bike tour holland tulips

How to experience Holland's tulip fields by bike

Mar 21, 2024 • 8 min read

Holland’s ultra-flat terrain boasts tulips as far as the eye can see in April © Pakin Songmor / Getty Images

Brian Healy on the best way to see the splendor of Holland’s tulips: on two wheels.

How could I say no to tulips?

My mother Joyce – an avid cyclist, gardener and aficionado of Dutch culture – had for years dreamed of a jaunt through the fields of South Holland ’s Bollenstreek (“bulb region”) in April, when the entire country is in bloom. 

We put together an independent itinerary to see the best of this compact region by bike. Four days, two nights each in two cities, à la carte rentals by the day. Lunches at villages along the way, with plenty of snacks in our backpacks for on-the-go refueling. And – most of all – lots and lots of biking, perhaps 20 miles per day. While my mother and I both stay relatively fit, we’re not intense athletes – yet neither of us was worried about covering some distance on Holland’s ultra-flat terrain.

I set off expecting an idyllic yet somewhat kitschy tour of tourist-friendly Holland, that storybook place filled with windmills and pigtailed maidens in wooden shoes. What I got was a surprisingly athletic few days of pedaling, a priceless bonding experience and the mind-clearing exhilaration that comes from extended time on a bicycle.

Oh, and did I mention the tulips? I saw a lot of those, too.

Tulip training

After testing our cycling chops during a few days on the streets of Amsterdam , we headed south on the 45-minute Intercity train ride (€12) to tulip country. From the windows of our double-decker carriage, we got a tantalizing glimpse of fields with rows of bright pink, orange, red and white forming almost kaleidoscopic patterns as the train zoomed by.

Our first destination: Leiden , a truly delightful city that has all the 17th-century buildings, glittering canals and atmospheric charm of the capital, without the throngs. (That is, if you don’t count the thousands of local university students who materialize for alfresco happy hour each night.) Without reserving ahead of time, we easily rented heavy bikes for two days by walking into a local cycling shop, then pedaled them around the small city to explore, run errands and do our best to pass for Dutch. As we continually pulled over to check Google Maps on our phones, we did not succeed.

A note about our kit: though my mother (who’s 30 years older than I am) takes her cycling much more seriously than I do, she left her high-tech gear at home. We stuck with civilian clothes and three-speed rentals for our trip, opting for solidity and style over sleekness. One arguably reckless way we tried to fit in? By forgoing helmets, which I didn’t see a single cyclist wearing our entire time in Holland.

Bulbs shining bright

The next morning, we set out from Leiden toward Lisse, 10 miles away, where we had tickets to see the famous Keukenhof Gardens . On dedicated, fully separated bike paths, we passed parks and suburban residential areas as we left town, before coming to a series of industrial warehouses and freeway onramps. This is tulip country? I thought, with trepidation.

And then I smelled something glorious.

Past a football-field-sized shed, I saw an expanse of yellow and gold, preceded by an intoxicating fragrance arriving on the wind: jonquils, probably hundreds of thousands of them. I pedaled faster to get closer, before dismounting to breathe in the aroma and watch the blooms bounce in the breeze. (I also noticed a slight burn in my thigh muscles – talk about a multisensory experience...) Beyond, further stretches of magenta, scarlet and cream unfolded in the distance.

As we pedaled onward, we pulled over every so often to stop in fields, walking between the raised linear beds of tulips, admiring how the tidy color-blocked strips of flowers formed harmonious patterns both close-up and from afar. (As the trip unfolded, it turned out I had a much bigger appetite for these stops than my mother. She indulged me nonetheless. Love you, mom.)

This was tulip country.

Off to Keukenhof

We had to lock our bikes at the farthest end of the Keukenhof parking lot, most visitors preferring faster travel there in cars and tour buses. When we got to the entrance of this painstakingly landscaped park, a floral fantasyland awaited. (We had reserved our timed tickets – €19.50 each – months in advance, as the gardens, a Dutch national treasure, are only open for a few short weeks each year.)

Keukenhof is a showcase for Holland’s tulip industry, an agricultural powerhouse. Here, the growers display some seven million bulbs of over 800 varieties of tulips, including spectacular specimens with multicolored blossoms and delicate fringed edges – as well as the alluring “Queen of the Night.” This dark-indigo beauty is perhaps the closest breeders have gotten toward a truly black tulip, an obsession for centuries.

Having seen the stars up close, we wanted to zoom back out a bit. So we fled the crowds and returned to the country roads and between-field paths (all paved) that led through and around the Bollenstreek, where it’s said the proximity of the sea and slightly sandy soil make for the best tulip-growing conditions in the world. To my surprise, many fields had tulips that had begun to shed their petals, producing beguiling flurries of what looked like confetti. I later learned that the Bollenstreek’s crops are grown not to be cut by their stems, but to be harvested for their bulbs, which are then exported around the world. Those tulips that are pushing up in your window box right about now? They might very well have originated here.

Since many fields in the area lay fallow, and since each farm peaked at a different moment over a six-week period, we relied heavily on the indispensable Flower Map , which updates its notation of fields currently in bloom daily. Mapping out a path from one cluster of blossoms to the next – sometimes backtracking, always looking side to side as we tootled along – gave our days the feel of a real-time scavenger hunt, which only heightened the excitement.

The biggest pleasure of our tour came during these in-between moments, where we didn’t care how we got from point A to point B. Riding alongside canals past fastidiously neat rows of plantings (these farmers are Dutch, after all) provided a dazzlingly colored example of linear perspective. Even when the weather turned gusty and we strained our legs to keep up our pace, we felt joy, as the wind blew across our helmet-less heads and rays of sun broke through the fast-moving clouds. We exchanged smiles with passing cyclists, who were of all skill levels and ages.

Tulip mania is for everyone, it seems.

Flowers on parade

The second-biggest pleasure might have been the Bloemencorso (Flower Parade), an annual extravaganza of grower-produced floats that makes its way across the length of the Bollenstreek over the course of one long afternoon – an event my mother had heard from friends was not to be missed. So after several more hours of exploring the fields (eager not to miss a minute of the spectacle, she had to gently guide me away from one photo op too many), we planted ourselves in tiny Hillegom to watch the proceedings. Awaiting the arrival of the parade, revelers thronged the village’s main drag, sipping beers and moving their bodies (sometimes, um, shakily) to ear-splitting pop tunes.

After police motorcycles cleared a path, the floats started rolling past: we saw horses made from purple hyacinth petals, an octopus of gold and burgundy patches, a dragon sprouting long-stemmed tulips from its sinewy back and many more original creations. In between them sashayed uniformed marching bands and countless volunteers in neon wigs and floral headdresses. People take this event seriously here.

After our two nights in Leiden, we had moved our base to the charming city of Haarlem  (25 minutes north by train), where we spent two nights. The city is the terminus of the Bloemencorso, which made it easy for us to make a closer inspection of the floats, now parked throughout the town’s streets. It was also a delight to inspect the families marveling at the cartoon-like floral sculptures, and relive the magic of the parade through the children’s reactions.

Having pedaled 75 miles over four days and admired more tulips than most see in a lifetime, I gave my mom a congratulatory hug. She told me the trip had easily exceeded her expectations. I replied by suggesting we start recuperating by sitting down for a very long lunch.

From such moments, happy memories grow.

How to make it happen

Trains depart frequently from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Leiden (20 minutes) and Haarlem (30 minutes, via Amsterdam Centraal). We rented bikes in central Leiden at Budget Bike (€15 each per day), then at Rent a Bike Haarlem , conveniently close to the train station (€22 per day). During peak periods such as spring, demand can run high, so I’d recommend reserving ahead of time or getting as early a start as possible.

This article was first published April 2023 and updated March 2024

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• Cycling Regions
• What to expect
• About Holland
• Cycling Regions ›
• Tulip fields

Cycling in Tulip fields

The best way to experience the Dutch tulips, daffodils, hyacints and other flowers in bloom is during a bike tour! The flowering season in Holland lasts 5 to 6 weeks (April-May).

• The huge Keukenhof Garden flower exhibition (from mid March till mid May) showcases hundreds of glorious outdoor and indoor gardens, creating a majestic and colorful atmosphere.
• Another highlight is the annual flower parade. On the third or last Saturday in April, a procession of about twenty floats, including more than thirty vehicles that are completely covered with flowers and lavishly decorated, show off their eye-catching and unique ‘green’ charm over a 40 km/25 mi route from Noordwijk to Haarlem.

All Tulip Tours

Or call us: 1-800-435-6192.

Country of Tulips

From: $2,240 USD

Imagine Yourself…

• Gliding through idyllic landscapes of farmland and vibrant tulip fields with the guidance of a local tulip historian
• Learning how Delft blue pottery is made at the workshop “Delftse Pauw”
• Following the footsteps of Rembrandt through gorgeous Leiden
• Winding through woods to pass by King Willem Alexander’s private mansion
• Sampling an array of the best Dutch cooking with expertly prepared three and four course meals
• Admiring the Netherland’s finest garden in bloom, the world-famous Keukenhof

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - noordwijk warmup - 5-10 miles (8-16 km).

