Bike Tour: Cheese and Coasts Tour - 9 days

Arrival in Utrecht

Todays scenery of woods, water and polder will enchant you. Hidden away in the woods youll find a famous pancake inn, a castle where Queen Beatrix will return to live when she retires and a palace where Juliana and Bernhard lived. Along the shores of Randmeren lakes youll reach Harderwijk which used be a prosperous port but is now no longer by the sea!

Cycle through the woods and farmland of Flevopolder to Lelystad, where you can visit an exhibition on how the polder came to be. Cross Lake IJsselmeer atop a 32 km dike from Lelystad to Enkhuizen. You will see our Golden Age reflected in the historical buildings of pretty Enkhuizen. Dont miss the excellent Zuiderzee Museum!

Please note that until further notice the cycle path on the dike is partly closed due to construction works. There is a shutte bus you can take (incl. bike). You will receive more information in your travel documents. In the summer months the cycle path is expected to be open again.

After looking around pretty Hoorn, which made its fortune trading in the Golden Age, you will set off on today’s coast-to-coast bike route from Lake IJsselmeer to the North Sea. You will pass by Holland’s oldest polder, Beemster, drained by windmills in 1612(!). You can also visit an interesting "museum windmill” as well as cheese town Alkmaar -the market is on Fridays.

The sandy beaches of the North Sea are backed by dune systems that safeguard the hinterland from the sea. Today you will cycle through a Dune Reserve and a National Park that protect the many species of dune flora and fauna. Cross the North Sea Canal by ferry. Zandvoort is a well-known seaside resort.

The Hague, our seat of government, is brimming with things to do and see. Our pick: Vermeers "Girl with a Pearl Earring in Mauritshuis Museum and Mesdags tranquil "Panorama of Scheveningen. The route goes through the green heart of Holland via Bodegraven to the beautiful Gouda.

Rivers, polders, lakes (bird lovers bring your binoculars!) and marshy fens make for todays lovely scenery. On route you will have time to explore the heart of the lively city of Utrecht. Discover the pretty Museum Quarter and admire the beautiful canal Oude Gracht. Its wharves are unique to Utrecht and make a pleasant setting for waterside cafes where you might like to stop for Dutch style apple pie.