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Not until the 17th Century large parts of the area north of Amsterdam were reclaimed through the use of hundreds of windmills. It’s here that you find the typical Dutch landscape of polders, mills and harbours.
The route brings you over small dykes and country roads. Many of the windmills are still in working order. In Zaanse Schans, a lovely little hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan, the mills, houses, shops and traditional Dutch crafts bring the past to life. Alkmaar is the capital of Dutch cheese with its own cheese market and weigh-house for cheese. The route brings you to an extensive dune area.
These are also the only kilometers you will be cycling above sea level! Texel is an island with thousands of sheep and a magnificent nature reserve. You can get a feel for the old Dutch atmosphere in Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam: traditional sailing ships and long johns on the clotheslines. If you want to experience what it was to live in one of those villages in the old days we recommend to visit ‘het Zuiderzeemuseum‘ in Enkhuizen.
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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Dossiers Tab
Itineraries
Day 1 (Thursday)
Amsterdam, embarkation between 12.30pm - 1.30 pmsailing to Wormerveer
The barge is moored at the Oosterdok in central Amsterdam, near the train station. You are expected to arrive at our barge on Thursday between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM.
When you arrive on board, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the tour leader, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers.
During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the global planning of the week are discussed. Instructions on cycling and safely procedures will also be given.
In the evening or on Friday morning, the tour guide will take you on your first short bike ride around Zaandam. You will visit the world famous hamlet and open air museum of Zaanse Schans. A unique place where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area.
Day 2 (Friday)
Wormeveer – Alkmaar, 40 km
After a good breakfast we jump on our bicycles. From Wormerveer you will cycle 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. Todays’ overnight stay is in cheese town Alkmaar. An historic lively city with many small and bigger shops. A little less than 400 heritage sites, canals and harbour dominate the townscape. Its weigh-house was the first in the country (for weighing and trading of cheese).
Day 3 (Saturday)
Alkmaar - Den Helder, sailing to Texel, 50 km
From Alkmaar, we cycle up north. You enter the area of the Schoorlse Duinen (Schoorl Dunes), where you will find the highest dunes in the country. During the last century many pine trees were planted here so now it is a rather woody region. Bergen is an artists’ village which attracts many painters, writers and architects. You pass by the unique nature reserve Het Zwanenwater (The Swans’ Water), with its lakes and boggy hollows in the dunes. A little further you cycle on the Hondsbossche Zeewering (Hondsbossche Sea Dike), with a spectacular view of the North Sea.
From Den Helder, the Dutch Naval port, we sail to Texel. Texel is the biggest of the Netherlands’Wadden islands and famous for its diversity in landscapes, sheep and birdlife. The Wadden Sea is unique. It is the largest unbroken system of intertidal and mud flats in the world and an UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 4 (Sunday)
Texel, round trip 35/48/62 km
The isle of Texel is the largest of the Dutch Waddeneilanden (Wadden islands). The average length of Texel is 20 km and the average width 8 km.
The first inhabitants of Texel may date from the Middle Stone Age (8,000-4,500 BC). Texel is highly appreciated by bird-watchers. In springtime about 80 different types of birds breed her, mainly in the dune areas, but all in all about 300 different species have been perceived on Texel.
As early as in the 16th and 17th century the Texel sheep's cheese was well-known abroad. This was not only the usual white cheese but in particular a special, green cheese. The cheese was green as a result of the juice of boiled sheep droppings, which was stirred through the milk. However, thankfully because of hygienic reasons this was forbidden by the Dutch Food Inspection Department in 1930!
Day 5 (Monday)
Texel, sailing to Medemblik - Enkhuizen, 35 km
From Texel, we sail across the IJsselmeer to Medemblik. First we have to cross the locks in the Afsluitdijk, a 32 km long dike that has protected the Netherlands against the force of water for over 90 years. In Medemblik we hop on our bikes.
Medemblik is a historic fishing town and lies where land and water meet; past and present are inextricably linked.
Todays trip ends in Enkhuizen, a town which came into existence when two adjoining villages amalgamated. You can end your day with a visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum. This museum, which consists of an indoor and outdoor part, shows you the history of everyday life around the Zuiderzee until the middle of the 20th century. Enkhuizen itself is an very nice old harbor town.
Day 6 (Tuesday)
Enkhuizen - Hoorn, 30 km
After a last morning stroll through the streets of Enkhuizen you continue on your bike on the dike with a wonderful view over the Markermeer on your left and West-Frisian villages on your right-hand side. The recently (1976) built dike from Enkhuizen to Lelystad (in the Noordoostpolder) appears on the horizon. This was meant to be a polder dike for a huge new polder: the Markerwaard. However, the plans were never executed: with time perception changed. The environment and fresh water supply became more important. So today the dike is there, but no polder...We spend the night in Hoorn, a historic port city located on the Markermeer and a very important VOC city in the Golden Age (1602-1702).
Day 7 (Wednesday)
Hoorn - Amsterdam, 46 km
The first part you sail to Volendam, originally a small fishing community, now a tourist attraction. Here your last cycling stage starts. You cycle to Monnickendam where you can see the towns many old gables, plaques, churches and towers.
Then on to Marken, a former island with many green painted wooden houses and its own particular character. Near the lighthouse there is a nice little beach where you can enjoy your lunch and perhaps take a swim in the fresh water of the IJsselmeer. The last part of the stage takes you through an area called Waterland. You will understand why it is called that when you see that the houses and other buildings are almost at water level and that the ground is soggy. At the end of the afternoon you will reach Amsterdam. Once you are back at the boat in Amsterdam it is time to take leave of your bikes. In the afternoon there still is some time to go into town and after dinner you may want to finish off your trip by going on a city walk or taking a trip on one of Amsterdam's canal boats.
The trip ends the next morning in Amsterdam after breakfast. Disembarkation before 10am.
- 7 nights on board (incl. bedding, towels, soap)
- Breakfast and dinner on board
- Picnic Lunch packages when on the road
- Coffee and tea on board
- Tour guide who cycles with the group
- Route info & road book (1 per cabin)
- Ferry fares on the route
- At least 3 city walks with tour guide
- Travel documents and cycling guide app incl. GPS tracks
- Free Wi-Fi (limited availability in boat lounge / deck)
Bike rental is not included in our tour price. This is an additional:
€140 Hybrid Bike
€255 Electric Bike
Discounts are available for children, please see itinerary or email our office for more information
Bike rental is not included in the basic tour package.
On this tour we rent out Batabus Galivier Hybrid bikes. A good bicycle available for all participants from ages nine and up with 24 gears and handbrakes. All bikes are comfortable lightweight touring bikes. The bikes are equipped with:
- Pannier bags, Helmet, Odometer, Good lock, Water bottle
- You will get a repair kit when biking on your own.
It is also possible to rent an E - bike
Your bike has 24 gears, a detachable lithium-Ion battery, hand brakes, pannier bags, a good lock, water bottle and a repair kit.
Bike Insurance:
Bicycle insurance is included in the tour price.
The bicycle insurance covers the cost of the repair or replacement of bicycle parts in case of an accident. It also protects against theft of the bike while it was locked.
The crew on board your ship consists of: the skipper and his mate who are responsible for the smooth
running of things on board and the cook who is in charge of the catering. A tour leader, who can assist in case of breakdowns, and who can be your guide to point out to you the things of interest along the way, accompanies the participants. He or she is multi-lingual.
You are welcome to stay on the barge if you can not cycle on one of the days. The barge will be moving to a different location. When you have arrived you are free to explore the area.
Specialized cycle clothing may be handy but not strictly necessary. What you do need (among other things) is the following:
• shorts/ long trousers/ tracksuit/ leggings/ padded cycling shorts
• shirts/ sweater/ rain clothing
• gloves (only when you book a tour in April. It can be chilly in the morning at that time of year!)
• good shoes
• sunglasses/ cap/ swimming costume
• extra towel
• soap/ insect repellent
• swimwear
We strongly advise to bring a phone holder for your bike and a power bank if you are planning to cycle on your own.
I enjoyed the trip immensely, the barge was so nice and couldn't ask for better staff. Our guide was excellent, very informative and great with everyone. Bikes were excellent and comfortable to use. We met lovely people from all over the globe and we all got on very well. Looked forward to each days cycle and would recommend this holiday 100%, can't wait to go again!
Lorraine S
Really enjoyed doing the Top of Amsterdam tour. It was very well organised. It was lovely visiting the various places. The food and accommodation on the boat were excellent. The crew and guide were very helpful.
Donal
Sailing Home - Category Comfort de Luxe
The "Sailing Home" started cruising in 2001. This beautiful passenger ship can accommodate 26 passengers. The interior of the salon and bar is decorated in a mode Victorian style and offers wonderful comfort. There are 13 spacious and comfortable guest cabins each one with a private bathroom. central heating and air-conditioning. On the top floor you will find the salon, a roomy lounge, a cosy bar and a sun deck.


