Bike Tour: Guided Bike and Boat IJsselmeer - 8 days - 8 days

Your week of sailing and cycling starts in Amsterdam. The crew welcomes you on board between 1 and 2 P.M. Once all guests have checked in, the ship sails under motor to Volendam in approximately 2½ hours. From the port of this former fishing village, a short warm-up ride leads you through the rural nature reserve of Waterland with its many villages. (10 km / 6 mi.)

A very Dutch start of the day: you cycle to a nearby, family-run cheese and clog shop for a short demonstration of cheese and clog making, and of course a cheese tasting. Continue pedaling along the dikes to Purmerend, in the heart of a polder named De Beemster, 11½ feet (3.5 meters) below sea level. Divided into a tight geometric pattern of squares and quadrants, it is recognized by UNESCO as “a creative masterpiece”. Your next destination is Edam, a lovely town whose lanes and canals deserve a stroll. Edam is known worldwide for its cheese covered in red or yellow wax. Via the main dike of the IJsselmeer you arrive at the promenade of Volendam, where the ship is docked. You will have some time on your own to check out the souvenir shops. After dinner, let the historical city center lure you into a digestive walk. Later in the evening, the ship sails to Hoorn. (36 km / 22 mi. or 49 km / 31 mi.)

Through small rural hamlets and villages, today’s ride brings you to Enkhuizen. Pass by windmill De Krijgsman (The Warrior), the highest windmill in the province of North-Holland and one of a handful of old Dutch windmills still in use to produce flour commercially. In the 17th century, Enkhuizen was one of the wealthiest cities in Holland, thanks to its harbour that shipped then-costly spices from Asia. Be astonished by the stately mansions, canals, churches and city walls that to this day reflect the city’s rich history and wealth. (28 km / 17 mi. or 39 km / 24 mi.)

Weather permitting, we sail across the IJsselmeer to the port of Stavoren in Friesland (approx. 4 hours). On board, you can help the captain sail the ship if you wish. Or you can simply sit back on deck and enjoy the invigorating journey, while keeping watch for marine bird life. Upon arrival a bike tour is planned that first takes you to Hindeloopen, a picturesque and lively fishing village. From there you go to Workum, home to the Jopie Huisman Museum. This museum is dedicated to the work and life of the Frisian realist painter Jopie Huisman. (25 km / 15 mi. or 37 km / 23 mi.)

Following the dike along the Ijsselmeer we arrive in Gaasterland, renowned for its sandy heights that are over 32.8 feet (10 meters) high. The name Gaasterland derives from gaasten, the Frisian word for these elliptically shaped heights. Leaving the dike, you enter the Rijsterbos, a 300-year-old forest. Through this wooded area you ride to the town of Balk and along the tree-lined river Luts. Shortly afterward, you’ll arrive at the fortress city of Sloten, one of the smallest cities in The Netherlands. Take the time to leisurely wander the narrow streets and to find a spot for a lunch on your own. The last  tretch of today’s tour brings you to the fishing port of Lemmer, where the ship moors for the night. An after dinner stroll into town is definitely worth your while. (40 km / 25 mi.) 

In the morning we sail across the IJsselmeer to the port of Urk. On board, you can help the captain sail the ship if you wish. Or you can simply sit back on deck and enjoy the invigorating journey, while keeping watch for marine bird life. In Urk you may stroll through the narrow streets and alleys. The houses in this picturesque fishing village were built close to one another on elevated grounds to protect them against the water, and that is still visible today. In the afternoon a short optional bike ride is planned through the Northeast polder. (20 km / 12 mi.) 

The day starts with approximately three hours of sailing to Lelystad, capital of the province of Flevoland that was entirely reclaimed from the sea. In its harbour you’ll disembark for your last day of cycling. You’ll ride through the Oostvaardersplassen — a nature reserve on new land, left to find its own balance like nature did in old times on old land. Sections of the ride wind through forested areas, while others give you panoramic views of expansive reed beds and marshes. This is a birdwatchers’ paradise. The ship picks you up in the small harbor of Oostvaardersdiep for the return voyage to Amsterdam (approx. 2 hours). Celebrate this marvelous week around the Ijsselmeer while having a farewell dinner aboard the ship. (20 km / 12 mi. or 39 km / 24 mi.)

Your tour ends today with a nice breakfast. Disembarkation afterwards until 9.30 AM.

Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.