The Netherlands Bike & Boat: Springtime in Holland Guided Bicycling Vacation

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

A VBT representative will greet you at the Amsterdam Airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

After an included breakfast, ensure your luggage is packed and ready for transport to the barge. At 11:30 a.m., meet a VBT representative in the hotel lobby and travel to the barge. Since the next included meal will be dinner, consider packing a light lunch or planning to purchase one upon arrival at Oosterdok, where you will board the barge.

You will board the barge around 1:30 p.m. for a 2:00 p.m. departure. At the docks, meet the barge crew and your VBT trip leaders, who will welcome you aboard with light refreshments. Then, cruise out of Amsterdam, sailing along the Noordhollandsch Kanaal—the waterway connecting Amsterdam to the North Sea—passing the striking EYE Film Museum.

After a short sail, we’ll dock in Zaandam, where you’ll disembark for a scenic warm-up ride along the River Zaan and through a quiet rural residential area.

This evening, gather on board for a welcome dinner with the group.

Today's Ride Choices

Afternoon: Zaandam Warm-Up Loop — 16 km (10 miles)

What to Expect:

The route offers a glimpse into Zaandam’s industrial heritage, taking you along a mix of streets, bike lanes, and bike paths. Continue to a quaint neighborhood of traditional houses, where you’ll have a great opportunity to practice navigating using the Dutch Bike Network System signs.

Cumulative Distance Range: 16 km (10 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, as you enjoy breakfast, your barge sails to Zaanse Schans. Upon arrival, visit a working sawmill powered entirely by wind before cycling along the River Zaan and the Knollendammer Canal toward Alkmaar, a town famed for its historic cheese trade. Along the way, you’ll pass picturesque lakes and water-management systems before reaching the beautiful town of De Rijp.

Once there, you’ll understand why the renowned water engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater called it “the finest village in Holland.” Centuries of history are still visible in De Rijp’s wooden facades, its charming lock, and its beautiful 17th-century church, complete with stunning stained-glass windows dating to 1655.

From De Rijp, cycle to the Nic Jonk Museum and Sculpture Garden, where you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, your next stop is the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder, home to the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. The museum offers full access from top to bottom, allowing you to observe the fascinating mechanics of a working mill in an authentic setting.

Continue cycling across this scenic, flat landscape to Alkmaar. While the town is historically known for its cheese trade, there is much more to discover. As you explore Alkmaar’s Old Town this evening, you’ll be captivated by its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and charming, narrow canals.

Tonight, dine on your own at one of Alkmaar’s many local restaurants before returning to the barge.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Zaanse Schans to Lunch — 20 km (12 miles)

Afternoon: Lunch to Alkmaar — 21 km (13 miles) OR Lunch to Alkmaar via Bergen PLUS — 43 km (27 miles)

What to Expect:

After a guided visit to the Het Jonge Schaep sawmill, your route continues along the Dutch windmill theme. Depart Zaanse Schans and ride along the Zaan River, stopping at Spijkerboor to take the local ferry across the Noordhollands Canal. From there, cycle to the charming town of De Rijp. As you continue, you’ll begin to see the iconic windmills that make the Netherlands famous. Stop at the Nic Jonk Museum for a picnic lunch. After lunch, you may choose to take a shuttle to Alkmaar. Those who continue cycling will pause in Schermermolen to explore the inner workings of a traditional windmill. Afterward, enjoy a scenic ride through open countryside all the way to the final destination. For those opting for the extra-long route, the journey includes a loop through the picturesque town of Bergen before arriving at your barge in Alkmaar.

Cumulative Distance Range: 20 – 63 km (12 – 39 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After an early breakfast, cycle to the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to preserving rare and historic bulbs. Spanning more than five acres of flowerbeds, the museum showcases over 4,000 varieties of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers. Each spring, they bloom in a dazzling display of color and fragrance, as you’ll experience on a guided tour.

From there, it’s a short ride to the beach, where you can enjoy lunch on your own at one of the beachfront cafés. Take in the sweeping coastal views before continuing along bike paths through the sand dunes of the North Sea coast to the town of Beverwijk, where you can choose to shuttle or cycle to Haarlem. A local car ferry will then carry you across the North Sea Canal, a major shipping route.

Haarlem is a charming city known for its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, canals, grand churches, cozy bars, top-notch restaurants, and antique shops.

