Super Tuliptour 2025

Boat and Bike Super Tulip tour

In April and May we offer special tulip tours. You will cycle through hectares of spring flowers and tulips, learn all about growing tulips and of course you visit the Keukenhof.

Cycling through fields of spring flowers

The program of this Bike and Barge Super Tulip Tour is totally dedicated to this beautiful flower. You will visit the world-famous, 32-hectares’ flower garden the Keukenhof where you can admire the wonderfully colorful fields with flowering bulbs in peace and quiet.

Over 7 million bulbs will bloom, with a total of 800 varieties of tulips. A unique, unforgettable experience! The tulip, originally from Turkey, reached The Netherlands at the end of the 16th century.

The plant became very popular (the “ Tulip Mania”) and in 1634 there was one single bulb that was so expensive, a whole canal side house in Amsterdam did cost the equivalent! On Sunday you will sail to Amsterdam and at midday you will cycle from Amsterdam to the Zaanse Schans. The Zaanse Schans is a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area.

Around Alkmaar you will find the most beautiful dunes in the country. The last part of the week the route leads you through the 17th century polders. The green “ Waterland” landscape surrounds you, while you cycle through the Beemster Polder back to Amsterdam.

Day 1 Amsterdam - Haarlem, 15 km

You are expected on our barge on Thursday the latest at 1.30 PM. The barge needs to leave the mooring place in Amsterdam at 2 PM. It is very important you are on time. The barge can’t wait due to the opening hours of bridges and/or locks. Boarding time is between 12.30 PM and 1.30 PM. When you arrive on board you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers. The first part of the tour you will sail to Spaarndam – known as the village of Hansje Brinker – and from here we make an easy ride into the beautiful city of Haarlem.

Day 2 Haarlem – Keukenhof - Leiden, 40 km

Todays trip leads you through the oldest tulip fields of Holland and along the Keukenhof. Of course you’ll have time to admire the most beautiful bulb park in the world (tickets are included in the tourprice). Keukenhof is the place where the spring breaks. An overwhelming blaze of colours; seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres’ background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. You also can admire the various hyacinths, narcisses and many other colourful flowers. You spend the night in Leiden which was Rembrandt’s hometown.

Day 3 Leiden – Kudelstaart, 45 km

Today you continue your tour around the Haarlemmermeer. In case you have a lunchstop at the other side of the bridge in Leimuiden. imagine that this polder once was the biggest lake in Holland and nicknamed ‘the waterwolf’. The cycleroute leads you through the green heart of Holland, an area characterized by small cycle paths, typical black and white cows and despite the work of mr. Leeghwater, a lot of water. Your destination for today is Kudelstaart: a small town bordered by the Westeinderplassen.

Day 4 Kudelstaart - Wormerveer, 45 km

You will have breakfast while sailing towards Amsterdam. Between the airport Schiphol and the city you disembark to continue your tour by bike along the river Amstel and right into the city. A ferry (don’t forget to take a look to the left where you see whale tail shaped building of the eye filmmuseum) brings you to the other side of the river ‘IJ’. Here you leave the city behind an continue your tour through lush green polders towards the world famous hamlet of Zaanse Schans. A unique place where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area.

Day 5 Wormerveer - Alkmaar, 45 km

From Wormerveer you will cycle through the most beautiful dunes of the Netherlands and if weather permits, you may like to swim in the North Sea during your lunch break at the beach. Todays’ overnight stay is in cheese town Alkmaar. An historic lively city with many small and bigger shops. A little less than 400 heritage sites, canals and harbour dominate the townscape.

Day 6 Alkmaar – Purmerend, 41 km

Today you can discover the descent of Beemster cheese and the birthplace of the man who defeated ‘the waterwolf’. The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is an exceptional example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. It has preserved intact its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. There will be time to visit the windmills at the Rijp and see the house where mr. Leeghwater was born.

Day 7 Purmerend – Amsterdam, 35/20 km

Purmerend lies at the edge of an area called ‘ Waterland’ where roads and water are nearby on the same level. We visit the nice village of Zunderdorp and Ransdorp. The better cyclists can cycle the long route to Edam and Volendam and if time permits you can cross the lake Gouwzee to admire the traditional fisherman’s village Marken with its typical wooden houses. In Amsterdam you can look back at cycling seven days in great variation of typical Dutch landscapes, towns and many highlights.

Day 8 Amsterdam, end of the tour

End of the tour after breakfast, disembarkation before 10 AM. If you have an early flight, you can ask the tourguide to arrange a taxi to the airport.

Included

• All nights on board (8 days / 7 nights), cabin in the booked category;
• Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x self-made picnic lunch for bike tours, 7 x three course dinner)
• Use of bed linen and towels
• Coffee and tea on board
• Tourguide, cycles with the group
• Min. 3 city walks with the tourguide
• Free WiFi (limited available in lounge and on deck)
• Road book, 1x per cabin
• Entrance Keukenhof
• Ferry fares on the route
• GPS-tracks (on request)

Not Included

• Bicycle rent (optional)
• Entrance fees to museums; approx. € 25,- per tour
• Other drinks on board
• Personal insurance

Special details

• This tour is operated by Cycletours
• Due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, the route/program may be changed without notice.
• We do not allow private e-bikes on board (due to safety regulations).
• If you have special meal requirements we ask you to mention this when booking, but no later than 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus. In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; lactose free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 75, – per diet per week (possible on request up to 14 days prior to start of the tour). If requested upon arrival this supplement is € 100, – per diet per week, to be paid on spot.
• Dutch Barge Cruises reserves the right to cancel tours with fewer than 12 participants up to 21 days prior to the date of departure.