Liza Marleen - Category Comfort
The “Liza Marleen” is a luxury motor passenger barge, built in 1998 with the cabins being fully renovated for the 2016 season. It has a capacity for 22 people with 8 double cabins and 2 triple cabins.
All cabins come with a private bathroom and central heating. The triple cabins have one double bed on top and one single bed undeeath. The double cabins have two separate beds on top of each other. The “Liza Marleen” has a beautiful, spacious and tastefully decorated salon and plenty of room on deck.


Anna Antal Barge
The Anna Antal is a former shuttle barge which was converted into a luxury motor passenger ship in the winter of 1994-95.
She sails exclusively for Cycletours Holidays. It has a cozy salon. In the evenings, a drink can be consumed in the cozy and elegant bar. Outside there is a sun deck/a deck for the bicycles. The crew consists of a skipper, a cook and a sailor/hostess. There is limited WiFi on board.
Cabin Plan:
5 twin cabins (beds can be placed together)
4 bunk bed cabins
All cabins are provided with:
private bathroom, central heating, 220 voltage, soap, windows/portholes that open. Hair dryers are available on board. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.


How to get to the start point port:
Schiphol airport is approx 20km to the ship. At Schiphol airport you can take the train to Central Station Amsterdam. These trains leave approx. every 8 min.and takes approx 15 minutes by train from the airport into Amsterdam, a ticket costs approx €5 per person for single journey. From Amsterdam Central Station it is a 10 minute walk to the place where the ship is docked.
A taxi from Schiphol to Amsterdam takes about 30 minutes, it costs about €35.
For more details please have a look at the tour dossier.
As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).
RATES FOR 2026
BARGE "LIZA MARLEEN"
May 7, May 14, June 18
€1660 per person in twin bed cabin
€1910 per person in superior twin cabin 15m2
€1510 per person in superior trible cabin 15m2
€2485 single cabin occupancy
BARGE "SAILING HOME"
July 16
€1555 per person in twin cabin
€2335 single cabin occupancy
BARGE "ANNA ANTAL"
July 23
€1365 per person in twin cabin
€1570 per person superior twin cabin
€1150 per person in bunk bed cabin
€1730 single cabin occupancy
Self Guided Tour Information
Self Led tours are not an option on this route.

































