The Netherlands Bike & Boat: Springtime in Holland, Aboard the Lena Maria

8 days
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4.9/5 Excellent
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Group Tour
Nobody does springtime in Holland quite like VBT. We’ve planned you an itinerary of cycling past windmills and polder villages followed by relaxing on your group’s private Dutch barge. As your cozy ship floats along Holland’s network of canals, you’ll cycle easy paths past massive fields of blossoms, stopping to learn about the history of tulips, daffodils, a...
From$4,395
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Learn how historic windmills work and how they are used to reclaim land called “polders.”
    • View rare and historic flower bulbs at the flower garden museum, Hortus Bulborum.
    • Explore the living catalogue of spring flowers at Keukenhof Gardens.
    • Explore Holland’s “Green Heart,” a rural and peaceful nature zone.

What's this trip about?

    Nobody does springtime in Holland quite like VBT. We’ve planned you an itinerary of cycling past windmills and polder villages followed by relaxing on your group’s private Dutch barge. As your cozy ship floats along Holland’s network of canals, you’ll cycle easy paths past massive fields of blossoms, stopping to learn about the history of tulips, daffodils, and other bulbs at the unique garden museum Hortus Bulborum. Visit the family home of farmers in Gouda—and learn about the famous cheese-making traditions there. During this exceptional springtime bicycling vacation, your experienced VBT trip leaders and dedicated barge crew will open the doors to Holland’s most celebrated season.  

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age range13 to 80 years
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityBarge
End CityBarge

Travel Themes

  • Cycling & Biking
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Sailing
  • Photography

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Netherlands

Attractions

  • Aalsmeer
  • Alkmaar
  • Alphen
  • Amsterdam
  • Barge
  • Den haag
  • Gouda
  • Haarlem
  • Keukenhof Flower Park
  • Leiden

Activities

  • Culture
  • Cycling
  • History
  • Nature
  • Photography
  • Sailing
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Guided Group

Trip includes

    • Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
    • Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
    • Support Vehicle
    • Luggage Transportation
    • Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
    • Welcome Reception
    • Facilitated Cultural Experiences
    • Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure

Itinerary

Travel Map
DAY 1: Embark barge / Cruise to Zaanse Schans

You are responsible for making your way to our barge, arriving between 12:30 and 12:50 p.m. Please note that you cannot embark before this time, as the barge is being prepared for your arrival. If you are late, you must contact the barge as soon as possible to make al...

DAY 2: Cycle to De Rijp / Visit Schermerhorn Windmill Museum / Alkmaar

Today, your barge continues along the River Zaan and the Knollendammer Canal to the town of Alkmaar, famed for its cheese trade. After breakfast, you will cycle past lakes and water-management systems to the beautiful town of De Rijp. Once there, you’ll understand why...

DAY 3: Guided tour of Hortus Bulborum / Cycle to the North Sea coast and Haarlem

After an early breakfast, you’ll cycle to the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to the preservation of rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers blossom throughout the museum’s five-plus acres of flowerbed...

DAY 4: Keukenhof Flower Park / Leiden

Today is another day with an early start, so you can catch the flowers opening in the early morning light. You’ll ride through gorgeous blooming bulb fields to Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring garden in the world. The 80-acre (32-hectare) park boasts more than 9 m...

DAY 5: Cheese farm visit / Gouda

This morning, ride out of Leiden through verdant pastures and small farms, famous for cheese production. Near Zoeterwoude, you can stop to visit one such farm and meet the owners, Karin and Sjaak van Veen, and their animals. The farm has been in their family for more ...

DAY 6: Gouda / Alphen / Oude Wetering

Leave Gouda this morning and pedal alongside peat lakes and onto the banks of the narrow Rhine River to Alphen aan den Rijn, where you will board the barge for lunch.

Afterward, you have the option to either cycle or cruise through a pretty stretch known as the...

