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| Old Dutch Cities | Ref: NL021 |
| 8 days / 7 nights | |
| Price: £575pp (based on 2 people sharing) | |
Type:  |
Self Guided:  |
Level:  |
| Distance: approx 168 or 205 miles | ||
travel :
- Fly to Amsterdam, then public transport or taxi to Oudewater
Itinerary
Day 1:
If you booked an early flight, you can visit the Witch’s Stool when you arrive in Oudewater. In the middle ages, this was used to determine whether someone was a witch and should therefore be sentenced to the stake. The accompanying museum comes highly recommended.
Day 2:
Since you are in the Green Heart of the Netherlands, you just have to make a cycle tour today. What about a visit to Gouda, world famous for its cheeses and ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle waffle). Of course, the route will take you to the cheese market, right behind the beautiful town hall. Every Thursday morning, farmers in traditional Old Dutch clothes, come to the market to have their cheeses weighed and sold. The 45 km tour continues along the Reeuwijkse Plassen, a collection of 10 lakes. Nowhere else in the world there is so little land between lakes: the route takes optimal advantage of the available amount of mainland.
31 miles
Day 3:
From Oudewater the route takes you north, into The Green Heart of Holland. Here lies the Nieuwkoop Lake Area, an oasis of peace and tranquillity. The route winds through rustling reed lands and along beautiful Dutch landscapes, before you reach the city of Leiden.
When cycling through Leiden its rich history still seems very much alive. The Academy building of the University, the Weighing House and the Citadel, the stately mansions along the canal Rapenburg, the beautiful churches and the 35 almshouses, each tell of Leiden's history. This is where Rembrandt was born and learned how to paint, where Clusius planted the first tulips in Western Europe and where Holland's first university was founded. 38 milesDay 4:
Today’s route takes you straight through the bulb area of Holland. In spring, the tour passes along bulb fields on its way to the Keukenhof. Vast, colorful fields of hyacinths, daffodils and tulips line the route to the park, which hosts the world’s most famous bulb flower exhibition; here millions of bulbs are displayed in the perfection of artistry. From the Keukenhof the route takes you to Aalsmeer for a visit to the world's largest flower auction, then on to Amsterdam the finishing point for today. 34 miles
Day 5:
Most people will choose to visit Amsterdam. You can spend hours taking guided tours on the world famous canals. There are plenty of choices for those who would like to make a cultural trip. The Rijksmuseum (National Museum) accommodates the world famous ‘Night Watch’ by Rembrandt. The works of another great Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, can also be found in Amsterdam in the Van Gogh Museum. 0 miles
If you rather like to avoid the city’s bustle, you can also make a 55 km day trip to the Zaanse Schans, one of Europe’s oldest industrial areas. The mills, warehouses and traditional wooden houses you will find here, will give you a perfect impression of this 17th century commercial centre around Amsterdam. From here the route takes you to Haarlem, a colourful area that offers a great diversity in scenery and culture. The area lies right behind the magnificent dunes, to the south of the North Sea canal. The medieval appeal of Haarlem, the hospitality of the fashionable seaside resort of Zandvoort and the fascinating area of Bloemendaal with the variety of nature reserves makes the area a perfect destination by bicycle. 37 miles
Day 6:
Today’s first 25 kilometres will take you along the border of the former Zuiderzee (South Sea). By constructing the Afsluitdijk (IJsselmeer Dam) causeway the South Sea turned into the biggest lake of The Netherlands; the IJssellake. You will pass the medieval Muiderslot castle, built in 1280AD by count Floris V. Here, it is hard to imagine that you are only 15 kilometres away from the dazzling modern city of Amsterdam. Be amazed by the utter calm, when you cycle over the dikes, leaving the city behind you. Narrow cycle tracks will take you across vast heather fields, before you reach Hilversum. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, Hilversum’s architecture went through its very own golden age. No other town in the Netherlands was shaped to such an extent by the hand of a single architect: Willem M. Dudok. The route takes you along several of his works. In fact, you will find your hotel close to the Town Hall, designed by this world famous architect. 28 miles
Day 7:
From Hilversum, the route takes you south and in the first part the river Vecht will be your guide. You will be cycling along narrow dykes, many 17th century cottages and tea domes can still be found here. Near Breukelen, you will pass the Kortrijk Mill that was built in 1696 AD. Further south the route takes you through the classical Dutch polder: Green meadows, black-and-white cows, blue ditches and white clouds. It can hardly get more Dutch than this! 37 miles
Day 8:
Depart from Oudewater after breakfast
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