Discover the inland sea and the National Parks of Holland by bike and boat
Once a saltwater sea, the IJsselmer is now the largest freshwater lake in the whole of Holland! Discover this unique part of the Netherlands aboard a comfortably equipped sailing yacht, while cruising along excellent cycle paths and trails.
Until 1932, the IJsselmeer was an inland sea called the Zuiderzee. Since the Middle Ages, this region has played a major role in the economic development of the Netherlands, but has also often been severely flooded. A 32-kilometer-long dike, completed in 1932, put an end to the flooding and transformed the salty sea into a freshwater lake. Along its shores, numerous picturesque and historic port and trading towns, centuries-old polders (land reclaimed from sea level) and beautiful villages still bear witness to a rich maritime past.
The cool waters of the IJsselmeer are home to an immense diversity of birds, plants and fish. The tour also takes in several Dutch national parks and the province of Overijssel. On the last day, the boat returns to Amsterdam, where you can relax on board. A final short bike ride is planned through the Oostvaardersplassen, a nature reserve known for its rewilding, i.e. the area is left to create its own natural balance between animal and plant life.
Day 1: ⛵ From Amsterdam to Monnickendam or Volendam
Your week of sailing and cycling begins in Amsterdam. The crew will welcome you on board around 2:00 PM. Once all guests have checked in, the boat will motor to Monnickendam or Volendam. From the harbor of one of these old fishing villages, you can stroll through the historic center after dinner.
Day 2: 🚲 Loop of Monnickendam or Volendam (35 km or 48 km) | ⛵ From Volendam to Hoorn
A typically Dutch start to the day: you'll cycle to a nearby family-run cheese dairy and clog shop. Enjoy a short demonstration of cheese and clog making, with a cheese tasting, of course. Continue cycling along the dikes to Purmerend, in the heart of a polder called De Beemster, 3.5 meters below sea level. Created over 400 years ago when the Dutch transformed an inland lake into pastureland, it is recognized by UNESCO as "a creative masterpiece."
Your next destination is Edam, a charming town whose narrow streets and canals are well worth a stroll. Edam is world-renowned for its cheese covered in red or yellow wax. This practical solution keeps the cheese fresh for a long time, allowing 17th-century sailors to take it with them on their voyages or trade it for spices and other treasures from the Orient. Via the main dike of the IJsselmeer, you arrive at the Volendam promenade, where the boat is moored. Later in the afternoon, the boat sails to Hoorn.
Day 3: 🚲 From Hoorn to Enkhuizen (26 km or 44 km) | ⛵ From Enkhuizen to Urk
Through small hamlets and rural villages, today's walk takes you to Enkhuizen. You'll pass De Krijgsman (The Warrior), the tallest windmill in the province of North Holland and one of the few old Dutch mills still used to produce flour for commercial purposes. The area is also known for its many greenhouses where vegetables are grown. In the 17th century, Enkhuizen was one of the wealthiest cities in Holland, thanks to its port, which shipped expensive spices from Asia. Be amazed by the stately homes, canals, churches, and city walls that still reflect the city's rich history and prosperity today.
In the afternoon, weather permitting, we'll cross the IJsselmeer to the port of Urk. On board, you can help the captain navigate if you wish. Or you can simply relax on deck and enjoy this invigorating crossing. In the evening, you can stroll through the narrow streets and alleys of Urk. The houses of this picturesque fishing village were built close together on raised ground to protect them from the water.
Day 4: 🚲 From Urk to Vollenhove (30 or 44 km)
After breakfast, the boat will take you to the "new land." From Schokkerhaven, your bike tour through the polder begins. You'll cycle along an asphalt cycle path to the former island of Schokland. Since the drainage of the Northeast Polder (Noordoostpolder) in 1942, Schokland—like Urk—is no longer an island. Since 1995, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue your bike ride through the polder to Vollenhove, another charming former fishing village.
Day 5: 🚲 From Vollenhove to Giethoorn (40 or 52 km)
From Vollenhove, cycle paths through open countryside lead you to the small town of Blokzijl. This is where you enter the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the largest freshwater wetland in Northwest Europe and a haven for plants, animals, and humans.
A cycle path through the center of the park takes you away from the roads, immersing you in the tranquility of this region. Keep an eye out for a fleeting kingfisher or—if you're really lucky—an otter, the park's symbol. You pass through Kalenberg, a village that, until the 1950s, was only accessible by boat.
A winding route through an agricultural landscape of narrow fields surrounded by dikes leads you to the charming town of Giethoorn, nicknamed the "Little Venice of the North."
Day 6: ⛵ From Giethoorn to Lelystad
Today you can enjoy a full day of sailing and relaxing on board. Once again, you can help the captain navigate the boat if you wish. Or you can simply relax on deck. The captain steers the boat out of the narrow canals and into the open waters. In the early afternoon, the Elizabeth will arrive in Lelystad, the capital of the province of Flevoland, completely reclaimed from the sea. After mooring, a true captain's dinner is served on board.
Day 7: 🚲 From Lelystad to Blocq van Kuffeler (20 or 29 km) | ⛵ From Blocq van Kuffeler to Amsterdam
In the morning, you can:
- Visit the Batavia Werf, an extraordinary shipyard where vintage ships are restored to their former glory
- Go shopping at Batavia Stad, a shopping center with famous brands
After these optional visits, you'll set off on your final half-day of cycling. You'll cross the Oostvaardersplassen, a nature reserve on new lands, left free from all human activity to regain its balance. Some sections of the ride wind through forested areas, while others offer panoramic views of vast reed beds and wetlands. It's a birdwatcher's paradise.
The boat will pick you up in the small port of Oostvaardersdiep for the return trip to Amsterdam. Celebrate this wonderful week around the IJsselmeer with a farewell dinner on board.
Day 8: Amsterdam
Your tour ends today with a hearty breakfast. Disembarkation is before 9:30 am.
Good to know:
- The distances of the cycling routes in the travel program are approximate.
- On some days, you can choose between a longer or shorter cycle route. Please note that on shorter routes, you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
- If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you are welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship sails to the next port of call.
- The itinerary and program are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
- On the day of arrival, you can leave your luggage on board the boat from 11:00 am.
- Detailed maps of cycling routes, route advice and a GPS application are available for individual bike navigation.
Important note for the Sail & Bike program:
A small degree of unpredictability is part of every Sail & Bike tour: the day of departure and arrival as well as the location - Amsterdam - are 100% certain. For the rest, the planned daily sailing itineraries depend partly on wind strength and direction. The skipper decides on the best route to follow day by day, and discusses the options with his guests.
The crew does its utmost to ensure that the program runs according to plan, and to offer you as fascinating, varied and active a week as possible, in which nature and culture play a major role.
However, it is also possible that departure times and time spent on the water - and even the order of the program itself - may be adjusted. Enjoy the ride and let the elements guide you! Whenever possible, various crossings will be made under full sail, and anyone wishing to help the crew navigate and steer the boat is welcome to do so. This is, of course, entirely voluntary, and no sailing experience is necessary.
