Netherlands South Tour by Bike and Barge 2019 Guided Bike Tour 8 days / 7 nights

Transcription

1 Netherlands South Tour by Bike and Barge 2019 Guided Bike Tour 8 days / 7 nights This varied trip guarantees a striking introduction to the green and cultural heart of Holland. On one day you will be roaming the center of Haarlem, Leiden or 16th century Delft, the next day you will cycle along the reedy borders of the Lek or Amstel River. In the historic towns there is time for visiting a museum (Frans Hals, Rembrandt and Van Gogh), shopping, or relaxation in an outdoor café. You will visit the beach and the dunes near The Hague by bike, just like many Dutch people. You will sail through the world s largest seaport of Rotterdam very appropriately by boat. Absolutely overwhelming are the eighteen mills in Kinderdijk driven by the wind and built around An optional canal tour by boat through Amsterdam will make this tour complete.

2 Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Amsterdam, boarding between 1 pm and 2 pm; Sailing to Spaarndam and cycling to Haarlem 15 km You are expected to arrive on our barge on Saturday the latest at 2 pm. The barge needs to leave the mooring place in Amsterdam at 2:15 pm. It is very important you are on time. The barge can t wait due the opening hours of bridges and/or locks. When you arrive on board the ship you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers. The first part of the tour you will sail to Spaarndam known as the village of Hansje Brinker and from here we take an easy ride into the beautiful city of Haarlem. Back on board, after the bike ride, the program for the next day and the rest of the week will be explained to you at dinner time. Day 2: Haarlem through the dune area Leiden 40 km Today starts with a short tour on bike through the centre of Haarlem, to have a better look at some of the city's typical almshouses. Upon departure from Haarlem you may cycle to the 'Cruquiusgemaal' (Cruquius Pumping Station): one of the three steam powered pumping stations that drained the Haarlemmer Lake between 1849 and Now a museum, it gives you an excellent idea of the Dutch 'battle against the water'.in summer you now cycle through the dunes to the beach for an extra 10 km. Flickr.com Day 3: Leiden Delft 40 km You leave the city in a southerly direction and cycle along the Vliet canal. In Voorschoten you turn westwards towards the coastline. At 'Wassenaarse Slag' you can take a break on the beach. The Wassenaarse Slag is an entrance to the beach near the Dutch town of Wassenaar. The coastline is over 8 km long. The beaches can be reached through the Meijendelse Slag on the southern end and the Wassenaarse Slag in the northern direction (or through Katwijk aan Zee, the Zuidduinen and then the beach). The route to Delft takes you along the water once again. The old center is well worth a visit. This is a well-conserved medieval city with canals, a magnificent town hall and a royal tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk.

3 Day 4: Delft Today you will have the day to your free disposal. You can stay in Delft and discover the old center, visit The Hague by public transport. Delft Delft is a beautiful town to wander round; learn more about the famous Dutch painter Vermeer at the Vermeer Centre or visit the Nieuwe Kerk. When the weather is clear the view from the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) is spectacular; a large part of the Southern Tour can be seen from here! The Prinsenhof Museum is housed in the former St Agatha's monastery. In 1572 William of Orange chose the convent as one of his residences. It was from here that he led the revolt against the Spanish tyranny of Holland. He was murdered on the steps of the Prinsenhof on July 10, 1584, by Balthazar Gerards, a Spanish sympathizer. Two bullet holes in the wall of the stairs bear witness to this event. The Hague The Hague has an international character with its wide avenues, parks and stately mansions. Possible visits are Peace Palace (housing the International Court of Justice), the 'Binnenhof' with the 13 th century 'Ridderzaal' (Knights' Hall), seat of the Dutch Government and Parliament. Every third Tuesday of September the Queen's Speech is delivered in the Ridderzaal. The Mauritshuis, a former palace, now a famous museum with paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Rubens. 'Panorama Mesdag', the largest panoramic, circular painting in the world, depicting 19 th century Scheveningen. Of the many royal palaces in The Hague only a few are still operational. You may see the Noordeinde Palace, residence of princess Beatrix until mid 2014.