We’ll meet at 11 a.m. in the arrival hall of the central station in Leiden, a short train ride from Amsterdam. After lunch and a brief orientation meeting we’ll stroll through Leiden’s beautiful city center. We’ll “follow in the footsteps of Rembrandt” and visit St. Peters Church, where the American forefathers (The Pilgrims) prayed, before they departed to Delftshaven where they sailed on to Plymouth in Massachusetts. In the late afternoon we’ll transfer to our charming, four-star hotel in Noordwijkerhout, close to Holland’s famous tulip fields and bordering beautiful dunes. After fitting your bike, we’ll take an optional warm-up ride through the glorious tulip fields just inland from our hotel near the sand dunes. Tonight you’ll hear about the program for the next day and the routine for the rest of the week while enjoying your first scrumptious Dutch dinner in our hotel restaurant.

DAY 2 – Noordwijk – Keukenhof – Noordwijk – 25 miles (41 km)

In the morning we’ll beat the crowds as we make an early visit to the Keukenhof, the world’s most spectacular flower garden with over 6 million bulbs, fantastically arranged amid fascinating outdoor sculptures, ponds, and fountains. Originally this was the 15th century kitchen garden of the Countess Jacoba van Beieren. You’ll certainly want to photograph this sensational display of color. After our Keukenhof visit, we’ll cycle north to Vogelenzang, stopping in one of the many tulip fields to take a group photo. After lunch, Herman van Amsterdam, a historian, writer, tulip expert, and local resident for over 30 years, will join us. He’ll bike with us for the afternoon, sharing the history of the tulip fields and the process of planting and harvesting bulbs. He’ll be able to answer many of the questions you might have about the local tulip industry. We’ll travel through the prosperous villages here, where we’ll admire private gardens in bloom and, of course, more tulip fields! Dinner is in our Hotel Restaurant. 

DAY 3 – Noordwijk – The Hague – Delft – 23 miles (37 km)

We’ll say goodbye to the tulip fields and depart Noordwijk, taking a bike path through more of Holland’s most lovely sand dunes (rolling hills!). We’ll pass through Katwijk, a lovely former fishing village, and continue on to the Wassenaarse Slag. Here we’ll leave the dunes and cycle past the elegant estates of Wassenaar. We’ll follow a winding bike path through lovely woods and finally arrive in front of King Willem Alexander’s private mansion. From here, we’ll bike on to the center of the Hague, where we’ll admire many handsome buildings of the Dutch Government and the official palace of the king. We’ll have a hearty Dutch pancake lunch before biking the twelve-kilometer distance from the Hague to Delft, where we’ll be staying right in the center of town. Our dinner tonight will be the famous Indonesian “rijstafel” which features a large assortment of dishes presented on warming plates right on our table. It’s a true feast and everyone always enjoys this night! After dinner we’ll go on a short orientation tour of Delft so you can imagine what you’d like to do on your own the following morning.

DAY 4 – Delft Roundtrip – 20 miles (optional ride) (32 km)

In the morning we take a canal boat with local Guide. After the tour the skipper will drop us at the Royal Blue Delft. A Delft pottery factory where the world-renowned “Delft Blue” china is created. In the afternoon you’ll be free to visit the historic center of Delft by foot. You might like to visit the New Church (completed in 1380) where William of Orange is buried, or climb the steps to the bell tower where you’ll have a wonderful view over the red tiled roofs of Delft. You can also browse the town’s numerous shops and boutiques. For lunch, if you’re brave enough, you could try the famous “new herring” at a six-hundred-year-old fish stand near the magnificent town hall. Or you could join us for an optional bike ride through charming Dutch countryside to Schipluiden, a quaint little village southwest of Delft, and then continue on to the Nieuwe Waterweg. This is the major connection between Rotterdam, the world’s number one harbor, and the North Sea. From the terrace of a Waterweg restaurant you’ll have a marvelous view on a parade of barges, riverboats, and huge ocean cargo ships. Dinner will be on your own tonight in one of Delft’s many fine restaurants.

DAY 5 – Delft – Noorden – 36 miles (58 km)

Our longest biking day will take us through the Westland, a fertile area full of greenhouses where the delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that Holland is famous for are grown. We’ll continue through this abundant green area of Holland along the tiny River Rotte, which has recently become a nature and wildlife reservation. On our way we’ll cruise by classic windmills and many cows, sheep, and lambs grazing peacefully. Later we’ll cycle through the “mecca of the shrub growing industry” and arrive in our private hotel, with a well-known gourmet restaurant, beautifully situated on an idyllic lake in Noorden.

DAY 6 – Noorden Round Trip – 28 miles (45 km)

Today we’ll follow the bucolic Jaagpad route through the surroundings of Noorden that the Dutch call the “Green Heart of Holland” and enjoy some of the best biking in the Netherlands. We’ll follow a curvy, picturesque peat river, the Meije, a photographer’s paradise with small farms and wildflower meadows all along its banks. We’ll be biking along typical Dutch canals, passing by large polders and beautiful lakes. Dutch farmers, who dug the peat to burn as fuel centuries ago, artificially created these lakes. We’ll stop for lunch and toast your Dutch biking accomplishments with a good Heineken or, we have to admit, a very superb Belgian Palm Beer! If you don’t need the time to pack for your trip home, you might rent a quiet electro boat this afternoon and visit the conservation area on the other side of the lake, which is also a bird and wildflower preserve, unique in all of Holland. Our farewell dinner will be in the candlelit restaurant of our hotel, where the food is lovingly prepared and beautifully presented especially for this occasion.

DAY 7 – Saturday: Tour Ends

We will arrange multiple transfers to Schiphol Airport for your flight home or the next leg of your European vacation. We recommend getting a flight that leaves after 11 a.m., however, if you need to schedule an earlier flight that’s okay and we will arrange an appropriate transfer for you.

Dates & Prices

Green = Open | Yellow = Limited | Red = Full

Prices are per person in US Dollars – inclusive bike rental

What's included

• 6 nights’ lodging in three- and four-star hotels with private facilities
• Visit the Keukenhof Gardens
• 5 dinners, 5 lunches, coffee breaks, and daily breakfast
• 24-speed bicycle
• Entrance to the Keukenhof
• 2-hour bike ride with Tulip Expert
• Outstanding, personalized leadership from VGT’s owner & local Dutch guide
• Support van
• Daily route directions
• Baggage handling
• All taxes and gratuities for the hotel and restaurant portions of the tour

24-speed hybrid Trek bikes are included on the tour. Bicycles come equipped with: grip shifters, handlebar bag, bell, cage, and water bottle. We have everything you’ll need in the van to make your biking experience more comfortable, including toe cages (no clips for clip in shoes), rear view mirrors, and rear panniers. It’s also possible to replace our pedals with your own “clip in” pedals. Helmets are not included so  please bring a helmet!  We do have a few helmets available for rent for $20 for the week. If you wish to rent one, please let us know ahead of time.

To rent an e-bike is also possible for $150. We advise you only to rent an electric bike if you have first tried one at home. They’re heavier than regular bikes and therefore can be difficult to maneuver.

Included in the tour price you’ll receive daily buffet breakfast, 5 lunches, coffee breaks and 5 dinners. For the buffet breakfasts there’s an assortment of cold meats and cheeses, eggs, bread, jams, cereal, yogurt, fruit, coffee, and tea. For lunches we’ll stop together at restaurants that feature local ingredients and typical Dutch menus. Since we’re a group of up to 16 people (with guides), there will generally be a limited menu of 4-6 options. We hand pick the choices and people have always found something they’re happy with. On Wednesday you’ll have a free morning and afternoon, so you can find lunch at one of the many restaurants in Delft. For our coffee breaks, you’ll have your choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water, juice, or soda. If you need an extra pick-me-up you can always order some famous Dutch apple pie! Dinners are three- or four-courses with either a set menu or a choice of two options. The first night in Delft we eat Indonesian “rijstafel,” which is a large assortment of dishes. On this night dessert is not included. On one night (in Delft), dinner will be on your own, and you can choose one of many delicious restaurant options within easy walking distance from our hotel. We can accommodate many types of dietary restrictions including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy free. Please indicate these requests at the time of booking.

Not included

• Gratuities for guides (optional)
• Alcoholic and bar beverages at dinner
• Trip cancellation insurance

Accommodations

The accommodations listed below are examples of those usually used on the tour. Depending on availability, you may be booked in a different accommodation of equal quality.

Villa de Duinen – Noordwijk

• The Netherlands
• 4-Star Hotel
• Walking distance to town and beach
• Excellent restaurant

Hotel de Witte Raaf – Noordwijk

• Comfortable rooms
• Cozy restaurant
• Excellent dinners

Hotel Arsenaal – Delft

• Right in city center
• Luxury rooms
• Beautiful designed lounge / restaurant

Hotel Johannes Vermeer – Delft

• Typical Dutch designed rooms
• Excellent breakfast

Hotel de Watergeus – Noorden

• Located right on lake
• Peaceful countryside

This tour was a marvelous blend of historical and contemporary activities. We were impressed with Holland’s commitment to cycling and how accommodating the people are to bikes. A large variety of attractions and environments are available on reasonably distanced bike rides. Each day brought new sites and experiences, including Holland’s iconic windmills. Unexpected private tours were an added plus. The tulip fields are absolutely spectacular and there is nothing to compare to riding your bike next to herds of sheep bleating to each other. We thoroughly enjoyed the entre trip and highly recommend it. 

