perfect trip!
Bike Boat Across the Green Heart
Overview map
Bike Tour: Bike Boat Across the Green Heart - 8 days
During this eight day/seven night, tour on board of the charming barge Gandalf you will discover the ‘Green Heart’ of Holland by bike, a region steeped in history, natural attractions, world famous cities and beautiful scenery.
In collaboration with:
Boat Bike Tours.
Boarding and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 2 p.m. in the center of Amsterdam. After unpacking your luggage in your cabin, you will still have plenty of time to explore this famous city. Treat yourself to a canal tour, visit one or more museums or simply do some shopping. An introduction to the tour will take place at 5.30 p.m. during which the crew will be presented and your first dinner on board will be served; your rental bicycles will also be distributed at this time.
After a short cruise on board the Flora, you are finally off and cycling today after first visiting the lovely open-air museum ‘Zaanse Schans’ in Zaandam where an authentic 18th and 19th century Dutch village has been reconstructed. In the museum you will learn about iconic Dutch traditions such as windmills and cheese and clog making. You will then cycle to Haarlem where celebrated portraitist and genre painter Frans Hals lived and worked in the 16th century. In the evening you can stroll through the lovely city center and the Grote Markt (market square). If preferred, today’s cycling tour can also be extended with a visit to the sea locks of IJmuiden and the Kennemer Dunes. During this cycling tour you can visit some forts of the Defense Line of Amsterdam (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
(40 km / 24 miles or 55 km / 34 miles)
After enjoying breakfast with your newfound cycling friends, you will pedal today along the North Sea coast through seaside dunes via the resorts of Noordwijk and Katwijk aan Zee to the vibrant university city of Leiden, the birthplace of celebrated artist Rembrandt van Rijn. The city’s picturesque old city center is crisscrossed with canals lined by beautiful 17th-century buildings and is very definitely a must to see. The longer cycling tour leads you from Haarlem to Cruquius (steam engine museum) and Hillegom (several flower nurseries) to Leiden.
(42 km / 25 miles or 50 km / 34 miles)
From Leiden you will cycle to Delft, famous for its Blue porcelain (Delftware), where you will have the opportunity to visit a porcelain studio. Another major attraction in the beautiful city center of Delft is the royal crypt of the House of Orange. The longer cycling tour brings you to The Hague, where you can visit the Binnenhof (Parliament) and the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) and then continues to end in Delft.
(35 km / 22 miles or 41 km / 34 miles)
This morning you will sail from Delft on the Flora through the remarkable international port of Rotterdam. From here you can start cycling or you can hop on the “Waterbus”, a fast ferry that will bring you and your bicycle over the river in 30-40 minutes to Alblasserdam. From there you cycle just a few miles to Kinderdijk, world famous for an impressive row of 19 large windmills. These 19 windmills have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight – you will have the opportunity to visit one so don’t forget to bring your camera! From Kinderdijk you will cycle directly to the cheese city of Gouda, or if you prefer, on a longer tour via the silver city of Schoonhoven to Gouda, your destination for the day.
(several options from 23 km / 15 miles to 66 km / 41 miles)
The highlight of today’s cycling tour is the naturally idyllic beauty of the South Holland landscape. Your destination for the day is the village of Kudelstaart where the Flora will be waiting for you. Along the way you will cycle along numerous small canals and past picture-perfect farms and small villages. At the mooring place on the banks of the Westeinder Plassen (‘West End’ lakes) there is a beautiful view to savor while enjoying a wine during or after dinner.
(45 km /28 miles or 55 km / 34 miles)
During a sailing breakfast the Flora will take you in the direction of Amsterdam to the city park ‘Amsterdamse Bos’. From here you can either stay on board the Flora as it cruises through the City of Amsterdam to its mooring place or you can cycle into the city through the city park ‘Amsterdamse Bos’ and along the Amstel river. Once you reach Amsterdam take the opportunity during the afternoon and evening to go for a canal cruise, discover Anne Frank’s House, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and Dam Square, the very center and heart of the city.
(20 km/13.8 mi.)
End of your tour: You leave the boat after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
| Flora, departures on Saturday | Twin /double cabin |
Triple cabin * |
Twin for single use |
| Price per person € | Euro | Euro | Euro |
| Saturday 14-05-2022 | 899,00 | 799,00 | 1348,50 |
| Saturday 21-05-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 28-05-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 04-06-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 18-06-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 25-06-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 02-07-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 23-07-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 30-07-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 06-08-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 13-08-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Gandalf, departures on Saturday | Twin cabin | Triple cabin* | Twin for single use** |
| Price per person € | Euro | Euro | Euro |
| Saturday 11-06-2022 | 899,00 | 799,00 | 1348,50 |
| Saturday 18-06-2022 | 899,00 | 989,00 | 1348,50 |
| Saturday 25-06-2022 | 899,00 | 799,00 | 1348,50 |
| Saturday 02-07-2022 | 989,00 | 799,00 | 1483,50 |
| Saturday 09-07-2022 | 989,00 | 989,00 | 1483,50 |
| Saturday 13-08-2022 | 989,00 | 989,00 | 1483,50 |
| Saturday 20-08-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 27-08-2022 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 03-09-2021 | 939,00 | 839,00 | 1408,50 |
| Saturday 10-09-2021 | 989,00 | 989,00 | 1483,50 |
| Saturday 17-09-2021 | 949,00 | 949,00 | 1423,50 |
*Triple cabin: 3rd bed only for child (max. 2)
Flora
The Flora is a small, cozy and comfortable passenger barge, which has successfully been sailing the Green Heart of Holland tour for several years now. The ship was renovated in 2007 and is now owned by Berthus van den Berg and Jonne Muller. The Flora is a very popular small river barge for boat and bike tours.
