Northern Holland Bike & Boat tour
-
Bike and boat tour through northern Netherlands
Flat countryside up to the horizon, windmills, canals (Grachten) and cycling, that are the Netherlands. And there is so much more. Discover the Netherlands in a unique way on an 8-days-journey by bike and boat. Well-built cycle paths as well as wide and extensive waterways guarantee an unforgettable holiday. Throughout the day you are cycling on your own through the beautiful landscapes in Rembrandt’s and Van Gogh’s country and in the late afternoon your swimming hotel MS SERENA will be at your disposal. And if you don’t like to cycle every day, you can stay on board and enjoy the passing countryside.
The Province of the Northern Netherlands: The Dutch province of the North Netherlands is situated on a peninsula the North Sea and the IJsselmeer (IJssel Sea). The Northern Netherlands were founded due to the separation of the north and south of the Netherlands in 1840. Its capital is Haarlem, the biggest city is Amsterdam. Discover the folklore and tradition in the flat Polderland, on the North Sea and in romantic ports. You are travelling through a former lake and marsh region that has been drained by the help of windmills since the 17th century. Experience varying, typically Dutch Polder-countryside, dunes and North Sea beaches, the North Sea island Texel and many picturesque harbour villages on the coast of the IJsselmeer.
-
Daily itinerary for the self guided North Holland route
Day 1 Saturday: Individual arrival at Amsterdam, Sailing from Amsterdam to Hoorn
Check-in on board in the afternoon. Embarkation at 3 pm. Maybe you will take some time for exploring the city of Amsterdam and a shopping tour. At 5:30 pm MS SERENA will leave Amsterdam for Hoorn with its historical old part of town.
Day 2: Hoorn to Enkhuizen 26 km/ 16 miles
Hoorn is an ancient city in which you can still find many buildings dating back to the 17th century (e.g. the Regentur of Westfriesland – today a museum -, the town’s scales at the Rodesteen, the harbour tower as well as the storage houses at the old quai). Today you are cycling from Hoorn to Enkhuizen. Tip: you should visit the Zuiderzeemuseum.
Day 3: Sailing from Enkhuizen to Lemmer – Cycling from Lemmer and back, 45 km/28 miles
Today you are shipping over the IJsselmeer to Lemmer. You are starting your roundtrip by bike: over the Oosterzee Buren to the Tjeukemeer, further to Munnekeburen, then around the Rottige Meente over Scherpenzel and Schoterzijl back to Lemmer with its historical old part of town and beautiful gable houses. Tip: Visit of the largest still-functioning steam pumping station in the world, “Woudagemaal”.
Day 4: Lemmer to Stavoren 33 km/21 miles – Sailing from Stavoren to Oudeschild Island of Texel
You are going by bike to Sondeler Leien Lake, from there through the woods of Rijsterbos passing the Mokkebank (a birds’ reservation) to the Roode Klif at Stavoren. From there you are shipping to Oudeschild on the Island of Texel.
Day 5: Island of Texel – Cycle tour from Oudeschild and back, 70 km/44 miles, Sailing from Oudeschild to Den Helder
You are going on a round trip by bike on the biggest North Sea Island of the Netherlands – Texel. There are numerous alternative routes (29/32/47/70 km). About 6:00 pm shipping back to Den Helder.
Day 6: Cycling from Den Helder via Sint Maartensvlotbrug to Alkmaar, 55 km/34 miles
In the morning you are cycling through the dunes to Alkmaar. It is possible for you to go on board MS SERENA in St. Maartensvlotburg and ship the rest of the way to Alkmaar. As an alternative, you can also start your cycling tour in St. Maartensvlotburg.
Day 7: Sailing from Alkmaar to Wormerveer – Cycle from Wormerveer to Amsterdam 35 km/22 miles
In the morning you have the opportunity to visit the cheese market in Alkmaar (ca. Apr. to Sept). At midday we are shipping to Wormerveer from where you should cycling to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans (windmills, ancient Dutch village, cheese factory, etc.). You are cycling through the recreational area Twiske to Amsterdam. Tip: In the afternoon you should take part in a “Grachtenrundfahrt” (shipping on the channels of Amsterdam in small boats).
Day 8 Saturday: Departure from Amsterdam – End of the boat and bike trip
After breakfast checkout until 9:00 am and we are saying goodbye – have a safe journey.
-
Serena barge
FACILITIESA comfortable river boat with nice saloon, bar, restaurant (air-conditioned) and relaxed atmosphere. Dutch flag and captaincy.
TECHNICAL INFOS:
Launched: 1935, (renovated in 2011)
Length: 90 m
Wide: 9,90 mCrew:10
THE CABINS
The cabins are equipped with shower/WC, TV, window and ventilation system. 33 cabins on main deck and 18 cabins on promenade deck accommodate 99 beds. The twin-bedded cabins on both decks are equipped with two separate beds and have a size of 8 – 9 sqm. The two junior suites on the main deck are equipped with a queen-size bed (grand lit, 1, 40 x 2 m) and have a size of 12 sqm.
THE DECKS
Partly roofed sun deck with seats and storage for bikes
CATERING
The catering consists of 7- full board. The cook is a crew member and prepares the breakfast and the 3-course dinners. The cyclists can prepare lunch packages for the excursions. For those who want to stay on board light lunch will be served.
LANGUAGES ON BOARD
German, English
-
Dates and prices for 2019
Sails weekly on Saturdays May 4 – August 31 inclusive Price / person 2-bed cabin main deck 769€ 2-bed cabin Promenade deck 899€
Juniorsuite 829€
Single supplement +50%
-
What´s services are included in the self-guided bicycle route?
Duration - 8 days / 7 nights
Weekly bike rental - 70€/Weekly bike rental
- 165€/Weekly E-bike rental
Departures dates 2019 - Each Saturday starting May 4th to August 31 inclusive
Services included - Seven nights in outside cabins of ship MS Serena, shower/WC in the booked cabin category
- Programme according to routing from/to Amsterdam
- Welcome aboard drink
- Every day room cleaning
- Changing of towels and bed cloths if required
- Full board consisting of 7x breakfast buffet, 6x lunch snack on board (non-cyclists) or lunch package for cycle tours, 6x coffee or tea in the afternoon, 7x 3-course-dinner
- All charges for harbours, bridges and locks
- Daily bariefing about the cycling tours
- Instructions and detailed maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin)
- German, English speaking onboard tour guide, no guides available for bicycling tour
Not included expenses - Journey to and from Amsterdam, parking fees, shuttles, bike rental, entrance fees and excursions, ferry tickets, drinks on board, tips, travel insurances.
Discounts - Please ask for more info
Cancellation fees up to 84 days prior to departure 20% 83-42 days prior to departure 30% 41-28 days prior to departure 60% 27-4 days prior to departure 80% from 3 days prior to departure or no-show 90% How to book this trip? - We require 50% deposit per person upon reservation, final payment 6 weeks before tour departure. CC payments Visa or Master card do have an additional increase of 2%. All reservations will have a cost of 25€ per tour.
Dificulty: 
- Price: from 769 €/person
- Type of trip: Self-guided bike and boat
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Starting point: Amsterdam Saturdays
- Final destination: Amsterdam
- Total distance: 264 km / 164 miles
- Bike type: See under “Additional Info”
