
Holiday Highlights
- Stay the night in a thirteenth century Dutch Castle
- Spend a day exploring the city of Amsterdam
- Enjoy relaxing, building sandcastles and jumping waves along the stunning coastline
- Find out how Dutch Clogs and Cheese are made
- Explore traditional magical windmills
- Adventure into the picturesque village of Spaarndam
Itinerary
Welcome to the historic city of Haarlem, your bikes will be ready to collect on arrival at your hostel along with all of your trip information.
Your accommodation is right next to a small park called Schoterbos, which is great to stretch those legs after your travels and get used to your bikes while exploring the beehives and flower gardens. Your base is just out of the city centre to give you time and space to get used to your bikes and cycling on Holland’s cyclepaths but be sure to make your way down to the city centre to see historical Haarlem in its full glory. There are lovely pavement cafes and restaurants and there is plenty to explore with museums such as the free archaeology museum for local finds and the wonderful old Teylers Art Museum. Alternatively, visit the De Adriaan Windmill and climb to the top for a view of the city.

- Meals: Breakfast
Today you can continue to explore the lovely city of Haarlem before setting off for the coast. Navigation for your trip is straightforward and something all the family can get involved with. Your route each day follows a network of numbered and signed cycle junctions so with your handy list of junction numbers it’s easy to share the navigation and everyone can have a go at looking out for signs and finding the way.
Everybody knows that this part of Holland is low-lying, so what stops the sea from flooding the land? Along most of the coastline it’s the sand dunes! Cycling towards the coast, as soon as you spot the dunes, you know that the sea can’t be far off. The whole family can go hunting for seashells, tiny hermit crabs, enjoy jumping waves and building magnificent sandcastles! You’ll finish back in Haarlem after your first cycle of the holiday.

- Meals: Breakfast
You’ll be heading north today through the woods and dunes of Santpoort-Noord before your first stop at the town of IJmuiden, located at the mouth of the North Sea Canal. This industrial stop is quite a change from traditional and rural Holland but still quite fascinating! You can take a look at the blast furnaces at the steelworks and if you are lucky to see the famous lock system in action it can be quite mesmerising to see how it works to allow boats of all sizes to pass through to Amsterdam.
After crossing the huge canal by ferry (free for people and bikes) you’ll continue north through flat countryside to Heemskerk and your accommodation in the thirteenth century Assumburg Castle. This hostel is a dream come true. Surrounded by a moat and gardens it certainly looks the picture and perfect for those young princes and princesses!

- Meals: Breakfast
This will be another day well-spent, enjoying the coast at Castricum by the Sea. The route today is a little shorter to give you plenty of time to roam the sand dunes and relax at the seaside. Hopping back on the bikes it’s another leisurely cycle back to your castle for the night.
- Meals: Breakfast
The spotlights are on the Zaan Region today, named after the River Zaan. The region is famous for its traditional architecture: green-painted wooden houses and windmills will be a regular sight on today’s cycle! Visit the popular area of Zaanse Schans, where you can find out about Dutch cheese making and how clogs are made! Explore the traditional windmills and climb right to the top to explore the view! If you fancy a break from cycling be sure to stop off in Het Twiske to give those legs a rest. This afternoon you can put all your cycling practice into use as you take the city cyclepaths into Amsterdam.

- Meals: Breakfast
Today is dedicated to exploring Amsterdam. The city is packed with beautifully unique shops, fantastic museums, galleries and parks, and you could also lose yourself for a day simply wandering the maze of beautiful canals and narrow lanes! If you are looking for more cycling be sure to visit Vondel Park, a great green space stretching for 120 acres. And for relaxing on the waters edge make sure you check out Oosterdok where you can see a replica of the 17th century sailing ship “The Amsterdam”. If you want to board the ship, go to the National Maritime Museum and you’ll be in for a very interesting afternoon!

- Meals: Breakfast
The cyclepaths get gradually quieter today as you cycle out of Amsterdam and back into the peaceful Dutch countryside. You will pass through the picturesque village of Spaarndam which was built around a dam across the River Spaarne and where you can see Kolksluis lock which is the oldest working lock in Europe (1280). When back in Haarlem make sure you find the “Little Hero of Haarlem” statue which is a Dutch folktale for children about a boy who stops the town from flooding by sticking his finger in a hole in the dam!
You will spend your final evening back in Haarlem so be sure to get any last minute sightseeing and a celebratory drink and ice cream!

- Meals: Breakfast
After filling up at the breakfast buffet, it’s time to make sure you have all your belongings, pack your bags and make your way home from your Dutch Family Adventure.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The route is easy-going and mostly flat (with just some gentle ups and downs when riding through the dunes). The majority of the route will be on a combination of cycle paths and cycle lanes (separated from motor vehicles). There is some cycling on minor country roads but the vehicle traffic is mostly slow and very aware and considerate of cyclists. Cyclepaths in Holland are well-used and in urban areas they can be busy with commuters, long-distance riders and scooters all sharing the space and travelling at higher speeds. It’s a joy to join the cycling culture but you need to stay aware and be comfortable cycling on the correct side of the path. Due to the short distances and relaxed nature of the routes we recommend a comfortable hybrid or city bike.

Family Cycling Grade
Aspects of both our grade 1 and 2 holidays
Suitable for those looking for a relaxed ride
Occasional ups and downs
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Holidays that are graded as a 1-2, will have aspects of both our grade 1 and grade 2 holidays. These tours are still suitable for those looking for an accessible cycling holiday with manageable daily distances, along predominately flat terrain, however there will be some days / sections where we’d expect you to be up for a slightly cheeky challenge. It might be that the distances are a little longer on some days or that the terrain is slightly more undulating, but the rides are still relaxed and manageable for families who are generally fit and healthy.
Dates & Prices

Due to availability issues we are unable to take bookings at the moment. If you would like to be kept notified please register your interest or give us a call.
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation in hostels (shared family room / bunk beds)
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Detailed route notes and maps
D) GPX files (on request) – Please let us know if you’d like a GPS unit to be provided (subject to availability)
E) Luggage transfers
What's not Included 
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike
C) Travel insurance
D) Meals not stated in the itinerary
E) Personal clothing and equipment
F) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills etc)
G) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
H) Trains and ferries en route
I) Local city tax to be paid locally (amount varies)
The Essentials
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