Jump to content
Jump to footer
Book now
To the online version

Boat and bike Netherlands pittoresk villages | MS Wending

Ancient history and fascinating nature

The bike-loving Dutch call their beloved bicycles „Fietsen“ and they are part of the Dutch way of living like windmills, tulips and cheese. How could you possibly explore the historic Dutch Hanseatic cities better than by bike? 

Discover the cities that formed the once powerful commercial confederation, lined up like pearls on a string, and cycle onto ancient roads along medieval city walls. 

Naturally also nature lovers will get their money`s worth. Explore the Rhine Valley and cycle alongside one of his beautiful tributaries, the IJssel River, across the so-called border lake region, located between the old mainland and the new reclaimed land. During the week, you cross the forests and moorlands of Achterhoek, of the Hoge Veluwe National Park and of the Goois-Nature Reserve. 

However, restaurants and attractive shopping possibilities are always within reach.

Easy
Boat and Bike
8 Days / 7 Nights
Self-guided tour

Itinerary

From 12:30 pm, embarkation in Amsterdam, Oosterdok, near the main station. At 2:00 pm, the ship leaves and sails through the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to Wijk bij Duurstede, an enchanting town with a beautiful medieval market square on the Lower Rhine. After dinner, you may enjoy a stroll through the old lanes of the town.

During breakfast, your ship sets sail for Wageningen. Here, you start for your first cycle route through the picturesque Lower Rhine River Valley. Around lunchtime, you cycle through Arnhem city centre and cross the historic “John Frost bridge”. This bridge was the centre of the Battle of Arnhem in 1944 as part of “Operation Market Garden”. In the afternoon, continue along the IJssel to the Hanseatic city of Doesburg.

Alternatively, you can extend your cycle tour individually (unguided) by approx. 15 kilometres and cycle through the woodlands and heathlands of the Veluwe National Park. The Park is approx. 54 km2 (14,000 acres) in area and is home to many plants and animals. (If you want to visit the park, the day pass is about € 13.-).

Today your cycle tour starts in the Hanseatic city of Doesburg. From here, follow the Hanse Cycle Route along the IJssel River to Bronkhorst, a hamlet that is proud to be considered the Netherlands`smallest town. Today`s destination is Zutphen, the city of towers. Already from afar, you can see the big and small church towers that characterise the panorama of the city. During dinner, your ship sails to Deventer. The historic „Stadsplein de Brink“ square has already been a central meeting point during the heyday of the Hanseatic League and is today surrounded by numerous cosy terraced cafes.

During breakfast, De Nassau will take you to Wijhe, where a beautiful cycle tour to Hattem begins. The shorter route leads along the river bank, the longer cycle tour runs across the eastern Veluwe region. Hattem has a rich past, the traces of which can still be seen everywhere. From Hattem it is only a short distance to Zwolle. This city is considered one of the most beautiful Hanseatic cities. From Zwolle the tour continues to Kampen. In the evening, an optional walk takes you to some of the most interesting highlights of this largest Hanseatic city in the Netherlands.

In the morning, shipping to Reevesluis. Here you begin your cycle tour. Along the Lake Veluwe – here you can take a bath, rent a boat, go surfing and much else – you cycle through typical Dutch landscape to Elburg, a charming medieval fortified town and ancient fishing town. You should not miss out on a visit of the historic Old Town, which is no larger than 250 by 350 metres. Afterwards continue through the huge woodlands of the Veluwe to reach Harderwijk. A stroll through the city leads inevitably to the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, a basilica that dates back to the 14th/15th century. Overnight stop in the old fishing port.

During breakfast, you sail to Huizen. From there, you cycle to the marvellous fortified city of Naarden and to the castle in Muiden (Dutch Muiderslot). Along a quiet route, you reach Amsterdam. The afternoon and the evening you spend in Amsterdam.

In the morning you start from Wormerveer to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans (windmills, ancient Dutch village, cheese factory, etc). After your visit you will continue in the direction of Volendam. On the way you have the opportunity to visit a cheese dairy in Katwoude. Here you can see how Gouda cheese and the traditional Dutch wooden shoes are made. Via Volendam, known as a traditional fishing village with typical authentic cottages, you cycle to Hoorn. For a short visit of the historic old town with its many buildings from the 17th century (e.g. the harbour tower as well as the storage houses at the old quai) you should take some time.

After breakfast, disembarkation until 09:00 am and individual journey home.

Tour character

Easy

You cycle through Holland and Belgium on flat and well-maintained cycle paths. The routes can be classified as easy and are also well suited for inexperienced cyclists.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & extras

Services

Included Services

  • Seven nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
  • Programme according to travel itinerary from/ to Amsterdam
  • All charges for ports, bridges and locks are included
  • Welcome-drink
  • Change of linens and towels on demand
  • Full board: 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cycle tours, 7x 3-course dinner
  • Coffee, Tea and Water on board
  • Daily meeting for the cycle tours
  • Instructed tour guide on the guided cycle tours
  • Booklet with detailed instructions and maps for individual cycle tours, 1 x per cabin
  • GPS tracks

Not included Services

  • Arrival and departure
  • parking fees
  • spa and local taxes if due
  • transfers
  • facultative visits
  • travel insurance as well as expenses for personal needs

Parking Facilities in Amsterdam (subject to change)

For example:

  • Parking Centrum Oosterdok, Parking garage right next to Amsterdam Central Station (for vehicles with a max height of 2,10 m only)., approx. 45 € for 24 hours www.parkingzentrumamsterdam.english, It is not possible to book in advance.
  • Q-Park Amsterdam

Embarkation from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Disembarkation until 09:00 am.

Minimum number of participants 18 guests (must have been reached within 21 days prior to departure).

Bringing along own bikes due to limited storage space on the sun deck, it is not possible to bring your own bike.

Cycle tours All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour. The bike tours are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. Nearly all cycle tours can be classified as being easy.

Travel safe and secure We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Please bring your own bike helmet (no onboard selling).

Luggage We recommend: rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers.

Special dietary needs for special dietary needs like gluten or lactose free, vegetarian, or vegan, a fee of € 75, - per pers./week occurs, to be paid on board.

Also important: Please consider that on the one hand your ship is your hotel, on the other hand, however, it is an engine that has to run constantly –also in the early morning (sometimes even passing through locks or under bridges). If you are particularly sensitive to noise, we recommend to bring along earplugs.  

Schedule and program changes are subject to changes. If part of the itinerary cannot be sailed e.g., due to low or high-water levels or bad weather conditions, the captain reserves the right to change the route for your safety (no legal rights shall arise from this) The same applies for repair or maintenance works on locks and bridges ordered by river and other local authorities with little or no advance notice).

Travel documents EU citizens without special situations, e.g., dual citizenship, permanent residence abroad, limited validity travel documents, need a valid ID card or passport, that must be valid at least 6 months beyond return date. If you have a different citizenship, or multiple citizenships, or if you have to respect special legal requirements, we would kindly like to ask to contact timely your competent embassy to inform about the respective visa and entry regulations.

This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility. We recommend that you take out a travel health insurance with repatriation coverage as well as baggage, accident and travel cancellation insurances.

Further information

Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"

Britta Krefeldt
Give us a call
+49 441 48597 21
Write a message
Send an e-mail

You might also be interested in

Follow us on our website and discover many beautiful regions...

You now receive special conditions when you book a trip.