Vianen
– Schoonhoven –
Dordrecht
Tuesday
– 35 km (22 miles)
We begin with a boat trip
over the winding and flowing river Lek to Schoonhoven. Schoonhoven is also
called “silver city” because of the wrought silver that was elevated to
a great art in this town. The clocks of the town hall are cast from the
cannons of the vessel of Olivier van Noord, who in 1601 was the first Dutchman
to sail around the world. From Schoonhoven we cycle along the Lek to Kinderdijk.
This windmill park constructed in 1722 enabled large tracts of land to be
reclaimed. On arrival in Dordrecht, the Elodie is moored waiting for you.
We will organize an evening stroll to let you to see the great variety of
Dutch facades.
Dordrecht – Rotterdam –
Delft
Wednesday
25 kilometer (16 miles)
On this day we cover the
necessary kilometers on your bicycle and by boat. We begin by sailing over the Noord
and Nieuwe Maas rivers to the largest port in the world, Rotterdam. One
doesn’t just sail past this city, also called “Manhattan on the Maas”. The
impressive harbor, Euromast and the modern architecture invite you to pay
a visit. On your bicycle you will be able to see a lot of this city in a
very pleasant way. From Rotterdam we move on to Delft.
Delft is a beautiful contrast compared to Rotterdam. The heart of the old
town with the “Nieuwe Kerk” (New Church) in the centre and its small canals
and beautifully decorated facades is a moving sight to the visitor.
All the
members of the Royal Family lie buried in the Nieuwe Kerk, together with
the father of the fatherland, William of Orange. The night is spent in Delft.
Delft –
The Hague – Leiden
Thursday – 30 km (19 Miles)
Before we leave Delft, we
pay a visit to a studio where earthenware is hand painted with the famous
“Delfts blauw” (Delft’s blue). Now on the cycle we follow our way to the
seat of government capital, The Hague. The houses around the hunting castle
“de graven van Holland” (The Earls of Holland) grew into a town, and the
castle gave it its name, ‘s-Gravenhage. The area is exceptionally cycle-friendly
and that makes a visit by bicycle something special. You cycle along the
many cycle paths, straight through the city whilst left and right you can
admire the government buildings, museums and stately facades of the mansions.
The town ends abruptly on the beach of Scheveningen with its charming boulevard
and fishing port. The Hague has many attractions such as “Panorama Mesdag”,
a painting of enormous measurements, 14 meters high and a
circumference of
120 meters.
Or Madurodam, where you
can follow the development of Holland from the miniature construction pieces.
At the end of the day you cycle back to the Elodie and we sail further to
the university town of Leiden.
Leiden – Haarlem
Friday– 35 km (22
miles)
Today we cycle through dunes,
polders and bulb fields to Haarlem. The “keukenhof” is in bloom until the
end of May. We pay a visit to this flower show. Cycling through the dunes
you smell the sea. For some of us, there is an irresistible urge to look
out over this vast expanse of water with the murmur of the waves breaking
on the shore. We give in to this. Just before Haarlem there is the old steam
pumping-station Cruquis. A museum has been established here, from which
you can in very short time get an insight into an astounding example of
Dutch water management. Arriving in Haarlem, we will pay an after-dinner
visit to the Hans Brinker monument in Spaarndam
the boy who saved Holland from a big flood.
In Haarlem we spend the night in front of the facades of the old Dutch mansions.
Haarlem – Amsterdam
Saturday– 42 km (26
miles)
Today
you can choose between a bike tour from Haarlem to Amsterdam or stay on
the boat and spend the day in Ämsterdam. After the bikers take the boat
will sail straight to Amsterdam (e.t.a. 12.00)
Amsterdam is certainly well worth
to spend some more time because of its many possibilities: a boat tour around the canals,
the Van Gogh museum, and the Rijks museum; or just savor the atmosphere.
For dinner you can pick one of
the many nice restaurants in the centre of town.
The cyclists will cross
the North Sea Canal by ferry as the head for Zaandam and the
Zaansche Schans. This little village with its houses and windmills from
the 17th and 18th century give you a good impression
of life in those days. On the way to Amsterdam we cycle past the cottage
of Czar Peter. The Russian Czar lived here during his Dutch shipbuilding
lessons.We cycle through the “Twiske” nature reserve to Amsterdam-North.
When we reach the river IJ, we take the ferry and are almost “home”. The
Elodie is lying moored in the Eastern Dock.
Sunday
We take leave of you after
breakfast.