This evening, dinner will be served aboard the barge, which will remain moored in Haarlem overnight. Afterward, consider a leisurely stroll to the historic city center to soak in its timeless charm.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Alkmaar to the Beach — 29 km (18 miles)

Afternoon: Beach to Haarlem — 36 km (22 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s ride—the first of two flower-filled days—takes you through blossoming fields and sand dunes. The first bulbs appear soon after leaving Alkmaar, and you’ll have the opportunity to admire them in Limmen at Hortus Bulborum. In Castricum, enjoy lunch on your own at one of the beachfront cafés, where you can take in the stunning North Sea views. Afterward, burn off those calories as you continue cycling through the sand dunes before boarding a ferry across the North Sea Canal. Continue riding on paved bike paths through National Parc Kennemer dunes into Haarlem city center to meet the barge.

Cumulative Distance Range: 29 – 65 km (18 – 40 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today begins with an early start so you can witness the flowers opening in the soft morning light. Cycle through gorgeous, blooming bulb fields on your way to Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Spanning 80 acres (32 hectares), this breathtaking park features more than 9 miles (14.4 km) of footpaths winding among over 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other flowers, all designed to delight the senses in a truly stunning setting. Enjoy a packed lunch at your leisure during your visit.

From there, continue cycling through more vibrant bulb fields toward Oude Wetering, where you will board the barge and sail into Leiden. This lively town, bisected by picturesque canals, is lined with charming guild houses. Leiden is the birthplace of the Dutch master Rembrandt and home to the Netherlands’ oldest university. The town also holds an important place in colonial American history. In the early 17th century, Protestants fleeing persecution in the Low Countries, France, and England found refuge in Leiden. Among them was a group led by John Robinson, who would later sail to America aboard the Mayflower.

This evening, enjoy dinner on board, followed by a special hour-long post-dinner boat tour (around 8:00 p.m.) through historic Leiden. You may choose to disembark in the city center and walk back to the barge at your own pace. The barge will be moored in Leiden overnight.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Haarlem to Keukenhof Gardens — 26 km (16 miles)

Afternoon: Keukenhof Gardens to Oude Wetering — 18 km (11 miles) OR Keukenhof Gardens to Oude Wetering PLUS — 32 km (20 miles)

What to Expect:

Ride on country roads through flowering fields on your way to world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. After leaving Haarlem, your bike route touches the ancient Manpad at the foot of the dunes before moving farther inland through an older flower-growing area. Midway to Oude Wetering, enjoy an included visit to Keukenhof Gardens, where you can explore at your leisure and enjoy a packed lunch during your visit. Afterward, continue cycling through blooming bulb fields, pass through Warmond’s narrow main street, and ride to Oude Wetering, where you will board the barge and sail into Leiden. (If you choose the longer ride this afternoon, you will have less time at Keukenhof Gardens. Please inform your trip leaders if you plan to take the PLUS option.)

Cumulative Distance Range: 44 – 58 km (27 – 36 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, ride out of Leiden, passing through verdant pastures and small farms renowned for their cheese production. Stop at a family-owned farm to learn about the cheese-making process and enjoy a tasting of their delicious cheeses.

Continue cycling through the open polder landscapes to Hazerswoude-Dorp. The bike path out of town has an intimate feel, winding through residential gardens before leading you to Boskoop, where you’ll have lunch on your own. From there, continue riding all the way to Gouda.

Gouda’s namesake cheese is one of the Netherlands’ most famous exports. The town’s compact center, entirely ringed by canals, offers a charming setting for exploration. This evening, take a leisurely stroll through Gouda’s spacious market square and admire the grand Gothic town hall. You may also visit the main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, which is world-famous for its stunning stained-glass windows.

Your early-afternoon arrival provides plenty of time to explore before finding a local restaurant for dinner on your own.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning + Early Afternoon: Leiden to Gouda with Van Veen Cheesemaker — 38 km (24 miles) OR Boskoop to Gouda via lakes with Van Veen Cheesemaker — 52 km (32 miles)

What to Expect:

After breakfast on the barge, begin riding from Leiden to Zoeterwoude and Weipoort. After a short ride, you’ll tour a cheese farm with the opportunity to taste their wares. The rest of your ride is through the region of Hazerswoude and Boskoop, where plants and young trees are commercially grown. Your ride will end when you meet the barge in Gouda, an old cheese-market city of international fame, where you’ll have plenty of free time to explore the area.

Cumulative Distance Range: 38 – 52 km (24 – 32 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Take the morning to further explore Gouda and enjoy lunch on your own at your leisure.