Marian and Scott Harmount, April 2023

Loved it. Had a blast the entire week. Would 100% book another tour with y’all 

Jeannette Warren, April 2023

Excellent! Loved riding the dunes, around tulip fields and biking with Herman (Tulip Ambassador). We did many different kinds of things on this tour (boat ride Delft,  Indonesian food, The Hague guided walking tour and the Keukenhof Gardens, which we like.  The video/photo’s at the end were a very nice surprise. 

Christine and Kate Barnicki, April 2023

Pam Carmona

Doug Taylor

Anne Thompson

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Netherlands Tulips Bike & Barge

Trip Overview

Join us for the jaw-dropping show of tulips and other spring flowers on our Netherlands Tulips Bike & Barge. Unpack once … and your hotel meets up with you at the end of each day’s explorations. What could be easier? This is a fully supported bike trip with leaders and a van to provide options, snacks and repairs as needed. Visit the world-famous flower gardens at Keukenhof, see the most luxurious and historic castle in the Netherlands, and stroll quaint villages and towns along the way. Plus, you start and end in glorious Amsterdam — filled with museums, canals and nightlife. Spin along and enjoy some of the most amazing bike paths anywhere. Or, if you like, take a break for a day and cruise on the comfortable barge (which has only 12 guest rooms). This is truly flexible travel in a country rich in history … and one of the most colorful and stunning landscape experiences you can imagine! (Note for the 2025 tours: On the April 3 departure, you travel aboard the barge Iris, and on the April 18 departure, you travel aboard the Lena Maria.)

From start to finish, check out the route.

Dates & pricing, prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. a deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. for weekend tours, the deposit is $300., what’s included.

7 nights’ lodging on the barge (2 beds per cabin), 7 breakfasts, 6 self-packed lunches, 5 dinners, 1 glass of wine or beer with each included dinner (2 dinners on your own), coffee & tea, snacks. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare and tips for crew & leaders are not included.

Where you stay along the way.

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Bike and Barge Holland: Tulips, Towns and Typical Dutch!

Our popular Bike and Boat Tulip Tour!

Holland boat and bike tour.

Early April is glorious in Holland — A perfect bicycle tour to see the flower fields of the renowned Keukenhof, and acres of blossoming trees adorning Holland's "Green Heart". We'll harbor in the famous cities of Haarlem, Leiden, beautiful Delft, bustling Rotterdam and cheese town of Gouda. Along the way we'll enjoy Keukenhof, an organic cheese farm, castles, Delft Pottery, a working windmill, and more- all included in your trip price!

• Trip Itinerary
• What's Included
• Additional Info
• Photo Gallery

Day 1: Haarlem and the Holland Dunes (20 miles)

Our trip starts Saturday right before noon when we board our barge/hotel, settle into our cabins, and get our bikes fitted and ready to go. Soon thereafter we head off sailing out of Amsterdam by way of the North Sea Canal.

We exit our ship at the village of Spaarndam- famous for the story of Hans Brinker. Just a few miles away we visit the Molen De Zaandhaas to see a true working windmill in action. A little more pedaling and we reach the 14th century ruins of the fascinating 1282 Brederode castle.

Time permitting we will make a short visit, then skirt the Kennermerland National Park through rolling dunes and forests into historic Haarlem. After a special Welcome Dinner, we'll spend the evening sightseeing Haarlem's beautiful Market Square and famous Hofjes (courtyards).

Day 2: Keukenhof and evening in Leiden (25 miles)

We depart our boat quickly after breakfast as today is a full day of sightseeing and cycling for us. Our destination in the morning is the famous Keukenhof - the world's largest flower garden. On our way there we enjoy fields of blooms.

We start by meandering the lovely forested bike paths of Bennebroek town then only a turn later we are struck by fields of color and fragrance until we reach the town of Lisse. We plan on several hours to browse the Keukenhof's magnificent acreage and enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds.

A lovely cycle with a stop at medieval castle Teylingen and we reach the city of Leiden. Leiden is an unusually beautiful university city, famous for being not only the birthplace of Rembrandt but Clusius, who brought the first Dutch tulips into flower.

Day 3: Delft (20 miles)

We leave Leiden heading south to Lidia and Teo's Farm- The Vierhuizen. The Van Leuwens run a nine generation milk farm- now prized for their organic Gouda cheese. We'll take a tour, learn how cheese is made and buy things to take home from their lovely shop.

Beautiful green nature areas take us to Delft. Dating back to 1075, Delft is known as the birthplace of Golden Age artist Johannes Vermeer and the fine hand-crafting of Delftware porcelains. We will visit the Royal Blue Delft Factory to see firsthand the artwork and production of fine porcelain in the world-famous Delft tradition.

After dinner, we will also enjoy a town walk of the picturesque city center with its romantic tree-lined canals and countless historic monuments.

Day 4: Rotterdam (15 miles)

A trip to the south of Netherlands is not complete without a visit to the largest port in the world. Since its devastation in WWII, Rotterdam has become a center for modern architecture and showcase of city urban development.

Then there is the impressive Old Harbor and Delfshaven- oasis of history and culture within the modern city- and point from which the Pilgrim Fathers left for America in 1620. Being Tuesday, we can also partake of the city's exciting open-air market!

Day 5: Gouda (22 miles)

By waterbus we leave Rotterdam early to arrive to Kinderdijk before the tourists. Honored as a World Heritage Treasure by UNESCO in 1997, 19 sturdy mills were built in 1740 and preserved to this day- a concentration of this number found nowhere else in the world.

We'll be cycling through the Alblassarwaard- a pastoral landscape dotted by small towns and windmills. Time permitting we hope to see Schoonhoven - founded in 1280 and called Silvertown because of its famous past in Silversmithing. From here it's only a few miles along a quiet river into Gouda.

We'll head for the historic center and a tour of 123-metre long imposing St. Janskerk (St. John’s Church) with its world-famous stained-glass windows.

Day 6: Gouda Cheese Market -Kudelstaart (25 miles)

We will linger a bit this morning for the Thursday morning GOUDA CHEESE MARKET -a spectacular and historic scene with lively cheese trading and a market square full of assorted vendors showing their foods and trades.

We take leave of Gouda into the Goudse Hout (woods)- a recreational area surrounded by a huge lake that we cycle across like we're floating on the water while gazing upon a beautifully preserved grassland landscape.

Day 7: Flower Auction- Amsterdam (23 miles)

We leave our boat very early and cycle a few miles to get first peak at the workings of the famous Flower Auction of Aalsmeer - largest in the world. We will witness the exciting process in which millions of flowers and plants are bought and sold to be shipped to countries all over the world.

Heading to Amsterdam, we enjoy it's Amsterdamse Bos (forest) at the southern edge of the city. Created in 1937 from unused wetlands, the Bos is now a favorite place for cycling and watersports. We'll stop at Meer Zicht restaurant where you are our guest to popular Dutch pancakes- Pannekoeken.

Tonight we celebrate our final evening together with a special Farewell Dinner!

Day 8: Goodbye to the Netherlands

Saturday morning we will have breakfast, say our goodbyes to cycling friends and the wonderful hospitality of our captain and crew. We disembark at 9 a.m. for home.

• 7 nights on lovely Flora boat-hotel with lower beds and private bath
• Hearty breakfasts, 6 packed lunches and 6 wonderful dinners
• Entrance to Keukenhof Flower Gardens, working mill, cheese farm visit, Delft Pottery, church visit, Flower Auction, Pannekoek lunch, other surprise excursions along our route
• Dutch favorites like Apple cake with coffee, famous Stroop Waffles of Gouda,
• Guided historic walks
• Bike rental

Trip Difficulty

The Netherlands terrain is mostly flat and we can experience some wind and rain which are factors that impact cycling. We recommend this trip for an active person and recreational cyclist who can enjoy a leisurely 25 mile/day tour averaging 10-m.p.h. on easy/flat terrain.

Leisurely for us means we are never rushing and like to "smell the roses" enjoying the sites along the way. We take advantage of the Netherlands excellent bicycle infrastructure and enjoy cycling, whenever possible, on dedicated cycle paths and separate on-road bike lanes.

We are so excited in 2023 to be joined by Tamara Venendaal! Tamara will add her enthusiasm and knowledge to our already fun adventure.

We do not use the assistance of a support vehicle on our tours. Our very experienced guides use a proven system of guiding that has proven effective for enjoyment and safety of our guests. You are always welcome to take a break from cycling and enjoy time onboard sailing to the next destination— quite a delightful experience!

Please note that daily mileages indicated on the Itinerary page are averaged as closely as possible. Due to unforeseen circumstances such as docking changes, weather, road and nautical factors, we reserve the right to change routes in view of your safety.

