During this fascinating cycling cruise on board the ships De Willemstad or Poseidon you will discover the best of what the beautiful Provinces of North-Holland and Friesland offer. Explore flat βpolderβ landscapes β a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments β the North Sea coast, towering sand dunes, long sandy beaches, historic windmills, the island of Texel and the many picturesque harbor towns along the coast of IJsselmeer Lake. It is without doubt a tour not to be missed! Tour guide Wilma will highlight all the sights of the Northern Tour of Holland. Nowhere else in the world will you find an area as fascinating as the Dutch Provinces of North Holland and Friesland, two areas rich in tradition. Over the course of your β¦
During this fascinating cycling cruise on board the ships De Willemstad or Poseidon you will discover the best of what the beautiful Provinces of North-Holland and Friesland offer. Explore flat βpolderβ landscapes β a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments β the North Sea coast, towering sand dunes, long sandy beaches, historic windmills, the island of Texel and the many picturesque harbor towns along the coast of IJsselmeer Lake. It is without doubt a tour not to be missed!
Tour guide Wilma will highlight all the sights of the Northern Tour of Holland.
Nowhere else in the world will you find an area as fascinating as the Dutch Provinces of North Holland and Friesland, two areas rich in tradition. Over the course of your week, you will be able to discover typical Dutch culture and cycle through a flat βpolder landβ, extensively reclaimed over the centuries from the North Sea and the former Southern Sea (now IJsselmeer). What you will soon realize is the truth behind the proverb βGod created the earth but the Dutch made Hollandβ, such has been the extent of land reclamation in the region you will be cycling through. Since the 17th century in an effort to save disappearing land from encroaching water, protective dikes have been built, low lying land has been pumped dry and tidal dams have been created in creeks to prevent flooding, with the result that todayβs green flat polder landscape is full of agricultural enterprise. Given the Dutch love for cycling, the region is crisscrossed with many quiet cycle tracks that stretch from one end of the region to the other. You will be amazed by the beauty of the North Sea beaches, the towering sand dunes β who said there were no hills in Holland! β the extremely bicycle friendly island of Texel, the beautiful flat landscapes, small dreamlike farm villages and romantic picturesque harbor villages. During the second part of the tour you will cross the large lake IJsselmeer to Stavoren in the Province of Friesland. Other highlights during your week tour include the open air museum βZaanse Schansβ, the historic city center of Alkmaar and the old harbor cities of Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam, the islands of Texel and Marken and β of course β Amsterdam with its beautiful canals.
A varied landscape
In this short tour, youβll travel by barge and bike through stunning North Holland landscapes. Pedaling flat bicycle paths across polders (reclaimed land), dikes, canals, and the dunes of the coast, past nature areas and farmland, youβll be able to see how the Dutch have shaped the landscape, preventing flooding while respecting nature and allowing space for agriculture. The changing landscape will charm you.
What makes Holland Holland
When you think of Holland, you probably imagine windmills, dikes, cheese, and clogs. That history comes alive at Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum where you can explore a range of historical windmills, traditional Dutch houses and shops, and you can observe how cheese and clogs are made. And speaking of cheese, youβll also visit Alkmaar, home to a traditional cheese market.
Another highlight of this tour is Marken, once an island of fishermen and still picture-perfect with its small wooden houses and boat harbor. Amsterdam, the start and end point of the tour, offers endless opportunities for exploring museums and shops, or just admiring the graceful elegance of the canal houses in the UNESCO-listed canal zone.
On board the ship
When youβre not pedaling through the countryside or exploring Hollandβs historical towns, youβll enjoy the facilities on the ship. On-board chefs prepare a varied and delicious dinner menu fresh daily. Raise a toast at the bar with other guests, watch the scenery from a deck chair outside or from the salon inside. Youβll get a good nightβs rest in one of our well-appointed cabins, all with en-suite bathrooms.
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. You can make 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.
You cycle independently
During this trip there is an expert and experienced tour leader on board. He or she will discuss the next dayβs cycling routes on a daily basis and provide you with tips and information about the route. You will cycle the tours independently and at your own pace using a detailed cycling map, GPS directions via the free Ride With GPS app and printed route descriptions (available on board). The tour leader will also cycle the routes, so they will be riding nearby and can be reached by phone in case of emergencies, problems or questions.
Boarding and check-in. The crew will welcome you on board between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The ship will depart for Zaandam at around 4:00 p.m. You will receive a welcome drink and safety instructions, followed by a three-course dinner and a briefing for the first bike tour.
Day 2 Zaandam β Zaanse Schans β Alkmaar
44km27 mi
The first cycling trip of this tour takes you via small villages through the beautiful flat and green polder landscape. The first stop is at the Zaanse Schans open air museum (free entry) with its traditional Old Dutch wooden houses, windmills and the cheese- and clog factory. After this visit you will cycle through the βLand of Leeghwaterβ, a green polder area between Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Hoorn. Stroll through the former whalerβs village De Rijp and pass by the windmills of Schermerhorn. Your ship will be waiting for you near the historical city center of Alkmaar.