Description of the cabins
The Flora has eleven twin cabins (8 m² – 86 sq.ft.), ten with two separate single beds and one with a double bed. In two of the cabins a bunk bed for children up to age 12 (weighing no more than 40 kg) is available upon request. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin. The small windows in the cabins can be opened and the cabins have central heating. Furthermore, in each cabin you will find a mini safe. A hairdryer is available upon request.
Description of the ship
The lounge, nostalgically furnished, offers an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. In the lounge, you will find the bar and dining area. Wi-Fi is available. On nice evenings or while cruising, you can enjoy the scenery from the sundeck.
Facts about the ship
Length: 40 m (131 ft.)
Width: 6 m (20 ft.)
Crew: 2
Cabins: 11
Pass.: 24 (max.)
Vegetarian meals are possible at no surcharge. Other diets (like gluten free or for lactose intolerance) are possible at a fee. All diets and vegetarian meals must be booked and confirmed well in advance (only vegan meals are not possible).
Included in this tour:
- 8 days/7 nights
- 7 x breakfast
- Packed lunches
- 7 x 3-course dinner
- Coffee and tea on board
- Welcome drink
- Use of bed linen and towels
- 1 x cleaning of the cabin during the tour
- Daily briefings by the tour leader
- Fully guided cycling tours
- Fees for ferries
- Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Use of a waterproof pannier bag
- Wi-Fi
- Carbon offset payment to the non-profit organization Justdiggit
Excluded in this tour:
- Drinks
- Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
- Helmet rental
- Personal insurances
- Gratuities (at your discretion)
- Entrance fees and excursions
- Transfers to/from the docking place
- Parking fees
- SGR Insolvency protection
Additional options & information - 2022:
- Rental bicycle: € 85 per week
- Rental E-Bike: € 185 per week (only on request, limited number available)
- You can find a description of the bicycles when you click on ‘ship’.
- Helmets: A helmet can be rented for € 10 per week, only on prior reservation and payment.
- Limitation of liability (damage) rental bicycle €10/week
- Limitation of liability (damage) rental e-bike €25/week
- Parking own bicycle: € 10 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
- Parking own E-Bike: € 25 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
- Canal cruise Amsterdam: Ticket for a 1-hour canal cruise through Amsterdam – special price for our guests: € 15 (at the ticket desk approx.: € 18). Please book your ticket in advance and you can collect it on board of your ship on the first day of the tour.
- Parking in Amsterdam (valet parking): prices and pre-booking on request
The Limitation of liability package includes:
- In case of theft of a properly locked bicycle, you are not liable for the loss/cost of the stolen bicycle, as long as you can present the original key of the lock as proof;
- In case of a breakdown, technical failure or flat tire during your tour – but only after you have called and spoken to your tour leader – you can arrange the repair at a local bicycle shop (fietsenmaker). After presenting the receipt, repair costs will be reimbursed;
- In case of damage, no cost for repair will be charged, except when this is a result of your own deliberate or neglectful acting;
- When – as a result of a breakdown, technical failure or damage during your cycling tour – you cannot continue your cycling tour with this bicycle, and after you have spoken with your tour leader, you can safely store and lock the bicycle and travel to your ship by public transportation (if not available: by taxi). After arrival on board travel costs will be reimbursed;
- If necessary and applicable, you can use another bicycle/e-bike for the remaining days of the tour at no extra costs.
**: These arrangements solely apply to and are valid for bicycles and E-bikes that have been rented from Boat Bike Tours. For tours, for which Boat Bike Tours is not the organizing tour operator (but the intermediary), and another partner company is the organizing tour operator, other arrangements may apply.
Please note: For safety reasons, it is not allowed to use the rental (e-) bikes for self-arranged rides in Amsterdam: in these cases, the limitation of liability does not apply.
Almost all of the rental bicycles are traditional touring bicycles (women’s models) with 7 or 8 gears, hand brakes (some with pedal brake) and pannier bags. E-bikes feature a small electric engine and battery that assist and ease your pedaling, but they do not feature autonomous propulsion. It is like having a tailwind, so it is easier, but you still have to pedal.
Please note: all bicycles have normal pedals, no click pedals. So please wear ordinary sporting shoes. Changing pedals is not possible.
Prices for other rental bicycles, like children’s bikes, tandems, trailer bikes (slip streamers), children’s seats, and bike trailers are available on request. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles or E-bikes, please let us know so we can reserve a space on board for you.
However, the crew or tour operator is in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles.
Parking in Amsterdam (valet parking): prices and pre-booking on request.
Embarking on a boat bike tour means leaving your worries behind. If you’re arriving for one of our tours by car then you can start your carefree experience immediately thanks to the CentralParking valet service.
With this parking service, you can drive directly to your ship’s departure dock. Arrange a drop-off time in advance and a CentralParking valet driver will be waiting to help you with your luggage. Your valet will then drive your car to a secure garage where it will be parked under 24/7 camera surveillance.
Set a pick-up time with CentralParking for your return and your car will be ready and waiting for you when the ship arrives, so you can set out on the road immediately.
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