Holland 10-day all inclusive Tulip Tour!

Day 1: Check in and afternoon sail

Our trip starts Thursday at 11a.m. when you are welcome onboard Flora, settle into our cabins, and head off sailing out of Amsterdam to a beautiful lake in the village of Kudelstaart.

While sailing we will enjoy snacks and a talk about our tour. After docking we fit bikes and go for a short ride around the town. We celebrate the evening with a Welcome Dinner and introduction of guests and crew.

Day 2: Flower Auction and Gouda (25 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.

From here you enjoy Holland Green Heart cycling through blossoming fields and polder landscapes criss-crossed with lovely canals. After a pause for Dutch coffee and cake we enter Gouda through 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.

We enjoy the rest of the afternoon to visit the quaint city center and enjoy a tour of the 123-meter long imposing St. Janskerk (St. John’s Church) with its world-famous stained-glass windows.

Day 3: Rotterdam (25 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. 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.

We stop at amazing Kinderdijk for a photo-op. 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.

Via a short waterbus ride we arrive in Rotterdam and enjoy a fun Saturday afternoon!

Day 4: Delft (15 miles)

Our route today starts with a stop in Schiedam, a charming medieval village with the tallest windmills in the world, still grinding grain to make famous Jenever- a type of Gin.

Our short route today takes us quickly to Delft. Dating back to 1075, Delft is known as the birthplace of Golden Age artist Johannes Vermeer, home of William of Orange, father of the Netherlands, and center for production of blue Delft Pottery.

We will visit the Royal Blue Delft Factory to see firsthand the artwork and production of fine porcelain in the world-famous Delft tradition, then head to the old town for a guided walk.

Day 5: Leiden (22 miles)

We leave Delft through a beautiful green forested area and then farmland where we stop at 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.

Just a few miles more and we reach Leiden, an unusually preserved Golden Age city. An early Roman city founded on the Rhine, Leiden is the birthplace of painter, Rembrandt, and home to the first University in Holland (1575) which has developed into a world-famous center of science.

Of special interest is that in the 16th century, botanist Clusius brought the first Dutch Tulips into flower here. Also, Leiden was home to the famous English separatists, and highlights of their life here is featured in an interesting Pilgrims Museum.

Day 6: Haarlem (25 miles)

We depart Leiden into the flower fields for exciting cycling and photo taking. Mid way in our route we stop at Keukenhof Gardens to browse the blooming acreage for 2.5 hours. Our stop for the night is lovely Haarlem, capital of North Holland. Here we have time to walk the beautiful town center full of old Dutch architecture, a beautiful market place, quaint courtyards called hofjes dating back to 1300 and other Dutch sites to charm the visitor.

We hope to explore one of the interesting museums, maybe of painter Frans Hals or the Haarlem Museum with interactive film of the town's history.

Day 7: Alkmaar (22 miles)

We leave Haarlem following the ancient River Spaarne towards Alkmaar. Along our way we will cycle the dunes of the Kennermerland National Park, stop to visit the Brederode castle ruins from the 1300, while enjoying picturesque villages and horsefarms.

A fishing village from the 10th century, Alkmaar gained prosperity and cultural richness as one of the main headquarters of the East Indies Trade Company. We will explore this beautiful city on a tour with a town local guide.

Day 8: Stay over and cycle to the fields

Today the Flora stays in Alkmaar while we enjoy a loop tour to look for flower fields of North Holland. We head first to the old village of Schagen having their weekly community market. In place for centuries, the Dutch market has been a staple of the Dutch culture. Here you can buy anything from clothing to locally made and grown goods.

The soil and conditions in this area of Holland are perfect for Tulip growing. And, we will spend the next few miles searching for flower photo ops. We return to Alkmaar by the North Sea Dunes with a stop in the ancient town of Bergen.

Day 9: To Amsterdam (30 miles)

Our first stop is the lovely village of De Rijp for a Pannekoeken (Dutch pancake) lunch treat from Suzie.

A few miles later we visit the museum village Zaanse Schanse - a delightful old hamlet with characteristic green wooden houses, charming gardens, tradesmen's workshops, and historic windmills.

We cycle winding bike paths in the lovely nature area of Het Twisk leading to the short ferry into Amsterdam. Tonight we celebrate a special captain's farewell dinner!

Day 10: Goodbye to the Netherlands

Saturday morning we breakfast, say our goodbyes and disembark at 9 a.m.