The southern route is the perfect tour to discover the varied green in the central part of Holland with many small lakes and sights, but also the beautiful old towns in a particularly pleasant way. By bike and boat you will visit historical cities, picturesque villages and beautiful landscapes in the surprisingly varied "Green Heart" of Holland. Highlights include Amsterdam with its beautiful canals, the cathedral city of Utrecht, the port city of Rotterdam, Delft with the world-famous porcelain factory, the cheese city of Gouda, the windmills near Kinderdijk, the silver city of Schoonhoven and the Zaanse Schans open-air museum.
Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
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. First night in Amsterdam.
Day 2: Ship: Amsterdam - Breukelen | Bike: Breukelen - Utrecht | Ship: Utrecht - Rotterdam, about 25-40 km
During breakfast, the MS De Amsterdam sails to Breukelen, where - after the bikes have been distributed - your first bike tour begins and you cycle along the magically meandering river Vecht, whose banks are lined with impressive castles, stately villas and special tea houses. The start of a bike tour can hardly be more beautiful. You follow the Vecht to the center of Utrecht, where you have the opportunity to explore the cathedral with its tall spire and the beautiful city center of this old city. In the afternoon you continue your tour by ship from Utrecht to your today's destination in Rotterdam.
Day 3: Bike: Rotterdam - Schiedam - Delft - Rotterdam, about 28-50 km
Today you cycle via the 'Jenever town' of Schiedam (Jenever is a traditional Dutch juniper schnapps) and through the Delfland region to Delft, famous for its 'Delft Blue' porcelain. Visit the beautiful city center with its small canals, picturesque streets, bridges and avenues. For many guests, a visit to the Delft porcelain factory "Royal Delft" is one of the highlights of this tour. Later you drive back to Rotterdam, where a short walking tour of the city of Rotterdam is offered in the evening.
Day 4: Ship: Rotterdam – Alblasserdam with the “Waterbus” | Bike: Kinderdijk - (Gouda) - Schoonhoven, about 30-58 km
Today you can either cycle or take the “water bus” to Alblasserdam in about 40 minutes. From here you can reach Kinderdijk (UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 19 large windmills in a row) in just a few minutes by bike. Afterwards you can choose between a longer bike tour with a visit to the beautiful cheese town of Gouda or a shorter tour through the Alblasserwaard. Both tours end in the “silver town” of Schoonhoven, where you can visit a silversmith.
Day 5: Bike: Schoonhoven - Oudewater - Utrecht | Ship: Utrecht - Haarlem, about 45 km
Today you cycle from Schoonhoven through the enchanting “Green Heart” past small villages and along quiet paths and country roads to Utrecht. On the way you can visit a traditional cheese farm and in Oudewater the Witches Scales House. In the late afternoon the ship will sail from Utrecht to Haarlem.
Day 6: Bike: Haarlem - North Sea Coast - Haarlem | Ship: Haarlem - Zaandam, about 40-50 km
Today there are again two bike tours to choose from. Both tours lead through the magical Kennemer Dunes, a nature reserve with many birds, Scottish Highland cattle and Shetland ponies. After visiting the seaside resorts of Bloemendaal aan Zee and Zandvoort, you will cruise back to the ship through forests and the center of Haarlem. On the slightly longer tour, the route takes you past Cruquius's largest steam engine in the world (a pumping station to drain the adjacent Haarlemmermeer polder with, among other things, Schiphol Airport). During dinner the ship sails to Zaandam.
For departures between March 31st and May 5th: From Haarlem it is possible to visit the famous tulip exhibition “Keukenhof” near Lisse (by bike or by public transport; cost of the journey and entrance fee “Keukenhof” not included).
Day 7: Bike: Zaandam - Amsterdam, about 35-45 km
On your last day of cycling you cycle from Zaandam to 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. Then drive back to Amsterdam via the Twiske recreation area. 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.
Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
end of your journey. Disembarkation after breakfast, until 9.30 am. Travel home on your own.
- 8 days/7 nights
- 7 x breakfast packed lunches
- 7 x three-course menu Coffee and tea on board until 16:00 p.m
- Welcome drink
- Use of bed linen and towels
- Daily cabin cleaning
- Air-conditioned cabin
- Daily program reviews
- Individual, non-guided bike tours (guests ride individually, tour guide also drives the route)
- Some short tours
- Bike map and route descriptions for bike tours (1x per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Use of a waterproof pannier bag
- Biodegradable water bottle
- WLAN available in the restaurant – data credit is not included.
