Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
Guided
This gorgeous cycling cruise is guaranteed to help you understand why the Dutch say “God created the earth but the Dutch made Holland.” The tour takes you through “polder” landscapes: low-lying land that has been drained of its water – reclaimed from the sea – using dikes and windmills. That means you’ll cycle past plenty of windmills, as well as dune landscapes, long sandy beaches, and picturesque harbor towns along the coast of Ijsselmeer Lake. This is an unforgettable tour! Tour guide Wilma will highlight all the sights of the North Holland tour. A varied landscape During this tour, you’ll travel by barge and bicycle along flat bike routes, crossing polders, dikes, and dunes. You’ll pass through nature areas and farmland. You’ll see how the …
This gorgeous cycling cruise is guaranteed to help you understand why the Dutch say “God created the earth but the Dutch made Holland.” The tour takes you through “polder” landscapes: low-lying land that has been drained of its water – reclaimed from the sea – using dikes and windmills. That means you’ll cycle past plenty of windmills, as well as dune landscapes, long sandy beaches, and picturesque harbor towns along the coast of Ijsselmeer Lake. This is an unforgettable tour!
Tour guide Wilma will highlight all the sights of the North Holland tour.
A varied landscape
During this tour, you’ll travel by barge and bicycle along flat bike routes, crossing polders, dikes, and dunes. You’ll pass through nature areas and farmland. You’ll see how the Dutch have spent centuries shaping the landscape to prevent flooding and extend farmland, yet maintained their respect for nature. The changing landscape will charm you.
Reclaimed land
Since the 17th century the Dutch have worked to prevent flooding, both for their own safety and to preserve and expand farmland. To do this, they built dikes, used windmills to pump the land dry, and created tidal dams in case of high water. The end result is this breathtakingly green, flat landscape supporting profitable agricultural activity. Yet the Dutch have made room for bicycles too, so the region is laced with a network of bicycle paths, often dedicated paths away from car traffic.
Sandy beaches
The Netherlands isn’t known for its beaches, but you’ll be amazed by the beauty of the beaches on the North Sea, with their high sand dunes, on this biking and boating tour. The dunes are the biggest hills you’ll find in North Holland! You’ll also visit Texel, a scenic and bike-friendly island, and pass through small dreamlike farm villages and quaint harbor cities such as Enkhuizen and Hoorn.
Open air museum Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is likely to be one of your favorite stops on this tour, because it has everything you associate with Holland: windmills, dikes, cheese, and clogs. At this open-air museum you can visit a range of different historical windmills, as well as traditional Dutch houses and shops. You can see demonstrations of how cheese and clogs are made and, if you want, buy some for yourself. Another cheese-related stop is Alkmaar, home to a traditional cheese market.
The former island of Marken
A highlight of this tour is a visit to Marken, which used to be an island and a fishing port. It’s not anymore, but it’s still picture-perfect, with small wooden houses and boat harbor.
Amsterdam
The tour includes some city sightseeing as well. Amsterdam, the start and end point of the tour, is both a modern, bustling city with world-renowned museums and shops, and a historical reminder of a prosperous past in the elegant houses along the UNESCO-listed canal zone.
On board your boutique ship – your sailing hotel
When you’re not pedaling through the countryside or exploring Holland’s historical towns, you’ll enjoy the facilities of your boutique ship. There won’t be more than 24 passengers, which means you’ll get to know the crew and other passengers over meals and evening drinks in a hearty, warm and friendly atmosphere. You’ll dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board: fresh, local ingredients in meals prepared with care are the norm. You can make 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.
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).
Day 1 Amsterdam – Zaandam | Zaandam – Zaanse Schans
8km4 mi
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is at 2 p.m. near the center of Amsterdam. Around 3 p.m. the barge sails to Zaandam. For your first bike ride, the tour leader will take you the short distance to Zaanse Schans. This is an open-air museum with a collection of windmills, traditional wooden houses, and cheese and clog factories.
Day 2 Zaanse Schans – Alkmaar
29km18 mi or 40km24 mi
From Zaanse Schans you will cycle through the “Land of Leeghwater”, a green polder area between Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Hoorn. You’ll visit the former whaling village De Rijp and pass by the windmills of Schermerhorn. You’ll rejoin the ship near the historical city center of Alkmaar.
Day 3 Alkmaar – St. Maartensvlotbrug – Den Helder | Den Helder – Texel
30km18 mi or 53km32 mi
Today you’ll leave Alkmaar via the artist village Bergen, then reach the North Sea to see the beautiful North-Holland Dune reserve. This is a forest and dune area of 5,300 hectare (20 square miles). You’ll find the ship again in the naval port of Den Helder. Next, if the weather allows, you’ll sail with the ship across the Wadden Sea to the island of Texel, the largest Dutch island.
Day 4 Texel, round trip | Texel – Medemblik
43km26 mi or 48km29 mi
No worries if the ship wasn’t able to cross to Texel. In that case, today you can cross via ferry to Texel. On the island you’ll cycle through some beautiful natural areas and through charming villages and landscapes in the south of the island. If you want, take a break along the way on a beautiful long beach. A suggestion: make a stop at the seal sanctuary and nature museum, Ecomare. At the end of the afternoon the ship will leave from Texel over the beautiful Wadden Sea back to the mainland, or else you’ll take the ferry back.
