Netherlands by bike on board the Mare Fan Fryslân
Enjoy a wonderful experience aboard a sailboat on the Wadden Sea, a unique way to discover the Netherlands by bike and boat. You set off to explore the polders, meadows, canals and mills as well as the islands of Texel and Terschelling.
This route with exceptional Dutch landscapes is accessible to all and will leave you with excellent memories of a bicycle trip in Europe.
Day 1: Arrival in Enhkuizen
Boarding is from 4:00 p.m., near the beautiful center of Enkhuizen and near the train station. Sit back and join the skipper for an aperitif before receiving a trip recap, details about the ship and the safety measures on board. In the evening, cycle through the historic center of Enkhuizen, a picturesque town that was the town of Dutch merchants during the Dutch Golden Age. Enjoy your first night in Enkhuizen on the western shore of Lake IJssel.
Day 2 : Enkhuizen - Medemblik (24 km or 37 km) | navigation between - Den Oever - Texel
The first part of the journey begins along the IJsselmeer coast through beautiful polder landscapes to Medemblik. After your bike tour, the boat will sail to Den Oever. Weather permitting, in the evening, the ship will weigh anchor to cross the Wadden Sea and reach the island of Texel.
Day 3 : Texel loop (43km or 49km)
The island of Texel is a cyclist’s dream destination with its varied landscapes, marked cycle paths and picturesque villages. Enjoy a round-trip bike ride to the largest Dutch island in the North Sea. Then follow the Thijsse road (40 km) which will take you through the villages of the “Ecomare” sanctuary and will show you a traditional beer brewery near the port of Oudeschild.
Day 4 : Texel - Terschelling 5 to 6 hours of navigation
Today, let yourself be carried by the sails of your boat to the island of Terschelling. As you cruise through the sandbanks of the Wadden Sea, you will be able to see the seals on the sandbanks.
In the afternoon, the ship arrives on the island of Terschelling which includes several picturesque villages situated between polders and sand dunes along its 30 km.
While sailing, you will enjoy a hearty lunch on board. No dinner will be served tonight to give you time to explore the island, but you can try one of the fine restaurants in Terschelling (not included).
Day 5: Terschelling loop, free distance
While the previous day was devoted to sailing, today return to your bike. Terschelling offers diverse assets to the cyclists: nature, culture, 70 km of cycle paths and 4 beautiful villages to visit. West Terschelling is the largest village on the island and has many shops and pubs. The 400th year old island's lighthouse is nicknamed the "old Brandaris lighthouse" and can be seen from far away. Boschplaat is a region of moors to be discovered for its beaches and dunes. You can spot ducks , black-winged stilts, large colonies of spoonbills and black-backed gulls After a day of cycling, you can relax in comfort once on board.
At the end of the afternoon, the ship will cross the Wadden Sea on its way to Harlingen, the most important port town in the province of Friesland with an original port housing old ships.
Day 6 : Harlingen - Franeker - Makkum (48 km / 58 km)
You discover Via Franeker and its famous planetarium of Eise Eisinga and then travel through the beautiful Frisian countryside past several rural villages to the small harbor of Makkum on the eastern shore of Lake IJsselmeer. If you take the long version of the route by bike, you will visit Bolsward, one of the eleven Frisian towns.
Day 7 : Makkum - Stavoren (32km / 49km) and navigation
From Makkum you will pass to Stavoren. The short tour takes you through the ancient commercial town of Hindeloopen, home to the first Frisian Ice Skating Museum. The long circuit runs along several Frisian lakes and offers you varied landscapes. From Stavoren, the ship will leave to cross Lake IJssel and reach Enkhuizen in the late afternoon.
Day 8 : end of the tour after breakfast. Disembarkation until 9:30 am.
Observations:
Boat and bike trips, especially sailing trips, are subject to change. Weather and sea conditions have a direct impact on your program. However, you will be informed of any changes and can participate in the decision-making process. In all cases, the crew will do their utmost to ensure that you enjoy a unique experience in complete safety.