Transportation

Your trip starts in Amsterdam which is serviced by Schiphol Airport, located just a few miles from the city center where our boat is docked. There is both excellent public transportation and reasonably priced shuttle service available from the airport to the city.

As with all European trips, we advise our cyclists to arrive a few days early to acclimate to the time change, get acquainted with the new culture and sightsee beautiful Amsterdam.

Additional Information

We confirm your booking via email with a detailed Welcome Letter for your tour. In this letter you will find lots of pre-trip planning information like how to get to the trip start, pre-trip lodging in Amsterdam, weather, cycling in Holland, how and what to pack, international travel hints, tips on booking airfare, etc.

Suzie always asks that you contact her with questions or for help she can give you with your travel plans. Please visit our Trip Info page for more information!

We are delighted to host our tour on the Hotel Boat Flora. The ship features comfy cabins with private bath, a lovely eating salon and lounging area, and outside deck to enjoy a drink and views of the water.

Please E-mail Suzie to inquire about openings and with any questions about this tour. We love to hear from you!

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Home / Bike Tours / EASY BIKE AND BARGE IRIS Tour Tulips in Holland

EASY BIKE AND BARGE IRIS Tour Tulips in Holland

• Visit the Keukenhof  and the historic Hortus Bulborum  
• Most beautiful Castle of the Netherlands and Cheesefarm visit  
• Spend the night docked a few meters away from the historic windmills at Zaanse Schans
• Have a whole afternoon to spend in Amsterdam on the last day of cycling

Starting from € 1890

Accommodations

• Included & optional

BIKE AND BARGE

• Easy biking

Tulips = Springtime. Definitely! Holland, in its full glory, shows off at the Keukenhof, treasuring its tulip history in the Hortus Bulborum. Flaunting fields full of tulips as far as you can see. And in between, we pass little villages and charming cities like Gouda, Leiden, Haarlem and Alkmaar. Yes, Gouda! Yes, say Cheeeeeese!

Days are packed with great bike rides, loads of windmills, a castle, cheese, tulips, dunes, beach, sea, waterways, and lovely bike paths. FLAT, of course, we are in Holland. And all this beauty can be topped off by joining the barge IRIS in the afternoon, having a local beer and enjoying the gourmet dinners at night. So don’t hold your horses: there will not be a better way of visiting this beauty.

As we start and finish in Amsterdam, you can take some extra nights there, in a hotel, and visit the world famous museums like the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum (with Rembrandts’ Night watch), the Anne Frank House, and enjoy the abundance of terraces and boutique style cafe’s. Flea Market, Flower Market, Noorder Markt, Albert Kuip Markt. Have your pick! Oh yes, let’s mention the “grachten” (the canals). Many canal-tours to choose from, one taking you from museum to museum.

Day-to-day program

Amsterdam to utrecht, castle de haar, oudewater and gouda, from gouda through the green heart to leiden, departures & pricing, check our calendar for all tours and departure dates.

The IRIS is welcoming you at around 1 pm. You meet your fellow travellers, guides and crew while we start sailing toward the Amsterdam Rhine Canal.

The afternoon will mainly be filled with introductions and talks from the guides about cycling!

There will be a short 10k test ride today. Our docking for the night will be in Utrecht.

Our day starts with a ride to the most beautifully built castle in the Netherlands. There are local guides to welcome you to the castle. After this visit, we will cycle to Oudewater, a medieval town with a Heksenwaag: a place to determine whether a woman could be a witch by measuring her weight! Our goal for today is Gouda. Yes, the one that gave the cheese the name. For sure, the most exported kind of cheese the Netherland produces. So yes, you will find many cheese shops here, and also stroopwafels. Also known as a product from this town: Goudse Stroopwafels. Taste one!

The picture shows the Townhall of Gouda

Today is a great ride through the agricultural green heart of Holland. Although the bigger cities are pretty close, this part remains protected and serves as a great green area with grazing cows and ducks and willow trees. Amidst this beauty, we will visit a cheese farm and get to know everything about cheese making. Of course, you can taste it as well. There is a little shop as well, so you can already shop for sealed cheese to take home.

Keukenhof Day!

It needs no further introduction: today it’s the Keukenhof visit.

How about 7 million flowering tulips in a traditional and modern landscape. Enjoy the tulips, hyacinths, narcissus…

These gardens are visited by millions of guests every year. So be prepared to hear every foreign language you can imagine.

We also will cycle through a landscape of tulip fields and end in the heart of Haarlem (yes, again: Harlem was named after this town).

Haarlem is a lovely city and is often called little Amsterdam. The guide will show you around

Beach, Hortus Bulborum and Alkmaar

From Haarlem, we will cycle through the nature reserve area behind the dunes of the North Sea. Great cycling paths! We will have lunch at the beach, and if you dare you can go for a swim or just put your toe in the water. We follow the paths and ride a bit more inland to our very precious and special gem:  the private gardens Hortus Bulborum. A historical garden is preservating the old varieties of tulips. Take a tour with the local volunteers who are, and they should be, very proud of their unique work. Have a cup of tea or coffee at their local shop and enjoy this hidden garden.

Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans

The first stop of the day is the windmill in the Schermer. An area laid dry by using windmills. Learn all about this at this preserved windmill. The visit is included, of course.

Our lunch stop will be in De Rijp, another lovely little village, on our way to the Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum that welcomes many tourists during the daytime. You can enjoy this, and even better, walk through it after all tourists have left! It is a magical place, so tranquil at that time.

Back to Amsterdam

We can cut it short or have a longer ride, we will tell you about the options for the day. The short option will arrive in Amsterdam at lunchtime, and you can then spend the afternoon on your own!

Book tickets for the museum if that is on your bucket list!

Amsterdam: end of our tour

After breakfast it is time to say:

“Tot ziens!”      ” Goodbye”

Premium Barge IRIS has been sailing as a passenger barge since 2006. On the waterways of Holland, Belgium, Germany and France. The best way to do a multi-day bike tour. Unpacking only once!

Our IRIS is well known to serve great dinners. Our breakfast offers a lot of choices and you can pack your daily lunch.

We offer a crew of 4, 2 guides if more than 18 guests and we take max 24 guests.

Our cabins are small but you will find a lot of space to unpack. Total renovation took place in 2020. Beds are separated (80×200 cm) or can be put together. You have your own private facilities (sink, toilet, shower). Your window will give you a different view every day. The rooms are climate-controlled. The bathroom has a towel dryer which can serve as a room heater as well. We provide a hairdryer, shower gel and shampoo. Towels are changed on demand.

some more pics to show the cabin interiour

beds put together

our modern bathroom

• Seven nights onboard
• Bed linen and towels
• 6 x dinner on board
• 6 x packed lunches for bike trips
• Coffee and tea on board 24/7
• Tour guide (from 18 guests, 2 guides)
• Cabins cleaned daily
• Climate-controlled cabins
• Helmets, panniers and waterbottle
• Entrance of Castle de Haar, Cheese Farm, Keukenhof, Hortus Bulborum

Not included:

• Bike rental € 120,- per bike (2025)
• E-bike on availability, € 250,– (2025)
• Entrance fees for museums and monuments other than those mentioned, on your own
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Miscellaneous beverages and expenses on excursions.
• Gratuities for Staff and Guides

E-bikes on request & availability € 250,– per bike (2025)

Tulip Festival Amsterdam

Enjoy the tulips in Holland

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Cycle routes along the tulip fields around Keukenhof in Holland

Cycling is the ideal way to enjoy the tulip fields around the Keukenhof gardens in the Holland. It is also the best way to easily travel to the tulip farm Tulperij or flower attraction like Tulip Experience Amsterdam and The Tulip Barn . There are several bicycle routes that allow you to see the most beautiful flower fields in the vicinity of Amsterdam. If you want to discover the tulip fields by bike, it is good to think beforehand about what kind of bike route suits you best and what you want to see along the way. If you want to visit a flower attraction, book your visit in advance.

Blue route | 5 kilometers

Purple route | 10 kilometers, green route | 15 kilometers, red route | 25 kilometers, tulip route | 15 kilometers, amsterdam flower region cycle route | 35 km, guided bike tour around keukenhof tulip fields.

There are different types of cycle routes with different distances and places of interest to cycle along. The tulip fields are about 35 kilometers away from the center of Amsterdam so the cycling routes start at Keukenhof Gardens near the tulip fields (check our travel tips to Keukenhof) . If you don’t have your own bike then you can easily rent a bike near Keukenhof .

Keukenhof cycle routes

The official Keukenhof cycle routes are very populair with visitors of Keukenhof Gardens. The routes are easy to follow due to the clear signage and along the route you can see the most beautiful flower fields around Keukenhof Gardens. There are four signed routes and each Keukenhof cycle route has its own color.

Don’t you want to cycle but walk? The Keukenhof routes can also be hiked.

The blue Keukenhof cycle route is only 5 kilometers long and perfect for people who can’t cycle well yet or have little time. During the bike route you can pass Keukenhof Castle and the flower fields overlooking the famous Keukenhof windmill. If that doesn’t make for some nice photos.

