Already bookable for 2024!
Nowhere else in the world will you find such a fascinating area as the Dutch provinces of North Holland and Friesland with their rich tradition, romantic fishing villages and port towns, picturesque lakes and breathtaking views of the North Sea.
During the week aboard your floating hotel, the MS De Willemstad, you will have ample opportunity to get to know the typical Dutch culture in historical places like Alkmaar, Medemblik and Enkhuizen and on the islands of Texel and Marken. Here you cycle through the flat polder landscape, which was extensively reclaimed by the North Sea over the centuries.
Embarkation and check-in between 14:00 p.m. and 16:30 p.m. in Amsterdam. Take the opportunity to discover the city centre, go shopping, take a canal cruise or visit a museum. At 17:00 welcome drink and safety instructions, first dinner and tour briefing on board. Short boat trip to Zaandam during dinner.
Overnight place: Zaandam
The first tour takes you through small villages and the beautiful flat and green polder country. The first stop is the open-air museum "Zaanse Schans" (free entry), an old, traditional village with quaint wooden houses, a cheese factory, a traditional clog maker and various windmills. After visiting the museum you continue cycling through the land of Leeghwater, a green, drained nature area between Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Hoorn. Visit the former whaling village De Rijp and the museum mill Schemerhorn. The ship awaits you in Alkmaar near the historic old town.
Overnight place: Alkmaar
Today you have the opportunity to discover the beautiful North Holland Dune Reserve, a 5.300 hectare forest and dune area with unique landscapes. The drinking water for almost all of North Holland is obtained from the dunes. After a visit to the beach and the artists' village of Bergen, you will cycle back to Alkmaar, where you can visit the beautiful old town. In the late afternoon the ship sails to the naval port of Den Helder via the North Holland Canal.
Overnight place: Den Helder
After breakfast you take the big ferry (ticket incl.) for about 20 minutes from Den Helder to the island of Texel, where you can take a bike ride across the largest of the Dutch North Sea islands. You drive through meadow landscapes, dunes and beautiful nature reserves. Take a break on the North Sea beach and maybe go for a swim or visit the Ecomare seal sanctuary. In the late afternoon you take the ferry back to Den Helder. During dinner the ship sails across the Wadden Sea to the port of Den Oever.
Overnight place: Den Oever
The ship crosses the IJsselmeer during breakfast to call at the port of Stavoren in the province of Friesland. Here you can decide whether you want to go on a shorter or a longer bike tour: visit the Gaasterland nature reserve, roam through the southern part of the well-known Frisian Lake District, or combine the tour. You spend the evening in the small port of Stavoren, one of the eleven traditional towns in the province.
Overnight place: Stavoren
Early in the morning the ship crosses the IJsselmeer again. After breakfast you take a short bike ride over the dike on the IJsselmeer directly to Enkhuizen, an old town steeped in history with a centuries-long shipping tradition, which has a beautiful harbour, a well-preserved historic town center and the very interesting "Zuiderzeemuseum" which you can visit in the afternoon. The longer bike tour first leads to the VOC city of Hoorn, which was founded in the 17th century. was one of the most important world ports. Make a worthwhile detour to the old town. In the afternoon you drive through some picturesque small farming villages to Enkhuizen. After dinner, a short walk is offered in Enkhuizen.
Overnight place: Enkhuizen
In the early morning the ship sails to Volendam. On the last day of cycling you will discover the beautiful region of Waterland with its countless small lakes, ditches and canals. You can visit a cheese farm near Volendam. And if you want to ride a few extra miles, be sure to take a detour to the former island of Marken, then cycle through Waterland's water-streaked countryside back to the capital city of Amsterdam. Here you have the whole afternoon and evening to look around Amsterdam. If you haven't done a canal cruise on day one, you can do so now.
Overnight place: Amsterdam
end of your journey. Disembarkation after breakfast, until 9:30 am.
Included:
Exclusive additional services (not included in the travel price):
Our services are communicated in German and English.
Visitor's tax, city tax or cultural tax, which is not included in the travel price, is EUR 2,00-3,00 per person/night, payable locally.
| Price in € per person * | Under deck | Lower deck for single use | upper deck | Upper deck for single use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 bed cabin | €759 | - | €959 | - |
| 2-bed cabin for single use | - | €1139 | - | €1439 |
| 2 bed cabin suite | - | - | €1259 | - |
From 13.04.2024/20.04.2024 to XNUMX
From 28.09.2024/28.09.2024 to XNUMX
From 27.04.2024/27.04.2024 to XNUMX
From 14.09.2024/21.09.2024 to XNUMX
From 04.05.2024/07.09.2024 to XNUMX
Picturesque towns and the wide polder country
Departure on Saturday see booking calendar
| Price in € per person * 2024 | Under deck | Lower deck for single use | upper deck | Upper deck for single use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 bed cabin | From €759 | - | From €959 | - |
| 2-bed cabin for single use | - | From €1139 | - | From €1439 |
| 2 bed cabin suite | - | - | From €1259 | - |
Attention: This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Book now Price calculatorTrain: to/from Amsterdam Central Station
Parking: (valet parking) Prices and pre-reservation on request
MS De Willemstad:
The comfortable ship was completely renovated and rebuilt in 2017/2018. In the lounge/bar with large panoramic windows on the upper deck, you can pleasantly review the day's experiences over a glass of wine. All cabins are outside cabins equipped with two single beds, TV, mini safe and individually controlled air conditioning. Each cabin has a bathroom with shower, toilet, hair dryer. Look forward to nice people, interesting bike tours and pleasant hours on board.
Description of the cabins
All cabins are outside cabins and equipped with shower and toilet, hair dryer, TV, safe and individually adjustable air conditioning.
Upper deck: 8 suites (approx. 15 m²) with French balcony and sliding door that can be opened, two beds placed together and a small seating area. 16 2-bed cabins (approx. 10 m²) with two separate beds on the ground floor and two 1-bed cabins (approx. 8 - 9 m²). The 2-bed and 1-bed cabins on the upper deck have a panoramic window that can be opened.
Under deck: 24 2-bed cabins with two separate beds at ground level and a window with a ventilation flap that can be opened.
 |  |  |  |
| deck plan | toilet / shower | Suite upper deck | Restaurant |
 |  |  |  |
| 2 bed cabin upper deck | 2 bed cabin lower deck | exterior view | Restaurant |
 |  |  |  |
| exterior view | exterior view | lounge / bar | front desk |
Program and information subject to changes in the meantime, including for meteorological and nautical reasons!
Crossing to and from the island of Texel by ship, depending on the weather forecast, possibly the evening before or the next morning. In very unfavorable weather conditions: crossing Den Helder – Texel and back by ferry (approx. €5, not incl.)
The routes are almost always flat, you cycle almost exclusively on cycle paths along the canals and rarely on side roads with little traffic. It may have to be expected with more or less wind.
Visitor's tax, city tax or cultural tax, which is not included in the travel price, is EUR 2,00-3,00 per person/night, payable locally.
