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Home , Leiden, Ridderzaal, The Hague, Vliet (canal), Voorschoten, Wassenaar

Southern Route - Bike and Barge Tour

This popular tour starts and ends in , with visits to the architecturally and culturally wonderful , , , Gouda, , and the 19 working windmills of the Kinderdijk. You will discover historic , picturesque villages, and classic windmills, enjoying the delightful safe cycling along Cape Cod-like sand dunes and beautiful beaches - a guaranteed striking introduction to the heart of the ! In the spring this tour also includes rides through Holland's spectacular tulip fields.

Included in the Tour Price • 7 nights on board the ship (sheets, blankets, and two towels) • 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, and 7 dinners • Coffee and tea on board • 24-speed bicycle, including helmet, pannier bags, lock, water bottle, & bike insurance • Tour guide (multilingual) • Route information and road book • Ferry fares on the route • Reservation costs

Daily Itinerary

Saturday: Amsterdam – Haarlem - 9 miles (15 km) On Saturday afternoon you’re expected by 2 p.m. on your boat, located across from the Amsterdam Central Station. After arrival, you can meet your cycling companions, guide, captain, and crew, and store your luggage in your cabin. The first part of the tour we will sail to Spaarndam – known as the village of Hansje Brinker – and from here we will make an easy ride into the beautiful of Haarlem. In Haarlem’s center we’ll find the famous St. Bavo Church, home to the organ Mozart played. Back on board after the bike ride, the program for the next day and the rest of the week will be explained at dinner time.

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Sunday: Haarlem – Leiden – 25 miles (40 km) This morning we’ll cycle through Haarlem, allowing us a better look at some of the city’s typical "almshouses." After Haarlem we will visit one of the imposing steam pump stations that pumped the area dry. The pump is called the "Cruquiusgemaal" and was operational between 1849 and 1852. It has now been converted into an interesting museum showing Holland’s historical dependence on controlling water levels and frequent flooding in the Netherlands. Later, we’ll bike through the dunes to the university of Leiden where the famous Dutch painter, Rijn, was born and the visionary botanist, , conducted his pioneering experiments in tulip development. After dinner you could “follow in the footsteps of Rembrandt,” seeing his first studio and the city sites he so often included in his . The “Pilgrim’s Church,” where our American forefathers prayed before departing to Delftshaven to sail on to Plymouth in Massachusetts, is also a treat.

Monday: Leiden – Delft – 25 miles (40 km) We will head south out of the city and cycle along the . In , we will turn westwards towards the coastline. At Wassenaarse Slag, we can take a break on the beach. The Wassenaarse Slag is an entrance to the beach near the Dutch town of . The coastline is over 8 km long. The beaches can be reached through the Meijendelse Slag on the southern end and through the Wassenaarse Slag to the north (or through aan Zee, the Zuidduinen, and then the beach). The route to Delft will take us along the water once again. This is a well-conserved mediaeval city with , a magnificent town hall, and a royal tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk.

Tuesday: Delft – rest day In the morning we’ll have some extra time to explore the wonderful, historic center of Delft. The old center is well worth a visit. When the weather is clear, the view from the New Church is spectacular. We can also visit a "Delft Blue" china factory. In addition to the traditional blue and white china, colored pottery is now also produced here. Optional is a visit to The Hague by public transportation. There's an easy connection from Delft to the center of The Hague. You can pass by the (housing the of Justice) and visit the with the 13th century “” (Knights’ Hall), seat of the Dutch Government. Next to the Binnenhof is the wonderful , a former palace, now a famous museum with paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Rubens. Here you can admire the original "Girl with the Pearl Earring" by .

Wednesday: Deft – sailing to - Kinderdijk - Gouda – 25 miles (40 km) The first part of today's route will be sailing through the center of Rotterdam, thus giving you the best view of the of this port. Our cycling day starts in Kinderdijk and then takes us through the Alblasserwaard, situated between rivers and showcasing wide scenes of water and meadows. The many inundations and the slowly sinking surfaces made water management essential in this fenland. Canals and ditches were dug and windmills constructed. Of the latter, nineteen remain today; their job has nearly totally been taken over by electric pumping stations. After a visit to one of the mills, we will continue on bike. Today we will end in Gouda. Gouda is known for its cheese. Whoever has visited Gouda thinks not only of cheese, pipes, "stroopwafels" (treacle-waffles), and pottery, but also of stained-glass windows, a fairytale-like town hall, and atmospheric canals. Gouda is a beautiful Old-Dutch city with a mostly intact city centre. As on most days, after dinner we will take a walk through the city.

