Edam - Amsterdam Tour Holland: Self-Guided Cycling North Holland is truly a wonderful waterside region with hundreds of ponds, creeks, lakes, and canals. The many idyllic landscapes and the enchanting silence of this delightful Dutch province will definitely seduce you. It's almost unbelievable that this quiet land with its charming villages, beautiful farms, and historic windmills is only 25 minutes from Amsterdam. For this cycling holiday, you will stay in the carefully selected cozy, three-star Hotel De Fortuna in the "cheese city" of Edam. It's peacefully located in the center of this picturesque small town. The rooms are situated in five characteristic North Holland houses with a typical Dutch atmosphere. Most rooms overlook a stylish garden on the banks of a small canal. In the summer, you can sit in the garden and enjoy the flowers, singing birds, and small pleasure boats drifting by. From Edam you’ll cycle to the fascinating city of Amsterdam, but also to a number of the most delightful places in North-Holland: Hoorn, De Rijp, Volendam, Monnickendam, and the peninsular village of Marken! Included • 3 nights' lodging in a quaint, family- owned three-star hotel with private facilities • 21-speed hybrid bike and helmet • 1 dinners and 3 breakfasts • Daily route directions, maps, tourist information Daily Itinerary Day 1: Ride around Edam: Volendam, Monnickendam, Marken – 18-28 miles (29-45 km) Historic Edam rests along the IJsselmeer, formerly called the South Sea (Zuiderzee), and is famous for its wonderful cheeses. It's also home to a gorgeous 17th century town hall, a beautifully preserved Waag Museum, and a Gothic church - as well as one of the smallest drawbridges in all of Holland. Edam is an easy 30 minute bus ride from Amsterdam Central Station. In the afternoon warm-up ride you’ll explore the nearby village of Volendam. Volendam is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands, well-known for its old fishing boats and the traditional 18th century style clothing still worn by some residents. The women's costume of Volendam is often featured on tourist postcards and posters (although there are believed to be fewer than 50 women, most of them elderly, who wear the costume as part of their daily lives today). In Volendam you can visit the local museum with, amongst other historic items, an exhibition on the traditional costume. From Volendam you will bike on along the IJssel Lake to Monnickendam, another lovely, quaint little port Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] with picturesque canals, and then on to the peninsular village of Marken. Marken is known for its characteristic black and green wooden houses on stilts. The historic lighthouse is located on a breakwater in the former Zuider Zee. If you arrived late and have only a short afternoon for biking and sightseeing, you could also take the Marken Express ferry from Volendam to Marken. You can take your bike on the ferry or buy a return ticket. Dinner tonight will be in the pleasing restaurant of the Hotel de Fortuna, which offers fine international cuisine. Day 2: Edam - De Rijp - Schermerhorn – Hoorn – Edam – 37 miles (60 km) Today you‘ll cycle on quiet canal dikes through some of the oldest and deepest polders of North Holland before entering De Rijp, the village Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater called "Holland's best village." Leeghwater, who was born in De Rijp in 1575, engineered the amazing reclamation of the polders around the village and also designed the beautiful town hall in 1630. This is a lovely village for a stroll and a coffee stop. Afterwards, you will bike on to Schermerhorn where you will have the chance to climb up into an authentic, working windmill that also shows a brief film about the development of windmills and polders in the area. Later you’ll pass through several picturesque villages on our way to the historic Hoorn, once a major South Sea port and today a lively pleasure boat harbour town with terrific 17th century architecture. You can view a magnificent scale model of Hoorn as it was in 1650 in the ornate and interesting West Fries Museum. You’ll also have time to wander around the splendid old city center with its wonderful array of pubs, shops, and galleries. In the late afternoon you’ll bicycle along the IJsselmeer back to Edam. There'll be time for shopping (or a good Dutch beer) before dinner in our hotel restaurant. Day 3: Edam – Amsterdam – Edam - 18 miles (29 km) After breakfast, you’ll start our peaceful bike ride to Amsterdam via the village of Broek in Waterland. From here the quickest bike path to Amsterdam will take you along the water and the North Holland canal to Amsterdam North, where you’ll find the free ferry over the IJ to Amsterdam Center. You will have the full day to sightsee and visit museums in Amsterdam. However, since biking in Amsterdam is quite unnerving even though there are bike paths in the city, we strongly recommend that you leave your bike in the guarded bike parking (fietsenstalling) near the Central Station and take the tram to the museums. Dinner is on your own tonight in your choice of Amsterdam’s many varied restaurants before you bicycle back from the excitement of the city to peaceful Edam. Day 4: Tour Ends Return your bike to the rental store in town and leave at your leisure after breakfast. Starting Point You will arrive at your leisure at your Edam hotel. Edam is a comfortable 30 minute bus ride from Amsterdam Central Station. Buses run every half-hour. For the schedule check http://www.9292.nl/en/. From the bus station in Edam it’s a 5 minute walk to the hotel. We'll send you walking directions after full payment. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Meals Included in the tour price you'll receive daily buffet breakfast and 1 dinner. For the buffet breakfasts there's an assortment of cold meats and cheeses, eggs, bread, jams, cereal, yogurt, fruit, coffee, and tea. For lunches you will be on your own and will usually be in a town with many restaurant options. The included dinner is at your hotel, and is a three course set menu. On the other two nights, you can either eat again at the hotel restaurant, or you can explore some of the charming restaurants in Edam. We can accommodate many types of dietary restrictions including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy free. Please indicate these requests at the time of booking. Level of Difficulty The level of difficulty is easy. Daily cycling distances are 18-37 miles on flat terrain and on mostly separate bike paths. Since you start and end in the same place each day, you can choose which tour to do on which day. Above is our suggested order, but you can change it as you wish. Bicycles 21-speed hybrid bicycles in excellent condition are included in the price of the tour. These are equipped with helmet, pannier, map holder, pump, lock, and repair kit. 5-speed Dutch tandems, in excellent condition, are also available for rent for $195. WiFi WiFi is available on a limited basis in hotels. Don't expect to have a perfect internet connection for your entire stay. Usually during the busiest hours when many people are online the speed gets slower, and some people may have trouble connecting. Not included • Airfare • Alcoholic and bar beverages • Two dinners • Lunches Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] .