Holland by bike & barge
9 DAY TULIPS OF HOLLAND
April 19-27, 2029
Experience the magic of spring in the Netherlands on a 9-day bike and barge journey through tulip country. Your floating hotel takes you from the heart of Amsterdam through charming Dutch towns, colorful tulip fields, and along peaceful canals—all while combining leisurely cycling with the comfort of barge living.
Pedal through fields of blooming tulips, visit the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, and discover windmills, cheese villages, and historic cities like Haarlem, Leiden, and Alkmaar. Each day brings a new landscape—dunes by the North Sea, quiet fishing villages, and storybook towns filled with history. Evenings are spent back on board, enjoying local cuisine, camaraderie, and cozy nights along the waterways.
This trip blends iconic Dutch highlights with off-the-beaten-path charm, offering a true immersion into Holland’s springtime beauty. Whether you’re cycling past flower fields, sampling local cheese, or strolling historic cobblestone streets, it’s the perfect way to experience Amsterdam and beyond.
ACCEPTING ADVANCE DEPOSITS NOW. This trip is not confirmed until you have received written confirmation from Legit Trips. The boat charter requires a minimum of 11 guests signed up by March 2028, so we will be able to confirm the trip (or not) around that time. Please do not buy any airfare until we have confirmed the trip.
If we do not have the minimum interest level, and this trip is canceled by Legit Trips, your deposit will be refunded in full.
This trip starts and ends in Amsterdam (AMS airport) with an option to add extra nights on either end in Amsterdam based on availability.
Join us for this unique 9 day trip through Holland! We’ll be staying on a barge and biking around the tulip fields.
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).
Transfers & Flight Details
To receive the included airport transfers, flight details must be submitted no later than 30 days before trip departure. After that time, guests will be responsible for arranging their own airport transportation.
Included airport transfers are available only on the official trip arrival and departure dates. If you plan to arrive early or extend your stay, we’re happy to help arrange additional transfers at an extra cost.
Because transfers are scheduled specifically around your submitted flight details, any last-minute flight changes may require a new transfer booking at the guest’s expense.
Please speak to a Legit Trips travel guide before booking your flights for this trip- email us.
Group size: This trip has a maximum group size of 17 guests.
April 19-28, 2029
*Do Not book your flight without verifying arrival & departure times/airports with a Legit Trips team member.
DEPOSIT $850
All trips are priced as double occupancy. A solo supplement may available on this trip (based on availability at time of inquiry) if you’d prefer your own room. If you are traveling solo, it doesn’t mean you need to pay for a solo supplement, we’re happy to pair you with a roommate whenever possible.
*flexible payment options available for balance- to pay monthly or in a few equal installments email us at Fun@LegitTrips.com
- 1 night in a hotel in Amsterdam
- 7 nights on board the ship (sheets, blankets, and two towels)
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches and 7 three-course dinners
- Coffee and tea on board
- 24–speed bicycle, incl. helmet, pannier bags, lock, water bottle & bike insurance
- Admittance to Keukenhof gardens – 7 million tulips + hyacinths, narcissi, other blooms
- Walk through Leiden’s historic courtyards, façades, and old buildings and learn about Rembrandt’s birthplace
- Visit the Zaanse Schans open-air museum village – Working windmills (grinding mustard, spices, oil, wood, paint), Clock museum, Clog maker’s workshop, Cheese farm, Period house & old-fashioned grocery store
- Cycle through the Dutch dunes & optional swim in the North Sea
- Explore historic Alkmaar, known as the cheese town (heritage sites, canals, shops)
- Guided evening walks through town (first night & last night)
- Visit Beemster UNESCO World Heritage Polder (windmills, canals, Renaissance planning)
- Cycle through the “Waterland” villages of Zunderdorp & Ransdorp
- Route information and road book
- Ferry fares on the route
- Boat includes – Skipper, Cook, Hostess, and Tour Guide
- Wifi is available and unlimited on the boat
- Airport transfer to/from Amsterdam
- Legit Trips tour leader with you 24/7
- Airport transfers on official trip arrival and departure dates
Note: The Anna Antal barge is a former shuttle barge which was converted into a luxury motor passenger ship in the winter of 1994-95. In 2012 the saloon and cabins were renovated. The Anna Antal has a cozy salon/lounge, a sun deck, and a storage deck for the bicycles. 5 Twin cabins (95 square feet); beds can be placed together (in 2026 two of these cabin will be Superior cabins 107 square feet) 4 Bunk bed cabins (75 square feet) All cabins are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower and toilet, 220 voltage and central heating. There is limited storage space in the cabin, so we recommend one suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed. Hairdryers are available on board.