Day 3 Dune tour: round trip from/to Alkmaar | Alkmaar β Den Helder
33km20 mi or 40km24 mi
Today you can discover the beautiful North-Holland Dune reserve. This is a 5.300 hectare large forest- and dune area with its unique landscapes. In these dunes the drinking water for almost the whole province of North-Holland is gained. After a visit to the beach and artists village Bergen you will return to Alkmaar where you can visit the wonderful city center. In the afternoon the ship will sail over the North-Holland Canal to the navy harbor of Den Helder.
Day 4 Ferry to North Sea island of Texel: cycling round trips from βt Horntje
34km21 mi or 51km31 mi
After breakfast youβll take a 20-minute ferry ride (ticket included) from Den Helder to the isle of Texel, where you can make beautiful cycling tours on the largest of the Dutch North Sea Isles. Ride through meadows, nature parks and dunes to small villages and have the opportunity for a stop and some bathing at the sandy North Sea beach, or visit the βEcomareβ seal sanctuary. In the late afternoon you will return by ferry to Den Helder.
Day 5 Den Helder β Stavoren | Southwest Friesland: round trip from/to Stavoren
43km26 mi or 55km34 mi
The vessel will cross the large inland lake IJsselmeer to sail to Stavoren in the Province of Friesland. You can opt for a shorter or longer cycling tour: discover the nature area of Gaasterland or explore a part of the wide lake district, that Friesland is well-known for. You can also combine both options. Night in the small harbor of Stavoren, one of the famous traditional 11 cities of Friesland.
The ship will cross the IJsselmeer again during breakfast. Take the short cycling trip from Medemblik along the IJsselmeer coast directly to Enkhuizen, where you can spend the afternoon. Enkhuizen is an old city with many centuries of maritime tradition. The βherring cityβ boasts a beautiful old harbor, a historical old town centre and the very interesting Zuiderzeemuseum. If you prefer a longer cycling tour, ride from Medemblik to the former Dutch East India Company town of Hoorn, in the 17th century one of the worldβs leading harbors. Enjoy your lunch break and make a short stroll in the old city centre. Continue by bicycle to Enkhuizen via some picturesque rural villages. In the evening you can join a short city walk.
During breakfast the ship will sail to Volendam. Your final day of cycling will lead you through the beautiful area of Waterland, with its hundreds of small lakes and tiny canals. Near Volendam you will have the opportunity to visit a cheese farm. Recommended (extra cycling miles) is a tour to the former island of Marken, to continue through the water shaped region of Waterland back to the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer. If you didnβt go for a canal cruise on the first day, you can do so today.
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, youβre 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 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. 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.
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 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.
Prices & availability
Date
Departure
Ship
Saturday
May 9, 2026
Saturday
May 16, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,289.00 p.p.
Saturday
May 16, 2026
Saturday
May 23, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
May 23, 2026
Saturday
May 30, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
May 30, 2026
Saturday
Jun 6, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jun 6, 2026
Saturday
Jun 13, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jun 13, 2026
Saturday
Jun 20, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jun 20, 2026
Saturday
Jun 27, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jun 27, 2026
Saturday
Jul 4, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jul 4, 2026
Saturday
Jul 11, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Prices from
β¬1,649.00 p.p.
Saturday
Jul 11, 2026
Saturday
Jul 18, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,539.00 p.p.
Jul 18, 2026Jul 25, 2026
Fully booked
Saturday
Jul 25, 2026
Saturday
Aug 1, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,289.00 p.p.
Saturday
Aug 1, 2026
Saturday
Aug 8, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,539.00 p.p.
Saturday
Aug 8, 2026
Saturday
Aug 15, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Prices from
β¬1,839.00 p.p.
Saturday
Aug 15, 2026
Saturday
Aug 22, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Prices from
β¬1,539.00 p.p.
Saturday
Aug 22, 2026
Saturday
Aug 29, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Aug 29, 2026
Saturday
Sep 5, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Sep 5, 2026
Saturday
Sep 12, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,399.00 p.p.
Saturday
Sep 12, 2026
Saturday
Sep 19, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Prices from
β¬1,289.00 p.p.
Saturday
Sep 19, 2026
Saturday
Sep 26, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Prices from
β¬1,349.00 p.p.
Sep 26, 2026Oct 3, 2026
Fully booked
Saturday
Oct 3, 2026
Saturday
Oct 10, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,049.00 p.p.
Saturday
Oct 10, 2026
Saturday
Oct 17, 2026
Amsterdam, Minervahaven
Semi-Guided
De Willemstad
Available
Prices from
β¬1,049.00 p.p.
Practical information
Included in this tour
8 days/7 nights
7 x breakfast
Packed lunches
7 x 3-course dinner
Coffee and tea on board till 4 p.m.
