Freewheeling Holland by bike
Welcome to this self-guided, five-day cycling tour full of Dutch classics.
You'll be freewheeling your way past fields of tulips, visiting historic windmills, and wandering around traditional cheese markets. You can even visit a clog factory. Cycling along the banks of various rural waterways, you'll pass typical fishing villages and historic towns. At the northernmost point, Den Helder, you'll explore the city and spend the night on a hotel boat before returning southwards towards Amsterdam along the North Sea shore.
Enjoy the exhilaration of pedal-powering your own journey and experience the many charms of rural Holland.
Services
Included:
- 4 nights accommodation in double or twin rooms
- Daily breakfast
- Meet & greet in Amsterdam
- Ferry Marken - Volendam (including bicycle)
- Private transfer Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam
- Cycle routes days with GPS
- Bicycle rental days (hybrid bicycle as standard, e-bike possible with surcharge)
- Rental of waterproof bicycle bag
- Rental of GPS device
Excluded:
- Tourist tax
Optional:
- Speak to your local expert if there's an experience that you'd really love to include in your trip
Itinerary at a Glance
Amsterdam - Hoorn
From Amsterdam to Edam & Hoorn
Hoorn - Medemblik
Medemblik Cycle Route
Medemblik - Den Helder
Medemblik to Den Helder
Den Helder - Bergen
Flower Fields & Sundowners in Bergen
Bergen - Amsterdam
The final stretch to Amsterdam
Detailed Itinerary
Amsterdam - Hoorn
Day 1: From Amsterdam to Edam & Hoorn
Your local host will welcome you at Amsterdam Railway Station where you’ll collect your rental bikes. We’ll adjust them with you, load up your luggage and spend some time chatting over the route and instructions. Then hop on and start your adventure. You’ll leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind as you cycle along tranquil canals and out into the countryside. You’ll be following a waterway along a long sea dike to the old village of Marken. Here you board a ferry to the picturesque fishing village of Volendam. Make sure you try some fresh kibbeling (pieces of cod fried in batter) and raw salt herring. From there it’s a short ride to nearby Edam, known for its centuries-old cheese market. The cycle route continues along the banks of the Markermeer until you reach the historic town of Hoorn where you’ll spend the night.
Distance today approximately 34 miles (54km)
Hoorn - Medemblik
Day 2: Medemblik Cycle Route
After breakfast, continue your journey along the coast of the Markermeer towards Enkhuizen. During the 17th Century, this was one of the most prosperous cities in the Netherlands. Today, its many mansions, canals, churches, city walls and harbour remind us of its rich history. Via the old sea dike, you’ll cycle on to Medemblik, the oldest city in West Friesland - a small friendly town where you can wander the old centre and stop for lunch or a coffee. Let us know if you would like to visit the castle and/or the Zuiderzee Museum, and we can include it in your itinerary.
Distance today is approximately 29 miles (48km).
Medemblik - Den Helder
Day 3: Medemblik to Den Helder
Today your bike ride will take you to the northernmost point of your journey, Den Helder. There are several fortresses around the city; some of them have been restored and are open to the public. One of the city's most impressive buildings is home to the Navy Museum where three museum ships are visible from a great distance. The armoured ship Schorpioen (Scorpion), the minesweeper Abraham Crijnssen and the submarine Tonijn (Tuna) are beautifully positioned on the museum grounds. The city's historic harbour has been transformed into a hip entertainment centre. On warm summer evenings, the terraces of the cafes and restaurants invite you to enjoy dinner and drinks with the locals. If you visit Den Helder on a Saturday, don't forget to take a look at the weekly market in Beatrixstraat.
Distance today is approximately 43 miles (54km).
Den Helder - Bergen
Day 4: Flower Fields & Sundowners in Bergen
Today’s route takes you through agricultural land, bordered on the west side by sand dunes and beyond those, the North Sea. This soil here is excellent for flower bulb cultivation. If you’re cycling in the spring months you’ll see endless rows of the most vibrant and colourful blooms. Your bike tour ends in Bergen, a charming small town known as an artists' village since the early 1900s. Many artists, including Charley Toorop, were drawn to the tranquillity and wide open spaces of the area and found inspiration in Bergen's beautiful location surrounded by nature. If you have the energy take a walk through the dunes or cycle to the sea. There are a few very enjoyable beach pavilions here and it's a nice place for a sundowner. Franschman's cheese farm is also worth a visit, between Bergen and Bergen aan Zee.
Distance today is approximately 34 miles (55km)
Bergen - Amsterdam
Day 5: The final stretch to Amsterdam
Your last day of cycling takes you through the pretty landscape of North Holland to Zaanse Schans. In the 17th century, the Zaan region developed into an industrial area with more than six hundred active windmills at its peak. This created one of the largest industrial areas in the world at the time. The windmills were used to grind spices, produce paint, saw wood and produce oil. A number of these windmills still exist and can be visited. You can see how these wind-powered machines work, both inside and out. The Zaanse Schans area was also important for shipbuilding. Upon arrival, you can hand back your rental bikes and enjoy the town. When you’re ready you will take a private transfer to Amsterdam’s railway station.
Distance today is approximately 29 miles (48km).
