Itinerary
Tulip Tour with Boat & Bike: Colorful Spring in Holland
5 days / 4 nights | Ship: Fluvius | Self-guided bike tours
Experience Holland in the best possible way: a gorgeous spring short break dominated by flowers. This 5-day mini-cruise plows through the most beautiful season of the year and will take you to gorgeous areas such in “the Garden of Amsterdam”. Enjoy some unforgettable days on board of a passenger barge with excellent service and an alternating itinerary.
Amsterdam is also called, by some, the smallest metropolis of Europe. There are many unique museums, enticing shopping and, recently added to the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage list, the canals in the heart of Amsterdam certainly make a visit to Amsterdam a highlight. Visit the famous flower market in the center of the capital and discover the Zaanse Schans open air museum including windmills, a traditional cheese maker, a clog maker and an authentic traditional Dutch village. Other highlights of this trip are the historic city of Haarlem, the world famous flower park Keukenhof, near Lisse and the largest flower auction* in the world in Aalsmeer.
*: The Aalsmeer flower auction is closed during weekends and on public holidays. This is an optional visit.Highlights of this bike and boat trip
✔ A spring break overflowing with flowers
✔ Historical cities of Amsterdam and Haarlem
✔ Flower Market Amsterdam, the Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans
✔ Comfortable barge MS Fluvius with max. 44 passengers
Itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Zaandam
Embarkation and check-in, where the crew will welcome you on board, takes place at 2 p.m.. As soon as all guests have arrived a short cruise will bring you to Zaandam, a spot famous for its windmills. Here, your barge will berth in the center of the city for the night. Upon arrival you can enjoy taking your new bike for a brief test ride through the surrounding area. In the evening, enjoy a short walk through the picturesque center of Zaandam.
Day 2: Zaandam – Zaanse Schans – Zaandam | Zaandam – Haarlem (Cycling 24 km / 14 miles or 34 km / 21 miles)
After breakfast you will enjoy a 5 km bicycle ride to the open air museum “Zaanse Schans” with beautiful windmills, traditional wooden houses, an old Dutch village, a cheese farm and a traditional wooden clog maker. In the afternoon you have a choice to make: you can either cycle (24 km/14 mi.) to Haarlem or take it easy and join the barge while enjoying the scenery. In Haarlem visit the historical inner city with the Grote Markt and St. Bavo church. Your barge will be berthed not far from the center of Haarlem for the night, so you will have time to enjoy a short city walk in the afternoon or in the evening.
Day 3: Haarlem – Keukenhof – Oude Wetering (Cycling 38 km / 23 miles or 55 km / 34 miles)
Today you will cycle to the Keukenhof, arguably the most famous flower park in the world where you can admire hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and many other flowers in full bloom. After an extensive visit you will get back on your bicycle and will head to Oude Wetering, a small village, where your floating hotel will be waiting for you.
Day 4: Oude Wetering –Nieuwe Meer (Cycling 28 km / 18 miles) Nieuwe Meer – Amsterdam
This morning you are in for a real treat – an early visit by bus (6.30 a.m.) to the biggest flower auction* in the world at Aalsmeer. In the morning millions of flowers are auctioned off here and are instantly sent out to all parts of the world. By 9 a.m. you will return on the your barge where a late breakfast will be waiting for you while sailing through Amsterdam. During the afternoon you either have the opportunity to make a last beautiful cycling tour through the wetlands of Waterland or to discover this amazing city. Visit the inner city flower market, go to a museum, do some shopping… there is just so much to do! Optional: end-of-day canal tour in Amsterdam.
*: The Aalsmeer flower auction is closed during weekends and on public holidays. This is an optional visit.
Day 5: Amsterdam
Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.: End of your trip.
Good to know
- Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
- On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights
mentioned.
- If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
- The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
- On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
- Detailed cycling maps, route tips and a GPS app are available for guests who wish to cycle individually and at their own pace. The tour guide is always available via cell phone in case of questions, breakdowns or emergencies.
Map
Ship MS Fluvius
MS Fluvius
The Fluvius has been a popular choice for guests for a number of years now on the cycling cruises between Amsterdam and Bruges. The former cargo barge was totally rebuilt and extended in 2003 into a luxury river cruise barge. In winter 2017-2018, four additional upper deck double cabins were realized. The Fluvius sails under Dutch flag and management. The Fluvius now caters for max. 44 passengers.
Description of the cabins
The Fluvius has eighteen twin cabins and four double cabins. On the upper deck, there are three standard twin cabins (11 m² – 118 sq.ft. ) with two separate single beds and four double cabins (12 m² – 129 sq.ft. ) with a double bed (140 x 200 cm) and a large panoramic window. On the lower deck you will find fourteen standard twin cabins (11 m² – 118 sq.ft.) and one smaller twin cabin (10 m² – 108 sq.ft.), all of which have two separate single beds. On prior request, a child’s cot can be placed in two of the standard twin cabins
Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. All twin cabins have a fixed window, the panoramic window in the double cabins can be opened. Each cabin has an individually adjustable air-conditioning unit, a ventilation system, a flatscreen TV and a hair dryer.
