Cycling Among Windmills & Beaches, The Netherlands

Holland is a country synonymous with cycling. The classic artists landscape; flat, fertile and open, with long canals, windmills and historic towns and villages is best explored by boat and bicycle - spend the days exploring by bike and the evening relaxing on a comfortable barge on the canals and lakes.

Travelling north from Amsterdam we cycle across an area not recovered from the sea until the 17th Century. The land was reclaimed using hundreds of windmills many of which are still in working order with those we visit in Zaanse Schans a classic example. The route takes you over small dikes, along country roads, through vast polders and the most beautiful dunes in the Netherlands from Bergen to Schoorl.

We cycle onto Alkmaar, the capital of Dutch cheese with its own cheese market. You will be able to see Cheese made by hand and how the typical Dutch shoes, 'clogs' are carved out of one piece of wood. Crossing to the island of Texel we cycle in this magnificent nature reserve before moving onto Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam and Volendam, important ports during the Golden Age of Dutch history with traditional costumes and sailing ships.

These tours are run in conjunction with our partners in Holland and you will join their guests on the tour. Your accommodation for the week is on a specially designed boat, where you will be able to share experiences of the day with the other cyclists over dinner. During the day route descriptions are provided and you are free to explore at your own pace.

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1
The tour starts in Amsterdam which is easily accessible from the UK by boat or plane. At 4.00pm you embark onto the boat - your home for the coming week. You will be met on board by the captain, crew and guide and after stowing your luggage you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and meet the other guests. Time permitting you can take a short cycle tour through the northern part of the city and also venture a short distance outside the city limits to get your first taste of the Dutch countryside. After dinner on board the guide will explain the programme for the next day and the coming week.

Day 2
You now leave Amsterdam, which is still very quiet at this hour. A ferry takes you to the Amsterdam Noord quarter and soon you will be cycling through the rural area of Waterland. In this soggy peat land the houses and villages are hardly above the level of the water. The former isle of Marken is visited. It was not until 1957 that this island was connected to the mainland by a dike and it has retained its own particular character.

The houses here were built on man-made little mounds, called 'werven', to escape the regular inundations. When there was no more room on these mounds people started building houses on piles, which made them stand 2.5 m above street level. The Marker Museum shows you how people used to live and work here. The inhabitants are the only ones allowed to use their cars, so Marken can only be visited on foot or on bike.

The route is now continued to the historic village of Monnickendam, which received its municipal charter in 1355. There was a flourishing seafaring trade with the Baltic countries (Scandinavia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Suriname, as there used to be a direct waterway between the Zuiderzee (the Southern Sea) and the North Sea. When this waterway was closed down, in the 15th century, the importance of Monnickendam declined. However, in the 17th century a barge-canal was dug between Monnickendam and Amsterdam and trading between these cities grew. For a long time Monnickendam has been renowned for its eel smoking. Up to this day eel and other fish is smoked in the harbours.

Now you continue your way along the Gouwzee dike to Volendam, today's destination. Originally Volendam was a small fishing community. Practically all its inhabitants used to wear their distinctive and picturesque traditional costumes. Volendam started as a settlement when Edam (to be visited tomorrow) dug its new, shorter waterway to the Zuiderzee in the 14th century. The old harbour became superfluous, a new dike was built and soon farmers and fishermen settled down.

Day 3
If you have decided to cycle all of today's itinerary your first stop will be Edam. Famous for its little 'Edamers', the round cheese balls (coated with red wax for export). Together with the Gouda equivalent they are probably some of the best-known types of cheese in the world. Here you can sample the atmosphere of a well-maintained old-Dutch town, though now lacking its former activity. The ship-building trade played an important role in Edam's prosperity.

After Edam the tour continues through broad meadows. You cycle alongside the Beemsterringvaart. Water from the polder on your left is pumped into this canal. The Beemster, Schermer and Purmer are the largest 17th century polders, i.e. areas of reclaimed land. This would have been impossible without the invention of the wind-driven water pump. It may be interesting to note that the engineer of this essential apparatus was appropriately called 'Leeghwater', which means 'empty water' in English.

The route takes you along the dike in a northerly direction towards the city of Hoorn, where a longer break can be had. For those who have enjoyed the morning's trip on the barge the cycling is taken up here. You will have the opportunity to get a good impression of this beautiful city with its rich past. The attractive city of Hoorn was given a municipal charter in 1357. In addition to Amsterdam, Edam, Monnickendam, Enkhuizen and Medemblik Hoorn was a major harbour in the 17th century. From here ships sailed for the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), America, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. The most impressive gable is the one on the former town hall, Statenpoort, which now houses an interesting museum with paintings and exhibits concerning the V.O.C. (United East Indian Company). The V.O.C. was a very powerful, almost monopolistic trading company in the 17th century.

You continue on the dike with a wonderful view over the Markermeer on your right and West-Frisian villages on your left-hand side. The recently built dike from Enkhuizen to Lelystad (in the Noordoostpolder) appears on the horizon. This was meant to be a polder dike for a huge new polder: the Markerwaard. However, the plans were never executed; with time perception changed. The environment and fresh water supply became more important. So today the dike is there, but no polder...

