Full Itinerary & Trip Details

Pearls of Holland
Cycling

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Trip Overview

PRICE STARTING FROM DURATION IDEAL AGE

$1,349 7 days From 12 to 99 year olds

STARTS IN  ENDS IN
Amsterdam  Amsterdam

STYLE OPERATED IN
Bicycle English

OPERATOR TOUR CODE

Exodus Travels #206791
 Pearls of Holland Cycling https://www.tourradar.com/t/206791

Itinerary

Introduction
Discover the Pearls of Holland on this mostly gentle circular cycling trip, starting and ending in the
delightful city of Amsterdam with its UNESCO World Heritage canal ring area, its bustling squares
and cultural hotspots, including the Anne Frank and Van Gogh museums. The varied countryside
of Holland beckons with a mix of rectangular polders (low-lying land reclaimed from rivers and
protected by dykes), woodland, country estates and wild gardens. Cycle through beautiful
traditional villages, past windmills and farmhouses and on to the famous flower fields near Haarlem
(visit in April and early May for the full effect of the blooms). As well as Amsterdam and the
archetypal countryside of the Netherlands, you get to explore the cities of Haarlem, Leiden, Delft
and Gouda, all with their own histories and cultural characters. Haarlem has a wealth of culture
with the Frans Hals museum a must-see for art lovers with works from the Dutch Golden Age, as
well as plenty of shopping, cafes and restaurants to choose from. The Keukenhof botanical
gardens are worth a visit with over 7 million flowers in spring. Leiden is Holland's oldest university
town and has a lively events calendar and canals, monuments windmills and museums offer some
great sightseeing. Delft is world famous for its Delftware, the blue and white hand-painted pottery,
but was also home to the artist Vermeer. Gouda, as well as being the venue for the famous
summer cheese market (Thursday mornings April - August), has a fabulous, gothic town hall in the
main square, romantic canals and even more food options with warm syrup waffles - perfect to try
after a day of cycling. All the better to prepare you for the route back to Amsterdam.

Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam

Amsterdam,
Start Point
Netherlands

Wander around the iconic and surprisingly peaceful 17th century canal ring area of the city (a
UNESCO World Heritage Site). For hustle and bustle, make your way to the city's famous squares
or head off the beaten track along Brouwersgracht. Alternatively find out what the city looks like
from the canals. Stay at the Westcord Art Hotel with breakfast.
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Day 2: Amsterdam to Haarlem

Get an early start today and beat the queues at the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum. Then, say
'farewell” or “tot ziens!” to Amsterdam and ride through Kennemerland with its lovely variety of
countryside, from vast polders and country estates to woods and beautiful peatland. The attractive
city centre of Haarlem offers a wealth of shopping, art and culture, or the option to just relax in
cafes and restaurants. In April and early May, you have the option of cycling a longer route of c.60
km where you can see the tulip fields today. Stay at the Hotel Lion d'Or with breakfast.

Day 3: Haarlem to Leiden

Downtown Haarlem is worth exploring - discover the city’s hidden 'hofjes” (squares of tiny
almshouses set around idyllic courtyards) and the Frans Hals Museum for Dutch Golden Age
artworks. Continue on your journey to Leiden through the colourful Dune and Bulb Region. To
capture the bulb flower fields in their full splendour try to time this holiday before mid-May. Tulips,
crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths are grown here commercially, for bulb export, and temporarily
transform the landscape into one of the country’s best-loved tourist attractions. Should you want to
spend a day at world famous Keukenhof flower exhibition, we recommend you book an extra night
in Leiden. Leiden is Holland’s oldest university town and has a very busy cultural events calendar
with a friendly city centre of canals, monuments, windmills and museums. The historical botanical
gardens are definitely worth a visit. Stay at the Best Western Hotel Leiden with breakfast.

Day 4: Leiden to Delft

Today provides typically Dutch scenery with orderly, man-made rectangles in the polders (mostly
peatland reclamations). You pedal past shining lakes, green pastures, old windmills and
farmhouses on your way to the famous city of Delft. The melancholy charm of this historical city is
breath-taking. Most will associate Delft with its blue and white hand-painted pottery: Delftware,
however it was also home to painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675). The Vermeer Centre gives
illuminating insights into his life, works and city (no original paintings on show here). Stay at the
Best Western Museumhotel with breakfast.
 Pearls of Holland Cycling https://www.tourradar.com/t/206791

Day 5: Delft to Gouda

This stretch takes you through the Green Heart of Holland - a stronghold against urban sprawl.
Balance your way along the top of polder dikes, delight in characteristic villages, far horizons and
pleasingly strict rectangles cut by ditches in fields of vibrant green. As you wander around the city
of Gouda at the end of the day, don’t miss the gothic town hall (1450); the Weighing House (1667);
the romantic inner-city canals and the stained glass windows in St. John’s Church. Gouda is also
famous for making syrup waffles (try one hot!) and candles. If you’re travelling in Summer, plan
your trip so that you can witness the traditional Thursday morning cheese market at the start of
Day 6 (early April till last Thursday in August). Stay at the Best Western Hotel Gouda with
breakfast.

Day 6: Gouda to Amsterdam

Set off on the longest cycling leg today and bird lovers bring your binoculars! Once again, switch
on your five senses to fully enjoy the characteristic countryside of the Green Heart. Drift past
meadows, lakes and small villages whilst enjoying the wind in the rushes, the clouds reflected in
the lakes and the picturesque River Amstel as you wend your way back to Amsterdam. Why not
sample the famous Dutch style apple tart with your coffee en route? Should the prospect of 80 km
be rather daunting, opt to split this leg by booking an extra night in Woerden (making two legs: 43
km and 49 km). Stay at the Westcord Art Hotel with breakfast.

Day 7: Leave Amsterdam

Amsterdam,
End Point
Netherlands

After a hearty breakfast, depart Amsterdam.

What’s Included
Accommodation
6 nights in 3 and 4 star hotels, all rooms en suite
 Pearls of Holland Cycling https://www.tourradar.com/t/206791

Guide
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent

Meals
All breakfasts

Transport
5 days hotel to hotel cycling

Local bike hire

Others
Luggage transfers

Route notes and maps

 Pearls of Holland Cycling https://www.tourradar.com/t/206791

Departure Dates
STARTING IN ENDING IN
Amsterdam Amsterdam

25 April 2022 01 May 2022

26 April 2022 02 May 2022

27 April 2022 03 May 2022

28 April 2022 04 May 2022

29 April 2022 05 May 2022

30 April 2022 06 May 2022

01 May 2022 07 May 2022

02 May 2022 08 May 2022

03 May 2022 09 May 2022

04 May 2022 10 May 2022

05 May 2022 11 May 2022

06 May 2022 12 May 2022

07 May 2022 13 May 2022

08 May 2022 14 May 2022

09 May 2022 15 May 2022

10 May 2022 16 May 2022

11 May 2022 17 May 2022

 Pearls of Holland Cycling https://www.tourradar.com/t/206791

12 May 2022 18 May 2022

13 May 2022 19 May 2022

14 May 2022 20 May 2022

15 May 2022 21 May 2022

16 May 2022 22 May 2022

17 May 2022 23 May 2022

18 May 2022 24 May 2022

19 May 2022 25 May 2022

20 May 2022 26 May 2022

21 May 2022 27 May 2022

22 May 2022 28 May 2022

23 May 2022 29 May 2022

24 May 2022 30 May 2022

25 May 2022 31 May 2022

26 May 2022 01 June 2022

See all departures at www.tourradar.com/book-now/206791

 Pearls of Holland Cycling https://www.tourradar.com/t/206791

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