Description of the ship
The Fluvius has a large lounge (air-conditioned) with TV, bar and a semi-separate restaurant area. Wi-Fi is available. The barge also has a large sun deck with sitting places (tables and chairs) and a storage room for the bikes. While cruising, you can enjoy the scenery from here.
Facts about the ship
Length: 69,9 m (229 ft.) | Width: 5,6 m (18 ft.) | Crew: 7 | Cabins: 22 | Pass: 44 (max.)
Travel Dates & Prices 2025
Tulip Tour with Boat & Bike
Travel Dates and Prices 2025 per Person
Please click at the travel data to open the request form.
Travel Dates
Prices 2025 per Person in €
01.04.
05.04. + 09.04.
small twin BEL Fluvius
789,-
839,-
twin cabin BEL
819,-
869,-
Twin UPP Fluvius
939,-
989,-
Double UPP Fluvius
1079,-
1129,-
single BEL
1228,-
1303,-
BEL = below deck | UPP = upper deck
Optional services / Notes
7-gear bicycle rental
52,- €
E-bike
140,- €
Parking own bicycle
8,- €
Parking + charge station own E-Bike
16,- €
Limitation of liability (damage) rental bicycle
8,- €
Limitation of liability (damage) rental e-bike
16,- €
Helmet
10,- €
- Triple Cabin not available on MS Fluvius
- Minimum number of participants: 24
Services included
- 5 days/4 nights
- 4 x breakfast
- Packed lunches
- 4 x 3-course dinner
- Coffee and tea on board
- Welcome drink
- Use of bed linen and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Climate-controlled cabin
- Daily briefings
- Fully guided cycling tours
- Some short walking tours
- Fees for ferries
- cycling map (1 set per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Use of a waterproof pannier bag
- Biodegradable water bottle
- Wi-Fi
- Carbon offset payment to the non-profit organization Justdiggit
Not included: 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
Fully Guided
Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way. You can also choose to ride individually with the help of a map and route notes (available on board)
The ship – Your sailing hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board. You’ll receive a packed lunch every day, and you can usually choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. It’s also possible to spend a day on board if you like. There are rental bikes on board, but you can also bring your own if you mention it when booking.
Bicycles / E-Bikes
The bicycles on board is a unisex city bike with a low-entry and a riding position that is upright and comfortable. The bike is handmade in the Netherlands by Azor, specially designed by Boat Bike Tours. The bike consists of a lightweight aluminum frame and is equipped with responsive roller brakes (handbrake), a Shimano 7 speed nexus drive, Selle-Royal gel saddle (adjustable), an easy to use lock (fixed on frame) and the Schwalbe Marathon anti-puncture tyre. This all results in a lightweight, stable and reliable bike, good for many miles on the saddle.
The E-bike is an Azor Steps with Nexus 7 gears and hand brakes. The crank Shimano motor (400 WH) offers 4 support levels, The E-bikes have a comfortable gel saddle and a lock on the frame (or a comparable brand/model).
Bicycle rent is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles/e-bikes (limited number of parking places available). Guests can book a parking place for a normal bicycle or a parking and charge station for an e-bike for a small additional fee. For safety reasons it is no longer possible to charge the batteries of your own e-bikes in the cabin. The crew will inform you where on deck/ on board you can recharge your battery. However, the crew or tour operators are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of guests own bicycles or e-bikes.
Other bikes (e.g. bikes with back pedal brake, children’s bikes, “slip streamers”, tandems, etc.) and child saddles (rear) on these tours are only available after prior request (by booking) and confirmation and in very limited numbers.
Meals
The meals on board are substantial and healthy. Breakfast will be served as a buffet. During breakfast you may make your own packed picnic lunch for your bik e tour. The ingredients for this, as bread, cheese, sausage, fruit and a drink, will be served extra. The three course dinner (day menu) exists of a soup or another starter, main menu, and desert.
When you don’t feel like cycling for a day during the tour, you are welcome to stay on board and enjoy the sailing. In the morning you can also prepare your own packed lunch yourself during breakfast, because it won’t be served during the cruise. Coffee and tea are available on board all day. Vegetarian meals are possible at no surcharge. Other diets (like gluten free or for lactose intolerance) are possible at a surcharge of €35. All diets and vegetarian meals must be booked and confirmed well in advance
Arrival by plane, rail
Airport: Amsterdam Schiphol. From here to Amsterdam's main station (Amsterdam Centraal) a train leaves every 10 minutes (approx. € 4.30). The berth is not far from the railway station.
Arrival by car, parking in Amsterdam (price status 2023)
Oosterdok underground car park near the station for € 20,– for 24 hours, but only for cars up to 2.1 metres high. You cannot reserve parking spaces.
Alternative: Centralparking, secure parking can be reserved in advance for € 145,– per week including pick-up service. A valet will bring your car from the vessel to the underground car park and back to the vessel on the day of your departure. Full details are included with your travel information.
