Tulip Tour

Experience Holland in the best possible way: a gorgeous spring short break dominated by flowers. This five-day mini-cruise plows through the most beautiful season of the year and will take you to gorgeous areas such as "the Garden of Amsterdam." Enjoy some unforgettable days on board a passenger barge with excellent service and an alternating itinerary.

Amsterdam is also called, by some, the smallest metropolis of Europe. There are many unique museums, enticing shopping, and, recently added to the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage list, the canals in the heart of Amsterdam which certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a highlight. Visit the famous flower market in the center of the capital and discover the "Zaanse Schans," including windmills, a traditional cheesemaker, a clog maker, and an authentic traditional Dutch village.

Other highlights of this trip are the historic city of Haarlem, the world-famous flower park "Keukenhof" near Lisse, and the largest flower auction in the world in Aalsmeer.

Enjoy the personal service, delicious meals, and excellent accommodation on board of the premium barges.

Note: The Aalsmeer flower auction is closed during weekends and on public holidays. This is an optional visit. Please be aware that on some departure dates a visit to the flower auction is not possible

In case you prefer a day of rest, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.

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Highlights

• Amsterdam and the open air museum "Zaanse Schans"
• Haarlem
• The world's largest flower gardens of Keukenhof
• The world's largest flower auction in Aalsmeer (closed on weekends and holidays)

Learn More

Learn more about guided tours.

Daily program

Day 1: Embarkation in Amsterdam; cruise Amsterdam – Zaandam
Embarkation and check-in is 2:00pm with the crew welcoming you on board. As soon as all guests have arrived your five-day tour will start with a short cruise to Zaandam, famous for its windmills and cheese-making. Your barge will berth in the center of the city. Upon arrival, you can enjoy taking your new bike for a brief test ride through the surrounding area. In the evening, enjoy a short walk through the picturesque center of Zaandam.

Day 2: Zaandam – Zaanse Schans – Zaandam (14-21 miles/24-34 km) | cruise Zaandam – Haarlem
After breakfast, you will enjoy a 5 km bicycle ride to the open air museum Zaanse Schans (entry included) which features beautiful windmills, traditional wooden houses, an old Dutch village, a cheese farm, and a traditional wooden clog maker. In the afternoon, after returning to your ship by bicycle, you have a choice to make: you can either cycle to Haarlem (14 miles/24 km) or take it easy while enjoying the scenery as your barge makes the approximate 2.5-hour trip.

In Haarlem visit the historical inner city complete with the Grote Markt and St. Bavo church. Your barge will be berthed in the center of Haarlem for the night, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy a short city walk in the afternoon or in the evening.

Day 3: Haarlem – Keukenhof – Oude Wetering (24-35 miles/39-57 km)
Today you will ride your bicycle to the Keukenhof, arguably the most famous flower park in the world where you can admire hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and many other flowers in full bloom.

After an extensive visit, you will get back on your bicycle and head to Oude Wetering, a small village, where your floating hotel will be waiting for you.

Day 4: Oude Wetering – Aalsmeer* – Amsterdam (16-18 miles/25-28 km)
This morning (bus trip at 6:30am) you are in for a real treat - a visit to the biggest flower auction in the world at Aalsmeer*. Early in the morning millions of flowers are auctioned off here and are instantly sent out to all corners of the world. By 9:00am you will return to your barge where a late breakfast will be waiting for you as the barge sails towards Amsterdam.

During the afternoon you will have the option a final cycling route through the wetlands of Waterland you can take some time to discover this amazing city. Visit the inner city flower market, go to a museum, do some shopping…there is just so much to do!!

*Optional visit! Entry to the flower auction is approximately €7 per person. The Aalsmeer flower auction is not available on weekends or holidays. Please be aware that a visit to the flower auction is not possible on some departure dates.

Day 5: Amsterdam
Disembarkation after breakfast by 9:30am.

All distances are approximate distances of recommended bike tours. Program and information provided are subject to change, such as, for example, changes in weather conditions. Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option. The company retains the right to change the program or to change the shipping time and/or the order of the program in the case it deems it necessary to do so.

Surface and terrain

Mostly flat routes. Paved or cobblestone roads.

Boats

• MS Magnifique II
• MS Magnifique III
• MS Magnifique IV

How to get there

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Nearest train station: Amsterdam Centraal Station

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 4 nights accommodation on board in the booked category from/to Amsterdam
• Full board: breakfast, picnic lunch, 4 three-course dinners
• GPS tracks
• Two tour leaders (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city walking tours (free); daily fully guided bike tours
• Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily bike tours (1 set per cabin); GPS tracks
• Fees for ferries
• Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
• Welcome drink, presentation of barge and crew and briefing on the first evening
• Daily coffee and tea
• Entrance fees for Keukenhof and North-Holland Dune reserve
• Visit mill at Zaanse Schans

Special dietary requests may be accommodated, but you may face additional fees. Please make requests in advance.

Bike rentals

Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:

• Standard touring bikes, 7-speed
• Electrically assisted bikes (limited number, upon request)*
• Children's equipment and tandems, in limited quantities (please inquire for pricing)

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Equipment included with bike rental:

• Pannier bag
• Helmet
• Water bottle

You can bring your own bicycles for an additional charge. Standard bikes are an additional € 10 and E-bikes are an additional € 25. The crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles.

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. At this time, it is not possible to change the pedals. 

Saddle:
At this time, it is not possible to change the saddle. We recommend a universal padded saddle cover which can be pulled taught around the provided saddle.

Helmets:
Please note that helmets are available on this tour (for free, included with bike rental). We recommend that you bring your own, or purchase one when you arrive at your destination. In the Netherlands and Belgium, cyclists are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet, but we strongly recommend everyone to wear a helmet.

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Tour Company