Cycling Holidays in Holland with Freedom Treks

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Southern Holland	Ref: NL001
8 days / 7 nights
Price: £525pp (based on 2 people sharing)

Type:	Self Guided:	Level:
Distance: approx 134 miles

travel :

Fly to Amsterdam

The "Anna Maria Agnes" is your home for the week for this tour of the 'Green Heart' of Holland. This medium-sized river cruiser - 236 feet long - has 38 cabins (11 cabins on the top deck), all with a full air-conditioning system, for 60-75 passengers. Most of the cabins have twin beds, some with a double bed. The salon with its large windows is very spacious and offers a restaurant area and a semi-separate lounge with bar and dance-floor. The partially covered sun deck has enough seating places for all guests. Bicycles are stored on the deck in front of the bridge. The vessel has been completely refurbished during the winter of 2004/2005. We use an operator in Holland for these holidays, and as they sell to other agents in Europe such as ourselves, it is likely you will have a mix of different nationalities on this tour adding to the cultural enjoyment.

Itinerary

Day 1 (saturday):

In the afternoon from 2.00pm onwards you will check in to the barge, be shown your cabin and meet your fellow travellers. If you arrive early there is space for you to leave your luggage while you have a look around Amsterdam. A pleasant way to discover this city is by taking a canal tour. Dinner is at 7.00pm

Day 2 (sunday):

Your cruiser will sail to the small village of Nigtevecht where the River Vecht joins the Rhine. Your cycling route follows this small and beautiful river and en route there is the possibility to visit the gardens of the “fairy castle” of “De Haar”. From De Haar it is a shortish cycle ride to meet the Anna Marie Agnes in Utrecht. From Utrecht you will sail to Rotterdam. Every city should have a great piece of symbolic architecture. In Paris it's the Eiffel Tower; in New York, the Empire State Building; in Rotterdam it's the Erasmus Bridge. This cable-stay bridge links the northern and southern halves of the city, with a 2,600-foot span, in spectacular style. 28 miles

Day 3 (monday):

Cycling from Rotterdam to visit Delft with a tour of the world famous “Blue Delft” pottery a must! Delft centre is a beautiful town with lots of small alleyways and canals to explore. Leaving Delft continue to The Hague (Den Haag), the administrative centre of Holland and residence of the Queen. From the Hague it is a short ride (4km) to the sea resort of Scheveningen with its long sandy beach and pier. The return journey to Rotterdam is by train (“Rail+Bike”). Whilst you are enjoying your dinner, the barge will cruise to the cheese town of Gouda. The mooring place of the barge is about a 20 minute walk from the centre. In Gouda during mediaeval times it was obligatory for pharmacists, if they wanted to offer their clients a new potion, to taste all the ingredients in public. Some laws should never be changed. 25 miles

Day 4 (tuesday):

While you have your breakfast the boat will cruise from Gouda to Krimen aan den Lek. A ferryboat goes from Krimpen aan de Lek across the river Lek to Kinderdijk, probably the most famous village in Holland, as far as windmills are concerned. The mills, built around 1740, drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea level - after which the water is sluiced into the river Lek. From here you will cycle through countryside to the Silver City of Schoonhoven on the Rhine river. This small city with its roots firmly planted in mediaeval times offers visitors a spectacular insight into Holland as it was centuries ago. Famous for it's magnificent handcrafted silverware Schoonhoven boasts an abundance of jewellery and gift shops. 15 miles

Day 5 (wednesday):

Leaving Schoonhoven you cycle along country lanes and alongside canals to Oudewater. The witches' town is situated in the middle of Holland between Gouda and Utrecht. The town has a very picturesque centre, with the Witches Weighhouse built in 1595 as well-known touristic attraction. In order to be able to fly around on a broomstick a witch has to be practically weightless. Women could be acquitted if it was shown that the weight of the accused corresponded with the "proportions of the body". Once you have spent some time in this picturesque town it is on to Utrecht to meet the boat. At about 15.30 the boat will cruise from Utrecht to Haarlem. 19 miles

Day 6 (thursday):

Your cycling starts in Haarlem and then onto the north sea town of Noordwijk, via Zandvort and the dune area alongside the North Sea. Alternatively you can visit the lively town of Haarlem, which is more than 750 years old. Haarlem is known for its many sights, including the Frans Hals Museum, Teylers Museum, the Grote Kerk (Great Church - formerly St. Bavo's Cathedral), The Stadhuis (City Hall) and the Vleeshal (Butcher's Hall). The centre provides excellent shopping opportunities where you will find numerous exclusive shops as well as boutiques and department stores. If you are particularly interested in books and antiques then browse around in one of the many specialty shops, or watch the crowd go by while you enjoy a coffee at one of the pavement café's. Close to Haarlem is the Cruquius museum, a former steam driven pumping station that drained Haarlemmermeer allowing the new land to be used for agriculture. In the evening you will cruise to Zaandam. 28 miles

Day 7 (friday):

Cycle 5km to the historical open air museum village “Zaanse Schans”. The Zaanse Schans is a delightful old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylised gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops. This enchanting hamlet gives an excellent impression of how a typical Zaanse village must have looked like in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Apart from the cluster of windmills and houses there are also several museums, restaurants and a visitors' centre to be found, as well as the possibility of taking a boat trip on the river. After your visit you cycle through the recreational area “Twiske” to reach Amsterdam, where you will spend the late afternoon, evening and night. 19 miles

Day 8(saturday):

It is the end of the tour and so it is time to say farewells, exchange contact details and make your way home.

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