DAY 7: Aalsmeer / Amsterdam

After sipping your morning beverage of choice at breakfast on the barge, shuttle to Aalsmeer, home to the world’s largest flower auction. An astonishing volume of beautiful flowers are traded from more than ten countries for export throughout the world.

From he...

DAY 8: Depart Barge / Discover Amsterdam

After an included breakfast, say goodbye to your barge crew and trip leaders as your tour comes to a close. It is important that you leave the barge no later than 9:00 a.m. Please refer to the information listed in the tour handbook.

Included Meals: Breakfast

 

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,395
Price per day$549
Last Updated: 4/19/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with VBT Bicycling Vacations.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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VBT Bicycling Vacations Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
579
Great
42
Average
11
Disappointing
4
Terrible
3
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Other VBT Bicycling Vacations Reviews

G

Ginger

Nov 2023

Written on

The best vacation ever

This was the first organized tour my husband and I have ever joined, so we were not sure what to expect , but it turned out to be the best vacation we've ever had. T...

D

DonaandConnie

Nov 2023

Written on

Absolutely stunning scenery with relatively easy cycling.

This tour was one of our favorites. The tour leaders (Claudio and Tiziana) were great. The Dolomites and Italian Alps were breathtaking and the bike paths and towns ...

B

Barbnjim

Nov 2023

Written on

life at its fullest

Unlike tours where you gaze at world class natural and historic wonders in another culture, this tour put us in intimate touch with them through cycling, eating, dri...

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Tour Operator

VBT Bicycling Vacations

premier
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Since 1971, VBT has crafted immersive and authentic biking vacations for active travelers. When you travel with VBT, you’re not just another tourist—you’re a traveler. With us, you’ll experience your destination with the help of a local, bilingual trip leader with a passion for sharing their home with you. You’ll eat in local restaurants, stay in accommodations that have been family-owned for generations and cycle through vineyards, olive groves, and medieval villages. 


With VBT, you won’t just visit a place—you’ll immerse yourself in it. You might follow a centuries-old pasta recipe while taking a cooking class in Rome—or learn a folk dance in Croatia, followed by sharing a bottle of locally-produced Grk wine with your new friends. Exploring the world on two wheels lets you experience your surroundings on a deeper level.

 

VBT offers exceptional value without compromising on quality. Simply put, no other US-based active travel company offers an experience this rich for such a reasonable price. On our tours, you can see more sights, have more local experiences, and enjoy more delicious, authentic meals—all while staying in high-quality, boutique hotels and charming, family-run inns.

 

All you have to do is show up at the airport—we’ll handle the rest! From tour consultants who help you find the perfect vacation to expert local trip leaders who show you the best place for gelato, we take care of all the little details that make your trip memorable. We book your flights, arrange all your transportation and accommodations, and move your luggage between hotels. Our support vans are available to give you a lift up a hill or quickly fix a flat tire. VBT takes care of your travel details and creates unique itineraries so you can relax and enjoy your small-group vacation from start to finish.

 

Friendly camaraderie, cultural immersion, and casual comforts are the hallmarks of our vacations. Discover delightful people, beautiful hotels, foreign cultures, and fascinating lifestyles that will enrich your life and provide memories for years to come.

Why we love this operator
Their unique emphasis on immersive cultural experiences combined with active exploration with personalized cycling experiences.
What they’re known for
VBT Cycling are renowned for offering exceptional guided and self-guided bicycle tours worldwide.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

13 meals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners

Age Requirements
13 to 80 years
Additional Information

This tour is rated Easy, and both hybrids and E-bikes are offered. Riding is primarily on paved roads and paths with very few hills, although wind may increase the difficulty factor since there is often little or no shelter. Cyclists may stay on the barge on windy days if they wish, but they will miss out on some of the incredible scenery, which is best viewed while pedaling. Vehicle support is not available on the bike path sections of the ride.

Daily Mileage: 15 - 25 miles| Biking: 2 - 4 hours| Group Size: 24

Trip ID
vbt-vbt-NeSp

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