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Day 1 Saturday: Arrive Amsterdam Cycle to Kudelstaart, 12 miles (20km).
In the morning you will be able to check in to the barge, which will be moored fairly close to Amsterdam Central Station (exact mooring place to be advised nearer the time), be shown your cabin and meet your fellow travellers. At approximately 1.30pm there will be a cycle trip from Amsterdam alongside the winding river Amstel where Rembrandt spent lots of time, which is shown by his etchings
Day 2 Sunday: Kudelstaart to Leiden, 34 miles (55km).
Across a magnificent Dutch landscape called the Green Heart, through the lake areas of Langeraarse Plassen and Braassemer Meer, the route leads to Leiden. In the town where Rembrandt was born you will be able to wander around and explore the many courtyards.
Day 3 Monday: Leiden to Haarlem, 31 miles (50km).
The route today leads to the seaside resort Katwijk and then through the dune area to Zandvoort. If weather permits, you may be able to spend some time on the beach. Cycling on the path that was used by the fishermen’s wives to go to the market, you’ll end up in Haarlem. The small centre invites one to do some shopping in this ‘best shopping town of the Netherlands’. Don’t forget to sit down and have a drink at one of the terraces in the big market place.
Day 4 Tuesday: Haarlem to Alkmaar, 31 miles (50km).
The first village you arrive in is Spaarndam (the village of Hans Brinker). After the crossing of the North Sea canal by ferry, you continue cycling through rural villages such as Nauerna. You visit the open air museum the Zaanse Schans and continue following the River Zaan and the Knollendammer canal to the cheese town of Alkmaar. (The "Zaanse Schans" is a delightful old hamlet on the banks of the River Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylised gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops. This enchanting hamlet gives an excellent impression of how a typical Zaanse village must have looked like in the 17th and 18th centuries. Apart from the cluster of windmills and houses there are also several museums, restaurants and a visitors' centre to be found, as well as the possibility of taking a boat trip on the river.)
Day 5 Wednesday: Round trip from Alkmaar, 34 miles (55km).
Today the "boatel" stays in Alkmaar. There is a cycle trip to the unique wood and dune area near the villages of Bergen and Schoorl and to the Hondsbossche Zeewering, a sea wall. You’ll have plenty of time to have a drink at an outdoor café or to walk on the beach. If you feel like it, you are of course, free to spend a day on your own sightseeing in Alkmaar.
Day 6 Thursday: Alkmaar to Purmerend, 28 miles (45km).
After passing Oterleek and Avenhorn, you arrive in Hoorn which still reflects the atmosphere of a 17th century port town from where the Dutch tall ships departed to countries all over the world. After you have looked around this historical port town, you take the road along the coast from where you have a splendid view over the IJssel Lake. Thereafter you take a ride following the canal ‘Beemsterringvaart’ to Purmerend and on the way you will visit the museum windmill in Schermerhorn.
 Day 7 Friday: Purmerend to Amsterdam, 31 miles (50km).
From Purmerend you cycle back to Amsterdam, passing typical Dutch villages such as picturesque Edam and Volendam where locals still wear traditional costumes. The cycle trip continues along the coastline of the IJssel Lake through Uitdam and Durgerdam. Via the ferry crossing the River IJ, you arrive at the start of your tour in the centre of Amsterdam. You will visit the Rembrandthuis, where the famous painter used to live with his wife Saskia. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk though the centre or you may go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals.
Day 8 Saturday: Depart from Amsterdam.
After breakfast and at approximately 9.00am it is the end of the tour, so it is time to say farewells, exchange contact details and make your way home.
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Cruise and Cycle
The "Anna Cornelia" is one of the barges used on this tour. Classified as a comfort barge it has 12 cabins with their own facilities and twin beds and will take up to 24 people. In the saloon, where meals are eaten, there is 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.