The trip for today ends in Enkhuizen, a town which came into existence when two adjoining villages amalgamated. It was given a municipal charter in 1355. In the Golden Age Enkhuizen had grown so much that its harbour was well-known internationally and the beautiful gables, town hall and richly decorated churches all date from these flourishing times. Here too, you can easily find many Renaissance and Baroque monuments. At the end of the 17th century the decline set in, as a result of the wars with England and the growing importance of Amsterdam as a sea trading city. When the Zuiderzee was closed off in 1932 (by the Afsluitdijk) the herring fishing industry also came to an end. The construction of a railway line to Amsterdam, at the end of the 19th century, caused a slight revival for this little town

Day 4
You can start your day with a visit to the Zuiderzee museum. This museum, which consists of an indoor and outdoor part, shows you the history of everyday life around the Zuiderzee until the middle of the 20th century. Among other things expositions can be visited here on the reclamation of the Zuiderzee, whale fishing and the rich history of the United East Indian Company. In the open air museum emphasis is placed on the period between 1880 and 1932. The distinctive smell of fresh tar, smoked fish and peat-heated stoves is all present in the alleys between the 130 buildings.

The cycling tour starts on the IJsselmeer dike and is then left behind to go through a nature reserve and some typical West-Frisian villages. Then Medemblik comes in to sight, the oldest city of West-Friesland (1289), with an illustrious past and with Radboud castle, dating from the 13th century. Once a booming seaport, it is now, since the construction of the North Holland Canal, only important as a yacht basin. In the summer months an old steam train runs between Medemblik and Hoorn, pulled by one of its five shining locomotives. Here you can take a break to have a closer look at the historic gables. The flower mill in this town is still in operation.

After Medemblik the trip continues through the Wieringermeer, the oldest of the IJsselmeer polders. The food crisis resulting from the first World War created an urgent need for more agricultural land, so in 1927 work on the reclamation of the Wieringermeer commenced. The dikes and pumping stations were built in the open sea. The polder itself was drained during a period of mass unemployment and most of the work of bringing it into cultivation was done by hand and horse power. Farms became the predominant feature, as can still be seen today. While the polder was created the famous Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dam) was built. This dike, connecting North-Holland with Friesland, is about 30 kilometres in length and was the first large civil engineering enterprise against the sea. The dike was completed in 1932 and the Zuiderzee (Southern Sea) changed into the IJsselmeer (IJssel Lake), the largest fresh water lake in the Netherlands.

Day 5
The isle of Texel, which is one municipality, is the largest of the Dutch Waddeneilanden (Wadden islands). The average length of Texel is 20 km and the average width 8 km. The first inhabitants of Texel may date from the Middle Stone Age (8,000-4,500 BC). In 1415 the island was granted a municipal charter, which made it the largest official city of the country, in the matter of surface. Texel is highly appreciated by bird-watchers. In springtime about 80 different types of birds breed here, mainly in the dune areas, but all in all about 300 different species have been seen on Texel.

As early as in the 16th and 17th century the Texel sheep's cheese was well-known abroad. This was not only the usual white cheese but in particular a special, green cheese. The cheese was green as a result of the juice of boiled sheep droppings, which was stirred through the milk. However, because of hygienic reasons this was forbidden by the Dutch Food Inspection Department in 1930.

A tour around this island with its numerous cycle tracks is well worth the effort. The largest village on the island is Den Burg, which has a rural character with its circles of roads around the old church. You will find most of the shops on the island in this village. The local museum gives a good impression of island life and is housed in a building dating from 1599.

De Koog, one of the oldest villages, is the principal bathing resort and is only a stone's throw from the widest beach on the island. The nature centre nearby is a rescue centre for seals and gives you a lot of information about the flora and fauna to be found on Texel. De Cocksdorp, the northernmost village, is entered through a tunnel of interlocking tree branches, which gives it a unique character. If you cycle to the most extreme northerly tip of the island you may be able to see Vlieland, the next island making up the chain of Wadden islands. On the way up north you can pay a visit to the Slufter, a nature reserve open to the sea and the rhythm of the tides.

The villages of Den Hoorn, Oosterend and De Waal have escaped modern architectural influences and are all officially protected. In Den Hoorn some of the old 'Commandeurs' dwellings have been preserved. These were the houses belonging to the captains of the whaling ships that sailed from Texel. Texel's oldest church is situated in Oosterend. In an old barn in De Waal there is a farm museum called the Wagenmuseum (cart museum). De Waal already existed in the 12th century and was on the coast until 1613. Then the polder Waalenburg was drained and since then De Waal has been in the centre of the island.

Oudeschild used to be the main port of entry for Texel, but in 1962 a ferry connection was established to the southernmost tip of the island ('t Horntje). Nowadays only fishing boats, sailing boats and boats working on marine engineering projects use the picturesque harbour of Oudeschild. Here too, the maritime museum is housed in two old granaries and next to this museum you can find the Juttersmuseum (beachcombers' museum) in a shed originally used for storing sea ware.