Itinerary subject to change based on discretion of trip leader or tour operator, due to weather or other extenuating circumstances.
This trip is not confirmed until you have received written confirmation from Legit Trips. The boat charter requires a minimum of 11 guests signed up by March 2027, so we will be able to confirm the trip (or not) around that time. Please do not buy any airfare until we have confirmed the trip.
If we do not have the minimum interest level, and this trip is canceled by Legit Trips, your deposit will be refunded in full.
Deposits are non-refundable (but are transferable to another person who is not currently signed up for this trip). Deposits may only be transferred one time and incur a $100 rebooking fee.
This trip has a special cancellation policy and is not changeable or refundable at 10 months out from the trip start date.
Please be sure to read the complete booking terms and conditions at checkout. https://legittrips.com/booking-terms/
We recommend a travel insurance plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.
For more information on our recommended providers click here.
unique highlights of this trip
BARGE
The Anna Antal barge is a former shuttle barge which was converted into a luxury motor passenger ship in the winter of 1994-95. In 2012 the saloon and cabins were renovated. The Anna Antal has a cozy salon/lounge, a sun deck, and a storage deck for the bicycles.
Bike & Culture
This trip has 7 days biking through small Dutch towns and tulip fields. Taste traditions in Alkmaar and visit the UNESCO-listed Beemster Polder with its classic canals, dykes, and windmills.
Leiden
We'll visit this historic city with Rembrandt’s birthplace, the Netherlands’ oldest university, and charming courtyards.
King's Day
April 27th - 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! Bring something orange to wear!
Day 1
ARRIVAL IN AMSTERDAM
Transfer from the Amsterdam airport.
Meet and greet with our group and hosts.
O/N at Amsterdam Hotel
Day 2
HAARLEM
Breakfast at the hotel. Then we’ll head to the barge and begin cruising toward Spaarndam, where you’ll see the Hansje Brinker statue before cycling into Haarlem to spot windmills. Tonight after dinner we’ll walk through Haarlem’s charming streets.
O/N on the Barge
Day 3
HAARLEM – KEUKENHOF – LEIDEN
Today’s bike route winds through Holland’s oldest tulip fields with a visit to the world-famous Keukenhof gardens, where 7 million tulips and other blooms create a dazzling display before we spend the night in Leiden. Home to Rembrandt’s birthplace, the ship will be moored near the Zijlpoort, a former city gate. (25 mile ride)
O/N on the Barge
Day 4
LEIDEN – KUDELSTAART
Today we’ll bike from Leiden to Kudelstaart through Holland’s green heart, passing cycle paths, lakes, rivers, and grazing cows and sheep. Once the largest lake in Holland, the Haarlemmermeer polder was nicknamed “the waterwolf,” and today’s destination is the small town of Kudelstaart on the Westeinderplassen. (28 miles)
O/N on the Barge
Day 5
KUDELSTAART – WORMERVEER
We’ll enjoy breakfast while sailing toward Amsterdam, then cycle along the Amstel into the city and ferry to Zaanse Schans, a hamlet of historic houses and working windmills dating back to 1673. Here you can explore a clock museum, grocery store, period home, clog workshop, and cheese farm before continuing to Wormerveer. (28 miles)
O/N on the Barge
Day 6
WORMERVEER – ALKMAAR
From Wormerveer we’ll cycle through the Netherlands’ most beautiful dunes, with the chance for a North Sea swim during lunch. Tonight we’ll stay in Alkmaar, a lively historic city of canals, harbors, and nearly 400 heritage sites, where your guide may lead an evening walk and stop at a terrace café. (28 miles)
O/N on the Barge
Day 7
ALKMAAR – PURMEREND
Today you’ll discover the origins of Beemster cheese and the birthplace of the man who defeated “the waterwolf.” The 17th-century Beemster Polder, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases a perfectly preserved landscape of fields, canals, and dykes, with original windmills still standing. You’ll have time to visit windmills and the museum at Schermerhorn, stroll the village of de Rijp, and end the day in Purmerend.
Day 8
PURMEREND – AMSTERDAM
Purmerend sits at the edge of “Waterland,” where roads and water run side by side. We’ll visit the villages of Zunderdorp and Ransdorp, while stronger cyclists can extend to Edam, Volendam, and even Marken before returning to Amsterdam to reflect on seven days of cycling, Dutch landscapes, and local culture. (12 miles)
O/N on the Barge
Day 9
DEPARTURE DAY
Transport to Amsterdam airport
Say “see you again” to your travel buds and start sharing photos and memories!
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