The Netherlands by boat and bike

The Netherlands are way more than just Holland. This tour will take you around the IJsselmeer, the Rhine-Maas-Delta withs its confusing amount of river arms, and Limburg province, from where you’ll be able to see the foothills of the Eifel and the Ardennes. You will be enthralled by loads of nature, many fortresses and breathtaking castles. Travelling across the Netherlands by boat and bike is easy and pleasant. The tour commences in Amsterdam.
Here are details of MS Flora, MS Sarah and  MS Gandalf.

Day 1 Arrival in Amsterdam, boat trip to Weesp
Embarkation at 2 pm, after which the ship will take you to the pretty town of Weesp. Here, there’ll be a short bike tour, after which you can stroll around the historic centre in the evening.

Day 2 Weesp - Utrecht, approx. 47 km/29 mi, boat trip
Alongside the river Vecht you’ll be cycling to the University town of Utrecht, before which there’s a scheduled stop at a creamery. You’ll be sleeping in the fortress town of Vianen.

Day 3 Vianen - Gorinchem, approx. 41 km/25 mi, boat trip
The tour leads on to Leerdam, which is home to many glass blowing workshops. Starting in Gorinchem, you’ll be carrying on by ship to the restored fortress town of Heusden.

Day 4 Boat trip, Lith - Cuijck, approx. 40 km/25 mi
Ravenstein and Grave are charming medieval towns on your tour. In the evening, visit the museum in Cuijck, which is located in a church tower.

Day 5 Cuijck - Arcen, approx. 53 km/33 mi
The tour will lead you through the Maasduinen national park, after which Arcen Castle, with its 10 different rose gardens, awaits.

Day 6 Arcen - Venlo - Roermond, approx. 50 km/31 mi
Further along the Maas, the tour leads to Thorn, which only features whitewashed houses. Roermund is an old episcopal town with several buildings that are worth a visit. Enjoy the evening in the village of Roermond and indulge in one of the town's restaurants.

Day 7 Roermond - Born approx. 42 km/26 mi, boat trip
Today’s stage leads through Limburg province, until you reach the day’s final destination, the provincial capital of Maastricht. It is home to exciting museums, old casemate walls and impressive mergel grottos.

Day 8 Disembarkation, departure or extension
After breakfast your tour "Netherlands by boat & bike" comes to an end.

Here are details about MS Flora, MS Sarah and  MS Gandalf.

Included in "Netherlands by boat & bike":

• 7 nights aboard in your chosen category
• full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x packed lunches,
  6 x dinner excl. beverages; no dinner in Roermond)
• complimentary coffee/tea until 4 pm daily
• daily cabin cleaning
• bed linen and towels supplied
• welcome drink
• several short guided city tours
• entrance fee Ceuclum Museum in Cuijk
• ferry trips
• bike tours with english speaking tour guide
• daily cycling stage briefings
• detailed travel documents in english
• GPS tracks
• optional rental bike

Accomodation:

MS Flora:

• 8 outside cabins, approx. 8 sqm (86 sq ft)
  separate level-access single beds
• 2 outside cabins, approx. 8 sqm (86 sq ft)
  separate beds over corner
• 1 outside cabins, approx. 8 sqm (86 sq ft)
  double bed
• 2 cabins can be used as triple cabins
  (for child until approx. 12 y only)
• all cabins with central heating
• openable portholes

MS Sarah:

• 8 outside cabins, approx. 10 sqm (108 sq ft)
  separate level-access single beds
• 2 outside cabins, approx. 10 sqm (86 sq ft)
  double bed
• 2 cabins can be used as triple cabins with bunk bed for a child
• all cabins with central heating
• openable portholes

MS Gandalf:

• 10 outside cabins, approx. 10 sqm (108 sq ft)
  separate level-access single beds
• 2 cabins can be used as triple cabins
  (for child until approx. 12 y only)
• all cabins with central heating
• openable portholes

Rental bicycles:

• We offer comfortable unisex-bikes with 7-speed gearboxes/freewheel, equipped with a bike bag and a bike lock. We also offer e-bikes if desired.
• If you choose to wear a helmet, we recommend using your own due to the variety of head sizes and shapes and for hygienic reasons.

Travel time 2025:

• Arrival on saturdays
  MS Sarah: 03.05. + 12.07. + 30.08.
  MS Flora: 24.05. + 23.08.
  MS Gandalf: 14.06. + 28.06. + 13.09.

Prices:

All prices are per person.

• 1279 € 2-bed cabin, 03.05.
• 1389 € 2-bed cabin, further dates

• 1919 € 2-bed cabin, single occupancy, 03.05.
• 2084 € 2-bed cabin, single occupancy, further dates

• 1179 € 3-bed cabin Sarah/Flora, 03.05.
• 1289 € 3-bed cabin Sarah/Flora, further dates
• 1329 € 3-bed cabin Gandalf

•     90 € rental bike
•   245 € e-bike
•     15 € private bike   
•     30 € private e-bike
•   185 € parking in Amsterdam (valet parking)
•  + 35 € bicycle carrier

• booking code "Netherlands by boat & bike":
  RS-NAX-7M
• how you can save some money
• costs of cancellation

The booking process

Arrival "The Netherlands by boat and bike":

• Arrival by car:
  There are three options of parking your car for the duration of the trip. In any case, please drive to the quay first and bring your luggage and (if applicable) personal bike aboard. Then
  - drive to the car park Oosterdok near Amsterdam Centraal station. Costs are approx. 185 € / week.
  - make use of our parking service from Centralparking. We will arrange for your car to be picked up from the quay, stored safely and returned to the ship. Your vehicle is insured against all types of damage or theft and will be parked in a protected underground facility. Advance booking necessary.
  - if you have bike racks mounted on the car, the cost increases by 35 €/week.
  - you can park your car free of charge in the streets or on a P+R- parking lot in Abcoude. Good train connection to Amsterdam, duration approx. 20 minutes, departure approx. every 30 minutes, cost approx. 4,20 €.
• Arrival by train:
  Amsterdam Centraal station, get the 48 bus to the quay, duration approx. 10 minutes, cost approx 3 €.

• Arrival by plane:
  Shiphol Airport, take the train to Amsterdam Centraal station (approx. 20 minutes, approx. 5 €), followed by the 48 bus to the quay (approx. 10 minutes / 3 €)
  Alternatively, get a taxi from the airport to the quay, cost: approx. 45 € per vehicle. There are several private and scheduled providers, see e.g. here.

Return transfer:

• Individual return journey by train, duration approx. 2,5 h, no change, price approx. 28 €. You can find additional information regarding parking and your return transfer in your travel documents.

Personal bikes:
In principle, you can bring your own bike along. However, please note that your bike will be loaded on and off the boat twice a day along with several others and therefore slight cosmetic damage to individual bikes cannot be ruled out, which is why we do not take responsibility or liability for such damage. We recommend reserving one the excellent rental bikes we offer.

Perfectly looked after:
During your tour, we are available between 8 am and 8 pm, 7 days a week. We are happy to help with any kind of problems you might be having. You will find this emergency number in your travel documents.

Please note:

• As is the case with all boat trips, changes in travel itineraries due to the weather, the rivers’ water levels or technical issues can be undertaken at any time.