General information
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Are the trips guided or self-guided?
We only offer self-guided holidays. There is one exception: On some bike & boat holidays there are guided cycling trips. This is mentioned on the relevant tour page of that trip.
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Can I book a trip as a solo traveller?
Yes, you can. There is a single room supplement for single occupancy, but the final price for a single room can be found in the price table for the tour you wish to book.
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What is the difference between single/twin/double room?
A single room is for single occupancy (1 person per room).
A twin room is meant for 2 people occupancy. There are 2 separate beds in the room.
A double room is meant for 2 people occupancy. The room has 1 double bed.
Please be aware that we can not always guarantee the twin/double bed preferences, as it depends on the type of room the hotel has available.
Generally it is not possible to bring your dog on any of our tours, most hotels do not allow pets in the building. There are very few tours that are dog friendly, please email us for more information.
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Can you check if a certain trip available on a certain day/period?
No, we cannot. All our tours are on request, and you can find the dates we can still request in the calendar on each tour page. Once you have chosen 1 of these dates, we will contact the hotels for you to check availability. The booking is NOT confirmed until we send you the final confirmation and invoice.
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Do I need to pay a deposit to proceed with the booking request?
No, you don't have to. You can send us your booking request using our online booking form (or by email if you prefer). We will then start working on your request and normally take 7-8 working days to confirm your booking. The booking is final and irrevocable once the booking confirmation has been sent to you. Along with the confirmation you will receive instructions on how to pay the deposit after receiving the booking confirmation and 6 weeks before arrival the balance.
The easiest way to book your bike holiday, is to fill out our online booking form. But feel free to use e-mail or phone if you prefer. The booking will be definitive and irrevocable as soon as the booking confirmation has been sent to you. Please also read our Conditions of Booking.
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How much is the penalty if I cancel my booking?
The booking will be definitive and irrevocable as soon as the booking confirmation has been sent to you. After that moment, you can find all the terms here, under the section Cancellation.
Dutch Bike Tours/Fietsvakantiewinkel (Chamber of Commerce registration number 30088748) is a registered participant of SGR. You can verify this on www.sgr.nl. Holidays listed on this website are covered by SGR’s guarantee, within the terms of the SGR guarantee scheme. Under SGR’s guarantee, consumers shall have their prepaid travel sum refunded if their counterparty is unable to fulfil its contractual obligations due to financial inability. Insofar as the agreement includes the transport and the destination has already been reached, the return trip will be arranged. A mandatory SGR contribution of € 5 per person will be charged when booking, for the benefit of the SGR fund.
About weather
Here are our best Dutch Bike Tours tips. Make sure you always have your rain gear with you. Moreover, pack dry clothes in your water-proof pannier bags. That way you can change into dry clothes upon arrival at your hotel even if your luggage has not yet been delivered. On www.buienradar.nl you can see the shower forecast for the coming three hours. So theoretically you can try to plan your cycling trip around the shower(s).
Why don’t you have a drink in a bar and try the famous Dutch bitterballs while you wait for the rain to pass before continuing on your bike :)
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What is the best season, in terms of weather, to travel to the Netherlands?
The weather is always unpredictable here in the Netherlands, so it is difficult for us to suggest a specific season. Most of our tours start in April and end in September, so you have the best seasons: spring and summer. Before you leave home for your cycling holiday here in the Netherlands, check the weather forecast for the coming week, but please remember that the weather can always change. So, it is always a good idea to have rain gear with you!
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When (and where) can the tulips be seen?
Tulip flowering can always change depending on the weather. Generally, the tulips are at their best around April to beginning of May, with the best period the last 2 weeks in April. The two best areas to see them are around Haarlem and Leiden and in North Holland.
We offer two different tours in these areas:
Tulip Tour: find more information here.
Tulip paradise in North Holland: find more information here.
About bikes
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Can I just rent bikes with you?
No, only when you book a tour with us is bike hire available. Rental bike alone is not possible.
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What type of bikes can I rent through Dutch Bike Tours?
It depends on the tour you book, but we always offer two options, a standard bike (hybrid bike) and an electric bike. You can find out which type of bike we hire on the tour page for the tour you are interested in.
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Can I rent an extra pannier bag?
No, it is not possible. The bike rental always includes 1 pannier bag.
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Is it possible to bring my own pedals?
Yes, it is possible. You can bring your own pedals, but you will need to change them yourself once you arrive at your first destination. So please bring your own tools and keep the original pedals as you will need to put the original pedals back on the rental bike at the end of the tour.
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Can we store our bikes safely at the hotels?
When selecting hotels, we have tried to include secure, locked bicycle parking where possible. However, we cannot guarantee that this will be available at all hotels.
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Is a bike helmet compulsory in the Netherlands?
No, it is not. However, we would advise you to make sure your children wear a bicycle helmet. Please let us know on the booking form if you would like to hire a bike helmet. For very young children (baby’s and toddlers) we do not offer helmets.
About the tour
We do not offer half board; our trips are on a bed and breakfast basis. You can have dinner every day at the hotel or nearby according to your own wishes and budget. We do make exceptions for groups of 8 persons or more, in which case please email us to check the options and possibilities.
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Can I book an extra night?
For all daily departures, you can always ask to book extra nights before, during and after the tour. The price for the extra night(s) will vary depending on the hotel booked, you can quote an extra night yourself in the booking form tool. As with all our services, availability is on request and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
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Can I start from another location?
It depends, not all places are available as starting points. Generally, if you don't rent our bikes, you can start from another location, but if you rent the bikes from us, please check with us what is possible. Good to know, Amsterdam can always be a start/finish location.
Please be aware, if you travel by car then starting from another location can involve different and higher parking costs as not all hotels offer free parking.
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Is the luggage transport included in the tour?
Yes, luggage transport from hotel to hotel is always included in all our tours (except for trips based in 1 hotel and boat & bike tours). It is 1 piece (max 20kg) per person. If you wish to bring additional luggage, please inform us well in advance when making your booking request (the cost is €5 per piece/per day of service).
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Is it possible to pass on my dietary needs to the hotels I will be staying at?
Yes, it is, please let us know when you make your booking request, and we will inform the hotel for you. Remember, it is always good to remind hotels when you check in!
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Can I book my own hotels?
No, we can only provide luggage transfer and cycle routes if the hotels have been booked through us.