In the afternoon, choose to cycle or cruise through the scenic Groene Hart (Green Heart), a picturesque region of lush meadows, tranquil peat lakes, and abundant birdlife.

If you opt to cycle, depart from Gouda, pedaling alongside peat lakes before reaching the narrow banks of the Rhine River. Continue to Alphen aan den Rijn, where the barge will be moored overnight.

This evening, enjoy dinner aboard the barge.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Gouda to Alphen aan den Rijn via Meije PLUS — 65 km (40 miles)

Afternoon: Gouda to Alphen aan den Rijn After Lunch — 39 km (24 miles)

What to Expect:

After a morning of exploration and lunch on your own in Gouda, today’s ride takes you through Reeuwijkse Plassen, a scenic lake district formed by centuries of peat digging. Passing through Bodegraven, follow the Old Rhine River to Alphen aan den Rijn, where you will meet the barge. This route offers rural, picturesque cycling through the Green Heart of Holland, featuring charming towns and serene peat rivers.

Cumulative Distance Range: 39 – 65 km (24 – 40 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After enjoying your morning beverage with breakfast on the barge, cycle along a canal and scenic peat lakes to De Veense Volkstuin, a local community garden, for a brief visit.

Continue cycling to Oude Wetering, where you will rejoin the barge and enjoy a sailing lunch featuring Dutch delicacies as you cruise to your mooring in the heart of Amsterdam.

This evening, enjoy a final dinner on board.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Alphen Rijn to Oude Wetering — 27 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

Cycle along a scenic route, following a canal and passing through peat lakes and the villages of Langeraar before meeting the barge in Oude Wetering. Along the way, take a ferry crossing, then cycle through greenhouses, stopping for a guided visit and explanation at a local community garden.

Cumulative Distance Range: 27 km (17 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an included breakfast, bid farewell to your barge crew. Please ensure you disembark no later than 9:00 a.m.

Join one of your trip leaders for a short walk from the barge to the city center, where you can begin exploring on your own. Your luggage will be transported from the barge to your Amsterdam hotel, where it will be held until check-in, officially 4:00 p.m.

Later in the afternoon, at your leisure, make your way to the hotel to check in. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own. VBT provides city information with recommendations on what to see and do in Amsterdam.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to Amsterdam Airport will be provided. The drive takes approximately 40 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic, for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

You are responsible for making your way to our barge, arriving between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m. Embarkation is not permitted before this time, as the crew will be preparing for your arrival. If you are delayed, you must contact the barge as soon as possible to arrange an alternative meeting point, as we will set sail promptly at 2:00 p.m.

The barge will be moored at Oosterdok, near the entrance to the NEMO Museum, located behind Amsterdam’s Centraal Station. Please refer to the information in your Vacation Preparation Handbook for the barge’s contact number.

Upon arrival at the docks, meet the barge crew and your VBT trip leaders, who will welcome you aboard with light refreshments. Shortly after, we’ll set sail from Amsterdam, cruising along the Noordhollandsch Kanaal—the waterway connecting Amsterdam to the North Sea—passing the striking EYE Film Museum.

After a short sail, we’ll dock in Zaandam, where you’ll disembark for a scenic warm-up ride along the River Zaan and through a quiet rural residential area.

This evening, join the group on board for a welcome dinner.

Today's Ride Choices

Afternoon: Zaandam Warm-Up Loop — 16 km (10 miles)

What to Expect:

The route offers a glimpse into Zaandam’s industrial heritage, taking you along a mix of streets, bike lanes, and bike paths. Continue to a quaint neighborhood of traditional houses, where you’ll have a great opportunity to practice navigating using the Dutch Bike Network System signs.

Cumulative Distance Range: 16 km (10 miles)

Included Meals: Dinner

This morning, as you enjoy breakfast, your barge sails to Zaanse Schans. Upon arrival, visit a working sawmill powered entirely by wind before cycling along the River Zaan and the Knollendammer Canal toward Alkmaar, a town famed for its historic cheese trade. Along the way, you’ll pass picturesque lakes and water-management systems before reaching the beautiful town of De Rijp.

Once there, you’ll understand why the renowned water engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater called it “the finest village in Holland.” Centuries of history are still visible in De Rijp’s wooden facades, its charming lock, and its beautiful 17th-century church, complete with stunning stained-glass windows dating to 1655.

