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Day 1 Saturday: Arrive Amsterdam to Hoorn, 6 miles, (10km).
From Amsterdam you start the cruise at approximately 1.00pm, through locks to the IJssel Lake docking in Hoorn approximately 4 hours later. It is likely that you will see several traditional sailing ships on the way. In the evening you will cycle around Hoorn.
 Day 2 Sunday: Hoorn to Urk, 12 miles (20km).
The morning starts with a cycle ride along the coastline of the IJssel Lake until Enkhuizen where you will visit the Zuiderzee museum. The Zuiderzee museum allows you to take a stroll through time, both indoors and out. In addition to a series of temporary displays in the fully renovated and extended indoor museum, you can explore exhibitions in the life of fishermen and skippers from the Zuiderzee region and the reclamation of large tracts of land by famous Dutch hydraulic engineers. A visit to the museum is exciting, enjoyable and enlightening, and for children in particular a real adventure. In the afternoon the "Amsterdam" crosses the IJssel Lake to Urk in the province of Flevoland.
Day 3 Monday: Urk to Blokzijl/Vollenhove, 14 miles (22km).
Today the ship will take you to the beautiful village of Blokzijl. Around noon you cycle to Ossenzijl and then take an adventurous canoe trip through to reedlands of the nature reserve the Weerribben. Later you will cycle back to Blokzijl/Vollenhove.
Day 4 Tuesday: Blokzijl/Vollenhove to Zwartsluis, 16 miles (25km).
The area called Kop van Overijssel is spotted with small lakes surrounded by reedland and meadows. During your cycle ride you will pass through the picturesque village of Dwarsgracht on your way to Giethoorn. In the past the only means of transport from Giethorn was by boat. During your visit you may decide that you would like to rent a "whisper boat" and steer your family through the canals.
Day 5 Wednesday: Zwartsluis to Harderwijk, 19 miles (30km).
A sailing trip over lakes and canals takes you to the charming old fortified port town of Elburg. By bike you cross the woodlands of the Veluwe and end in the attractive and lively Hanseatic town of Harderwijk
Day 6 Thursday: Harderwijk to Zeewolde.
Today you make your own plans. Ideas for spending the day are: a visit to attraction park Walibi World or to the spectacular dolphin shows in the Dolfinarium; a day at the beach at the Lake ‘Veluwemeer’; a visit to a swimming pool; shopping in down-town Harderwijk. In the evening the barge moves over to the other site of the lake to Zeewolde.
Day 7 Friday: Zeewolde to Amsterdam, 16 miles (25km).
Before the cycling begins the barge takes you to Almere-Haven, an attractive new town. You cycle through Muiden and Schellingwoude before rejoining the ship back in Amsterdam. In the evening you may like to join the guide for a walk around the city or a roundtrip of the Amsterdam canals would make a memorable end to your holiday.
Day 8 Saturday: Depart from Amsterdam.
It is the end of the tour and so it is time to say farewells, exchange contact details and make your way home. |
Cruise and Cycle
The "Amsterdam" is one of the barges used for this specially developed Family Holiday. The barge has 15 cabins with 2 bunk beds and 1 cabin with 4 bunk beds. There are shared shower and toilet facilities. On the upper deck there is a saloon where meals are eaten and a separate room with an "honesty" bar. You help yourself to wine, beer or soft drinks and record what you have taken so that you can pay at the end of the week. We use an operator in Holland for these holidays, and as they sell to other agents in Europe such as ourselves it is likely you will have a mix of different nationalities on this tour adding to the cultural enjoyment.