View our latest offers and deals on our offers page! See all offers
Back to overview
Netherlands

8-day Tulip Tour Premium

Historical cities, flower fields, spring
Amsterdam Round tour.
From €1499 p.p.
Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
Quickly jump to
8-day Tulip Tour Premium

Highlights of this tour

This wonderful bike and barge trip that starts and ends in Amsterdam, takes you through the provinces of South- and North Holland while spring flowers are in bloom. You will spend time in the historical cities of Haarlem, Leiden,  Gouda and Alkmaar and learn about the water management of these lowlands at the North Sea. You will also visit the famous Keukenhof gardens, known by the hundreds of thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulb flowers. The world-famous Aalsmeer flower auction is on the program where an astonishing […]

Explore tulip fields & a cheese farm

Historical cities of Amsterdam & Gouda

Flower market, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans

Barges with 20 to max. 40 passengers

Guidance
  • Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
  • Independent cycling: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
guidance Guided cycling
Difficulty
  • Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
  • Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
  • Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
  • Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1 Difficulty level 1
Duration of the tour.
tijd2 Created with Sketch.
8 days

About this tour

This wonderful bike and barge trip that starts and ends in Amsterdam, takes you through the provinces of South- and North Holland while spring flowers are in bloom. You will spend time in the historical cities of Haarlem, Leiden,  Gouda and Alkmaar and learn about the water management of these lowlands at the North Sea.

You will also visit the famous Keukenhof gardens, known by the hundreds of thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulb flowers. The world-famous Aalsmeer flower auction is on the program where an astonishing volume of beautiful flowers are being traded daily and exported all over the world the World.

One night the barge mooring is at  the open air museum ‘the Zaanse Schans’ with its windmills, cheese farm and picturesque wooden houses. You will be surprised by the beautiful, varied scenery and the wonderful cycling paths of Holland.

The ship – Your sailing hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board. You’ll receive a packed lunch every day, and you can usually choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. It’s also possible to spend a day on board if you like. There are rental bikes on board, but you can also bring your own if you mention it when booking (only on Magnifique I & III).

Fully Guided
Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way. You can also choose to ride individually with the help of our Ride with GPS app and our BBT cycling map (available on board).

Prepare yourself for this tour with our Travel Prep-tips

Preparation is half the fun, so why not start straight away?
See all tips

Day to day program

Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.

All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.

Day 1: Amsterdam – Spaarndam | Spaarndam – Haarlem (6 km/3 mi. or 14 km/8 mi.)

You are welcome to check in between 1.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The crew will welcome you with coffee and tea. At 2.30 p.m. the barge leaves the harbor. While the barge sails to Haarlem, your tour leader will tell you about the tour, the cycling and safety. From Spaarndam you have the option to do a little test ride. After dinner on board, the tour leader will take you on a town walk through the beautiful city centre of Haarlem.

Day 2: Haarlem – Keukenhof – Leiden (38 km/23 mi.)

Today’s trip leads you through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit of the Keukenhof gardens. This is the most beautiful bulb park in the world. Keukenhof is the place where the spring breaks. An overwhelming blaze of colors; seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres’ background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. You also can admire the various hyacinths, daffodils and many other colorful flowers. In the afternoon you cycle to the city of Leiden. Dinner on board and after that you can join the walk through town.

Day 3: LeidenGouda (37 km/22.2 mi. or 43 km/25.8 mi.)

After breakfast you will cycle out of Leiden. You will travel through the ‘green heart’ of Holland. Near Zoeterwoude, you will visit a cheese farm where you will learn about the cheese-making process and you will have the opportunity to taste the results. In the afternoon you reach Gouda, famous for the Gouda cheese. Gouda has an attractive compact center with her pretty market square and Gothic town hall. The main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, is world famous for its stained glass windows. After dinner you can join the walk through town.

Day 4: Gouda – Alphen a/d Rijn | Alphen a/d Rijn – Kudelstaart (20 km/12 mi. or 44 km/27 mi.)

