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North Holland and Texel: MS Serena

Exploring North Holland and the Ijsselmeer

Cycle through various landscapes, from fields to beautiful nature reserves, the island of Texel, the dunes along wide sandy beaches, charming villages and picturesque harbour towns on the coast and cross the vast waters of the IJsselmeer.

Details about the bicycle cruise through North Holland

Surrounded by water on three sides - the Dutch province of North Holland is located on a peninsula between the North Sea, the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer. The rich history of North Holland can still be seen in many places today. Picturesque towns tell of a time when the IJsselmeer was still called the Zuiderzee and had open access to the North Sea. 

A visit to the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen brings that time back to life. Discover the peninsula between the North Sea, the IJsselmeer and Texel, the largest West Frisian island.

The highlights of the North Holland Bike and Boat holiday at a glance

  • Wadden island of Texel: With about forty fantastic nature reserves, thousands of breeding birds, a polder with thousands of orchids and just as many sheep as people. Visit the Cape Skil lighthouse and museum in Oudeschild.

  • Cheese town Alkmaar: With its many canals, courtyards and world-famous cheese market. The Beer Museum, the Dutch Cheese Museum and the Beatles Museum are also definitely worth a visit.

  • Colourful sea town Stavoren: Located on the former Zuiderzee, an almost un-Frisian town is also called the Copenhagen of Friesland because of the colourful houses on the harbour.

Worth knowing about the bicycle cruise through the Netherlands

In between cycling, you will sail with your sailing hotel, which sails to a new destination every day. You will have dinner, sleep and breakfast on board while your floating hotel ship is docked in a picturesque harbour. 

Every day you get a packed lunch and you can choose between a longer and shorter bike ride. Sailing for a day whilst you stay on-board the ship is also an option.

Tour information
Easy
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Meals included
  • Total cycling distance: approx. 208 km
More information
+44 1706 618 155 Contact
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Itinerary

Individual arrival in Enkhuizen. Embarkation in the afternoon. Maybe you still have time for a first short walk through the pretty historic port city with its enchanting old town.

Amsterdam-Hoorn

Today you will get to know the pretty port town on the banks of the IJsselmeer and its beautiful surroundings. The rich history of the city can still be sensed today on a walk through the old town with its numerous villas, canals, churches, city walls and ports. Tip: A visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum. If you want to take a day trip to Amsterdam: Enkhuizen train station is within walking distance of the berth. Train connections to Amsterdam and back every 30 minutes. Journey time approx. 1 hour (train ticket not incl.)

ca. 20-26 km

In the morning, you will sail across the IJsselmeer to one of the most popular water sports villages in Friesland, Lemmer with its historic city centre and beautiful gabled houses. Before you step on the pedals, enjoy a delicious cup of coffee with Frisian biscuits on one of the terraces of the 'Vlecke' Lemmer.

Via Oosterzee-Buren, you cycle to the largest lake in Friesland, the Tjeukemeer. If you are lucky you will find the skûtsjesilen competition held with skûtsjes. The lookout point Tjeukemeer-Delfstrahuizen is a stop-off moment. Via the regional village of Munnekeburen, Scherpenzeel and Schoterzijl you cycle through the polder back to Lemmer.

Tip: A 'must see' in Lemmer is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Woudagemaal, the largest functioning steam pumping station in the world!

Enkhuizen-Lemmer
ca. 32-42 km

Today nature is on the program, a full day of cycling in nature reserves. You cycle to the nature reserve Sondeler Leien, this ancient lake dates from the 14th century and was created by the flooding of the former Zuiderzee. Stop at the bird-watching huts before cycling further through the Rysterbosk, one of the most famous hiking forests in Fryslân with majestic beech and oak trees.

You continue the cycling stage along the bird-rich nature reserve Mokkebank, step off the pedals and marvel at the many birds on the IJsselmeer. The last part of this cycling day to Stavoren goes over the Red Cliff on the IJsselmeer, this dike is 10 metres high and was created in the Ice Age when huge ice masses from Scandinavia pushed the ground further up with thick boulders and gravel.

From Stavoren we sail to Oudeschild on Texel.

ca. 33-48 km
Stavoren-Oudeschild (Texel)

Bicycle tour on the largest Wadden Sea island of Texel. Different routes of approx. 29-32-47-70 km are available today.

The ship will sail to Den Helder around 6 pm.

ca. 31-49 km
Oudeschild (Texel) – Den Helder

In the morning, you will cycle through the dunes to St. Maartensvlotbrug. Here you can board the ship again and sail to Alkmaar or you sail in the morning to St. Maartensvlotbrug and start your cycling stage in St. Maartensvlotbrug and cycle to Alkmaar.

