Itinerary Expand all Amsterdam to Amsterdam Day 1 Start Amsterdam; board Leafde fan Fryslân and sail to Zaandam Our adventure starts in the early afternoon as you board the Leafde fan Fryslân in Amsterdam. After getting settled on board, the ship will leave the harbour at 2:30pm and sail to Zaandam. In the late afternoon, we will have the option to take a short ride. After enjoying a delicious dinner on board, our leader will take us on a guided walk through the beautiful city centre of Zaandam. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Cycle to Egmond, visiting the hamlet of Zaanse Schans and the Hortus Bulborum en route In the morning, we cycle to the charming hamlet of Zaanse Schans. Renowned for its operating windmills (the oldest of which dates back to the 17th century), Zaanse Schans is a traditional village that lies on the banks of the river Zaan. Stroll through the village, looking out for the clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a clog maker and a cheese farm. Our cycling tour continues to Limmen and Egmond-Binnen where we have the chance to bike through colourful tulip fields. Nearby, we’ll visit 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 special flowers are planted here. We continue cycling to Egmond at the North Sea, once more passing through the tulip fields. Our ship will be waiting near the historical city centre of Alkmaar. This town is well known as a Dutch cheese city. Wander through the streets and be amazed by the beauty of Alkmaar’s old town, with its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and narrow, winding canals. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Cycle north to Den Helder, stopping on the beach at the North Sea along the way Today we cycle north of Alkmaar where we will find the most beautiful tulip fields on the way to the North Sea. The sandy beach here is one of the most wonderful to walk along in the entire Netherlands, the perfect spot for feeling the wind in your hair or simply enjoying the view. Close by — and certainly worth a visit — is the artists' village of Bergen. We will continue on and cycle through the North-Holland Dune reserve to Den Helder: this piece of land wedged between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer boasts the world’s single biggest flowering bulb field. In one word: spectacular! Please note: total distance covered this day can vary from 33 to 50 km / 21 to 31 miles depending on the cycle routes you choose. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Cycle around the Wadden island of Texel During breakfast the ship will sail to the island of Texel, the largest of the Dutch Wadden Isles. Here there are various options in terms of cycling routes so you can ride as much as you want. Whichever route, cycle through delightful natural parks, and bike through fields of blooming flowers! Pass through picturesque villages and landscapes and visit the Ecomare seal sanctuary. At the end of the day, we can enjoy a locally-brewed, well-deserved beer during a visit to the small brewery near Oudeschild. Please note: total distance covered this day can vary from 15 to 65 km / 9 to 41 miles depending on the cycle routes you choose. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Sail to Enkhuizen; afternoon free to explore the town Today we will set sail to Enkhuizen. Relax and enjoy the sailing and scenery as you progress along the IJsselmeer. In the afternoon, the ship will arrive in Enkhuizen, an old city with many centuries of maritime tradition. Spend some time exploring here: “the herring city” boasts a beautiful old harbour and an old town full of history. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Morning sail to Hoorn; afternoon cycle to Volendam In the morning we sail along the Ijsselmeer to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn, which was, in the 17th century, one of the world’s foremost harbours. Our afternoon ride goes to Volendam, a small and picturesque fishing harbour on the shores of Lake IJsselmeer. Along the way, we’ll pass Edam, which is known for its famous Edam cheese, covered in red or yellow wax. While this adorable village is now renowned for cheese, it was once an industrious shipyard and port. That’s why, in the 17th century, the town’s specialty became one of the most popular cheeses in the world. Sailors took wheels of Edam on their voyages – the cheese doesn’t spoil easily and could be traded for spices and other riches of the East. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Full day visit to the famous Keukenhof Gardens Today we’ll take a bus through the oldest tulip fields of Holland to the famous Keukenhof Gardens. There will be plenty of time here to discover the most beautiful bulb park in the world — Keukenhof is the place where spring springs. It features an overwhelming blaze of colours: seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acre setting of traditional and modern gardening architecture. Here we will also find various hyacinths, daffodils, and many other vibrant flowers. In the afternoon the bus takes us back to Amsterdam where we spend our final night on the Leafde fan Fryslân. Accommodation: Leafde fan Fryslân Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Disembark until 9:30am in Amsterdam Our adventure ends after breakfast. Disembark until 9:30am in Amsterdam. Meals included: Breakfast
Leafde fan Fryslân The Holland Bike and Sail - Tulip Tour is offered on the sailing ship Leafde fan Fryslân, an imposing, three-mast barquentine. This ship has a traditional nautical atmosphere without being old-fashioned and the interior can best be described as refined. Description of the cabins On the lower deck, the Leafde fan Fryslân has twelve well-appointed twin cabins (10 m² – 107 sq.ft.), with two single beds, which can be set together in most cabins and 1 single cabin (8 m² – 86 sq.ft.). Some of the twin cabins can be booked as a three-bed cabin (the third bed as bunk). Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. All cabins have ventilation and heating, portholes and a hatch that can be opened. Furthermore, in each cabin you will find a hairdryer and a mini safe. Description of the ship On the lower deck you will find the restaurant in nautical style, where the carefully prepared sumptuous meals are served. In the wheelhouse on the upper deck, the Leafde fan Fryslân offers a cosy lounge which is equipped with large panoramic windows, a well-appointed seating area, TV and a well-equipped bar. Wi-Fi is available. The best views over the water are available in the lounge and on the deck, where you can also have a seat when the weather is nice. Facts about the ship Length: 48 m (158 ft.)Width: 7.2 m (24 ft.)Sail surface: 760 m² – 2494 sq.ft.Crew: 4Cabins: 13Passengers: 25
January 13, 2021 6 Cultural Tours in Europe to Look Forward to this Summer With a brighter future on the horizon, now is the time to start planning your 2021 escape to sunnier climes, where yo
January 12, 2021 6 Off-the-Beaten-Track Cycling Tours in Europe for 2021 With most of us spending time exploring hidden gems across the UK in 2020, the number of bike sales sky-rocketed as m
December 17, 2020 Best Destinations to Stretch your Legs in 2021 Besides its intriguing history and lively culture, Europe possesses some of the most awe-inspiring, natural beauty in
December 17, 2020 The 7 Best Peaks and Summits to Hike in 2021 No doubt after 2020 you’re desperate to alleviate those itchy feet with a hike of a lifetime.