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Thursday: Gouda – Oude Wetering, 28 miles (45 km) From Gouda you will continue your tour over roads, banks and channels through the Green Heart and polders to Oude Wetering, a sleepy village between the lakes of Braasemmermeer and Westeinderplannen. On the way you pass the wetlands of Reeuwijkse Plassen north of Gouda and will ride through typical Dutch countryside with many waterways, green pastures and of course some windmills.

Friday: Oude Wetering - Amsterdam – 22 miles (35 km) Today you will first ride to the village of Uithoorn. The name De Uithoorn (or also De Uythoorn) was used at the end of the for the location of the lower courts of the deanery of Saint John. The village was formed around its courthouse. People depended on agriculture and animal husbandry. Agriculture became increasingly more difficult due to the steady soil subsidence. From around 1600 on, peat extraction became important and resulted in the formation of large ponds, which in turn would later be made into polders. From about 1885, several were built around Uithoorn as part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. In the evening we will explore the town. From Uithoorn you start your ride into Amsterdam. Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Almost without noticing, we will enter Amsterdam following this river. After we've arrived in Holland’s and returned our bikes, you can rest or perhaps visit the nearby town center. Amsterdam began as a simple village at the mouth of the river Amstel but expanded rapidly with its famous rings of canals during its Golden Age. The palace on the Dam Square is sometimes called the 8th Wonder of the World because it's built on 13,659 wooden piles. Amsterdam as we know it today is a cosmopolitan city with 40 museums, close to a million inhabitants, and a thriving economy.

Saturday: Tour Ends Our tour concludes after breakfast, with departure before 10 a.m..

Departure Point Amsterdam The barge embarks from the Oosterdok (next to the science center Nemo) near the Central Railway Station in Amsterdam. Departure time on Saturday is between 1 and 2 p.m. The barge will leave the mooring place promptly at 2:15 p.m. If you want you can bring your luggage in advance, from 12 noon onwards. A map, detailed instructions, and the name of your boat will be provided after final payment is received.

Difficulty and Daily Mileage This tour is rated “easy” for its flat terrain and low mileage. All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances (such as mooring requirements).

Travel Guidance The skipper and his mate are responsible for the smooth running of the barge. An experienced, multilingual guide will indicate points of interest along the way, accompany the group when biking, and can assist in case of flat tires or breakdowns. The guides have the tough job of keeping the group moving while also not exhausting the slower riders. If riding in a big group doesn’t sound appealing to you, you could take the route directions and bike on your own, but please let us know ahead of time. Also keep in mind that this tour covers a lot of great sites! While this means you get to see a lot, it also means that during the daily bike ride you won’t have lots of extra time to shop or stop to take a picture of every

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] lamb or field. Your guide will generally keep you moving so you're back to the barge around 5 p.m., giving you time before dinner to relax or walk around the town where your barge is moored. Note that in the Netherlands and , many shops close at 5 or 6 p.m.

The Bicycles A well maintained, comfortable 24-speed hybrid bicycle is available free of charge for each participant. Men and women’s models are available in sizes appropriate to your height. The bikes come with helmets, grip shifters, hand brakes, carrier bag, lock, repair kit, water bottle holders, water bottle, and bike insurance. If you prefer to bring your own bike you're welcome to do so at a discount. Electric bikes can be rented for this tour at a surcharge and need to be reserved at least 2 weeks in advance. We advise you only to rent an electric bike if you have first tried one at home. They're heavier than regular bikes and therefore can be difficult to maneuver.

Meals The cook prepares all meals: a substantial breakfast and a three-course dinner of very good quality. A packed lunch may be prepared after breakfast. Tea and coffee will be ready when you arrive on board in the afternoon. There's a bar on board with reasonably-priced beer, wine, and soft drinks. If you have special meal requirements, please mention this when booking. In the case of a vegan and gluten-free diet there is an additional charge of $65 per week.

The Barge Our motorized passenger vessels, about 60 meters in length, are former river vessels especially converted for this kind of holiday. On board you'll find a cozy dining room, a sun deck/a deck for the bicycles. All cabins are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower and toilet, 220 voltage, and central heating. There's limited storage space in the cabin so we recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under your bed. Bike & barge vacations are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.

WiFi WiFi is available on a limited basis on board. Don't expect to have a perfect internet connection for the entire trip. Usually during the busiest hours when many people are online the speed gets slower, and some people may have trouble connecting.

Insurance The bicycle insurance included with this tour covers damage and theft but not deliberate negligence such as riding over curbstones, or theft due to negligence. We highly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Not Included in the Tour Price • Airfare • Drinks from bar on board or when cycling • Admission fees to the various museums or places of interest (about €15) • Trip cancellation insurance

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected]