Boat-bike-tours in Holland, Germany, Italy, Croatia, France and Belgium
- HomeReturn to homepage
- ToursAll of our tours
- ExperiencesOpinions of passengers
- DownloadsBrochures and downloads for free
- ContactContact us
Holland: Northern tour
Dutch flat “polder-land”, the North Sea coast and IJsselmeer
Holland: Northern tour - Description
Open water, flat rural land, picturesque harbor towns - „Northern Tour“ Explore the rich tradition in the flat “polder-land”, along the North seacoast and in romantic fishing villages. You will cycle across a distinctly rural, former lake and marsh land. Since the 17th Century, this area has been reclaimed from the sea, in ancient times by pumping it dry with windmills. Green polder-landscapes with quiet cycle tracks, the stretching North Sea beach and the beautiful sand dunes will alternate each other. For many guests one of the highlights on this tour is the extremely bike friendly island Texel. Beautiful flat landscapes, small dreamlike farm villages and picturesque harbor villages along the IJsselmeer, with an ancient history, will dominate the second part of the tour. Other highlights are a.o. the open air museum “Zaanse Schans”, the city centre of Alkmaar and the old harbour cities Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam. This (and much more) is what the rural, through nature molded Northern tour offers. You will live and travel in a familiar atmosphere on board of the ANGELA ESMEE, for many years one of the beloved ships for boat & bike tours in the Netherlands.
Holland: Northern tour - Programme
Day 1 (Sat)
Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam | Evening: Amsterdam – Zaandam
Afternoon: as from 2 PM embarkation in Amsterdam (centre). Explore downtown Amsterdam: time for shopping, to visit a museum or to make a canal tour: this is an unique way to see the capital of Holland from another side. Approx. 06:30 PM short “dinner cruise” to Zaandam.Day 2 (Sun)
Zaandam – „Zaanse Schans“ – Alkmaar (ca. 50 km / 31 miles)
A visit of the open air museum „Zaanse Schans“ with a.o. traditional wooden houses, windmills, cheese and wooden shoe (“clog”) manufacture is recommended. Bike tour through the beautiful polder-land. Evening in Alkmaar.Day 3 (Mon)
Alkmaar – St.-Maartensvlotbrug – Den Helder (ca. 40 or 60 km / 25-37,5 miles **) | Evening: Den Helder – Texel
Bicycle tour from Alkmaar via artist village Bergen to the North Sea. Along the beach, through the dunes and the flat „polder- and coast land“ to the naval port of Den Helder. Evening: Cross the Marsdiep with your ship to the harbour Oudeschild on the island of Texel.Day 4 (Tue)
Island of Texel: Oudeschild - Oudeschild (as desired 10 > 65 km / 6,25 > 41 miles**) | Evening: Texel – Den Oever
Round trip on the largest of Dutch islands, Texel. Through beautiful natural areas with the possibility to have a break on the most beautiful beaches. Recommended: pay a visit to the seal sanctuary “Ecomare” and/or cycle the beautiful “Thijsse-route” (with signposting, approx. 25 miles) through picturesque villages and landscapes.Day 5 (Wed)
Den Oever – Medemblik | Medemblik – Enkhuizen (ca. 30 or 50 km / 19-31 miles **)
Bike tour from Medemblik through the inlands or along the IJsselmeer (former “Zuiderzee”) coast to Enkhuizen: beautiful harbour, historical town and the very interesting „Zuiderzeemuseum“.Day 6 (Thu)
Enkhuizen – Hoorn – Volendam (ca. 50 km / 31 miles)
Bike tour via Hoorn (short visit of historical town) and “cheese town” of Edam to the old fishing harbour of Volendam: taste the famous smoked eel „paling“ or salted herring.Day 7 (Fri)
Volendam – Waterland – Amsterdam (ca. 35 - 50 km / 22 - 31 miles **)
A bike tour through the beautiful „Waterland“ area with its hundreds of small lakes and canals, visit a cheese farm, if you wish with a de-tour to the former island of Marken, through the “Garden of Amsterdam” back to the capital city. Afternoon and evening in Amsterdam. If you didn’t go for a canal tour on the First day, you will have the opportunity to do it today.Day 8 (Sat)
Amsterdam: end of the tour
After breakfast: disembarkation and end of the tour.In italics printed parts will be covered by ship.
**: Both possibilities are being offered: the guest can choose.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
Program + details barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
At unfavourable weather conditions the barge will not cross over to Texel on Monday: in that case you can cross by ferry.
Holland: Northern tour - Details
Included:
• Tour and accommodation on board 8 days / 7 nights (Sat.-Sat.) from/to Amsterdam, cabin in the booked category;• Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x picnic lunch during bike tours, 7 x three course dinner);
• Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible); daily short cleaning of the cabin;
• Welcoming drink and -speech on the first evening;
• Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours, during the day the tour leader is cycling the daily bike tour and reachable on his cell phone;
• Printed instructions and detailed maps;
• Daily coffee and tea till 4 PM.
Not included:
•Transfers to/from the docking place in Amsterdam;• Reservation costs €15,00 (obligatory surcharge);
• Rental bicycle, other transfers, parking fee, entrance fees & excursions, fees for ferries;
• Drinks on board, personal insurances, gratuities (at your discretion).
Bicycles:
The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring or. trekking bikes with light-weight frames and normal mount (ladies model), with 7 gears, hand brake & hub brake and pannier bag. Prices of other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children’s bikes, “slip streamers”, tandems, parent-and-child tandems etc.) and child’s saddles (front or rear) are on request.Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at no extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles. In the Netherlands bikers are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. Bike helmets are not available on board.
Background information:
The General Conditions (travel conditions) of CCH Tours B.V. (incl. Boat Bike Tours) apply to cycling cruises, as well as to confirmation and cancellation of such tours. We would be pleased to send a copy of these conditions on request. These conditions constitute an essential part of the travel agreement when booking a tour.In principle, children are very welcome on board. However, before booking, we advise you to satisfy yourself that your child is able to manage a cycle trip of 30-60 km. Children’s bikes, tandems, parent-and-child tandems, slip streamers etc. or child’s saddles are available on request. Of course you may stay one or more days longer on board (children under the age of18 years must be under supervision).
The interior of the ship is a no-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck. As a safety measure, a statutory smoking ban applies in all cabins; this means that all cabins and rooms on board are no-smoking zones
Angela Esmee
The ANGELA ESMEE is a medium-sized river cruiser. The vessel has a cosy salon with combined restaurant / lounge area and a nice bar on the front top deck. On board, 31 cabins are available for 61, max. 70 passengers. Average size of a twin cabin is approx. 9M2 (97 square feet). 10 cabins are located on the top deck and 21 on the lower deck. Each cabin has private facilities (shower + toilet), at least one window and a centrally operated climate control system with active air circulation.
The ANGELA ESMEE makes so-called "Boat Bike Tours" in the Netherlands in the period May through September. In other periods, the vessel is available for river cruises (a.o. on the Rhine river), for parties + events, for all kinds of customized tours and as stationary "botel" accommodation on location in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
