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Fresh and Salt ride

Summary

A unique experience for road cyclists. You cycle Holland's freshwater part, over the river dikes and along the canals and lakes. The saltwater route follows the famous Dutch North Sea cycling path.

Road bike

5 days

440 km / 273 mi

€ 960.-

Ultimate road biking experience
Route along the impressive Dutch waterworks
Cycling the famous coastal bicycle path
High quality alu-carbon rental road bike
Discount: 4-7 persons 5% | 8+ persons 10%

Gallery

Details

Type

Road bike

Duration

5 days

Level

Challenging

Support

Individual - GPS

Distance per day

80-100 km / 50-62 mi

Total distance

440 km / 273 mi

Lodging

Comfort, (private bathroom & breakfast)

Luggage transport

Daily transfers

Bicycle

Optional

Dates

15 Apr 2024 - 01 Oct 2024

You can start this tour every day during this period
Booking for next season is possible (early booking is recommended)

Start

Haarlem (10.00 | 10 am)

Finish

Haarlem (16.00 | 4 pm)

Prices

Tour price

€ 960.-

Luggage transfers

Daily luggage transfers per courier service included

Road bike alu/carbon

High quality alu/carbon road bike, Shimano 105-equipped

€ 227.-

Optional

Road bike full carbon

High quality lightweight full carbon road bike, Shimano Ultegra-equipped

€ 318.-

Optional

Upgrade to Premium hotels

Unique 3-4 star accommodation and setting

€ 212.-

Optional

Extra day in Middelburg

Price on request

Optional

Single supplement (including single room)

€ 834.-

Itinerary

5 days - 4 nights
6 days - 5 nights option

Day 1 – Into the ‘Green Heart’ of Holland
55km/34mi or 75km/47mi
The tour starts in Haarlem, just 20 minutes by train or taxi from Amsterdam central station. At 10:00 (10 AM) our representative will meet you for route and equipment instructions. If you prefer to arrive earlier we can also arrange a pre-tour hotel for you in Haarlem for one or more nights. Haarlem is close to Amsterdam (15 minutes by train to Amsterdam center) and one of the most famous and most beautiful medium-size historic towns in the Netherlands.
After leaving Haarlem in a southerly direction, you enter the ‘Green Heart’ of Holland – a landscape of pastoral green fields, lakes, narrow waterways and quaint villages. You cycle below sea level, through polder landscapes where you have the opportunity to watch the abundant birdlife. The historic villages along the route will doubtless temp you to get off the bicycle to take some photographs. Today’s destination is Gouda, the city famous for its cheeses and Dutch syrup waffles.

Day 2 - Typical Dutch
80km/50mi
From Gouda the route heads through one of the oldest polders in the Netherlands. After crossing the River Lek by ferry, the route continues along the famous Kinderdijk windmill group (nineteen windmills in a row) and the Biesbosch fresh water marshes. You then cross the most southern river bridge over the Rhine and Maas delta before entering the wooded southern province of Brabant. You spend the night in a hotel in the quaint village of Bosschenhoofd.

Day 3 – To Zeeland and its waterworks
85km/53mi
Today you leave the ‘freshwater’ zone and the province of Zeeland is your destination. The route goes west to Zeeland’s largest peninsula. In 1953 flooding here caused by a high tidal surge and strong, southerly winds on the North Sea resulted in a flooding disaster. Your destination for today is Middelburg, the historic capital of Zeeland. Your hotel is located near the historic central square and harbor district.

Day 4 – Island hopping to the ‘mainland’
105km/62mi
Your GPS device will guide you during your ‘island hopping’ in Zeeland. The views here are spectacular! After the 1953 flooding, the Dutch government decided to construct more effective coastal defenses in the Zeeland Delta. You will actually cycle over these long sea dikes and dams of this world famous project. You eventually return to the Dutch mainland and cross the estuary of the River Rhine near the port of Rotterdam. Your tour continues to Delft, famous for its Delft blue tiles and pottery. A hotel in the historic town center is your destination for the night.

Day 5 - The North Sea cycling path
65km/41mi
On the last day of the tour you return to the North Sea coast via the northern edge of the city of The Hague. Here the route continues northwards, along the famous North Sea cycling path. With the coastal dunes and small freshwater lakes on your right, the North Sea beaches on your left and the high quality bike path under your wheels, this is really cycling at its best! At the beach resort of Zandvoort, you turn inland towards the tour finish in Haarlem where you will be met by our representative in the late afternoon.

>> Optional extra day between day 3 and 4
Explore Middelburg and the surrounding coast.
Cycle a loop tour of 40km/25mi or explore Middelburg on foot.
Middelburg is one of the oldest towns in the southwest of the Netherlands. It has quite a history – the town survived many floods over the centuries but despite the struggle with the elements Middelburg became a major and prosperous trade city. From its harbor many cargo ships sailed to the West Indies. Spices, coffee, tea and gems and other exotic goods were brought back to Middelburg and traded all over Europe. The history is perfectly conserved and reflected in the proud historic waterfront houses. I if you want to go for a ride today we set out a beautiful route along the beaches of the Middelburg peninsula and the quaint inland villages.

Map & Routes

Map

Satellite

Bicycle

Road bike (optional)
- Giant TCR-1, alu frame, carbon fork
- Weight: 8.6 kg / 18.9 lbs
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Shimano 105 derailleurs
- Crankset 24/34/50, Casette 12-28

Including GPS navigation

Including mobile repair service

Including cyclist's backpack (8 liters) for daily items

Including water bottle, tool set, cable lock