Through the province North Holland by bike & boat.
Flat countryside up to the horizon, windmills, canals (Grachten) and cycling, that are the Netherlands. And there is so much more. Dis-cover the Netherlands in a unique way on an 8-days-journey by bike and boat. Well-built cycle paths as well as wide and extensive waterways guarantee anunforgettable holiday. Throughout the day you are cycling on your own through the beautiful landscapes in Rembrandt’s and Van Gogh’s country and in the late afternoon your swimming hotel MS SERENA will be at your disposal. And if you don’t like to cycle every day, you can stay on board and enjoy the pass-ing countryside. The Province of theNorthern Netherlands: The Dutch province of the North Netherlands is situ-ated on a peninsula the North Sea and the IJsselmeer (IJssel Sea). The Northern Netherlands were founded due to the separation of the north and south of the Netherlands in 1840. Its capital is Haarlem, the biggest city is Amsterdam. Discover the folklore and tradition in the flat Polderland, on the North Sea and in romantic ports. You are travellingthrough a former lake and marsh region that has been drained by the help of wind-mills since the 17thcentury. Experience varying, typically Dutch Polder-countryside, dunes and North Sea beaches, the North Sea island Texel and many picturesque harbour villages on the coast of the IJsselmeer.
Check-in on board in the afternoon. Embarkation at 3 pm. Maybe you will take some time forexploring the city of Amsterdam and a shopping tour. At 5:30pm MS SERENA will leave Amsterdam for Hoorn with its historical old part of town.
Hoorn is an ancient city in which you can still find many buildings dating back to the 17thcentury (e.g. the Regentur of Westfriesland – today a museum -, the town’s scales at the Rodesteen, the harbour tower as well as the storage houses at the old quai). Today you are cycling from Hoorn to Enkhuizen. Tip: you should visit the Zuiderzeemuseum.
Today you are shipping over the IJsselmeer to Lemmer. You are starting your roundtrip by bike: over the Oosterzee Buren to the Tjeukemeer, further to Munnekeburen, then around the Rottige Meente over Scherpenzel and Schoterzijl back to Lemmer with its historical old part of town and beautiful gable houses.
Tip: Optional visit of the largest still-functioning steam pumping station in the world, “Woudagemaal”.
You are going by bike to Sondeler Leien Lake, from there you are going through the woods of Rijsterbos past the Mokkebank (a birds’ reservation) to the Roode Klif at Stavoren. From there you are cruising to Oudeschild on Texel.
You are going on a round trip by bike on the biggest North Sea Island of the Netherlands – Texel. There are numerous routes you can choose ffrom. Tip: We also recommend you to visit the beer brewery of Texel. Around 6 pm shipping back to Den Helder.
In the morning you are cycling through the dunes to Alkmaar. It is possible for you to go on board the MS SERENA in St. Maartensvlotburg and cruise the rest of the way to Alkmaar. As an alternative, you can also start your bike tour in St. Maartensvlotburg.
In the morning you have the opportunity to visit the cheese market in Alkmaar(ca. Apr to Sep). At midday we are shipping to Wormerveer from where you shouldcycleto the open-airmuseum Zaanse Schans (wind-mills, ancient Dutch village, cheese factory, etc.). You are cycling through the recreational area Twiske to Amsterdam. Tip:In the afternoonyou shouldtake part in a “Grachtenrundfahrt” (shipping on the channels of Amsterdam in small boats).
After breakfast checkout until 9:00 amand we are saying goodbye – have a safe journey.
Tour character
You cycle between 25 and 45 km each day. Nearly all routes are flat and easy to cycle along. You cycle on asphalted bike paths with routes that are signposted.
Program according to tour itinerary from/to Amsterdam
7 overnight stays in cabins with shower/toilet in the booked cabin category
Full board: breakfast buffet, small lunch or lunch package for bike tours, coffee and tea in the afternoon, 3-course-dinner
Welcome drink
Daily cleaning of cabins
GPS tracks
Linen and change of towels if required
All harbour, lock and bridge fees
Daily briefing of bike tours
1 route book per cabin for self-guided trips
Tour representative on board
Infos
Arrival/Parking/Departure:
Amsterdam train station close to the pier
Parking Oosterdok economy fare approx. € 20 for 24 h
Car park Amsterpark.nl /Valet Parking Services: Drop off your car at the pier on the day you arrive. Car will be back at the pier on day of departure, price €150 per week (application form in the travel documents)
Accommodation
MS Serena
Experience on this bicycle- and shiptour the Netherlandth northsea, Watten- and Ijsselmeer. On the MS Serena you pass the nights on the Netherlandth waters.
A comfortable river boat with nice saloon, bar and restaurant (air-conditioned). Partly roofed sun deck with seats and storage for bikes. Length 90 m, breadth 9,90 m, maximum space for 99 guests, Dutch flag and captaincy. 33 cabins on main deck and 18 cabins on promenade deck. The twin-bedded cabins on both decks are equipped with two separate beds and have a size of 8 – 9 sqm. The two junior suites on the main deck are equipped with a queen-size bed (grand lit, 1, 40 x 2 m) and have a size of 12 sqm. All cabins are equipped with shower/toilet, ventilation system, TV and a window which can be opened.