The purple Keukenhof cycle route is a varied route of 10 kilometers where you bike along many flower fields but you can also visit a real tulip farm . You can also cycle through the center of the flower village of Lisse and you can go to Museum The Black Tulip . A must is also to visit the St. Agathakerk . This cathedral of the Bollenstreek is free to visit during the day.

The green Keukenhof cycle route with 15 kilometers is suitable for the more experienced cyclist. This route passes many different flower fields and Keukenhof Castle . You will also pass the Tulip Experience Amsterdam and the Tulip Barn .

The longest Keukenhof bike route is the red route. With 25 kilometers this route is for the advanced cyclist. You will of course pass the beautiful flower fields of the blue and green route, but as an extra you will discover the unique dune area and the beautiful wide sandy beach with the red route. You will be amazed by the different landscapes you encounter on this route. And who knows, you might even meet a deer in the dunes. This routes will also pass the Tulip Experience Amsterdam and the Tulip Barn .

You can also combine the blue and the purple route for the perfect tulip route in Holland. You can visit all flower attractions. Check the route description on the Flower Tour website for details information.

The flower region near Amsterdam is called in the Dutch Bollenstreek . The region is of course known for its beautiful tulip fields in spring and the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens , but the Bollenstreek has much more to offer with over 14 kilometers of beach and a vast dune area. The Flower Tour Company , in cooperation with the tourism agency, has developed a varied cycling route. The bike route uses the simple junction system that allows you to cycle from number to number.

With the Amsterdam flower region cycling route you will visit the most beautiful spots of the Bollenstreek. Explore the beach, the dunes and the flower fields and visit the cozy flower villages Lisse and Noordwijkerhout. You will also pass a tulip farm and several beautiful monuments. The cycling route is 35 kilometers long and suitable for advanced cyclists.

This bike route is good to use as a bike route to the Keukenhof Gardens from your hotel in the Bollenstreek. Along the route there are beautiful hotels. For an overview of hotels along this cycle route look at: hotels along the Bollenstreek cycle route »

Do you want to stay informed about the flowering expectation of the flowers? Take a look at our Flower Forecast .

Another option is to join the guided Keukenhof bike tour . In this bike tour, you will cycle together with a local guide along the most beautiful flower fields. You will visit a tulip farm and the guide will tell you more about the region and the cultivation of tulips. The local guide also knows exactly where which flower fields are in bloom.

The bike tour lasts 2.5 hours and costs €45.00 including rental bike. The starting location is Hotel Lowietje just 400 metres from the main entrance of Keukenhof Gardens.

• More about the guided Keukenhof bike tour

Popular links

Are you planning to visit the best (flower) activities in Holland? Make sure to check out the most populair activities:

• Everything you want to know about  Keukenhof Gardens
• Check out our information about the  Flower Parade in Holland
• Our top sightseeing tours for exploring the flower fields
• Buy Keukenhof quality tulip bulbs online and create your own tulip garden
• Check out our hotel tips for visiting Keukenhof and the tulip fields
• Stay informed about the blooming of the flowers in Holland with our free  Flower Forecast
• Want to experience the real thing? Visit a  tulip farm in Holland
• See the best flower events during your visit to Holland? Check it out in our  events calendar
• Our tips for  the most populair tours in Amsterdam  during your stay in Holland
• Get the most out of your visit with our  tips for visiting Amsterdam
• Read more about the Tulip Festival Card

About This Site

Tulip Festival Amsterdam is all about the flower events in Holland . Read our tips for visiting  Keukenhof Gardens , Flower Parade , Flower Farms ,  Amsterdam  and our Flower reports about the growth of the flower fields.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us .

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Home / What to do in Holland? / Cycling in the Bollenstreek / Cycling routes in the Bollenstreek / Tulip route: cycle tour along the tulip fields

Tulip route: cycle tour along the tulip fields

The Tulip Route is a 15-kilometre cycle route along the tulip fields near Keukenhof flower park and is fun for young and old to cycle. Of course you will pass many flower fields, but along the route you can also stop at many attractions, monuments and a tulip farm and show gardens, which can be combined for an ideal day out in the spring .

The Tulip Route can be cycled during the flower season from 21 March to 12 May 2024 .

About the Tulip Route

Cycle route along the tulip fields, when do tulips bloom, hop off your bike, tulip route with children, price tulip route, keukenhof flower park, lisse centre, bij de hertjes garden centre (lisse bike rental), keukenhof guided cycle tour.

Discover everything about the national symbol of the Netherlands, the tulip, during this fun bicycle route of about 15 kilometres. The route is only available during the flowering period of the tulip fields. Cycle the route and celebrate spring!

The Tulip Route takes you along the most beautiful tulip fields around Keukenhof and you will also pass historical locations such as Keukenhof Castle , the Keukenhof wood and ‘t Huys Dever . Also located along the route is Tulip farm De Tulperij where the audio tour gives you free access to the (family) walking route along the tulip fields. The cycle route was developed in cooperation with flowertour.nl .

The cycle route combines two Keukenhof cycle routes and shows you the most beautiful flower fields of the Netherlands. The route is easy to cycle by following the signs (blue and purple route).

The tulip fields only bloom for a few weeks of the year. On average, the flower fields start blooming at the end of March and last until the beginning of May. In the beginning, it is mainly narcissus that bloom, followed by hyacinths and then the tulips. Every week there is a flowering forecast .

During the Tulip Route, you can stop at no fewer than 14 places of interest . Hop off your bike and visit for example Keukenhof or a real tulip bulb farm. For more information about the stop locations, check out the flower tour website .

If you want to combine the tulip route with a flower attraction, please book your visit in advance.

Due to the relatively short distances , the tulip route is ideal for cycling with children. Besides the flower fields, there are many nice stop locations for children.

To make your adventure among the tulips even more fun, you can also rent a parent/child tandem at the bicycle rental location along the Tulip Route.

The Tulip Route is completely free to cycle. You can view and download the route below. Please note! If you want to combine the cycle route with a visit to Keukenhof or one of the other attractions, you can book here .

Route to Tuliproute starting point

The Tulip Route can be started from various points. Below we have indicated the best starting locations.

If you come to Lisse by car, you can start at three locations.

The best place to start the Tulip Route is at Keukenhof flower park. There is a large car park where you can buy a day ticket for just € 10.00. (Reserve your day ticket). ( Reserve your day ticket ) You can also hire bicycles and tandems at Keukenhof Bike Rental .

Would you like to cycle the Tulip Route with your own bike ? Park in the centre of Lisse on the Bondstraat. You can park here for free.

If you park somewhere else in the centre of Lisse, do not park in a blue zone. There you may only park for free for 2 hours.

Would you like to cycle the Tulip Route with a rental bike , tandem or rental scooter ? Then start at De Hertjes on the border of Lisse & Hillegom. Navigate to Veenenburgerlaan 73A in Hillegom. There is plenty of free parking space for customers of the bike rental. You can also rent an electric bicycle here.

Note | It is mandatory to reserve your rental bike in advance . Look here for the possibility.

If you come by public transport, start at Keukenhof Flower Park. From 24 March to 15 May 2022, special Keukenhof buses will be leaving from various NS Stations and bus stops in the area. So you can easily travel from Amsterdam, Haarlem, Schiphol Airport, Leiden, Noordwijk and Katwijk.

Please note: In 2022 it is compulsory to reserve a time slot for the Keukenhof buses .

Would you like to cycle to the start of the Tulip Route? Then use the cycle junction system to get to junction 9 1 in Lisse.

During the opening of Keukenhof, two guided bicycle tours depart daily from Hotel Lowietje in Lisse. For only € 45.00 (rental bike included) you will hear the story of the flowers from an enthusiastic local guide.

More information about the Keukenhof guided bike tour »

Along the Tulip Route there are many beautiful flower fields to admire. Via the Flower Map below, you can see exactly which fields are in bloom. This way, you can prepare yourself even better for a wonderful day in the spring!

Tips Bollenstreek

Come and enjoy between beach and city and discover Holland from the most beautiful holiday region of the Netherlands. View our tips below.

• Breathe in the healthy sea air and enjoy the beach & dunes in the Netherlands
• Enjoy the colorful flower fields in the Netherlands and Keukenhof Flower Park
• Discover the real Netherlands in the polders & lakes area of ​​the Netherlands
• A day out to a city? You will find no fewer than eight historic Dutch cities around the Bollenstreek
• A day out? Read our Tips for a Day Out ?
• Take a look at one of the many museums in and around the Bollenstreek
• Fancy an active day? Enjoy one of the cycling routes and walking routes .

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Holland’s Southern Relax Tulip Tour

7 nights 24 miles/day Guided from EUR € 1155 Bike and Boat Tour aboard Anna Antal , Liza Marleen or Wending Countries: Holland

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View the fantastic colors of Spring! Between April and mid-May. We offer special tulip bicycle tours in the Netherlands. The program is quite similar to the Southern Tour Relax, but in springtime, this tour will be centered around the Tulip theme and of course a visit to the "Keukenhof."

The tulip originated in Turkey. The tulip bulb reached The Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. The flower and bulb were thought to be so special that a lively trade arose quite quickly, and in 1634 there was one single bulb that was so expensive that a whole canal-side house in Amsterdam cost the equivalent. In 1637 the government took the speculation in hand and the bulbs dropped in price drastically. The bulb and flower became "normal."