From De Rijp, cycle to the Nic Jonk Museum and Sculpture Garden, where you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, your next stop is the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder, home to the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. The museum offers full access from top to bottom, allowing you to observe the fascinating mechanics of a working mill in an authentic setting.

Continue cycling across this scenic, flat landscape to Alkmaar. While the town is historically known for its cheese trade, there is much more to discover. As you explore Alkmaar’s Old Town this evening, you’ll be captivated by its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and charming, narrow canals.

Tonight, dine on your own at one of Alkmaar’s many local restaurants before returning to the barge.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Zaanse Schans to Lunch — 20 km (12 miles)

Afternoon: Lunch to Alkmaar — 21 km (13 miles) OR Lunch to Alkmaar via Bergen PLUS — 43 km (27 miles)

What to Expect:

After a guided visit to the Het Jonge Schaep sawmill, your route continues along the Dutch windmill theme. Depart Zaanse Schans and ride along the Zaan River, stopping at Spijkerboor to take the local ferry across the Noordhollands Canal. From there, cycle to the charming town of De Rijp. As you continue, you’ll begin to see the iconic windmills that make the Netherlands famous. Stop at the Nic Jonk Museum for a picnic lunch. After lunch, you may choose to take a shuttle to Alkmaar. Those who continue cycling will pause in Schermermolen to explore the inner workings of a traditional windmill. Afterward, enjoy a scenic ride through open countryside all the way to the final destination. For those opting for the extra-long route, the journey includes a loop through the picturesque town of Bergen before arriving at your barge in Alkmaar.

Cumulative Distance Range: 20 – 63 km (12 – 39 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After an early breakfast, cycle to the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to preserving rare and historic bulbs. Spanning more than five acres of flowerbeds, the museum showcases over 4,000 varieties of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers. Each spring, they bloom in a dazzling display of color and fragrance, as you’ll experience on a guided tour.

From there, it’s a short ride to the beach, where you can enjoy lunch on your own at one of the beachfront cafés. Take in the sweeping coastal views before continuing along bike paths through the sand dunes of the North Sea coast to the town of Beverwijk, where you can choose to shuttle or cycle to Haarlem. A local car ferry will then carry you across the North Sea Canal, a major shipping route.

Haarlem is a charming city known for its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, canals, grand churches, cozy bars, top-notch restaurants, and antique shops.

This evening, dinner will be served aboard the barge, which will remain moored in Haarlem overnight. Afterward, consider a leisurely stroll to the historic city center to soak in its timeless charm.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Alkmaar to the Beach — 29 km (18 miles)

Afternoon: Beach to Haarlem — 36 km (22 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s ride—the first of two flower-filled days—takes you through blossoming fields and sand dunes. The first bulbs appear soon after leaving Alkmaar, and you’ll have the opportunity to admire them in Limmen at Hortus Bulborum. In Castricum, enjoy lunch on your own at one of the beachfront cafés, where you can take in the stunning North Sea views. Afterward, burn off those calories as you continue cycling through the sand dunes before boarding a ferry across the North Sea Canal. Continue riding on paved bike paths through National Parc Kennemer dunes into Haarlem city center to meet the barge.

Cumulative Distance Range: 29 – 65 km (18 – 40 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today begins with an early start so you can witness the flowers opening in the soft morning light. Cycle through gorgeous, blooming bulb fields on your way to Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Spanning 80 acres (32 hectares), this breathtaking park features more than 9 miles (14.4 km) of footpaths winding among over 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other flowers, all designed to delight the senses in a truly stunning setting. Enjoy a packed lunch at your leisure during your visit.

From there, continue cycling through more vibrant bulb fields toward Oude Wetering, where you will board the barge and sail into Leiden. This lively town, bisected by picturesque canals, is lined with charming guild houses. Leiden is the birthplace of the Dutch master Rembrandt and home to the Netherlands’ oldest university. The town also holds an important place in colonial American history. In the early 17th century, Protestants fleeing persecution in the Low Countries, France, and England found refuge in Leiden. Among them was a group led by John Robinson, who would later sail to America aboard the Mayflower.

