Holland's Old Towns Tour
8 days,  
€ 974

Introduction

The delightful towns you will visit on this bicycle holiday are Utrecht, Gouda, Den Haag, Delft, Schiedam and Rotterdam. In the beautiful town of Delft, find out what links Delft to world famous painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675); or go and see how Delft Blue ceramics are made. You’ll visit Gouda’s pleasant town centre, relatively untouched by time, known for its cheese market, candle making, the fairytale town hall and the attractive canals. 


Day to Day

Day 1   Arrival in Utrecht/Bunnik
 

Arrival in Utrecht. Utrecht lies in the very centre of the Netherlands, near woodland and the small River Kromme Rijn. Big city Centre Utrecht is not far away and has shops galore, museums and a friendly night life. For availability reasons it's possible you will stay in Bunnik instead of Utrecht. 
If you want you can also start and finish this tour in Amsterdam. 

  
Day 2   Utrecht/Bunnik - Amsterdam
 

Idyllic scenery today as you cycle to Amsterdam on the banks of the lovely River Vecht. Characteristic for this area are the many stately homes and summerhouses built by rich Amsterdam merchants in the 17th and 18th Centuries. At the end of the day, Amsterdam awaits! Everyone has their own reasons for loving this remarkable city. What will yours be?

  
Day 3   Amsterdam - Zandvoort/ Noordwijkerhout
 

You will love the elegant city of Haarlem, voted best city for shopping. Remember to look up at the façades of historical buildings and see if you can spot the pretty stepped gables. Our bike route then continues through Zuid-Kennemerland, a colourful area rich in natural beauty. In well known beach resort Zandvoort you will stay the night by the sea.For logistic reasons it's possible you will overnight in Noordwijkerhout instead of Zandvoort. The cycling distance will then be 51 km and the next day 41 km.

  
Day 4   Zandvoort/ Noordwijkerhout - Den Haag
 

Today you will cycle through the Dune and Bulb Region. The windswept dunes not only protect the hinterland from the sea, but also harbour many species of dune flora and fauna. April is your best bet for visiting colourful bulb fields (daffodils, hyacinths and tulips) just behind the dunes. On the coast, check out the resorts and beaches. Once you reach Scheveningen you are almost on your destination of today, The Hague. You will be spoilt for choice of things to do.

  
Day 5   Den Haag - Rotterdam
 

Follow the River Schie to Delft. Delft has a historical town centre with beautiful buildings and canals. Inextricably linked to Delft are Delftware (blue and white pottery); the royal family Van Oranje-Nassau; and Johannes Vermeer, the painter. Continuing on your way, you will reach the town of Schiedam, renowned for its gin (jenever). Here is where you can find out all about the history and production of this juniper berry flavoured liquor. As the sun sets over Rotterdams modern skyline and Europes biggest port, why not go to trendy Oude Haven (Old Harbour) for an evening out? From the top of Euromast tower enjoy great views of the city and surroundings.

  
Day 6   Rotterdam - Gouda/Bodegraven
 

Modern Rotterdam offers architecture, art, port tours, a maritime museum and shops galore. The re-developed inner-city harbours are hotspots. Get your camera out for the windmills at serene Kinderdijk, a UNESCO world heritage site. The alternative route is 45 km, you will cycle directly from Kinderdijk to Gouda.

  
Day 7   Gouda/Bodegraven - Utrecht/Bunnik
 

The landscape of rivers, polders, lakes, woods, parks and marshy fens makes for a wonderful bike trip. You will see stately homes and castles along the way. You pass through the capital of the Green Heart: Woerden. A picturesque fortified town with its cheese warehouses and farmers' markets. The lively centre of the big city of Utrecht will draw you to its peaceful inner city canals and characteristic wharves, unique to Utrecht. Explore the pretty Museum Quarter, or go (window) shopping on some of the quieter shopping streets.

  
Day 8   Return Home
 

After breakfast in your hotel, you will return home.

  
Prices, Data, Booking

Starting dates:
Daily from April 1 till September 22.

Please note: a minimum stay of 2 nights in a row is required in the hotel in Amsterdam on the following dates (and a higher price will be charged):

April 18-20 2025
April 25-26 2025
May 29-31 2025
June 6-8 2025
June 21-22 2025
June 24-25 2025
August 29-31 2025

 

Practical Info

7 Nights included

3/4 Star Hotels

Breakfast included

Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information

The possibility of renting our bikes

7-days a week service-hotline

Luggage transport to your next hotel

CS Utrecht. For more information:

ns.nl/reisplannen

Parking possibilities at the hotel

Any ferry crossings are not included

Arrival info

Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

The train from Schiphol to Utrecht departs 4 times per hour. Travel time is about 30 minutes. A single ticket costs approx €10- per person excl. bicycle.

For timetables and tickets, go to www.ns.nl/en. For bus details, how to reach the hotel, check: www.9292.nl/en.