- Music evening on board
- The CO2 emitted during this trip is offset by the non-profit organization Justdiggit.
Bookable: guided bike tours with tour guide on certain dates (without booking this option, the bike tours take place individually)
Our services are communicated in German and English.
Travel prices 2024
| Price in € per person * | Under deck | upper deck |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bed cabin | €799 | €1049 |
| 2 bed cabin suite | - | €1349 |
| 2-bed cabin for single use | €1198 | €1573 |
Seasonal prices
From 13.04.2024/20.04.2024 to XNUMX
- €200,00 surcharge in the upper deck
- €200,00 surcharge on lower deck
From 28.09.2024/04.10.2024 to XNUMX
- €200,00 surcharge in the upper deck
- €200,00 surcharge on lower deck
From 27.04.2024/03.05.2024 to XNUMX
- €300,00 surcharge in the upper deck
- €300,00 surcharge on lower deck
From 14.09.2024/21.09.2024 to XNUMX
- €300,00 surcharge on lower deck
- €300,00 surcharge in the upper deck
From 04.05.2024/07.09.2024 to XNUMX
- €400,00 surcharge in the upper deck
- €400,00 surcharge on lower deck
Rental bikes
- 7-speed rental bike with luggage bag - €90,00
- Electric bike (7-speed), limited number, on request, only by prior arrangement) - €225,00
- Taking your own bike - €10,00
- Bringing your own e-bike - €25,00
Additional Services
- Limitation of liability for rental e-bike - €25,00
- Limitation of liability for rental bike - €10,00
- Helmets (per week; important: reserve and pay when booking) - €10,00
book here
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travel code
- FOLLOW 02
Bike & Boat: South Holland with the MS de Amsterdam
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Duration
- 8 days
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Overnight stays
- 7 nights
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Overnight stays
- about 255 km
Historical sights and cultural highlights
Saturdays, weekly departures from March 30.03th to October 05.10.2024th, XNUMX
| Price in € per person * 2024 | Under deck | upper deck |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bed cabin | From €799 | From €1049 |
| 2 bed cabin suite | - | From €1349 |
| 2-bed cabin for single use | From €1198 | From €1573 |
Attention: This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Book now Price calculatorTrain: to/from Amsterdam Central Station (Central Station), the pier is near Central Station
Parking: (valet parking): prices and reservations on request.
DeAmsterdam
About the ship
De Amsterdam is a medium-sized river cruise ship that is modern and very generously equipped. It was built in 1991 and renovated in 2017. So far, the ship has carried out four-star river cruises, primarily on German waters. In 2018, De Amsterdam was used for the first time on the South Holland Tour! The ship sails under the German flag and Dutch management.
Description of the cabins
There are 30 two-bed cabins (11 m²) on the lower deck. On the upper deck there are 18 two-bed cabins (11 m²) and 8 very comfortable suites (15 m²). The two-bed cabins always have two separate single beds (200 x 80 cm), the suites have two single beds placed side by side as a double bed (200 x 160 cm). . Upon prior request, the beds in the suites can be set up as two single beds.
All 56 cabins on board the De Amsterdam have individually adjustable air conditioning, digital TV, bed/hanging cabinet, mini safe, hair dryer, 230V and 115V power connections and a bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. The twin cabins have a large partially opening window (140 x 90 cm).
The suites have the same basic equipment as the twin cabins, but are larger and also have a mini-bar and, as a highlight, a French balcony (floor-to-ceiling, glazed sliding doors) instead of the window.
Description of the ship
De Amsterdam's restaurant is located on the lower deck. In the cozy lounge on the upper deck you will find the bar, comfortable seating and a small dance floor. You can watch the landscape gliding by through the large panoramic windows. WiFi is available. On the partially covered sun deck, chairs and loungers invite you to linger. Here you can relax and enjoy the view while driving. The bicycles are stored on a separate part of the sun deck.
Facts of the ship
- Length: 94,8 m
- Width: 11 m
- Crew: 21
- Cabins: 56
- Passengers: 112 (max)
Currency on board: Euro; Credit cards: Visa, Eurocard, MasterCard (only with PIN/identification number). No cash payment.
 |  |  |  |
| deck plan | 2 bed cabin upper deck | Suite upper deck | Bar |
 |  |  |  |
| Piano in the lounge | Lounge & Bar | Restaurant | front desk |
 |  |  |  |
| Lounge & Bar | Sundeck | Dance floor in the lounge | Stairs to the lower deck |
Program and information subject to changes in the meantime, including for meteorological and nautical reasons!
2-bed cabin for single use bookable on request!
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.
