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Find your tourLevel 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
The duration of the tour
Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
Experience Holland in the best possible way: a gorgeous spring short break dominated by flowers. This 5-day mini-cruise plows through the most beautiful season of the year and will take you to gorgeous areas such in βthe Garden of Amsterdamβ. Enjoy some unforgettable days on board of a passenger barge with excellent service and an alternating itinerary. Amsterdam is also called, by some, the smallest metropolis of Europe. There are many unique museums, enticing shopping and, recently added to the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage list, the canals in the heart of Amsterdam certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a highlight. Visit the famous flower market in the center of the capital and discover the Zaanse Schans open air museum including windmills, a traditional cheese maker, β¦
Monday to Friday
Amsterdam: 08:30 to 22:00
New York: 6:00AM to 7:00PM
Experience Holland in the best possible way: a gorgeous spring short break dominated by flowers. This 5-day mini-cruise plows through the most beautiful season of the year and will take you to gorgeous areas such in βthe Garden of Amsterdamβ. Enjoy some unforgettable days on board of a passenger barge with excellent service and an alternating itinerary.
Amsterdam is also called, by some, the smallest metropolis of Europe. There are many unique museums, enticing shopping and, recently added to the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage list, the canals in the heart of Amsterdam certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a highlight. Visit the famous flower market in the center of the capital and discover the Zaanse Schans open air museum including windmills, a traditional cheese maker, a clog maker and an authentic traditional Dutch village. Other highlights of this trip are the historic city of Haarlem, the world famous flower park Keukenhof, near Lisse and the largest flower auction in the world in Aalsmeer (optional, closed during weekends and on public holidays).
The ship β 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. Youβll receive a packed lunch every day, and you can usually choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. Itβs 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.
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 the Ride with GPS app and our BBT cycling map (available on board).
The 5-day Tulip Tour and the 5-day Tulip Tour Premium follow the same itinerary. If your preferred date isnβt available, please take a look at the other tour here.
Boarding and check-in begin at 2 p.m., where the crew welcomes you on board. Once everyone has arrived, we cruise toward Haarlem, passing through a historic lock along the way. After arrival, enjoy a short test ride to get comfortable on your bike, followed by a welcome dinner on board. The evening is yours to explore Haarlem at your own pace.
Today you will cycle to the Keukenhof, arguably the most famous flower park in the world where you can admire hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and many other flowers in full bloom. Take plenty of time to stroll the gardens and soak in the colors. After your visit, you cycle back to Haarlem through classic Dutch scenery.
Today, you are in for a treat. An early-morning bus excursion (start 6:30 a.m.) takes you to the Aalsmeer flower auction, the largest in the world, where millions of flowers are traded each morning.* You return to the ship by 9 a.m. for a relaxed late breakfast. Later, a beautiful ride awaits through the North Holland Dune Reserve, a protected coastal landscape of dunes, grasses, and fresh sea air. Along the way, you may spot grazing cattle or wild ponies. A stop in the seaside town of Egmond offers time for a beachside coffee or a quick dip of your toes in the North Sea before continuing on to Alkmaar. The ship docks near the city center, perfect for an evening stroll through its charming streets after dinner.
*The Aalsmeer flower auction is closed on weekends and public holidays and is an optional visit. On some departures, the visit may not be possible.
After breakfast, your cycling tour takes you through the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Your next stop is the charming town of De Rijp, where centuries of history are reflected in the wooden façades, the beautiful church, the lock, and the town hall. From here, you continue cycling to the Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum featuring iconic windmills (we will visit one), traditional wooden houses, an old Dutch village, a cheese farm, and a traditional wooden clog maker. Here you will rejoin the ship for an afternoon cruise toward Amsterdam. Upon arrival, you will have time to explore this vibrant city at your own pace. Visit the famous flower market, explore a museum, go shopping. There is simply so much to see and do.
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
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. Weβll make sure you get the right bike for you. On most of our tours, the bike rental cost is not included in the tourβs 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 Toursβs e-bikes.
Bicycle helmets
The use of bicycle helmets is not required in the Netherlands, but for safetyβs 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 βlimit of liability for damage or lossβ for your bike or e-bike is included in the rental price.
Other rental items
Other items such as childrenβs 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 β¬10 per week. For an e-bike the fee is β¬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 guestβs 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.
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.
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.
It is possible to take your own bike or e-bike with you, as long as it doesnβt have mirrors or other elements that stick out. Thereβs only limited space available on board for guestsβ 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.
2027:
Explore our Loyalty Discount!
After your tour, youβll receive an exclusive discount code:
Check your post-tour email for details. You can combine this discount with other promotions for additional savings. Join us again for another adventure by boat and bike!
