Super Tulip Tour Holland - Bike and Barge Tour Between April and mid-May we offer special Tulip Tours. The program of this Super Tulip Tour is totally dedicated to this beautiful flower. You'll cycle through hectares of spring flowers and tulips, learn all about growing tulips in a tulip park, and, of course, you'll visit the Keukenhof. The first part of your week will take you through the Dutch Waterland region with a characteristic and age-old Dutch landscape. On Tuesday you'll pay a visit to the flower auction at Aalsmeer. Today Aalsmeer controls a market share of 44% for the turnover of bulbs and tulip flowers. The tulip originated in Turkey and reached the Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. In 1634 there was one single bulb that was so expensive it cost the same as an entire canal side house in Amsterdam. You'll also visit the world-famous 32- hectare park Keukenhof, where you can admire wonderfully colorful fields with flowering bulbs in peace and quiet. Finally, you'll return to Amsterdam where this tour ends. 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, incl. helmet, pannier bags, lock, water bottle, & bike insurance • Admittance to the Keukenhof Gardens • 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 at its mooring, located across from Amsterdam Central Station. After storing your luggage and meeting your cycling companions, guide, captain, and crew, you can relax on board with a coffee, tea, or Heineken. The first part of the tour we'll sail to Spaarndam – known as the village of Hansje Brinker – and from there we'll make an easy ride into the beautiful city of Haarlem. Sunday: Haarlem – Keukenhof – Leiden – 25 miles (40 km) Today’s bike route will take us through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit to the Keukenhof gardens. This is the most beautiful bulb park in the world. Keukenhof has an overwhelming blaze of colors: seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent background of 80 acres of traditional and modern gardening architecture. You can also admire hyacinths, narcissi, and many other colorful flowers. For more information about the Keukenhof you can check the following website: www.keukenhof.nl. After exploring the tulips, we'll spend the night in Leiden. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Monday: Leiden - Kudelstart – 28 miles (45 km) Today we'll bike from Leiden to Kudelstaart, a small town bordered by the Westeinderplassen. We'll go right through the green heart of Holland, an area with small cycle paths, lakes, small rivers, and lots of cows and sheep. Tuesday: Flower auction - Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans - Wormerveer – 28 miles (45 km) In the early morning we'll visit the auction in Aalsmeer. Every day, Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer sets the world price for flowers and plants by bringing supply and demand together using the auction clock. During this fascinating process large and small batches of flowers are sold within fractions of seconds. As visitors to Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, we'll walk over a specially designed gallery to enjoy the gorgeous flowers and experience the hustle and bustle of auction. The flowers and plants sold at the auctions are exported all over the world, a wonder of logistics. After this, we'll have breakfast while sailing in the direction of Amsterdam. From the lock at the Nieuwe Meer we'll cycle along the borders of the river Amstel into the city, then take the ferry to the Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where locals work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area. The hamlet is dominated by operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint, and oil, and for sawing wood into planks. As we walk through the village we'll see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker's workshop, and a cheese farm. Afterwards, we'll move on to Wormerveer. Wednesday: Wormerveer - Alkmaar – 28 miles (45 km) From Wormerveer we'll cycle to and through the most beautiful dunes of the Netherlands and, if weather permits, you may like to swim in the North Sea during your lunch break at the beach. Today's overnight stay will be in the cheese town Alkmaar, a lively historic city with a variety of shops. Just under 400 heritage sites, canals, and harbors dominate this beautiful townscape. Thursday: Alkmaar - Purmerend – 22 miles (35 km) Today we'll cycle into the polder landscape of the Beemster and Purmer, part of a big green polder area. The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is an exceptional example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. It has preserved intact its well- ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes, and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. There's also time for us to visit one of the big water mills at the Rijp. Friday: Purmerend - Amsterdam – 12 or 22 miles (20 or 35 km) Purmerend is at the edge of an area called "Waterland" where roads and water lie next to each other on the same level. We'll visit the nice villages of Zunderdorp and Ransdorp. The better cyclists can cycle the long route to Edam and Volendam and, time permitting, cross the lake Gouwzee to admire the traditional fisherman’s village Marken with its typical wooden houses. When we've returned to Amsterdam, we can look back over seven days of cycling and enjoying a rich variety of typical Dutch landscapes, traditional towns, and local culture. Saturday: Tour Ends Our tour concludes after breakfast, with departure before 10a.m.. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] 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, accompanies the group when biking, and can assist in case of flat tires or breakdowns. Route instructions are available if you prefer to ride on your own, but please let us know this ahead of time. 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. The barges all comply with the strict safety regulations of the Dutch Shipping Inspection Authorities. 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, central heating, and air conditioning. 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, only in the lounge and on deck. Up to 50 MB is free. For more than 50 MB there’s a surcharge. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] King's Day, April 27 If your trip coincides with King's Day, one of the largest public holidays in the Netherlands, you'll get to view a sea of orange-clad Dutch people, loud festivities, and a giant children’s yard sale! The biggest celebration is in Amsterdam, but you'll find celebrations in any Dutch town you're in.