We stay in Gouda this morning. You have the opportunity to do some shopping and to visit the market square with its cheese weigh house or you can visit the St. Johns church. We leave by barge around noon and have a light lunch on board. From Alphen aan den Rijn you cycle through the ‘green heart’ of South Holland via river Drecht and Amstel-Drecht channel to Kudelstaart.

Day 5: Kudelstaart – Flower auction (9 km/5.4 mi.) | Aalsmeer – Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans (23 km/13.8 mi.)

At 6.30 a.m. you can drink an early cup of coffee. After that you cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer, the largest of Europe. Here, huge quantities of flowers are trucked in and sold every day, after which they are distributed all over Europe. After your visit you return on board (around 9 a.m.) for a late breakfast while the barge sails to Amsterdam. You will enjoy a nice cruise, right through the city.

Today’s cycling tour takes you from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area. The hamlet is dominated by operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint and oil and for sawing wood into planks. As you walk through the village you will see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker and a cheese farm.

Day 6: Zaanse Schans – Alkmaar (40 km/24 mi.)

This morning you cycle to 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 flowers are planted here. Your cycling tour continues to Egmond at the Northsea. The tour goes through the dunes to Alkmaar. This town is known as a Dutch cheese city. As you wander through the streets you’ll be amazed by the beauty of Alkmaar’s Old Town, with its well-preserved 17th century buildings and narrow, winding canals. Dinner in town at your own account.

Day 7: Alkmaar – Amsterdam (37 km/22 mi. or 54 km/33 mi.)

After breakfast your cycling tour leads you to the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Here we visit the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. Your next stop is the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history are still evident here in De Rijp’s wooden facades, beautiful church, lock and town hall. From here, your ride continues back to Amsterdam. In the late afternoon or evening there is time for a canal tour through the famous canals of the city.

Day 8: Amsterdam

End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

Good to know
  • Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
  • On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
  • If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
  • The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
  • On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
  • A detailed cycling map and a GPS app are available for guests who wish to cycle individually and at their own pace. The tour guide is always available via cell phone in case of questions, breakdowns or emergencies.

The bicycles of Boat Bike Tours

Always the best rental bikes

The rental bikes on our ships are unisex bicycles with a low bar and a comfortable upright sitting position. These are stable and dependable bikes, good for miles in the saddle. Decide which kind of bike you want to rent and simply fill in your preference with your reservation. We’ll make sure you get the right bike for you. On most of our tours, the bike rental cost is not included in the tour’s price.

Every Boat Bike Tour rental bike is well equipped. The bikes consist of a lightweight aluminum frame and have highly-responsive handbrakes, at least seven speeds, an adjustable gel seat, normal flat pedals (no clips), an easy-to-use lock attached to the frame, and special puncture-resistant tires. All told, this is a light, stable and reliable bike, very suitable for touring long distances pleasantly.

Our e-bikes also have at least seven speeds and handbrakes. The motor runs on a 400Wh battery and offers three levels of power-assistance. The e-bikes include comfortable gel seats that can be adjusted for height, have a lock attached to the frame, and sport anti-puncture tires. Note that some of the ships have their own bikes on board. They may look a bit different, but qualitatively they are equal to Boat Bike Tours’s e-bikes.

Bicycle helmets
The use of bicycle helmets is not required in the Netherlands, but for safety’s sake they are suggested. If you wish to rent one, you can do so during the booking process. If you book a premium tour and rent a bike or e-bike, then the helmet and a “limit of liability for damage or loss” for your bike or e-bike is included in the rental price.

Other rental items
Other items such as children’s bikes, tandems, family tandems (child & adult), tag-along, trailers to carry toddlers and child seats are available on request.

Taking your own bike or e-bike?
The fee for parking your own bicycle is €10 per week. For an e-bike the fee is €25 to cover parking and charging the battery. For safety reasons it is not always possible to charge your e-bike batteries in your cabin. The crew will tell you where you can charge the battery on board the ship. Neither the crew nor Boat Bike tours is responsible in any way for any damage, loss or theft of a guest’s own bike or e-bike or its accessories. Note: not all the ships are suitable or have enough room for extra bikes, so make sure you check with us well ahead of travel.

