Bike and Barge Holland: Tulips, Towns and Typical Dutch!

Day 1: Haarlem and the Holland Dunes (20 miles)

Our trip starts Saturday right before noon when we board our barge/hotel, settle into our cabins, and get our bikes fitted and ready to go. Soon thereafter we head off sailing out of Amsterdam by way of the North Sea Canal.

We exit our ship at the village of Spaarndam- famous for the story of Hans Brinker. Just a few miles away we visit the Molen De Zaandhaas to see a true working windmill in action. A little more pedaling and we reach the 14th century ruins of the fascinating 1282 Brederode castle.

Time permitting we will make a short visit, then skirt the Kennermerland National Park through rolling dunes and forests into historic Haarlem. After a special Welcome Dinner, we'll spend the evening sightseeing Haarlem's beautiful Market Square and famous Hofjes (courtyards).

Day 2: Keukenhof and evening in Leiden (25 miles)

We depart our boat quickly after breakfast as today is a full day of sightseeing and cycling for us. Our destination in the morning is the famous Keukenhof - the world's largest flower garden. On our way there we enjoy fields of blooms.

We start by meandering the lovely forested bike paths of Bennebroek town then only a turn later we are struck by fields of color and fragrance until we reach the town of Lisse. We plan on several hours to browse the Keukenhof's magnificent acreage and enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds.

A lovely cycle with a stop at medieval castle Teylingen and we reach the city of Leiden. Leiden is an unusually beautiful university city, famous for being not only the birthplace of Rembrandt but Clusius, who brought the first Dutch tulips into flower.

Day 3: Delft (20 miles)

We leave Leiden heading south to Lidia and Teo's Farm- The Vierhuizen. The Van Leuwens run a nine generation milk farm- now prized for their organic Gouda cheese. We'll take a tour, learn how cheese is made and buy things to take home from their lovely shop.

Beautiful green nature areas take us to Delft. Dating back to 1075, Delft is known as the birthplace of Golden Age artist Johannes Vermeer and the fine hand-crafting of Delftware porcelains. We will visit the Royal Blue Delft Factory to see firsthand the artwork and production of fine porcelain in the world-famous Delft tradition.

After dinner, we will also enjoy a town walk of the picturesque city center with its romantic tree-lined canals and countless historic monuments.

Day 4: Rotterdam (15 miles)

A trip to the south of Netherlands is not complete without a visit to the largest port in the world. Since its devastation in WWII, Rotterdam has become a center for modern architecture and showcase of city urban development.

Then there is the impressive Old Harbor and Delfshaven- oasis of history and culture within the modern city- and point from which the Pilgrim Fathers left for America in 1620. Being Tuesday, we can also partake of the city's exciting open-air market!

Day 5: Gouda (22 miles)

By waterbus we leave Rotterdam early to arrive to Kinderdijk before the tourists. Honored as a World Heritage Treasure by UNESCO in 1997, 19 sturdy mills were built in 1740 and preserved to this day- a concentration of this number found nowhere else in the world.

We'll be cycling through the Alblassarwaard- a pastoral landscape dotted by small towns and windmills. Time permitting we hope to see Schoonhoven - founded in 1280 and called Silvertown because of its famous past in Silversmithing. From here it's only a few miles along a quiet river into Gouda.

We'll head for the historic center and a tour of 123-metre long imposing St. Janskerk (St. John’s Church) with its world-famous stained-glass windows.

Day 6: Gouda Cheese Market -Kudelstaart (25 miles)

We will linger a bit this morning for the Thursday morning GOUDA CHEESE MARKET -a spectacular and historic scene with lively cheese trading and a market square full of assorted vendors showing their foods and trades.

We take leave of Gouda into the Goudse Hout (woods)- a recreational area surrounded by a huge lake that we cycle across like we're floating on the water while gazing upon a beautifully preserved grassland landscape.

Day 7: Flower Auction- Amsterdam (23 miles)

We leave our boat very early and cycle a few miles to get first peak at the workings of the famous Flower Auction of Aalsmeer - largest in the world. We will witness the exciting process in which millions of flowers and plants are bought and sold to be shipped to countries all over the world.

Heading to Amsterdam, we enjoy it's Amsterdamse Bos (forest) at the southern edge of the city. Created in 1937 from unused wetlands, the Bos is now a favorite place for cycling and watersports. We'll stop at Meer Zicht restaurant where you are our guest to popular Dutch pancakes- Pannekoeken.

Tonight we celebrate our final evening together with a special Farewell Dinner!

Day 8: Goodbye to the Netherlands

Saturday morning we will have breakfast, say our goodbyes to cycling friends and the wonderful hospitality of our captain and crew. We disembark at 9 a.m. for home.