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The province of Friesland has it all: wide landscapes, wild and romantic islands, tiny historical towns and beautiful natural areas. Especially in summer, when the meadows are in bloom and the cows are in the pastures, you can spend wonderful long days in the fresh air here. And you can enjoy what Friesland has in abundance: water! Take a boat across the IJsselmeer, spend a day at the beach on the island of Terschelling, or bicycle along the shores of the Frisian lakes. Feel that vacation feeling! We have collected…

These two words are sometimes used interchangeably, and it’s no wonder because a barge is a riverboat. However, not every riverboat is a barge. Confused? Let us explain: 1. Flat bottoms (No, not that bottom!)   Both barges and riverboats have a flat bottom. They’re both built for travel on inland waterways like rivers and canals, which aren’t deep and don’t have waves like the ocean. 2. Narrow build   It doesn’t come as a surprise that both barges and riverboats are long and narrow. Riverboats, in general, are longer…

Would you like to book an entire ship and experience a unique travel adventure with your own group? We at Boat Bike Tours will work with you to put together a tour that meets your expectations to a T. And that includes choosing the right accommodation for your travel group! Which floating hotel would you most like to stay in? On a stately sailing ship with classic furnishings and a surprising amount of comfort? On a family riverboat, on which you feel as at home as in your own living…

Historically, the Netherlands used a waterlinie, a series of “water lines” many miles long, as an ingenious means of defense, made up of waterworks and fortresses. It’s not surprising in a country that is so focused on keeping the sea at bay and regulating its water that the water itself would be used for defense: strips of land could be flooded during an attack to keep the enemy out. Today, the Netherlands still has more than a hundred fortresses along water lines. Many have become nature reserves, or there is…

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Dutch are water management experts! Anyone who cycles and sails through the Dutch landscape will see structures everywhere that ensure that our feet stay dry. More than half of the Netherlands is below sea level, after all, so locks, pumping stations and dikes are badly needed. For centuries, water even played a role in defense. Those who don’t have an eye for all that skilled engineering and history can just pass it by. But that’s the nice thing about a cycling and…

Especially on bicycles and boats it is easy to see what the Netherlands is doing about water management. You will pass dikes, weirs, locks and pumping stations. Tour leader Thomas Wuts explains what he finds so special about water management and which stories he likes to share with his guests. What do you find so fascinating about water management? “It is in part what makes the Netherlands unique and shapes our character. Water management is so wrapped up in who we are and how we live. Fascinating! I actually only…

If you would like to book a trip for your own group with Boat Bike Tours, there is no getting around Paula; she is your first point of contact. She will listen to your wishes and works with you to decide which trip and which ship would best suit your group. She’ll also help you with organizing the trip. If anyone knows Boat Bike Tours inside-out, it’s her: she’s been with Boat Bike Tours for 28 years! That’s why we asked her what to look out for when organizing a…

Boat Bike Tours offers something for everyone and every tour is different. Whether you want someone to be your guide or you prefer more independence, anything is possible! In case you need help deciding, here are the main differences between guided and independent tours: Independent cycling If you prefer to make your own plans, independent cycling is ideal. A whole day ahead of you with complete freedom: you decide how fast to ride, how often and where to stop, where to have a cup of coffee or eat your lunch.…

The time is past when traveling solo was something unusual and strange. These days, many travelers choose to travel solo, even when they are in a relationship or have a family. It may be a matter of convenience – I have time off while my partner doesn’t – or it may be a matter of choice – I prefer to be by myself. Either way, traveling solo can be a very sociable experience. You may prefer your own company, so being alone is fine for you. Otherwise, on a Boat…

The village of Kinderdijk, near Rotterdam, is home to perhaps the most famous windmills in the Netherlands. In the mid 1700s, 20 windmills were built to pump water out of nearby low-lying polders. In the following centuries, the 19 surviving windmills have become a symbol of Dutch water management and are now a major tourist attraction. Here are six lesser-known facts about Kinderdijk and its renowned windmills. 1. No one knows where “Kinderdijk” really got its name The most famous story behind the name Kinderdijk is from a legendary tale…