Alkmaar is known as the cheese city of the Netherlands. In the beautiful old centre, you will find many monuments, nice shops and countless cosy terraces, cafes and restaurants. In addition, you will also find the Beer Museum, the Beatles Museum and of course the Cheese Museum. And don't forget this hidden gem in the city centre, the Hofje van Splinter.

ca. 27-57 km
St. Maartensvlotbrug-Alkmaar

From Wormerveer you start in the morning at the Zaanse Schans open-air museum (windmills, an old Dutch village, a cheese factory and much more). We continue towards Volendam. Shortly before you have the opportunity to visit a cheese dairy in Katwoude, here you can see how Gouda cheese and traditional Dutch clogs are made. Via Volendam, known as a traditional fishing village with typical authentic houses, you cycle to Hoorn. It would be best if you took some time to visit the historic old town with its many buildings from the 17th century (e.g. the harbour tower or the warehouses on the old quay).

Alkmaar-Wormerveer
ca. 28 km

Early morning boat trip to Enkhuizen. Arrive around 08:00. Until 09:00 disembarkation and departure.

Route information

A large number of bicycle paths makes the Netherlands a paradise for cyclists. The routes are flat and can be classified as easy.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights


Complete a Booking Request: North Holland and Texel: MS Serena

Make an enquiry about 2024 arrival dates and prices for this tour

Prices and services may vary depending on the travel year
Select travel year:
Place of arrival: Amsterdam
  Season 1
25.03.2023 | 07.10.2023 |
Saturday
Season 2
01.04.2023 | 30.09.2023 |
Saturday
Season 3
08.04.2023 | 23.09.2023 |
Saturday
Season 4
15.04.2023 - 29.04.2023
09.09.2023 - 16.09.2023

Saturday
Season 5
06.05.2023 - 02.09.2023

Saturday
North Holland and Texel, Main Deck, NL-NHSNS-08I-H
Base price
619.00
699.00
749.00
829.00
959.00
Fixed price for double cabin in single use 809.00 939.00 999.00 1,129.00 1,329.00
North Holland and Texel, Promenade Deck, NL-NHSNS-08I-O
Base price
749.00
829.00
879.00
959.00
1,049.00
Fixed price for double cabin in single use 1,129.00 979.00 1,069.00 1,329.00 1,459.00
Season 1
Mar 25, 2023 | Oct 7, 2023 |
Saturday
Season 2
Apr 1, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
Saturday
Season 3
Apr 8, 2023 | Sep 23, 2023 |
Saturday
Season 4
Apr 15, 2023 - Apr 29, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023
Saturday
Season 5
May 6, 2023 - Sep 2, 2023
Saturday
North Holland and Texel, Main Deck, NL-NHSNS-08I-H
Base price
Fixed price for double cabin in single use
North Holland and Texel, Promenade Deck, NL-NHSNS-08I-O
Base price
Fixed price for double cabin in single use
619.00
809.00
749.00
1,129.00
699.00
939.00
829.00
979.00
749.00
999.00
879.00
1,069.00
829.00
1,129.00
959.00
1,329.00
959.00
1,329.00
1,049.00
1,459.00
Filter
Unisex E-Bike
7-Speed Unisex Bike without backpedal brake
7- Speed Unisex Bike with backpedal brake
189.00
79.00
79.00
Prices per person in GBP

Services / Information

Services

Including

  • 7 nights in outside cabins on board the MS Serena in the booked cabin category
  • Full board: 7x breakfast buffet, 6x packed lunch for cycling or lunch snack, 6x coffee and tea in the afternoon, 7x 3-course evening menu
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Some short guided walks
  • Travel folder 1 x per room (German, with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, luggage labels)
  • GPS data available on request
  • Tour guide

 

Not included

  • Bike rental
  • Excursions
  • Gratuities
  • Drinks
  • Personal expenses
Arrival information
  • Airport: Amsterdam Schiphol
  • Train: Enkhuizen
  • Parking: Free parking at the train station in Enkhuizen, directly at the port, within walking distance to the berth. No reservation possible.
General information
  • A minimum number of 15 people applies for this trip (at least 21 days before departure)
  • Embarkation takes place between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM, and disembarkation after breakfast no later than 9:00 AM
  • Bicycles on board are equipped with a hand brake or coaster brake (limited availability, please specify when booking as a non-binding preference) and bicycle bag
  • It is possible to bring your own bicycles, but due to the limited space on the sundeck, you can only bring your own bicycle on request and only to a limited extent. Any damage to your bike is at your own risk
  • Daily cycling tours are individual and unaccompanied, the tour guide remains on board. It is not mandatory to cycle the route, you can also stay on board and sail to the next port
  • This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility
  • If the cycling stages and rest times allow, an excursion program is offered, this can only be booked on board and paid in cash.
  • Sailing times, schedule and program changes are in principle reserved. For example, if a route cannot be completed due to low tide, high tide or bad weather, the captain reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this is not a valid reason to cancel your trip free of charge)
  • Engine and generator noises may be heard in the ship's cabins

Accommodation

Why book with Active on Holiday?

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