Cyclists in a green landscape

Touring bikes

Our bicycles have a lightweight aluminum frame and are furnished with highly-responsive handbrakes, at least seven speeds and a gel seat whose height can be adjusted. Attached to the frame is an easy-to-use lock and the wheels carry puncture-resistant tires.

E-bikes

Our e-bikes also have highly-responsive handbrakes and a minimum of seven speeds. The motor runs on a 400Wh battery and offers three levels of power-assistance. The e-bikes include comfortable gel seats that can be adjusted for height, have a lock attached to the frame and special anti-puncture tires.

Taking your own bicycle

Zwaantje / Fleur: Bringing your own bike/e-bike is not possible, due to lack of space on deck. Exceptions will be made for special bikes, but only after they have been notified and confirmed in advance. Magnifique I & III: It is possible to take your own bike or e-bike with you, as long as it doesn’t have mirrors or other elements that stick out. There’s only limited space available on board for guests’ bikes. You can reserve a place for your bike for a small fee. Boat Bike tours is not responsible for damage to your bike or for theft.


Prices & availability

To view the availability of this tour and/or book online please click on the button below. A new screen will open.


Prices & information

Pricing overview - 2024
Cabin type For Season A Season B Season C Season D
Twin / Double cabin 2 pers. € 1499 € 1549 € 1599 € 1699 Twin cabin with splitlevel bed (LaMar) 2 pers. € 1349 Not available € 1449 Not available Junior Suite (MAGI) 2 pers. Not available € 1949 Not available € 2099 Suite upper deck (MAGIII) 2 pers. Not available Not available Not available € 2299 Single cabin (MAGIII) 1 pers. Not available Not available Not available € 2189 Splitlevel cabin for single use (LaMar) 1 pers. € 2023.50 Not available € 2173.50 Not available Twin cabin single use (max. 1) 1 pers. € 2248.50 € 2323.50 € 2398.50 € 2548.50
Included in this tour
  • 8 days/7 nights
  • 7 x breakfast
  • Packed lunches
  • 6 x 3-course dinner
  • Coffee and tea on board
  • Welcome drink
  • Use of bed linen and towels
  • Daily cleaning of the cabin
  • Climate-controlled cabin
  • Daily briefings
  • Fully guided cycling tours (from 18 guests: 2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
  • Some short walking tours
  • GPS tracks
  • Use of a helmet
  • Use of a waterproof pannier bag
  • Biodegradable water bottle
  • Fees for ferries
  • Entrance Keukenhof
  • Visit original Dutch cheese farm
  • Entrance North-Holland Dune reserve
  • Entrance flower auction Aalsmeer
  • Wi-Fi
  • Carbon offset payment to the non-profit organization Justdiggit
Excluded in this tour
  • 1 x dinner (Alkmaar)
  • Drinks
  • Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
  • Personal insurances
  • Gratuities (at your discretion)
  • Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned under included)
  • Transfers to/from the docking place
  • Parking fees
  • SGR Insolvency protection
SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person - will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)
Bicycles/E-Bikes

Fleur

  • Bicycle of the brand Gudereit with 11 gears, handbrakes, lock and pannier bag.
  • E-Bike of the brand Gudereit EC-4 with 8-gear, handbrakes. Lock and pannier bag (only on request, limited number available, only 6).
  • Parking own bicycle/E-Bike: it is not possible to bring your own bicycle/E-Bike, due to a lack of space on deck.
  • Tour in The Netherlands: Extra E-Bikes (max. 4) can be requested at an additional cost (incl. transport costs)

 

Zwaantje

  • Our bikes are modern unisex bikes with 21 gears, an easy and low entry, two handbrakes, a lock and pannier bag.
  • The E-Bike has hand breaks only, 3 gears and support levels, a lock and pannier bag. (limited available, only on request).
  • Parking own bicycle/E-Bike: it is not possible to bring your own bicycle/E-Bike, due to a lack of space on deck.
  • Tours in The Netherlands:  Extra E-bikes can be requested (max. 5) at an additional (transport) cost.

