8 Day Southern Tour of Holland with there cities and beautiful and senic countryside

Embarkation and check-in from 2 p.m. in Amsterdam.

Take the opportunity to go shopping, to explore downtown Amsterdam, to make a canal cruise or to visit a museum Welcome drink, dinner and first briefing on board. First night on board in Amsterdam.

Your first cycling tour starts in Breukelen.

You’ll tour along the beautiful and winding river Vecht with its enchanting background of imposing castles, country houses and quaint tearooms.

You will follow the Vecht into the center of Utrecht where you will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful historical city center: the Dom Cathedral with its tower, the canals, special shops and nice cafes.

In the afternoon you will continue by ship from Utrecht to Rotterdam.

Today you will cycle via the “jenever city” of Schiedam and through the Delfland area to Delft, famous, of course, for its blue pottery.

Visit the beautiful city centre with its small canals, picturesque streets, bridges and alleys.

For many of our guests a visit to the Delftware factory is one of the highlights of their tour. Afterwards, you will cycle back to Rotterdam, where you can enjoy a short city walk in the evening.

Today you can cycle the first part or the “waterbus” will take you and your bicycle to Alblasserdam.

After just a few minutes of cycling you will reach Kinderdijk (UNESCO cultural heritage, with its impressive row of 19 large windmills).

You then have the choice between a longer cycling tour with a visit to the beautiful cheese city of Gouda and a short cycling tour through the Alblasserwaard.

Both tours end in the “silver city” of Schoonhoven, where you can visit a silversmith.

Today you will cycle from Schoonhoven through the beautiful “Green Heart” of Holland along small villages and quiet roads to Utrecht.

On your way you can visit a traditional cheese farm and in Oudewater you can visit the Witches Weigh House.

In the late afternoon the ship will sail from Utrecht to Haarlem.

Today you can choose from 2 cycling tours. Both tours takes you through the beautiful Kennemer dunes, a national park where you can spot several bird species,

Scottish Highland cows and Shetland ponies. After a visit to the seaside resorts Bloemendaal and Zandvoort you cycle through the forests and the centre of Haarlem back to the ship.

The longer cycling tour leads to the largest steam engine of the world, the Cruquius pumping station and back to Haarlem.

During dinner your ship will cruise to Zaandam.

* Departures dates between April 14 and May 5: On Thursday you have the opportunity to visit the world famous Tulip exhibition park “Keukenhof” in Lisse (by bicycle or public transport; transfers/tickets/entrance fee not included).

From Zaandam your final day of cycling will take you to the open air museum the Zaanse Schans (free entry), with its beautiful windmills, an Old Dutch village with traditional wooden houses, a cheese farm and a traditional wooden clog maker.

After exploring the museum you cycle through the recreational area “Twiske” back to Amsterdam.

The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer.

If you didn’t go for a canal tour on the first day, you will have the opportunity to do so today.

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

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.

A knowledgeable and multilingual tour leader is available on board. He/she will provide you with all necessary tour information during daily briefings. You will cycle the tours independently, at your own pace, with the help of a detailed cycling map, GPS-tracks and printed route notes (available on board). The tour leader will also be cycling the daily tours and can – for assistance – be reached on his/her mobile phone in cases of emergency or technical breakdown of the bicycle. During days when several bicycle options are possible, not all mentioned highlights can be visited during the shorter cycling options.

If you don’t feel like cycling for a day (or more) you are welcome to relax and stay on board while the ship is sailing. But please note: lunch will not be served on board. So you can enjoy your packed lunch. On the arrival (first) day it is possible to put your luggage on board from 11:00 a.m..

Bicycles/E-bikes:
The bicycles on board are unisex touring bikes of the brand Gazelle Chamonix with lightweight frames and normal mount (ladies model), with easy-to-handle Shimano 7 gears, hand brakes, gel-saddle (height adjustable), a lock on the frame and pannier bag. All bikes have 28 inch wheels. Some smaller frames are available on board for smaller persons. For large gentlemen (from 1.90m and above) we have a few traditional men’ s models (with a horizontal bar) available.
The e-bike is a Trenergy E-Relax Pro with Nexus 7 gears, 3 support levels and hand breaks only (or a comparable brand/model). E-bikes available (on request, limited stock, pending availability).

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. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at no additional fee). However, the crew or tour operators are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of guests own bicycles.