This route leads through vast fields of tulips between Leiden and Haarlem. From Leiden, it is simple to take the bus and spend a day at The Keukenhof- the world-famous, 32-hectare park, where you can admire the gorgeous fields with flowering bulbs in peace and quiet. At the end of the day, you'll catch the bus back to Leiden. The bus admission costs are included in the tour price.

Apart from the beautiful flowers, you will also see the famous cheese city of Gouda, the 19 windmills of Kinderdijk (on the World Heritage List), the international port of Rotterdam, and the Residence The Hague.

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• Tulips, Rhododendrons and Azaleas
• Historic town centers

Learn more about guided tours.

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 Tour Description   Daily Program 

Daily program

You are expected on the barge on Thursday no later than 1:30pm, at which time the boat leaves its mooring place in Amsterdam. The barge cannot wait due to the opening hours of bridges and locks, so plan your arrival accordingly.

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Amsterdam – Oude Wetering (6 miles/10 km) You may embark between 12:30-1:30pm. The barge needs to leave the mooring place in Amsterdam shortly after eveyrone is on board. When you arrive on board the ship, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. This is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew, and of course your fellow passengers. In the 12th century, Amsterdam was no more than a modest settlement at the mouth of the river Amsteel, with open connection to the sea. In those days fishermen and craftsmen built a dam in the Amstel (now the site of the National Monument) and Amstel-re-damme was born. Amsterdam was granted a municipal charter in 1275 and has since expanded continually. In the 17th and 18th century, Amsterdammers were the most prosperous Europeans. The famous rings of canals were dug in the Golden Age, the 17th century. Powerful merchants had their abundantly ornamented mansions built here, thus manifesting their riches.

Amsterdam is a city to be explored on foot and we recommend the following places of interest: the rings of canals; the Jordaan area with its many pubs, outdoor cafés and quaint shops; Vondelpark with its open-air concerts; Leidseplein; Rembrandtsplein; the antique shops in the Spiegel district; Museum Square with the Rijksmuseum (National Museum), Stedelijk Museum (Museum of Modern Art), Van Gogh Museum and of course the Anne Frank House. Other typical features of Amsterdam are its numerous 'hofjes' (almshouses), the floating flower market, and the hundreds of houseboats lining the canals. Amsterdam is inextricably related to the diamond-cutting industry, which has brought much fame to the city since the 17th century. The palace on Dam Square is sometimes called the eighth Wonder of the World as it was built on 13,659 piles.

After your cruise through Amsterdam, you will reach the wetlands south of the city and your mooring place for the evening, the village of Oude Wetering. This relaxed way of starting your trip will help you get used to life on the barge.

You will have dinner aboard the ship, where you will discuss the program for the next day and the global planning of the week ahead. Instructions on cycling and safety procedures will also be given. Following dinner, your tour leader will escort you during a short bike ride around the village. Overnight near Oude Wetering

Day 2: Oude Wetering – Gouda (28 miles/45 km) From Oude Wetering, you will continue your tour over country roads, banks and channels through the Green Heart and polders to the city known for its cheese: Gouda. Your ride takes you throguh a typical Dutch landscape, filled with green meadows, wetlands, cancals, rivers and small villages. You will cross waterways on small ferries and over bridges. Before reaching Gouda, you will ride through the Reeuwijkse Plassen, a nature reserve and renowned wetland.

Whoever thinks of Gouda, thinks not only of cheese, pipes, stroopwafels (treacle-waffle) and pottery, but also of stained-glass windows, a fairytale-like town hall and atmospheric canals. Gouda is a beautiful Old-Dutch city with a mostly intact city center.

The "St. Janskerk", Gouda's 123-meter-long church, with its renowned "Goudse Glazen" (leaded light windows), the beautiful gothic town hall and the "Waag" (a building once used for weighing cheese) are absolutely worth a visit. Furthermore, one should not forget the Goudse Kaas- en Ambachtenmuseum (Museum of Cheese and Crafts), the Museum of Dutch Resistance, the "Weeshuisplein" (famous square), the Catharinatuin, patios around the city and the Museumhaven, a harbor where historical ships are moored. Today is Sunday, the day on which most Dutch take out their bikes for a ride.

As on most evenings, after dinner you will take a walk through the city. Overnight near Gouda

Day 3: Gouda – Kinderkijk – Rotterdam – Delft (25 miles/40 km) From Gouda you cycle over easy and quiet country roads, past scenic polders via Kinderdijk to Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest group of windmills in the Netherlands. The windmills at Kinderdijk were still actively used until 1950. These days, a large pumping station is responsible for controlling the water level in the polder. Here you can visit a windmill from inside. This impressive piece of centuries old technique is still functional today.

From Kinderdijk you take the ferry to Rotterdam, where your barge is waiting for you. In Rotterdam you embark and from there the barge takes you to Delft. Delft, the town famous for its pottery, the "Delft blue." The painter Johannes Vermeer has made the town famous, but it is also known as the town of William of Orange. William of Orange lies buried in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, the church where members of the House of Orange are still buried. An attraction in Delft is the Prinsenhof (Prince's Residence).

The Prinsenhof Museum is housed in the former St Agatha's monastery. In 1572 William of Orange chose the convent as one of his residences. It was from here that he led the revolt against the Spanish tyranny of Holland. He was murdered on the steps of the Prinsenhof on July 10, 1584, by Balthazar Gerards, a Spanish sympathizer. Two bullet holes in the wall of the stairs bear witness to this event. Overnight near Delft

Day 4: Delft – Katwijk – Leiden (22 miles or 30 miles/36 km or 48km) From Delft you cycle in the direction of The Hague, where you may visit the Binnenhof with the houses of parliament, the royal palace of of Noordeinde and the Vredespaleis (Peace Palace). You will continue through the Haagse Bosch, a large park, and past the other royal palace, Huis ten Bosch.

A tranquil cycle path through the dunes leads you to Wassenaarse Slag. Here, some remains of the Atlantikwall can still be seen. Five bunkers are connected by nearly 3,000-foot-long brick tunnels. Now the underground network serves as a bat reserve. The Atlantikwall was a 1,700-mile defense line, running from Norway via Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France to the border with Spain. This defense line, which was never completed, consisted of bunkers, canons and minefields. At some places the bunkers are still there, such as in Zandvoort, Scheveningen, Oostende (Belgium) and Normandy (France).

Continue through the dunes, to Katwijk aan Zee, an old fishing village. The old inhabitants of Katwijk still speak their own dialect, 'Kattuks'.

Following the course of the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) river, you cycle on to Leiden. Leiden originated around 800 AD as a market place at the confluence of the Old and New Rhine rivers, the Vliet River and the Mare ("Leyten" means "at the waters"). For a long time it was considered to be the second city after Amsterdam. It was the center of the textile industry in medieval times. A well-known episode from the history of Leiden is the siege of 1574 by the Spanish. These were finally driven away after dikes had been broken through and a Watergeuzen (see Rotterdam) fleet had come to help. The relief of Leiden is still celebrated every year on October 3rd. In 1575 Leiden was given the right to establish a university as a reward for the courage shown during the siege. It is also the birthplace of Rembrandt (van Rijn!).

Leiden boasts 14 museums, including the Rijksmuseum for Anthropology with many priceless foreign objects, the Municipal Museum (Lakenhal, 1640) including works by Dou, Steen, Rembrandt and Van Goyen, the Rijksmuseum of Antiquities with Egyptian antiquities. The Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Garden), a 400-year-old garden with innumerable exotic plants and trees, is certainly worth seeing. In the centre of town you can go shopping or enjoy sitting on an outdoor terrace on the water's edge.

The ship is moored near the Zijlpoort, a gate that once formed part of the city walls. You have an option of a shorter route leading you inland after 'Huis den Bosch' and brings you along the recreational lake 'Vlietlanden' to Leiden. Overnight near Leiden

Day 5: Leiden – visit to Keukenhof by public transport Today you visit the Keukenhof gardens, the most beautiful spring park in the world. An overwhelming blaze of colors from seven million flowering tulips, in a magnificent 80-acres' background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. The many blossoms, the flowering rhododendrons and azaleas are a feast to the eye.

Keukenhof is the place where the spring breaks. In the Keukenhof, various gardens and gardening styles can be found: the English Landscape Garden, the Historical Garden, the Natural Garden, the Japanese Natural Garden, the Formal Garden and three special colors gardens. Spread throughout the entire park, there are approximately eighty sculptures from well-known Dutch artists. There are also several other art objects, such as the collection "Surprising Tulips." Overnight near Leiden

Day 6: Leiden – via the flower bulb fields to Haarlem (25 miles/40 km) From Leiden, you cycle through wonderful flower beds in the direction of Haarlem. In the period of March to May, the bulb fields are blooming, starting with daffodils and followed by hyacinths, tulips and lilies- a sight so beautiful and full of color that it almost seems unreal.

Once in the city of Haarlem, you make a short tour through the city to see some typical "hofjes" (almshouses), old houses around a central courtyard, now usually housing elderly people. These "hofjes" are definitely worth a visit.