Welcome drink
Use of bed linen and towels
Daily cleaning of the cabin
Climate-controlled cabin
Daily briefings
Semi guided cycling tours (guest cycle independently, tour leader also cycles the tour);
Some short walking tours
BBT cycling map and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
GPS tracks
Use of a waterproof pannier bag
Biodegradable water bottle
Ferry ticket to Texel
Wi-Fi is available in restaurant
Live music on board
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: β¬ 5 per person β will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)
Rental E-Bike: β¬ 252 per week (only on request, limited number available)
Helmets: A helmet can be rented for β¬ 10 per week, only on prior reservation and payment.
Limitation of liability (damage) rental bicycle β¬ 14/week (only bookable in advance)
Limitation of liability (damage) rental e-bike β¬ 28/week (only bookable in advance)
Parking own bicycle: β¬ 14 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Parking + charge station own E-Bike: β¬ 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
Canal cruise Amsterdam: Ticket for a 1-hour canal cruise through Amsterdam β special price for our guests: β¬ 19 (at the ticket desk approx.: β¬ 22). 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 on request.
Loyalty Discount
Explore our Loyalty Discount!
After your tour, youβll 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.
Everything was nice. The boat could and should have had coffee and water available all day. We couldn t get coffee till 7:15am. What if you are an earlier riser? You couldn t get coffee till 3:00 pm and for only one hour>Γ7ΓΓΓ»Γ
@&ΓΎ. Bikes need work, gear shifting, tightening up parts, etc. Guides were nice but basically useless. You could have handed me a paper each day on sites for the day. Guides were pretty much non existence on our ride. Maybe that is the norm on a self guided ride. >Γ7ΓΓΓ»Γ
@&ΓΎ. Rooms were fine, beds pretty comfy. It got cold and we had to ask to turn the heat on in lieu of AC and one day we didn t have hot water and they didn t say anything until it was brought up to them. Check in was a mess& but check out went fine. The rides each day were beautiful, the GPS worked well! Really liked having time in the towns in the evenings, gave us time to see some additional sites and explore the local areas. I knew what to expect with the boat and it met my expectations. I would do another boat bike tour.
Reply from Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We re glad to hear that you enjoyed the daily rides, the GPS routes, exploring the towns, and that the boat met your expectations. We also appreciate your honest comments regarding coffee availability, bike maintenance, guides, heating, and check-in, and we will use your feedback to improve these areas for future guests. It s wonderful to hear that, despite some challenges, you would do another Boat Bike Tour, and we look forward to welcoming you back on board for another adventure! Best regards, Team Boat Bike Tours
We just returned from our North Holland Boat and Bike tour on the de Willemstad ship. First, let me say the routes were beautiful, the meals delicious and plentiful, the crew were professional, the bike guides helpful, and our room (we splurged on a suite , which is really just a larger room), was clean and comfortable. The GPS data, written instructions and map all made for exceptionally easy self-guided navigation. It was a fairly windy week, but hey, it s The Netherlands. I wish I could give the tour 5 stars, but there was one problem I couldn t overlook. When we boarded the ship, we were surprised to see about 60 or so people bringing their own bikes, most of which were e-bikes. As we had flown to Europe, that was not an option for us, but we soon figured out why people brought their own. It took 3 days to finally get a somewhat decent bike for my husband to ride. The battery would turn off every km or so the first day and so the bike was traded out. The second day we had the same problem and since he had to get off the bike to turn it back on, he had to stop 23 times to turn the bike back on. Then the assist did not work properly. If he chose to use to add assist, he could not lower the assist so he had to ride in the lowest assist to not burn through the battery. Even so his battery was at 40% when mine was still at 80% which is not good. My bike was not as bad, but the first day I had an incredibly irritating screech of the brakes with every rotation. The guide switched out the bike with me which solved that problem. In general, we were VERY disappointed with the quality and maintenance of the bikes. Yes, The Netherlands are flat, but there is a lot of wind and there are other reasons we booked ebikes, including fitness and joint issues. We ride Gazelle (Dutch) ebikes at home and love them. Our primary reason to do this trip is to bike ride beautiful routes. If the bikes are old, substandard or poorly maintained, then that is very frustrating and disappointing. We traveled for ten weeks in Europe this summer and rented ebikes from multiple parties. The bikes on this tour were substantially lower quality than any other bike we rented during the trip. Truly, all other aspects of the tour were great, but we will not do another Boat and Bike tour until the e-bike fleet is updated. We were told the premium ships have newer, better e-bikes, but at the price point of this trip, we certainly would expect quality e-bikes in excellent working order.
Reply from Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for your detailed feedback. Weβre glad to hear that many aspects of your tour such as the route, crew, food, and navigation met your expectations. At the same time, we re sorry to read about your experience with the e-bikes. That s certainly not the standard we aim for, and we understand how important reliable bikes are, especially when cycling is the main focus of the trip. Your comments have been noted and will be shared internally. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future under better circumstances. Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
Thank you for your kind words! Weβre so happy to hear that your trip was perfect. We d love to welcome you back on board for another Bike and Boat adventure! Kind regards, Boat Bike Tours
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