Bike and Barge Holiday - Windmills and Golden Beaches

Cycling Holidays

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Holidays that move you

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Holiday Highlights

The historic village of Monnickendam
Forests, dunes and beaches
The beautiful city of Hoorn
Staying overnight on the isle of Texel
The city of Den Helder, the Dutch naval port, situated at the mouth of the Noord-Hollandskanaal
The unique nature reserve Het Zwanenwater (The Swans’ Water),

View Holiday Schedule

Day	Description	Distance	Meals
1	Arrival Amsterdam - Loop Ride	9 Miles / 15 Kms Approx.	D
2	Amsterdam to Hoorn	29 Miles / 46 Kms Approx.	B L D
3	Hoorn to Enkhuizen	21 Miles / 34 Kms Approx.	B L D
4	Enkhuizen to Texel	21 Miles / 34 Kms Approx.	B L D
5	Loop Ride - Texel and the Wadden Islands	22/30/39 Miles / 35/48/62 Kms Approx. (3 options available)	B L D
6	Texel to Alkmaar	36 Miles / 58 Kms Approx.	B L D
7	Alkmaar to Amsterdam (via Zaanse Schans)	34 Miles / 55 Kms Approx.	B L D
8	Departure Amsterdam		B

Meals: B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner | Please keep in mind the distances and ascent information provided are intended to be indicative and may vary from the actuals due to accommodation changes or when compared on different GPS devices and software

For more information download our trip notes

Holiday Information

An easy-paced cycling holiday in Holland, a country synonymous with cycling. The classic artists’ landscape, flat, fertile and open, with long canals, windmills and historic towns and villages is best explored by boat and bike - spend your days cycling from place to place and your evenings relaxing on a comfortable barge on the canals and lakes.

Travelling north from Amsterdam you'll cycle across an area not recovered from the sea until the 17th Century. The land was reclaimed using hundreds of windmills many of which are still in working order; those we visit in Zaanse Schans a classic example. The cycling holiday route takes you over small dikes, along country roads, through vast polders and the most beautiful dunes in the Netherlands from Bergen to Schoorl.

You'll cycle through Alkmaar, the capital of Dutch cheese with its own cheese market. You will be able to see cheese made by hand and how typical Dutch clogs are carved out of one piece of wood. Crossing to the island of Texel you'll cycle in this magnificent nature reserve before moving onto Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam and Volendam, important ports during the Golden Age of Dutch history with its traditional costumes and sailing ships.

These tours are run in conjunction with our partners in Holland and you will join their guests on the tour. Your accommodation for the week is on a specially designed boat, where you will be able to share experiences of the day with other cyclists over dinner. During the day route descriptions are provided and you are free to explore at your own pace if you wish. If you're interested in doing this cycling holiday in Holland with children, then check out the family version of the trip, where you may find the information more relevant to your needs.

For more information download our trip notes

Holiday Feedback

As seen in the press...

The Netherlands is where “pancake” became an adjective, its terrain perfect for cycling novices. On this eight-day guided Windmills and Golden Beaches holiday, you’ll glide past dunes, canals and tulip fields on a loop from Amsterdam. Staying on a traditional Dutch barge removes daily packing and unpacking, allowing more time to visit cheesemakers, historic ports and the island nature reserve of Texel.

The Telegraph (April, 2019), 30 best cycling holidays for beginners
Planning another holiday!

Saddle Skedaddle made it very easy from the start. Making it simple to organise our holiday and offering good advice about travelling there. This put our minds at ease straight away as this was my families first cycling holiday. We were told not to expect luxury but were pleasantly surprised to find our cabin on the barge spacious with good quality beds, en suite, air con and plenty of space for storage. Definitely going on another cycling holiday. Bitten well and truly by the cycling holiday bug!

Colin, Newcastle
As seen in the press...

Free from troublesome gradients, Holland is the perfect choice for family escapes by pedal power. Saddle Skedaddle runs a regular “Windmills & Golden Beaches” group excursion specifically aimed at travellers with children. It takes eight days to progress through North Holland, the peninsula and province that juts out above Amsterdam, ticking off the coastal hotspot of Hoorn, the port of Den Helder and Texel island, with its windswept dunes.

The Telegraph (June 2015)
Brilliant service...

We could not fault the service provided by Ton and Annie, Ton in particular as he had led groups many times before, whereas it was the first time for Annie. She made up for lack of knowledge with lots of enthusiasm. The captain and the catering staff were great too.

Linda, Surrey
Excellent...

Cabins were a little small but plenty of storage space with air con and free wifi. Lovely lounge/dining/communal area. All meals were delicious and plentiful too.

Loved Texel, a lovely island, like the Netherlands in miniature.

Pamela, Lincolnshire

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