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2020: the year in which “negative” was the most positive word. The year in which working from home and staying at home became the new normal for many of us. We had time to reflect, to put things into perspective, and to make new plans to do things differently or better next year. Perhaps you already have a number of resolutions for 2021. What we have learned most from the past year is that we must seize opportunities when they present themselves and that we must be kind to ourselves…

When it comes to immersing yourself in the wonder of Dutch tulip fields, we all know of the spectacular destination of Keukenhof. With seven million bulbs on display each spring, it’s one of the world’s largest flower gardens. But there are many other magical hidden hotspots that are often overlooked. In this blog we take a peek at four corners of the Netherlands where floral magic happens. 1. The living bulb archive Hortus Bulborum is a foundation that manages a unique collection of tulips, narcissus and hyacinths. Based in the…

At Boat Bike Tours we make it easy for guests who want to travel in their own “private bubble”. You can charter a whole ship with a group of friends and family, and enjoy new adventures together. With us it’s not only possible to book your bubble and receive a discount, but you can also adjust a tour to suit your needs or preferences. Curious to know more? Read on to discover all about the perks of booking your own travel bubble for your next tour.     1. Uninterrupted…

With thousands of kilometres of bike trails, beautiful scenery and so many cultural sites to explore, Europe is a bikers paradise. So no wonder that many cycle groups choose to go on trips by bike and barge. They can indulge in doing what they love best with the added pleasures of sailing and discovering a new country. We interviewed Mary Maraggio, a member of Bay Area Senior Cyclists in Cape Cod, about her and her club’s experiences of cycling through Europe with Boat Bike Tours.     When did you…

When we look at the ocean, it seems so mighty and powerful that we can’t possibly imagine the landscape changing. Yet, that is exactly what happened in the Netherlands when the Dutch used impressive engineering systems to convert the bay of the Zuiderzee into the IJsselmeer, a lake that is now a beloved sailing channel bordered by picturesque villages. A catastrophic flood forced the Dutch to create the enormous Afsluitdijk On the night of 13th of January in 1916, a fierce storm battered the coastline along the Zuiderzee, destroying the…

Taking a vacation isn’t only fun, it’s also one of the best ways of learning about other cultures and histories that you may not normally be exposed to. Many charter groups choose to sail with Boat Bike Tours for just that reason: they want to give their students a unique experience that combines learning with pleasure. Last year, we had a great time hosting a group from the University of Alaska Fairbanks as we explored the rich cultural history of the Netherlands together. Here we interview Michelle Bartlett, director of…

Shortly after we started offering our trips again, Els van der Drit joined one of our tours from Bruges to Amsterdam. She works in health care and had had an intense period in the first months of the corona outbreak. Els really needed a vacation, but was hesitant to travel by plane. Boat Bike Tours seemed like the perfect solution. Flying to another country? A beach vacation? I don’t feel up to it, even though I really need a holiday. Then I see an advert about Boat Bike Tours. I…

Cycling from Amsterdam to Maastricht through beautiful Dutch countryside, Frederike would normally be found helping the marketing team as an intern, but in June she experienced one of our trips firsthand. Here’s her account of what tours are like during corona times, and what it’s like to take part as a solo traveler. Hello Frederike! As an intern at Boat Bike Tours you’re normally in the marketing department. Did you gain many new impressions during the trip? Yes, definitely! Since the tour only took place at the end of my…

Some say that the Netherlands is a cycling paradise on Earth. Of course, at Boat Bike Tours, where we organize the most beautiful cycling cruise vacations, we tend to agree! Cycling is such a strong part of our culture that we’ve compiled some fun facts about why we love it so much. We hope you find it an inspiring read! 1. Cycling is a cherished part of daily life In the Netherlands we really love riding our bikes. The average adult pedals about 1,000 km a year, and teenagers cycle…

Kris and her friends have been sailing together every year for nearly a decade. Here she tells us about how she got inspired to organize her first trip, and how it launched adventures all over Europe, along with lots of new friendships.     Planning a tour with friends We did our first [boat and bike] trip in 2011. My friend’s husband was organizing one and we were invited to come along. It was wonderful, but we didn’t have a perfect fit with the group, they were quite different from…