8 days/7 nights

7 x breakfast

Packed lunches

7 x 3-course dinner

Coffee and tea on board till 4 PM

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

Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)

GPS tracks

Use of a waterproof pannier bag

Wi-Fi

Live music on board

Coffee and tea on board after 4 PM

Drinks

Bicycle rental or E-bike rental

Helmet rental

Personal insurances

Gratuities (at your discretion)

Entrance fees and excursions

Fees for ferries/waterbus

Transfers to/from the docking place

Parking fees

About this ship: De Amsterdam

De Amsterdam is a very well equipped river cruise ship, built in 1991 and last refurbished in 2017. In recent years, the vessel has been operated for river cruises (4 star category) in Germany. In 2018, De Amsterdam make her first cycling cruises on the Southern Tour of Holland! The ship sails under German flag and Dutch management.

Description of the cabins
The lower deck offers space to 8 twin cabins and 22 superior twin cabins (11 m² – 135 sq.ft.).
The upper deck has 18 superior twin cabins (11 m² – 135 sq.ft.) and 8 spacious suites (15 m² – 200 sq.ft.). The difference between twin and superior twin cabins on the lower deck is their location in relation to engine room, stairs and salon.

All twin cabins have two separate single beds (200 x 80 cm – 78 x 31 inches), the suites have two separate beds set next to each other as a hotel style bed (200 x 160 cm – 78 x 62 inches) which, on previous request, can be arranged as two separate single beds.

All 56 cabins aboard De Amsterdam have an individual climate control system, digital TV, wardrobe, mini-safe, hair dryer, 230V and 115V sockets and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.

The twin cabins have a large picture window (140 x 90 cm – 55 x 35 inches) that can be partly opened. The suites have the same amenities as the twin cabins, but are larger and – in addition – also have a minibar, a “French Balcony” (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors) instead of a window.

Description of the ship
De Amsterdam has a spacious restaurant on the lower deck. The pleasant lounge on the upper deck has large windows around, which offers you a great view of the surroundings. There is also a bar with a dance floor. Wi-Fi is available. On the partially roofed sun deck, chairs and sun loungers invite for a stay. Here you can relax and have a drink and enjoy the scenery while sailing.  Bicycles will be stored on a separate part of the sun deck.

Facts about the ship
Length:            94.8 m (311 ft.)
Width:             11 m (36 ft.)
Crew:              21
Cabins:            56
Pass.:              112 (max.)

De Amsterdam

This impressive and well maintained river cruise ship, De Amsterdam, has 56 cabins for a maximum of 112 passengers. All of the cabins have a window, giving you a different view every day. They are well-equipped and provided with two comfortable single beds. In the spacious restaurant on the lower deck you can go for a cyclist’s breakfast and in the evening it’s time for a three course dinner. A good spot for relaxing after a great cycling day, is in the lounge area and bar on the upper deck, or – on a sunny day – at the partially roofed sun deck.

About this ship: De Nassau

De Nassau is a medium-sized cozy river cruise ship. In the summer of 2018 the cabins and the salon/restaurant in front of the ship will be completely refitted: spacious and more luxurious cabins and a full restyle of the interior. The ship sails under Dutch flag and management and has always been very popular and appropriate for the Southern Tours of Holland.

Description of the cabins
The lower deck has 22 twin cabins. Fourteen “regular” twin cabins in the middle and back (10 m² – 108 sq.ft.) have two single low beds (200 x 80 cm – 78 x 31 inches).  One cabin has the possibility for a third bunk bed (above one of the beds). Eight “superior” twin cabins in the front (9,5 – 11,5 m² – 102 – 124 sq.ft.) have two separate beds, set next to each other as a hotel style bed (200 x 160 cm – 78 x 62 inches). The difference between twin and superior twin cabins on the lower deck is that the superior twins are the renovated cabins. All lower deck cabins have a small window that can be opened.

Beds in the superior cabins are normally set as hotel-style beds (78 x 62 inches) or, optional, on previous request, can be arranged as 2 separate single beds (78 x 31 inches).

The upper deck offers twelve twin cabins (10 m² – 108 sq.ft.), ten cabins with two single low beds and two have a double bed (200 x 140 cm – 78 x 55 inches). Four cabins have the possibility for a third bunk bed (above one of the beds). All upper deck cabins have a window that can be opened.

All 34 cabins aboard De Nassau have an individual climate control system, mini-safe, small wardrobe, hair dryer, 230V sockets and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.

Description of the ship
De Nassau has a large salon with large panoramic windows on the upper deck that combines the restaurant, bar and a lounge area. Wi-Fi is available. On the partially roofed sun deck, chairs and sun loungers invite for a stay. Here you can relax and have a drink and enjoy the scenery while sailing.  Bicycles will be stored on a separate part of the sun deck.

Facts about the ship

Length:            72 m (236 ft.)
Width:             8,6 m (28 ft.)
Crew:               12
Cabins:            34
Pass.:               73 (max.)