Haarlem, which rendered its name to Harlem, New York, is a lively city with good shopping possibilities. At the same time there are many interesting 17th-century sights here. In particular the Grote Markt (Market Square) with the Great or St Bavo's Church (1390-1520) is well-known. Mozart was only one of the many St Bavo's organ players. Other famous attractions are the Frans Hals Museum (with many 17th-century paintings), the Town Hall, the Weigh House and the Vleeshal (Meat Hall, branch of the Frans Hals Museum, also with many 17th-century Dutch masters). On the river Spaarne the oldest museum of the Netherlands can be found: Teyler's Museum, with drawings by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael and others.

The ship is berthed in the city center, with a view of St Bavo's Church and with easy access to the Grote Markt with its many outdoor cafés. You will take a walk around the city with your tour guide after dinner. Overnight near Haarlem

Day 7: Haarlem – Amsterdam (25 miles/40 km) From Haarlem you sail to Spaarndam, a picturesque village on the edge of Haarlem, in the direction of Amsterdam. Spaarndam’s name comes from the dam built in the Spaarne River to limit the danger of flooding from the sea. Here you can find the statue of Hansje Brinker on the IJdijk. Hansje is a character from an American novel, which saved the country from flooding by putting his finger in the dike.

The Buitenhuizen ferry takes you across the North Sea Canal and from there you cycle to the Zaanse Schans.

The Zaanse Schans, with its traditional weatherboard houses, warehouses and windmills may give you the feeling of stepping back into the 17th or 18th century. This is no open-air museum, however, but instead a lively neighborhood where people live and work. Amongst other things to see, there is a cheese farm, clog maker, and old bakery that can be visited here. You last leg of the trip will be a leisurely ride into Amsterdam. Overnight near Amsterdam

Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam After breakfast the tour ends (disembarkation by 10:00am).

Our partner reserves the right to cancel tours with fewer than 12 participants up to 21 days prior to the date of departure. This program is subject to change without notice due to weather, nautical reasons, technical issues and other unforeseen circumstances.

Surface and terrain

The tour has relaxed cycling, which follows a flat terrain route with occasional hills.

These barges are former working river vessels, converted specifically for this kind of passenger vacation. The barges comply with the strict safety regulations set forth by the Dutch Shipping Inspection Authorities. Do not expect a luxury cruise ship. The experience of the tour is built around guests being active cycling, and the layout of the barge supports a social environment in common spaces.

How to get there

Tour start and end: Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) Nearest train station: Amsterdam Central Station

There is a train that leaves 6 times per hour from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station. It takes about 16 minutes and costs approximately €5 per person one way.

A taxi from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport to the barge takes about 30 minutes and costs about €45. A taxi from the Central Train Station in Amsterdam to the barge takes about 5 minutes and costs about €15.

The barge will be moored in Amsterdam at Oosterdok 2 near the Nemo Science Museum, about 15 minutes by foot from the train station.

You must arrive to the barge on Thursday NO LATER THAN 2:00pm.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

 Tour Photos   Dates & Prices 

Anna Antal : Apr 4, 11*, 18*, 25*, 2024 ( *indicates fully booked) Liza Marleen : Apr 4; May 2*, 2024 ( *indicates fully booked) Wending: Apr 4*, 11*; May 2, 2024 ( *indicates fully booked)

Standard season: Apr 04, 2024 - April 11; May 2, 2024 - May 09, 2024 High season: Apr 11, 2024 - May 1, 2024

Liza Marleen

Bike rentals, additional options, included services.

• 7 nights on board (including linens and towels)
• Breakfast and dinner on board
• Lunch packages when on the road
• Coffee and tea on board
• Tour guide, cycles with group
• Minimum 3 city walks with tour guide
• Road book (1 per cabin)*
• Entrance fee Keukenhof, including public transportation
• Ferry fares on the route
• GPS tracks (upon request)

*The road book (1 per cabin) includes the detailed itinerary. Although the tour is guided, if you wish to cycle any of the days on your own, you may request the GPS tracks to assist you with navigation.

Please note that special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request. Extra fees may apply; gluten-free/Celiac/vegan/lactose-free meals are an additional €75 charge. When ordered upon arrival, the additional charge is €100 per person, to be paid on location. Please inform us of dietary requirements when booking your tour to avoid this increased fee, and ensure we can accommodate your specific needs.

Bike rentals

Bikes available to be rented (booked in advance at the time of booking) include: 

• Standard touring bike, 24-speed
• Electrically assisted bike, 24-speed, detachable lithium-Ion battery, unisex*
• Children's bike
• Child seats (rear of bike)
• Tagalong bike

*More about  electrically-assisted bikes >

All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge: 

• Pannier bag
• Water bottle

Bike Protection: Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE . 

Pedals: The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

Helmets: Helmets are included with your bike rental. For safety and hygiene purposes, we recommend you bring your own or plan to purchase one upon arrival.

More information about the electrically assisted bike Your electrically assisted bike has 24 gears, an integrated battery, pannier bags, a good lock, and water bottle. We draw your attention to the fact that you will be held responsible for damage to or theft of the bike, as long as the bike is not on board. (The E-bike has a value of more than € 2000). Never leave it unattended. Always lock it and fasten it to a fixed object, and don’t forget to remove the information panel from your steering wheel. If you didn't arrange cycle insurance when booking you can do this on board (the first day). Payment for insurance is required in cash at arrival.

Tour Company

 Daily program   Route Map 

Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.

 Dates & Prices   Tour Reviews 

  Write a review

This was a perfect tour to see Holland in spring with bicycling at a relaxed pace.

• 5/5 Included meals
• 4/5 Bikes + equipment
• 4/5 Hotels or boat
• 5/5 Scenery
• 5/5 Ease of navigation
• 5/5 Tour documents
• 5/5 Local tour company services
• 4/5 Route selection
• 5/5 Guides (if applicable)

Very interesting and pleasant trip

Great trails, very neat clean and competent country.

• 3/5 Bikes + equipment
• 4/5 Ease of navigation
• 4/5 Tour documents

Bucket list tour

A delightful way to experience the Netherlands and see beautiful flowers along the way. We learned some of the history, architecture, and customs of the Dutch and enjoyed meeting the people. We visited a windmill that has been steadily making paper since the 17th century! Our barge crew was terrific! Great food and friendly conversations. The bikes were in great condition and had been carefully fitted to our measurements before we arrived so we could get right to the riding.

• 5/5 Bikes + equipment
• 5/5 Hotels or boat
• 5/5 Route selection

Great way to experience the Netherlands

Great way to experience Netherlands, especially when flowers are in bloom. The Sailing Home boat was comfortable. Loved lounge, dining rm, large windows to see world go by, and great space to socialize with fellow tour mates. Cook was very good (Eline) and quality of cooking pleasantly unexpected. 4 in our group; all rented electric bikes. Came in handy on dunes, and wind last two days. E-bikes were heavy though and difficult to start/stop, balance, for one lady in our party who rides very little and is small. She was glad to have though. Physical demands of tour were pretty low, intensity of riding in cities quite high. One in our party abandoned riding after first day. She did have an absolutely great time sailing with barge, exploring each city where the barge stopped, and socializing with fellow travelers in the evenings. Keukenhof Gardens were phenomenal, but very very crowded upon entry. Much less crowded at back of park. All in our party were very glad we went! Map book provided at beginning of tour, daily briefings each evening, but no daily maps. As the daily routes could change due to where the barge could dock, no daily maps was a complaint from some. Another common complaint was that there was only one guide for 26 riders. Not a problem at all when riding through countryside, but quite a challenge in the cities with the short traffic lights and heavy congestion. Overall, good tour for all in our group.

• 3/5 Ease of navigation
• 3/5 Tour documents
• 4/5 Local tour company services
• 4/5 Guides (if applicable)

I have nothing but positive happy memories of our bike tour. Bert, our guide clearly is proud of his country and did a beautiful job showing it off. The crew on the Liza Marleen were exceptional. The group of riders were fun to be around. This was the best trip ever!

A great trip!

The boat, the bike, the guide, captain, cook, crew and other riders were the BEST!

Tulip and Windmill Barge Tour

This was my third bike trip with Bike Tours.Com., but my first guided tour. Sietse, was an excellent guide, who kept us on a schedule but allowed us time to see things, gave us adequate coffee and lunch breaks. He always told us much information about each place as well as a voluntary walk at night in each town that we docked at, one does not get that on an unguided tour. Our chef, Nicole, was excellent, who I appreciated being on a gluten-free diet. The meals were healthy as well as delicious. The biking trip had very good trails with lots of canals and wildlife as well as windmills and of course the beautiful tulips, tulips, and tulips!

• 4/5 Scenery

Tulips--Bike and Barge

We had a fabulous time. Great food, scenery, guide and fellow travelers. The only complaint was weather related--COLD! Not the fault of anyone but the weather gods.

Tulip Tour... beautiful

Beautiful scenery. Great guide. Good food. Nice sturdy bikes. Great crew. I wish the coffee was better, and croissants in the morning would be nice.