 

Lena Maria

  • The bicycles on board is a unisex city bike with a low-entry and a riding position that is upright and comfortable. The bike is handmade in the Netherlands by Azor, specially designed by Boat Bike Tours. The bike consists of a lightweight aluminum frame and is equipped with responsive roller brakes (handbrake), a Shimano 7 speed nexus drive, Selle-Royal gel saddle (adjustable), an easy to use lock (fixed on frame) and the Schwalbe Marathon anti-puncture tyre. This all results in a lightweight, stable and reliable bike, good for many miles on the saddle.
  • The E-bike is an Azor Steps with Nexus 7 gears and hand brakes. The crank Shimano motor (400 WH) offers 4 support levels, The E-bikes have a comfortable gel saddle and a lock on the frame (or a comparable brand/model).
  • Bicycle rent is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles/e-bikes (limited number of parking places available). Guests can book a parking place for a normal bicycle or a parking and charge station for an e-bike for a small additional fee. For safety reasons it is no longer possible to charge the batteries of your own e-bikes in the cabin. The crew will inform you where on deck/ on board you can recharge your battery. However, the crew or tour operators are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of guests own bicycles or e-bikes.
  • Prices of other bikes (e.g. children’s bikes, “slip streamers”/tag-a-long, tandem bicycles etc. and child’s saddles (rear) are on request.
Additional options & information - 2024

2024:

  • Rental bicycle Premium: € 104 per week
  • Rental E-Bike Premium: € 256 per week (only a limited number of electrical bikes available: pref. reservation by booking)
  • Fleur/Zwaantje: Parking own bicycle/E-Bike: it is not possible to bring your own bicycle/E-Bike on these ships, due to a lack of space on deck.
  • LaMar/Magnifique’s: Parking own bicycle: €10 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
  • LaMar/Magnifique’s: Parking own E-Bike: €25.20 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
  • Canal cruise AmsterdamTicket for a 1-hour canal cruise through Amsterdam – special price for our guests: € 16 (at the ticket desk approx.: € 19). Please book your ticket in advance and you can collect it on board of your ship on the first day of the tour.
  • Parking in Amsterdam (valet parking): prices and pre-booking here.


Reviews

based on 32 reviews on
16 May 2023

Helle Pedersen

A fantastic trip with Fleur, where you can see Holland from all sides and wonderful to cycle along the canals and enjoy nature and wildlife. Good guide, good bikes and good stay on board. Good food but could wish for more vegetables. Definitely a trip I would recommend.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 19 May 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with us! We are really happy to hear that you enjoyed your time in Holland and that you liked the crew and stay on board. Thank you for choosing this tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another fantastic adventure in the future! Warm Regards, Romy

24 Apr 2023

Birthday girl

Everything was well planned and the crew worked hard everyday to make the itinerary perfect. Food was great, lodging was perfect with comfortable beds, biking trips were planned well to fit the group. Tulips, the boat, and the bicycling…our vacation was wonderful!

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 25 Apr 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that everything was well planned, and that the crew worked hard every day to make the itinerary perfect for you. It's great to know that the food was great, the lodging was perfect with comfortable beds, and that the biking trips were planned well to fit the group. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beauty of the tulips, the boat, and the bicycling. It's wonderful to know that your vacation was a wonderful experience overall! Thank you for choosing this tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another fantastic adventure in the future! Warm Regards, Romy

23 Apr 2023

Karen

Happiness is a trip on the Zwaantje. The crew and boat makes it special and exciting in every way. They take care of everything! The bikes are well maintained as is the boat. The food is delicious and plentiful. All of the rides were well paced and balanced with information about the sights and history and culture of the Dutch people. All of the crew had a delightful sense of humor and were responsive to my every need.I am a neophyte on a e-bike so I appreciated all the extra attention. The captain truly cares about each and every passenger and his amazing crew. The result is a fantastic experience that I will never forget.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 25 Apr 2023

