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Water and Woods

Summary

The Dutch pasturelands, long horizons and slow flowing rivers are one aspect of this tour. The other is where you cycle through the more intimate woodlands of the Veluwe region.

Recreational, E-bike

8 days

360 km / 224 mi

€ 1,320.-

Variety of landscapes
Lots of quiet bicycle paths
Including a route in the national park De Hoge Veluwe
Discount: 4-7 persons 5% | 8+ persons 10%

Gallery

Details

Type

Recreational, E-bike

Duration

8 days

Level

Moderate

Support

Individual - GPS

Distance per day

40-60 km / 25-37 mi

Total distance

360 km / 224 mi

Lodging

Comfort, (private bathroom & breakfast)

Luggage transport

In panniers on your bike (transfers optional)

Bicycle

Included

Dates

01 Apr 2024 - 15 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

Zaandam (16.00 | 4 pm)

Prices

Tour price

€ 1,320.-

Recreational bike

High quality multispeed bicycle included

E-bike

Bicycle with electric pedal assistance

€ 242.-

Optional

Daily luggage transfers

Total price per booking (not per participant)

€ 608.-

Optional

Upgrade to Premium hotels

Unique 3-4 star accommodation and setting

€ 371.-

Optional

Single supplement (including single room)

€ 956.-

Itinerary

8 days - 7 nights

Day 1 – Into the mid Holland lowlands
41km/25mi
The tour starts 10:00 (10 AM) in Haarlem, only 20 minutes by train or taxi from Amsterdam. After equipment and route instructions by our representative, the route heads southwest. Excellent cycling along the historic Cruquis steam pumping station brings you to the lakes and lowlands of central Holland. Your accommodation for tonight is located at the edge of Lake Nieuwkoop.

Day 2 – Discover the 'Green Heart' of Holland
42km/26 mi
Today’s destination is Gouda. Gouda is not only famous for its delicious cheeses. The center of this historic town is also dominated by a number of ancient churches and of course the imposing and beautifully decorated town hall, standing right in the middle of the large market square. The route also takes you through Oudewater. This small town is famous for its historic Witches Weighhouse. During the 15th century, those who were considered light enough to fly on a broomstick ended up on the pyre. The ones on ‘the safe side’ received a “Certificaet van Weginghe” or weight certificate. As in the past, visitors can still stand on the large scales to determine whether or not you are a witch!

Day 3 – Along the windmills
44km/27mi or 60km/38mi
Try to leave Gouda on time, because today you might want spend time off your bicycle. You cycle southwards towards the River Lek. After crossing the river by ferry, you will pass along windmills and the typical Dutch pastoral, green lowlands. The short route takes you along past the windmills of Groot-Ammers (four in a row) and the longer route passes by the windmills at Kinderdijk (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here there are nineteen windmills in a row, which are best viewed from the bicycle path running past them. To cycle through this site, you do not need to buy entrance tickets, but if interested you can apply for a guided tour at the entrance and see a windmill from the inside. Continuing your trip you find yourself in the Alblasserwaard polder, situated between the Rhine and Meuse (Maas) rivers. Your lodging for tonight is located in the town of Gorinchem (pronounce with twice a hard ‘g’ sound), where you can walk along the historic defensive ramparts.

Day 4 – Eastward, in between two rivers
55 km/34 mi
On the fourth day the landscape gradually changes to a mixture of farmland and fruit orchards – this is the “De Betuwe” region. The route passes the town of Leerdam, famous for its glass handicraft. It is hometown for the National Glass Museum, one of the largest glass arts museums of Europe. Or does the name “Leerdam” ring a bell, because of the Leerdammer cheese? You will follow the River Linge, riding the river dike roads and passing picturesque villages. Excellent places for a hearty lunch or even just a cup of coffee with a piece of delicious Dutch apple pie. Another ferry crossing in the small town of Tiel takes you to the southern border of the River Waal and also your overnight stay in one of the riverside villages.

Day 5 – Into the woods
55km/34mi or 63km/39mi
The route continues eastwards for another 20km/12mi through a scenery of dikes and pasturelands, dotted with black and white dairy cows. Then you head northeast before you enter the wooded Veluwe region.
The longer route takes you to Oosterbeek. During WWII the allied headquarters were located here during operation Market Garden, also known as the Battle of Arnhem. In the 'Hartenstein' Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek, you can learn more about this important and decisive battle.
A scenic ride through the forests takes you to your hotel in the village of Otterlo. This quaint little village is located on the border of ‘De Hoge Veluwe’ National Park. It’s is a very unique landscape of heathlands, sand dunes and woodlands, supporting a great variety of wildlife and birds.

Day 6 – Cruising the national park
30 km/19 mi
Today you cycle into the park to make a loop tour. You have the option of a guided tour of the St Hubertus Hunting Lodge, designed by the famous Dutch architect Berlage and completed in 1920. And of course, there is also the famous Kröller Müller Museum located in the middle of the woods, with its impressive collection of Van Gogh paintings and the sculpture garden. ‘De Hoge Veluwe’ is a major tourist attraction, but being so large, you never have the feeling that it is crowded.

Day 7 – Mixed landscapes
60km/38mi
You cycle in a westerly direction through an interesting mixture of woods, farmlands and grasslands. Here you can admire the typical Dutch farmhouses with their neatly organized yards. Farmers in their blue overalls will look up from their work and greet you with a smile and a short Hallo – this is typical for Holland’s countryside. Today’s destination is Naarden, an old fortified village very near to Lake Yssel.

Day 8 – Along Lake Yssel
54km/34mi
Lake Yssel (IJsselmeer) is not the usual kind of lake. For centuries the Dutch struggled hard with a large inner body of sea water that was open to the North Sea. The surrounding land regularly flooded and often disappeared altogether because of storms and high tides. Gradually the land was regained over the centuries thanks to the hard work and persistence of the people living there and also clever water engineering. Your last day’s route takes you along the lakeside to Amsterdam. You do not actually enter the city, but instead the route goes along the western outskirts towards the wetlands north of Amsterdam. The tour finishes late afternoon in Zaandam, but not before passing the magnificent Zaanse Schans windmills. From Zaandam railway station, it is only a 15-minute train ride to the center of Amsterdam. If you wish, we can arrange one or more nights in Zaandam from where you can make daily excursions to Amsterdam.

Map & Routes

Map

Satellite

Bicycle

Superb recreational hybrid bike (included)
- Various frame sizes for all heights
- Shimano Premium hub gearing
- Magura hydraulic brakes
- Schwalbe anti-puncture tires
- Fenders and chain guard
- Comfortable Selle Royal gel seat
- Ergonomic handelbar grips
- Front- and rear light
- Mounted lock
- Weight 16 kg / 35 lbs
- Optional: E-bike

Including GPS navigation

Including mobile repair service