• 3/5 Hotels or boat

Tremendous Tulip Tour!

My husband and I enjoyed this tour beyond measure! The room on the barge, tho tiny, was functional and cozy. Our guide Burt was super cool and knowledgeable of the area. There was 26 riders, so perhaps a second guide would have been helpful, but it worked just fine with one. The scenery was unbelieveable and we LOVED seeing the tulips and riding through the bucolic countryside. Be sure to dress warm! My favorite pull was through the Dunes, otherworldly habitat for Holland. Every meal on the barge was delicious and the staff was friendly and helpful. If you like riding bikes and appreciate flowers, gardens, and bird life you will love this tour!

 Route Map   Book This Tour 

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Bike and Barge in The Netherlands for Tulip Season

Tour overview.

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Tour start | end: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Amsterdam, The Netherlands Length: 8 Days / 7 Nights Rating: Easy

• E-Bikes Available

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Bike and Barge Trip during Tulip Season in the Netherlands

Get ready for a wonderful bike and barge trip starting and ending in Amsterdam, where you’ll witness the beauty of South and North Holland during the blooming of spring flowers. Immerse yourself in the rich history of cities like Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda, and Alkmaar while also learning about the impressive water management systems that keep these lowlands thriving in the North Sea.

Welcome to a private Sojourn boat and bike experience starting in 2025. Join our experienced Sojourn leaders, with a support van during your rides  and cruise on a chartered ship reserved exclusively for Sojourn guests.

Explore the open-air museum known as ‘the Zaanse Schans,’ – visit picturesque windmills, a charming cheese farm, and traditional wooden houses. Throughout your journey, you’ll be amazed by Holland’s diverse and breathtaking scenery, all while enjoying the convenience of excellent cycling paths. Join us on this remarkable bike and boat vacation and discover the beauty and wonders of Holland with the locals.

Special note: Please mention dietary needs during booking this trip (vegetarian meals, lactose intolerance, or gluten-free diet). Unfortunately, we cannot offer vegan meals on this trip. The kitchen on the ship is not large enough to guarantee vegan meals.

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Today you board and check in between 1PM and 2PM local time. Late afternoon, the barge leaves the harbor towards Haarlem. Today's ride will be in Spaarndam. After dinner on board, we will take you on a town walk through the beautiful city center of Haarlem.

After breakfast, get on a trip through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens. This is the most beautiful bulb park in the world, with an outstanding blaze of colors; seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. In the afternoon, you ride to the city of Leiden. Dinner will be on board tonight. Post-dinner, we can all go on a walk through the town.

After breakfast today, we will ride out of Leiden and travel through Holland's 'green heart.' Visit a cheese farm near Zoeterwoude to taste and learn about cheese-making and explore Gouda, the famous cheese town where we visit the town's market square and the Gothic town hall. The main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, is world-famous for its stained glass windows. Post dinner, we can once again walk through the town.

We are staying in Gouda this morning. Take advantage of some shopping for local memorabilia. Visit the market square with its cheese weigh house or explore the St. Johns church. We sail around noon and have lunch on board. From Alphen aan den Rijn, you cycle through South Holland via river Drecht and Amstel-Drecht channel to Kudelstaart.

This morning, cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer, the largest in Europe. Here, vast quantities of flowers are trucked in, sold daily, and distributed all over Europe. Return on board for a late breakfast while the barge sails to Amsterdam. You will enjoy a lovely cruise through the city of Amsterdam. Ride from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills. The oldest windmill was built in 1673 to grind mustard, spices, paint, and oil and saw wood into planks. Walking through the village, you will visit a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker, and a cheese farm. We will bike to Purmerend after the visit, where we spend the night on the barge.

We ride to the Hortus Bulborum this morning, a unique garden museum dedicated to preserving rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers are planted here. We continue biking to Egmond at the Northsea through the dunes to Alkmaar, a Dutch cheese city. As you wander the streets, you'll be amazed by Alkmaar's Old Town's beauty, well-preserved 17th-century buildings, and narrow, winding canals. Dinner is on your own today.

After breakfast, we ride to the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Here we visit the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum before heading to the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history remain evident in De Rijp's wooden facades, church, lock, and town hall. From here, we ride back to Amsterdam for a canal tour through the city's famous canals.

After breakfast , disembark in Amsterdam around 9:30 AM.

Lodging Information

Distinctive lodging, carefully selected to complement your tour..

Barge - Sleek Cabins and Private Bathrooms

The ship has ten comfortable cabins. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin. Windows can be opened and the cabins have central heating. Furthermore, you will find a mini safe and hair dryer in each cabin. The corridor is air-conditioned, thus also cooling the cabins.

• Support of experienced local leaders
• Custom Sojourn jersey and water bottles – both yours to keep
• Seven nights on board the boat with private cabins and bathrooms
• All Breakfast and Lunches. Six dinners
• Touring bikes with straight handlebars, seven Shimano speeds, and roller brakes. They also have a low instep. They are fitted with Schwalbe puncture-resistant tires and flat pedals.
• A limited number of Electric Assist or E-bikes are also available. Request while booking.
• Daily route directions, maps, and a downloadable GPS Option
• 5% Past Traveler Discount to use on your next Sojourn Tour for the next 2 years after your trip.

When in The Netherlands, it helps to know...

• United States and Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter The Netherlands for tourism or business stays under ninety (90) days. Here are more details.
• The trip starts and ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Distances in the itinerary are subject to change.
• On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
• If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next port.
• The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
• On the embarkation day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
• You disembark in Amsterdam around 9:30 am at the end of the trip. Please do not book any flight before 2:30pm on the same day.
• Most of the locals including the ship crew do speak English.

Private Trips

Reserve one of our regularly scheduled trip dates for your private group and qualify for reduced pricing. The larger your group, the lower the per person price. Gather your friends and we’ll do the rest to provide your group with a truly personalized and memorable vacation. Smaller groups can join published trips and receive reduced pricing on trips that aren’t reserved as private trip dates.

For groups of 12-15 people traveling together on a published tour date, a discount of 8% on the double occupancy trip price will apply.

For groups of 8-11 people traveling together on a published date, a discount of 6% on the double occupancy trip price will apply.

Group discounts may not be combined with other offers.

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he North - South Tour, including the tulips and Keukenhof gardens, is the north and south coastal routing along the North Sea and the IJsselmeer. This popular route includes dunes, windmills and traditional Holland. 

Biking through the "Green Heart" we reach Gouda renowned for its 15th century town hall, large gothic St. Jan Church with its beautiful stained glass windows, and famous cheese. In Kinderdijk we visit one of the 19 windmills that are on the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites. Modern Rotterdam is inviting with its grand bridges over the Meuse River. In Delft we visit the Delftware factory to see how this fine porcelain is made and painted. The Hague (Den Haag) is home to the International Court of Justice located in the Peace Palace, the Dutch government, and Noordeinde Palace, the working palace of King Willem-Alexander. Visit the Mauritshuis Museum with its paintings from 17th century Dutch masters, including Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn and Paulus Potter. The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer is not to be missed. An extra day in Leiden is a great way to taste the local life of the street market, visit museums or roam around the cozy neighborhoods.

In Spring the colorful flowerfields are overwhelming along our path. You visit Keukenhof gardens and the tulips in bloom. The cycling continues to Haarlem, which offers a market square that is known for being one of the most beautiful in the country. The center hosts the Frans Hals Museum, the Ten Boom Museum, subject of the book The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, the Saint Bavo Church and many lovely almshouses. Taste the cheese from the Alkmaar area and bike along the spectacular North Sea beaches and sand dunes. Spend a day on Texel Island, a bicycle paradise where large parts of the island can only be reached by bike paths. Along the IJsselmeer you will fall in love with the old Zuiderzee towns with their rich trading history. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam. Note: Airline fares are usually less in April and May.

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Few spots left for Tulip Time tour hitting Holland highlights, Windmill Island and Big Red

H OLLAND, MI — Worried about getting the full Holland experience while in town for Tulip Time? The festival’s motorcoach tour makes sure you see all the highlights.

From the beginning the VIP tour goes fully immersive as its by a local guide dressed in a traditional Dutch costume.

The 7-hour motorcoach tour makes five stops throughout the city:

• Area Parks, Pillar Church, Hope College Tour
• Windmill Island Garden
• Bowerman’s Farms
• Holland State Park to see Big Red lighthouse
• Tulip Immersion Garden Private Tour with Dutch Artist Ibo Gulsen

The $150 tour ticket includes lunch at Bowerman’s Farms, tickets to Windmill Island Gardens and admission to the Tulip Immersion Garden a,nd free parking at the tour loading spot, Beechwood Church.

The tour is accessible for all ages. Each tour can accommodate assistive devices such as collapsible strollers, collapsible walkers, collapsible wheelchairs, and collapsible electric scooters.

The tour website notes that patrons are responsible for loading and unloading these assistive devices.

It’s required that patrons be able to navigate a set of stairs to get on and off of the charter bus between each stop.

Tours run throughout the festival, May 4-12. Early dates have already sold out but slots are still open for Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12.

Find tickets and more information at www.tuliptime.com/events/vip-tour

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