Day to Day Itinerary
Saturday: approx. 20 km.
We depart Amsterdam this afternoon in the direction of Spaarndam, where we leave the barge and cycle to Haarlem. Lots of Flemish moved here to find their luck and fortune and it was partly due to them that the linen commerce grew inmensely. The wealth that came along with this commerce attracted lots of artists, among them Frans Hals. In the evening you will enjoy a delicious meal and a special guest will tell you all about the history of the Haarlem Breweries.
Sunday:approx. 30 km.
After a sailing cruise you cycle right through Holland’s Green Heart to Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt and Jan Steen. The Leiden university is one of the oldest in the Netherlands. You may wish to visit the local museum De Lakenhal, where you’ll find an interesting collection of industrial art and paintings from the 17th-20th century. In the evening you may also take a city walk through the historical centre.
Monday: approx. 35 km.
From Leidschendam onwards you go biking to Delft. In the 17th century the Delft potters were so impressed by the Chinaware that was brought in from overseas that they created there own Delftware (Delft Blue). A visit to the china ware factory ‘De Porceleyne Fles’ gives you a good impression of Delft Blue and modern ceramics.
Tuesday: approx. 30 km.
After a city walk through the centre of Delft you cycle via the Westland region to the town of Schiedam. Here you'll find the five highest windmills in the world. Schiedam is also famous for its many gin distilleries (called Jenever in Dutch) that were founded during the Golden Age. You might want to try a 'jenevertje' in the museum of spirits and strong liquor 'De Gecroonde Brandersketel'.
Wednesday: approx. 40 km.
Today the programme consists of a cycle tour past small rural villages and a part of the national reserve ‘De Biesbosch’. The cycle trip ends in Dordrecht, one of the first ports of transhipment of the Netherlands. In the Dordrecht Museum you will find a interesting collection of several Dutch Masters.
Thursday: approx. 35 km.
How Dutch can a landscape be? After leaving Dordrecht you get sight of the 19 windmills of Kinderdijk. After visiting one of the mills you continue to Gouda, world famous for its cheese. At the central marketplace markets have been held since the middle ages. The famous St. Jans church with her beautiful stained windows is certainly worth a visit. You visit a potter who shows his crafts in making earthenware and Gouda clay pipes.
Friday: approx. 25 km.
Early in the morning the barge leaves Gouda in the direction of Amsterdam. Around noon you disembark and cycle alongside the river Amstel into the city. In the afternoon there’s time left to explore the Dutch capital. In the evening you may wish to make a circular tour of the Amsterdam canals by tour boat, or join your guide for a walk.
Saturday: Breakfast, say farewell to your tour leader and the crew. Your bike & barge holiday has come to an end.
Airport / Transfers
Flights are in/out of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. There are trains from the terminal into Central Station every 20 minutes, at a cost of approx. Euro 8.00. The barges are docked right beside the Central Station.
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