Day 6
The ship takes you back to the mainland, where you disembark in the city of Den Helder, the Dutch naval port, situated at the mouth of the Noord-Hollandskanaal. This canal was built in order to allow ships to safely enter Amsterdam harbour, thus avoiding the shallow parts of the Zuiderzee. Later on the North Sea Canal was built, allowing even the largest sea-going ships to enter Amsterdam. Den Helder was established around 1500 and is a fishing town as well as a naval base. Ships going to the North Sea and the Waddenzee leave from here.

Today's route takes you through the dunes. In the months of April and May you will first cycle through the flower bulb fields around Anna Paulowna, the centre of the North Holland flower cultivation. South of Callantsoog you pass by the unique nature reserve Het Zwanenwater (The Swans' Water), with its lakes and boggy hollows in the dunes. The name is a reminder of the 17th century, when swans were bred here. Today swans are rare, but some 100 other birds have their residence here.

A little further you cycle on the Hondsbossche Zeewering (Hondsbossche Sea Dike), with a spectacular view of the North Sea. This area used to have dunes, but in 1421 they were swept away in what is known as the St Elisabeth's flood, together with the village of Hondsbosse. The 5 km long basalt dike has replaced the dunes and now keeps the sea at bay.

Near Schoorl you enter the area of the Schoorlse Duinen (Schoorl Dunes), stretching out to Bergen where you will find the highest dunes in the country. During the last century many pine trees were planted here so now it is a rather woody region. Bergen is an artists' village which attracts many painters, writers and architects.

Your destination for today is Alkmaar, also called the City of Cheese. Its weigh house was the first in the country and it is here that the weighing and trading of cheese used to take place. Near the weigh house many outdoor cafés can be found. Like Amsterdam Alkmaar houses a great many 'hofjes' or almshouses: typical 17th century enclosed courtyards with little houses inhabited by single women and usually supported by the church. A little less than 400 heritage sites, canals and the harbour dominate the townscape.

Day 7
You now have the choice of cycling the whole way or staying on board till Zaandam. Alkmaar's famous Friday cheese market starts at 10am. After leaving Alkmaar the stage takes you through the 'droogmakerij' land with the 17th century towns of Schermerhorn, Graft and De Rijp. A 'droogmakerij' is a specific type of polder: a (part of a) lake around which first a dike was built and which was then reclaimed or impoldered. Within the enclosure of the dikes the water level can be regulated, like in other polders. The general term 'polder' is used for any type of land partly or totally surrounded by a dike in which the water level is regulated.

In Schermerhorn three windmills 'in series' (a 'Molendriegang') can be seen. One of the three, a working 17th century mill, is a museum and shows the system whereby a series of stepped mills, each one a little higher, could pump water to a height of four metres from the polder into the canal behind the dike. Graft and De Rijp are two proud, typical 17th century villages that enjoyed great prosperity at the heyday of the fishing and whaling industries. Jan Adriaansz Leeghwater the well-known polder engineer, was born in De Rijp.

If you have not spent too much time at the Alkmaar cheese market you may have time to pay a visit to the Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area. Traditionally this was a region where foodstuffs such as edible oil, nuts, rice and grain products were imported and processed. The Zaanse Schans mainly came into being in the sixties and seventies of the 20th century. The original sites of these historical premises hampered the development of the area, which is why they were moved here. At the beginning of the 18th century the area boasted more than 600 windmills! Nowadays nearly all of them have been replaced by motor-driven pumps. The hamlet is dominated by three operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint and oil and for sawing wood into planks. As you walk through the village you will see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furnit ure, a clog maker and a cheese farm.
 
The last stretch of the trip takes you through 't Twiske (the Twiske) leisure park. Since the beginning of the Christian era the peat region around the Zaan had been used for cattle grazing. In the peat land ditches were dug to help draining the land. The dried peat was used as fuel. Small and larger meadows were thus created over the centuries, which made it almost impossible to keep cattle. In 1938 it was therefore decided to impolder the Twiske region. Many unemployed people from the surroundings were deployed to this task. In 1956 all activity was brought to an end. The southern part of the area had been drained and the little river called Twiske had all but disappeared. A few years later a lot of sand from underneath the peat and clay layers was used for the construction of a motorway leading into Amsterdam. An artificial lake was the result. This was very convenient as there was a growing demand for recreational areas near the big cities. The water surface was enlarged to 200 hectares, the river Twiske was dug out again, and the Twiske area was laid out for various sorts of leisure. Once you are back at the boat in Amsterdam it is time to take leave of your bikes. In the afternoon there is still some time to go into town and after dinner you may want to finish off your trip by going on a city walk or taking a trip on one of Amsterdam's canal boats

Day 8
After our last breakfast, its time to disembark (before 10am) and say goodbye to your fellow passengers, your guide and the crew before starting your journey home.

Equipment
We provide everything, including a bike, except personal equipment and clothing.

What the price doesn't include
A) Travel insurance (available if required, £26).
B) Entrance fees to museums and attraction.
C) Personal clothing and equipment.
D) Travel to Amsterdam and transfers to the boarding point.
E) Lunch and Alcoholic drinks.
F) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.