This evening, enjoy dinner on board, followed by a special hour-long post-dinner boat tour (around 8:00 p.m.) through historic Leiden. You may choose to disembark in the city center and walk back to the barge at your own pace. The barge will be moored in Leiden overnight.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Haarlem to Keukenhof Gardens — 26 km (16 miles)

Afternoon: Keukenhof Gardens to Oude Wetering — 18 km (11 miles) OR Keukenhof Gardens to Oude Wetering PLUS — 32 km (20 miles)

What to Expect:

Ride on country roads through flowering fields on your way to world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. After leaving Haarlem, your bike route touches the ancient Manpad at the foot of the dunes before moving farther inland through an older flower-growing area. Midway to Oude Wetering, enjoy an included visit to Keukenhof Gardens, where you can explore at your leisure and enjoy a packed lunch during your visit. Afterward, continue cycling through blooming bulb fields, pass through Warmond’s narrow main street, and ride to Oude Wetering, where you will board the barge and sail into Leiden. (If you choose the longer ride this afternoon, you will have less time at Keukenhof Gardens. Please inform your trip leaders if you plan to take the PLUS option.)

Cumulative Distance Range: 44 – 58 km (27 – 36 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, ride out of Leiden, passing through verdant pastures and small farms renowned for their cheese production. Stop at a family-owned farm to learn about the cheese-making process and enjoy a tasting of their delicious cheeses.

Continue cycling through the open polder landscapes to Hazerswoude-Dorp. The bike path out of town has an intimate feel, winding through residential gardens before leading you to Boskoop, where you’ll have lunch on your own. From there, continue riding all the way to Gouda.

Gouda’s namesake cheese is one of the Netherlands’ most famous exports. The town’s compact center, entirely ringed by canals, offers a charming setting for exploration. This evening, take a leisurely stroll through Gouda’s spacious market square and admire the grand Gothic town hall. You may also visit the main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, which is world-famous for its stunning stained-glass windows.

Your early-afternoon arrival provides plenty of time to explore before finding a local restaurant for dinner on your own.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning + Early Afternoon: Leiden to Gouda with Van Veen Cheesemaker — 38 km (24 miles) OR Boskoop to Gouda via lakes with Van Veen Cheesemaker — 52 km (32 miles)

What to Expect:

After breakfast on the barge, begin riding from Leiden to Zoeterwoude and Weipoort. After a short ride, you’ll tour a cheese farm with the opportunity to taste their wares. The rest of your ride is through the region of Hazerswoude and Boskoop, where plants and young trees are commercially grown. Your ride will end when you meet the barge in Gouda, an old cheese-market city of international fame, where you’ll have plenty of free time to explore the area.

Cumulative Distance Range: 38 – 52 km (24 – 32 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Take the morning to further explore Gouda and enjoy lunch on your own at your leisure.

In the afternoon, choose to cycle or cruise through the scenic Groene Hart (Green Heart), a picturesque region of lush meadows, tranquil peat lakes, and abundant birdlife.

If you opt to cycle, depart from Gouda, pedaling alongside peat lakes before reaching the narrow banks of the Rhine River. Continue to Alphen aan den Rijn, where the barge will be moored overnight.

This evening, enjoy dinner aboard the barge.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Gouda to Alphen aan den Rijn via Meije PLUS — 65 km (40 miles)

Afternoon: Gouda to Alphen aan den Rijn After Lunch — 39 km (24 miles)

What to Expect:

After a morning of exploration and lunch on your own in Gouda, today’s ride takes you through Reeuwijkse Plassen, a scenic lake district formed by centuries of peat digging. Passing through Bodegraven, follow the Old Rhine River to Alphen aan den Rijn, where you will meet the barge. This route offers rural, picturesque cycling through the Green Heart of Holland, featuring charming towns and serene peat rivers.

Cumulative Distance Range: 39 – 65 km (24 – 40 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After enjoying your morning beverage with breakfast on the barge, cycle along a canal and scenic peat lakes to De Veense Volkstuin, a local community garden, for a brief visit.

Continue cycling to Oude Wetering, where you will rejoin the barge and enjoy a sailing lunch featuring Dutch delicacies as you cruise to your mooring in the heart of Amsterdam.

This evening, enjoy a final dinner on board.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Alphen Rijn to Oude Wetering — 27 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

Cycle along a scenic route, following a canal and passing through peat lakes and the villages of Langeraar before meeting the barge in Oude Wetering. Along the way, take a ferry crossing, then cycle through greenhouses, stopping for a guided visit and explanation at a local community garden.

Cumulative Distance Range: 27 km (17 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an included breakfast, bid farewell to your barge crew and trip leaders as your tour comes to a close. Please ensure you disembark no later than 9:00 a.m.

Included Meals: Breakfast