Day 5 Medemblik – Enkhuizen
39km24 mi or 51km31 mi
After spending the night moored in Medemblik, you’ll cycle along the coast of the IJsselmeer. The IJsselmeer is a lake, but used to be part of the North Sea before a huge dike, the Afsluitdijk, cut it off from the sea. You’ll finish today’s ride in Enkhuizen, a picturesque old city that used to be a fishing and shipping port. It has a beautiful historic harbor and old center, and is home to the Zuiderzeemuseum, a great place to see what life was like in fishing ports like this. Dinner tonight (not included) will be in town in a restaurant of your choice (recommendations available on board).
Day 6 Enkhuizen – Hoorn
23km14 mi or 35km21 mi
A shorter ride today, taking you to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn. This was one of the world’s most important harbors back in the 17th century. Enjoy the afternoon in Hoorn and take a stroll in the old city center.
Day 7 Hoorn – Volendam | Volendam – Amsterdam
23km14 mi or 45km27 mi
On this, the last day of your cycling tour, you’ll arrive in Volendam as you eat your breakfast. Today’s route will lead you through a particularly pretty area called Waterland, which is dotted with hundreds of small lakes and tiny canals. Early in the afternoon you’ll cycle back to Amsterdam. Spend the afternoon and evening enjoying Amsterdam’s sights or doing some last-minute shopping.
Day 8 Amsterdam
The last part of your tour is today, but we won’t let you leave with an empty stomach. So before disembarkation until 9.30 a.m., enjoy a nice breakfast first.
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, route tips 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.
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
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
Date
Departure
Ship
Saturday
Jun 27, 2026
Saturday
Jul 4, 2026
Amsterdam, Oosterdok
Guided
Sarah
Available
–€200.00
Prices from
€1,529.00 p.p.
€1,329.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jul 4, 2026
Saturday
Jul 11, 2026
Amsterdam, Oosterdok
Guided
Sarah
Available
–€200.00
Prices from
€1,529.00 p.p.
€1,329.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jul 18, 2026
Saturday
Jul 25, 2026
Amsterdam, Oosterdok
Guided
Gandalf
Available
–€200.00
Prices from
€1,429.00 p.p.
€1,229.00 p.p.
Saturday
Sep 5, 2026
Saturday
Sep 12, 2026
Amsterdam, Oosterdok
Guided
Flora
Available
–€200.00
Prices from
€1,429.00 p.p.
€1,229.00 p.p.
Saturday
Sep 12, 2026
Saturday
Sep 19, 2026
Amsterdam, Oosterdok
Guided
Sarah
Available
–€200.00
Prices from
€1,529.00 p.p.
€1,329.00 p.p.
Saturday
Sep 26, 2026
Saturday
Oct 3, 2026
Amsterdam, Oosterdok
Guided
Sarah
Available
–€200.00
Prices from
€1,379.00 p.p.
€1,179.00 p.p.
Practical information
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
Daily briefings
Fully guided cycling tours
Fees for ferries
Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
GPS tracks
Use of a waterproof pannier bag
Wi-Fi
Biodegradable water bottle
The CO2 emissions from this trip will be offset through Trees for All and plastic recycler Orca.
SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person – will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)
Rental E-Bike: € 252 per week (only on request, limited number available)
Limitation of liability (damage) rental bicycle €14/week
Limitation of liability (damage) rental e-bike €28/week
Parking own bicycle: € 14 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Parking + charge station own E-Bike: € 28 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Please click on this link for more information about the rental and own bicycles/E-bikes
Helmets: A helmet can be rented for € 10 per week, only on prior reservation and payment.
Parking in Amsterdam (valet parking): prices and pre-booking here.
Loyalty Discount
Explore our Loyalty Discount!
After your tour, you’ll receive an exclusive discount code:
You get 3% on your second tour with us.
From the third tour onwards, you will receive a 5% discount.
Enjoy savings on any of our upcoming trips in 2026.
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!
Discover more
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.
Lovely holiday. It’s a pleasure cycling in a country where is so safe, thanks to the thousands and thousands of miles of cycling paths. The barge was great, very friendly crew. This was my fifth holiday with this company in the Netherlands; looking forward to my next one.
Reply from Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for your lovely review! We re so happy to hear that you had another cycling holiday with us in the Netherlands. It s always a pleasure to ride through such a bike-friendly country, and we re delighted that the barge and our crew added to the experience. Five holidays with us that truly means a lot! We can t wait to welcome you back for your next adventure. Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for your kind words! We re so happy to hear that you had a wonderful trip and truly enjoyed your experience. We d love to welcome you back on board for another Bike and Boat adventure! Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
I took my first Boat Bike tour summer 2024 in north Holland. Both me and my dad loved our experience. We got to see more of the country compared to conventional traveling, and it was much more relaxing than an independent tour due to not needing to pack/unpack or chance accommodation. The ship was comfortable, the rides and sites were beautiful, and we had a great time.
Reply from Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for sharing your experience! We re thrilled to hear that you and your dad enjoyed your first Boat Bike tour in North Holland and found it more relaxing and convenient than conventional travel. It s wonderful to know that the comfort of the ship and the rides and sites made for a great time. We look forward to welcoming you on another memorable journey soon. Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
We enjoyed life on the barge so much – the crew were wonderful And our guide was the best, Francien, she was excellent! we loved the walking tours through the old town too, with Francien. Cycling through the countryside was amazing, but a little tough too with the wind. The food was excellent, and so nice having tea and coffee available all the time! First mate, Krzysztof, was very fun and kept us laughing. Captain Martien, Agnes, and Sara were all so kind and did a great job taking care of us all. We would all like to have Francien again as our guide! We hope to come back again next year! Thanks so much for a wonderful experience!
Reply from Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for your wonderful review! We re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed life on the barge and found the crew to be excellent. We hope to welcome you back next year for another great experience! Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
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