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience on the Zwaantje with us! We're thrilled to hear that you found happiness on your trip and that the crew and boat made it special and exciting in every way. It's great to know that they took care of everything and that the bikes and boat were well-maintained. We're glad to hear that the food was delicious and plentiful, and that the rides were well-paced and balanced with information about the sights, history, and culture of the Dutch people. It's wonderful to hear that the captain truly cares about each and every passenger and that his amazing crew made your experience unforgettable. Thank you for choosing to travel on the Zwaantje, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another amazing adventure in the future! Warm Regards, Romy

22 Apr 2023

Paul Shaw

Our daily tour leaders on The Fleur, Hester and Anna were considerate pace-setters. On board, they and all the crew kept us well fed and well entertained with an unexpected concert and nightly reviews of the next days itineraries. The ride, of course, was fabulous, as were the new friends we made on the tour.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 25 Apr 2023

Thank you for sharing your experience on the tour with us! We're thrilled to hear that the daily tour leaders, Hester and Anna, were considerate pace-setters and that the crew kept you well fed and well entertained throughout the trip. It's great to know that you enjoyed the unexpected concert and nightly reviews of the next day's itinerary. We're delighted to hear that the ride was fabulous, and you made new friends on the tour. It's wonderful to know that the agenda was inspiring and that the hosts were convivial. Thank you for choosing this tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another fantastic adventure soon! Warm Regards, Romy


Available ships for this tour

Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
The Fleur sailing
Boutique ship Fleur Belgium, France, Netherlands

Tours in France

Covered sundeck

Free coffee and tea 24/7

Individually controlled air conditioning

max. 20 passengers
10 cabins
6 tours available with this ship
Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
Boutique ship Zwaantje Belgium, France, Netherlands

Tours in France

Spacious sundeck

Free coffee and tea 24/7

Individually controlled air conditioning

max. 24 passengers
12 cabins
5 tours available with this ship
Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
Restaurant in the Magnifique
Premium ship Magnifique I Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands

Intimate and exclusive

Individually controlled air conditioning

Covered sun deck

New junior suites

max. 32 passengers
16 cabins
4 tours available with this ship
Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
Premium ship Magnifique III Belgium, Germany, Netherlands

Spacious teakwood deck

Jacuzzi

Intimate and exclusive

Individually controlled air conditioning

max. 40 passengers
21 cabins
5 tours available with this ship
Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
Boutique ship La Mar (former Fiep) Belgium, Netherlands

Restaurant with separate lounge

Openable windows in cabins

Individually controlled air conditioning

Free coffee and tea 24/7

max. 24 passengers
12 cabins
3 tours available with this ship

Related tours

Amsterdam Round tour.
discount
5-day Tulip Tour Lots of flowers and historic highlights

A spring break overflowing with flowers

Historical cities of Amsterdam & Haarlem

Flower market, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans

Ship with max. 44 passengers

Duration of the tour.
tijd2 Created with Sketch. 5 days
5 stars
13 Reviews
Guidance
  • Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
  • Independent cycling: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
guidance Guided cycling
Difficulty
  • Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
  • Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
  • Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
  • Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1 Difficulty level 1
Amsterdam Round tour.
Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.
8-day Tulip Tour Premium Historical cities, flower fields, spring

Explore tulip fields & a cheese farm

Historical cities of Amsterdam & Gouda

Flower market, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans

Barges with 20 to max. 40 passengers

Duration of the tour.
tijd2 Created with Sketch. 8 days
5 stars
32 Reviews
Guidance
  • Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
  • Independent cycling: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
guidance Guided cycling
Difficulty
  • Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
  • Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
  • Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
  • Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1 Difficulty level 1

Your selected tour:

8-day Tulip Tour Premium

Request a quote

  • Please enter a number from 1 to 150.
  • Month (March until October) and year
  • Your data

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.