The Netherlands is a paradise for cycling and sailing enthusiasts. Discover more tours in the Netherlands with routes through tulip fields, historic cities, and scenic countryside.
| 5 star | 11 (69%) | |
| 4 star | 4 (25%) | |
| 3 star | 1 (6%) | |
| 2 star | 0 (0%) | |
| 1 star | 0 (0%) |
We thoroughly enjoyed our Tour! The food was excellent, the cabin was comfortable, and the bikes were great. We enjoyed our tour leaders, and especially appreciated their introduction to the biking rules of the road before starting out. The problems we encountered were relatively minor, but I offer my observations in the hopes of being constructive: 1. The breakfast service was challenging because the space was small and everyone wanted breakfast at the last possible moment. I found that the ship staff didnβt monitor the food very well, and most days some people went without because of the crush of people. 2. One day when I was riding, I developed problems with my bicycle. The tour leader did not appear to be in a position to assist me. Her advice was to keep riding, and maybe somebody could help me at the boat. That day we rode 43 km, under difficult wind conditions, and the issue came up prior to the mid-point of the day, so this was a disappointing response. Fortunately one of the members of the group was able to help me. I am not sure that the company has a procedure for when someone cannot finish the day of biking, unless they have a serious accident (for example), which one of our tour members did. (She was in a different group from me, so I cannot comment on the procedure.) 3. There was a lack of clarity about the optional canal tour in Amsterdam. In other tours I have done, there has clearly been free time when someone could take advantage of this, either by themselves or in a group. So I bought it (along with paying for the other tour costs), but when I arrived at the boat, there was no time in the schedule when it was really convenient to do the tour. Had I known that, I wouldnβt have bothered. 4. There was little to no creation of a temporary community on-board ship. On the first evening, when the leaders and the crew were being introduced, it might have been appropriate to have each participant also introduce themselves quickly.
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback about your tour experience. Weβre glad to hear that you enjoyed many aspects of the trip, including the food, cabin, and bikes, as well as the tour leadersβ guidance on biking rules. We appreciate your constructive observations and apologize for any inconveniences you encountered. Your points about breakfast service, bicycle issues, the optional canal tour, and community-building are all valuable, and we will take them into consideration for future improvements. We aim to provide the best possible experience for our guests, and your feedback will help us achieve that. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another tour in the future. Best regards, Boat Bike Tours
This is exactly the tour for people who just want a quick burst of tulips and canals and cycling in the land of the bicycle. The tour guides were organized and the bikes were always ready to go and in good shape. Unfortunately no hot water for the last day or so on the boat. Also given the way people are, the guides probably should have emphasized the need for people NOT TO BUNCH UP when riding, particularly on crowded busy streets. Accidents can happen when you are too close together.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We appreciate your input and your thoughts about the tour! Best regards, Boat Bike Tours
βThis was a fantastic trip. I loved being on the barge and having the ββmoving hotelββ experience. It was also so cool looking out of my window and the water was 4 inches below that. The crew and staff were very helpful and accommodating. The ebikes were perfect. The food was good and diverse. Because of being on the barge, I was able to meet the other guests and really get to know them. Itβs a great way to see the sights and your fellow travelers. Itβs very personal. All the biking was clear to follow and a really enjoyable ride. The excursions were well planned. I would have liked a little extra time in a couple of place but that gives me an incentive to go back soon. I would highly recommend this and am even looking into their other trips.β
Thank you for your positive review, and we are happy that you had a wonderful time on board and with the tour! We hope to welcome you again in the future! Best regards, Boat Bike Tours
The Fluvius was a good ship and the grand finale of our trip, which was sailing through the heart of Amsterdam on a 200+ foot boat was quite memorable! We rented the E bikes and they were great, but what really made our trip special was the tour guides Michel and Terese, they were great! Food was good and the daily cycle expeditions were well chosen and interesting.
Hi Steve, Thank you for taking the time to review your experience on the Fluvius! Weβre glad to hear that you enjoyed your time on the ship and that the grand finale of the trip, sailing through the heart of Amsterdam, was memorable. Itβs great to know that the E-bikes were a great addition to the trip and that you found the tour guides Michel and Terese to be excellent. Weβre happy to hear that the food was good and that the daily cycle expeditions were interesting and well-chosen. Thank you for choosing Boat Bike Tours for your trip and we hope to see you again soon! Warm regards, Romy
Experience Dutch tulips in style
Springtime, flowers and cheese
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Amsterdam: 08:30 to 22:00
New York: 6:00AM to 7:00PM
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