen, a town with centuries of maritime tradition. You can spend some time exploring the "city of herring", its old harbor and the historic city center.

Day 3 - Enkhuizen to Oudeschild - full day sailing

Today, your ship will set sail for the port of Oudeschild on the island of Texel. You will be able to help with the navigation and the hoisting of the sails. No previous sailing experience is necessary. Of course, 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.

Day 4 - Oudeschild to Den Helder | Texel Wadden Island: round trip (43 km/29 mi. to 48 km/26 mi.)

This day invites you to discover the island of Texel by bike. You will pass through charming nature parks, and even on Texel, you will ride through fields of flowers! The markers lead you through picturesque fields and villages to the Ecomare seal sanctuary. At the end of your bike ride, you can taste a well-deserved local beer during a visit to the small brewery near Oudeschild.
In the late afternoon, the boat 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)

The first part of your cycling tour will take you to the north of Holland. This piece of land wedged between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer is home to the largest field of flower bulbs in the world! 
Near Alkmaar, you will find beautiful tulip fields on your way to the North Sea. Thesandy beach is one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Nearby, you can visit the village of Bergen. 
The boat will be waiting for you in the historical center of Alkmaar. This city is well known as the city of Dutch cheese. As you walk through the streets, you will be surprised by the beauty of Alkmaar's old town, with its well-preserved 17th century buildings and narrow, winding canals.

Day 6 - Alkmaar - Keukenhof - Alkmaar - bus tour

Today you will enjoy a beautiful bus ride through Holland's oldest tulip fields to the famous Keukenhof Gardens, the most beautiful bulb park in the world. It presents a firework display of color with its seven million blooming tulips in a magnificent architectural ensemble of traditional and modern gardening. You will also be able to admire a varied array of hyacinths, daffodils and many other bright flowers. In the afternoon, the bus will take you back to Alkmaar.

Day 7 - Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans (42 km)

In the morning you will drive towards Egmond and Limmen and here again you will have the chance to drive through colorful tulip fields. Nearby you will visit 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 then reach Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet with native houses and windmills built next to the river Zaan. This tiny village is dominated by its working windmills - the oldest was built in 1673. They were used to grind mustard seeds, spices and paint components, extract vegetable oil and saw wood into boards.

Day 8 - End of the bike trip in Zaanse Schans

End of your trip on the Tulip Route. After breakfast you can disembark until 9:30 am.

Take a boat trip on the sailing boat Wapen Fan Fryslân in North Holland on the Tulip Route. This trip can be done from Zaanse Schans or Amsterdam (see information tab). 
This route with its incredible flowery landscapes is accessible to all cyclists. A cycling and sailing trip in the Netherlands on the Tulip Route is a must for cycling enthusiasts. 

Day 1 - Zaanse Schans to Alkmaar

Boarding of the Wapen Fan Fryslân between 1 and 2 pm. You will be welcomed by the crew with coffee and tea. The ship is moored next to Zaanse Schans, a village known for its still active windmills built on the river Zaan. The oldest working windmill was built in 1673. The mills were used to grind mustard seeds, spices and paint components but also to extract vegetable oil and to saw wood.

After visiting this timeless village, the sailboat heads for 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'll enjoy the North-Holland Dune Reserve. This area of 5,300 hectares of forest and dunes offers exceptional scenery. The dunes are the source of drinking water for a large part of North Holland. After a visit to the village of Bergen, you will return to Alkmaar to visit its city center.

Day 3 - Alkmaar to Den Helder - 30 km

The bike trip takes you north from Alkmaar through the beautiful tulip fields to the North Sea. You will enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the Netherlands. You will then drive through the North Holland Dune Reserve to 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 your breakfast, the sailboat will sail towards the island of Texel, the largest of the Dutch islands. Today, choose the size of the tour to discover the island of Texel. You will pass through natural parks and many fields of flowers! Nodes guide you through picturesque villages to the Ecomare seal sanctuary. At the end of your bike ride, you can taste the local beer in the small brewery near Oudeschild.

Day 5 - Oudeschild to Enkhuizen - day trip

Today, the Wapen Fan Fryslân will set sail for Enkhuizen. You can test your sailing skills by hoisting the sails. No previous sailing experience is necessary. You can also relax and simply enjoy the scenery 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. Visit the "city of herrings", its beautiful harbor and historic city center.
No dinner will be served on board this evening to give you time to explore the town. You can pack a picnic lunch or dine in one of Enkhuizen's fine restaurants.

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

In the morning, the bike tour guides you along the Ijsselmeer to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn, where you can admire a historic port. In the afternoon, you will reach Volendam, a small picturesque fishing port on the shores of the IJsselmeer lake. On your 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 tour

Today a bus will take you through the oldest tulip fields in Holland to the famous Keukenhof gardens. You will have the pleasure of visiting the most beautiful bulb park in the world. It presents a firework of colors with seven million tulips in bloom. You will also be able to admire a variety of hyacinths, daffodils and many other flowers.
In the afternoon, the bus will take you back to Amsterdam to spend your last night aboard the Wapen.

Day 8 - Amsterdam

Your bike and boat trip along the Tulip Route ends after breakfast. You can disembark until 9:30 am.

Description : click here

General information :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Comfort level of the barge : Comfort
• Spoken languages on board : English and notions of French
• Child prices : please contact us

Dates :

Departure dates 2023 :

Departure from Amsterdam on 15/04/2023

Departure from Zaanse Schans on Saturdays 08 and 22/04/2023

• Low season : 08/04
• High season : 22/04

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
• daily cabin cleaning
• guided tour
• 1 bus excursion including a visit to the Keukenhof park
• waterproof bags
• road-book and maps

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Visits
• A fuel surcharge may be required on board due to the increase

Options :

• Bike rental
• Helmet
• Personal bike location (mandatory if no rented bike)
• Theft insurance for rented bikes
• Cancellation insurance
• Extra night(s) at the start or end of the tour in a hotel in Amsterdam

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat, very smooth roads and paths. 90% program on cycle paths.

Weather :

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

Technicality :

0 to 65 km of cycling per day, or about 3 to 5 hours of cycling. Easy route. No difficulties, accessible for anyone.

Bibliography :

- Guide and maps about the Netherlands on cartovelo.fr

Participants :

On board, you will meet an international community of all ages, men, women, singles and couples with children. We offer boats with 80 places maximum in cabins of 2 and 3 people.

Accompaniment :

People responsible for your bike and boat holidays are : 
On board, the captain and his mate. They are responsible for the smooth running of the vacation 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 you the route each day.

Meals :

Breakfast : on board, you will find a substantial and dutch breakfast, worthy of a cyclist.
Lunch : after the breakfast, you will prepare by yourself a “lunch” (sandwich, fruit, snack, drinks).
Snack : after the daily route, you will find, when you arrive on the boat, various drinks such as tea and coffee prepared for your return, with a cake.
Dinner : at least three very good quality dishes. After dinner, you will have a choice of 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.

Bike :

At the beginning, on Saturday afternoon, a bike corresponding to your height, will be assigned to you. After a test ride, you will sign a receipt. The bike (21-speed bike) will be at your disposal all week until Friday afternoon, when the bike is handed over. The bike will be fitted 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 insurer. Do not forget your anti-theft. The return of your bike will be at your expense.

Transport : 

By train : the departure towns for the bike and boat tours are served by the railway.
Amsterdam and Enkhuizen train stations are very well connected : several trains daily run to and from France.
Thalys is faster to Amsterdam, and the equivalent of the TER will get you to Enkhuizen in an 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 lots in the city can be found on the following website : parkingcentrumoosterdok.nl.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the refund of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more, please click here.