4 Day 5: Delft sailing to Rotterdam/Kinderdijk cycling to Gouda 40 km The first part of today's route will be sailed through the center of Rotterdam, thus giving you the best view of the modern architecture of this port. Your cycling day starts in Kinderdijk and then takes you through the Alblasserwaard, situated in between rivers and showing you wide scenery of water and meadows. The many inundations and the slowly sinking surface made water management essential in this fenland. Canals and ditches were dug and windmills were constructed; of the latter nineteen remain today. Their job has almost been taken over by electric pumping stations. After a visit to one of the mills you will continue on bike. The tour ends today in Gouda. Who thinks of Gouda, not only thinks of cheese, pipes, stroopwafels (treacle waffle) and pottery, but also of stained glass windows, a fairy like town hall and atmospheric canals. Gouda is beautiful Old Dutch city with a mostly intact city center. Day 6: Gouda Uithoorn 45 km From Gouda you will continue your tour over country roads, banks and channels through the Green Heart and polders to Uithoorn. The name De Uithoorn (or also De Uythoorn) was used at the end of the middle Ages for the location of the lower courts of the deanery of Saint John. The village was formed around its courthouse. People depended on agriculture and animal husbandry. Agriculture became increasingly more difficult due to the steady soil subsidence. From circa 1600 on, peat extraction became important and resulted in the formation of large ponds, which in turn would be made into polders later on. Circa 1885, several fortifications were built around Uithoorn as part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. As on most days, after dinner you will take a walk through this town. Day 7: Uithoorn Amsterdam 35 km Today you will cycle along the river Waver and Amstel. Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Almost without noticing you enter Amsterdam, following the Amstel River. The extensive network of bicycle paths ensures a relatively easy way back into the city, showing you some remarkable sites in the center. Then it is time to say goodbye to your bike. Before the fare-well dinner you may want to go for a walk in town. At night there you may want to take a canal trip or go on a city walk through the center of the city. Day 8: Amsterdam End of the trip after breakfast, before 10 am

5 Route Technical Characteristics: Tour Profile: Level 1, for everyone. The lightest cycling holiday, suited for everyone and people of all ages. On virtually flat terrain, with distances up to 50 kilometers. You spend about 4 hours on your bicycle. Distance: 215 km Travel Season: Departures: Liza Marleen Standard Season: May 11; May 25; June 1; June 8; June 15 and June 22, 2019 Low Season: July 20 and August 10, 2019 Wending Standard Season: May 18; August 24; August 31 and September 28, 2019 Low Season: June 29; July 6; July 13; July 27 and August 3, 2019 High Season: September 7; September 14 and September 21, 2019

6 Price per Person: Wending Liza Marleen Double Occupancy Twin Cabin Low Season Double Occupancy Twin Cabin Standard Season Double Occupancy Twin Cabin High Season Triple Occupancy Cabin Low Season Triple Occupancy Cabin Standard Season Triple Occupancy Cabin High Season Double Occupancy Cabin for Single Use Low Season Double Occupancy Cabin for Single Use Standard Season Double Occupancy Cabin for Single Use High Season Superior Cabin (15 square meters) for 2 people Low Season Superior Cabin (15 square meters) for 2 people Standard Season Superior Cabin (15 square meters) for 2 people High Season Superior Cabin (15 square meters) for 3 people Low Season Superior Cabin (15 square meters) for 3 people Standard Season Superior Cabin (15 square meters) for 3 people High Season Hybrid Bike Rental, 24 gears including helmet Electric Bike Rental, unisex bike with 21 gears Set of Bike Maps (to be purchased at time of booking, not available for purchase on board) Specialty Meal Gluten Free (must be booked in advance) 50.00

7 Included: All nights on board (incl. bedding, towels, soap) Breakfast and dinner on board Lunch packages when on the road Coffee and tea on board Tour guide, cycles with the group Minimum 3 city walks with tour guide Free Wi-Fi (limited available in lounge and on deck) Road book, 1x per cabin Ferry fares on the route GPS-tracks (on request) Not Included: Bicycle insurance (optional) 15, per bicycle Bicycle insurance electric bike (optional) 40, per bicycle Entrance fees to museums; approx. 15 per tour Travel risk insurance / cancellation insurance (optional)

8 The cruise ship Wending The Wending is a former freight barge that started a new life in the early nineties as a luxury passenger motor barge. Since then the Wending is a familiar fixture on several routes in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the winter of 2001/2002 the Wending was completely redecorated to accommodate 24 overnight passengers. The Wending has a roomy and cozy salon, equipped with a complete music installation and TV. After a strenuous bike ride it is a great place to relax. Cabins: Twelve cabins with private shower, washbasin, toilet and central heating. 10 double cabins (twin beds, can be placed together) 2 double/triple cabins (one bed is placed over the other two)

9 The cruise ship Liza Marleen The Liza Marleen is a luxury motor passenger barge, built in on the completely dismantled shell of a seafaring freight logger. We advise a maximum of 28 overnight passengers and 80 day passengers. This robust barge is ideally suited for trips on the wider waterways, like the Dutch Waddenzee, the IJsselmeer and the Zeeland Streams, but it can also be found cruising on the smaller inland waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium. The Liza Marleen has a beautiful, spacious and tastefully decorated salon for a day stay and plenty of room on deck. The dayroom has audioequipment and TV. Cabins: Ten cabins with private shower, washbasin, toilet, central heating and air conditioning 8 double cabins (twin beds, can be placed together) 2 x Superior cabins of 15 m² (twin beds, can be placed together + 3rd bed; + small 4th bed for a child

10 Bikes Hybrid Bike E-Bike Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free Local TICO Ontario Registration No: