Self-guided Bike and Barge
Web code NL023
Holland / Southern tour
Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam
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Day by Day
1. Amsterdam
Embarkation and check-in between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Amsterdam. Take the opportunity to go shopping, to explore downtown Amsterdam, to make a canal cruise or to visit a museum. At 5 p.m. welcome drink and safety instructions. Dinner and first briefing on board. First night on board in Amsterdam.
2. Amsterdam - Rotterdam (25/40 km)
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.
3. Rotterdam - Delft - Rotterdam (30/50 km)
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.
4. Rotterdam - Schoonhoven (30/60 km)
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.
5. Schoonhoven - Haarlem (45 km)
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.
6. Haarlem - Zaandam (40/50 km)
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 center 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.
7. Zaandam - Amsterdam (30/45 km)
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.
8. Amsterdam
End of your tour: disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday. Issues with high and low water, as well as logistic obstacles such as officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges can modify some of the daily stretches or overnight stays and may even request a transfer by bus. These decisions are only taken by the barge’s captain.
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Route profile
The Netherlands are the country of bycycles, mainly due to the flat landscape, beneath the sea level. The cycling path network, almost entirely paved, is very widespread and sign posted with white and red signals and with small numbered stumps called “mushrooms”, marked on the maps.
It will not be hard to deal with this tour, but you will need to be a bit trained in order to stay a whole week on the saddle! Wind and rain are very frequent in this country and they might make your cycling difficult. Sometimes the bike lanes are separated from the street only by a red line, so you need to pay attention. Ask your guide on board, he/she will be able to give you more information.
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How to get there
The precise embarkation point will be written in the Final Tour Details.
By plane
The best international airport to use for this trip is Amsterdam Schiphol.
In order to get to the embarkation point you need to leave from Amsterdam central station by taking the train directly at the airport. You can purchase the tickets at the cashiers, which usually accept debit and credit cards. The journey takes about 20 minutes, the cost is about € 5.
By train
The main train station is Amsterdam Centraal Station.
By car
Parking in the centre of Amsterdam is very expensive, we suggest parking on the outskirt of the city.
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Accommodation and meals
The barge De Amsterdam is equipped with:
- 8 suite cabins above deck (18m2)
- 18 standard twin cabins above deck (12m2)
- 30 standard Twin below deck cabins (12m2)
The suites have two separate beds set next to each other as a hotel style bed which, on previous request, can be arranged as two separate single beds.
The twin cabins have a large picture window 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.
All cabins 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.
Common areas
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.
Watch De Amsterdam photo gallery.
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Bikes and accessories
Bikes are available in different sizes in unisex model:
- Touring bike with 7 gears with hand-brakes
- E-bike with hand-brakes
At the moment of booking you can draw up a bike insurance against theft and damage (touring bike € 10; e-bike € 25). This policy covers:
- the theft of the bicycle only if you present the key of the lock;
- the damage of the bicycle if it is not due to careless or improper behavior of the customer.
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
1 pannier bag
1 pump
1 repair kit
1 lock
Bike helmets are not mandatory, but we advise you wear one for your safety anyway.
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Accompanying material
Before your arrival, you will receive an email from us with the digital information material. It contains:
1. Link to download the App including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks (you can use the App offline, too)
2. Link to download the tour information material in Pdf:
- Tour notes
- Final tour details
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By your side
In the Final Tour Details you will find the contact phone numbers you can call during the tour in case of emergency.
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Cinzia
Departure 06-13 August 2022
Online from 19 August 2022
Esperienza entusiasmante! -
Departure 31 July - 07 August 2022
Online from 12 August 2022
Sicuramente suggeriamo Girolibero e la loro organizzazione. -
Antonio
Departure 30 July - 06 August 2022
Online from 11 August 2022
Da 0 a 10, un 10 pieno -
Franco
Departure 23-30 July 2022
Online from 04 August 2022
Esperienza bellissima
I tour giornalieri molto variegati
Nave confortevole
Nota negativa la cena alle 18 -
Fabio
Departure 23-30 July 2022
Online from 04 August 2022
Bellissima vacanza, attuate le modifiche suggerite. -
Maurizio
Departure 04-11 July 2020
Online from 20 July 2020
E' una bella esperienza che permette di vivere la scoperta di un Paese e delle sue particolarità in un modo diverso dal solito. Basta un po' di allenamento ed è alla portata di tutti. Qualche piccolo sacrificio, un po' di fatica, magari un buona mantellina (ci stà vista la latitudine) e non è solo una vacanza ma anche un'avventura. -
Sandro
Departure 04-11 July 2020
Online from 16 July 2020
Tour molto bello, ogni giorno un tema diverso. -
Massimiliano
Departure 06-13 July 2019
Online from 18 July 2019
Tutto perfetto, dall accoglienza ai servizi offerti. Sicuramente meglio di quanto ci aspettassimo, L'unica pecca che talvolta la segnalazione delle piste ciclabili in Olanda era poco chiara. -
Jane
Departure 06-13 July 2019
Online from 18 July 2019
It was an amazing trip. What a way to see a country! -
Federica
Departure 07-14 July 2018
Online from 21 July 2018
Vacanza favolosa. Probabilmente la più bella fatta in bici ed è da 13 anni che faccio le vacanze in bici. Organizzazione eccezionale. Da consigliare vivamente. -
Rosaria
Departure 05-12 August 2017
Online from 17 August 2017
Una vacanza dinamica e rilassante insieme. È una eccellente opportunità per ammirare le bellezze di un Paese .Ottima l'assistenza!
Super complimenti allo staff di Girolibero!
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