EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND
CHEESE, WINDMILLS & TULIPS
EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND - SELF GUIDED CYCLING
SUMMARY
Explore North Holland, a land of cheese, windmills and tulips, by bike. Starting from
Amsterdam, city of 800,000 bikes, your cycle tour takes in the highlights of Northern
Holland.
Pedal alongside windmills and atop the dikes protecting Beemster Polder UNESCO
World Heritage Site, sample local Edam cheese at a cheese market and cycle with
800,000 fellow cyclists in Amsterdam on an absorbing Dutch adventure.
North Holland is classic story book Holland. More than half the province consists of reclaimed
land which is up to 6 meters below sea level in parts. These Polders, filled with Tulips, are
land surrounded by dikes. Some date from the 1600’s and they are served by the ubiquitous
windmills. Together they make up a delightful landscape which seems made for cycling.
As you cycle through North Holland, you will ride along dikes, past meadows and farmhouses,
through dunes and to the world famous tulip fields. You will also visit Texel Island, the largest
of the Dutch Wadden Islands and home to the Texel Nature Reserve.
This is a route stuffed with history and each day you can explore pretty villages and historic
towns boasting picturesque streets, squares and harbours. There are of course plenty of
museums on route to help you discover the art and history of North Holland.
You 8 day cycling holiday through North Holland includes 7 nights accommodation staying at
3/4* hotels on bed and breakfast basis, door to door bag transfers, a detailed information pack,
detailed turn by turn route notes, maps and emergency support.
HIGHLIGHTS
 Cycling through classic Holland Landscapes filled with windmills, tulips and dikes.
 Visiting Beemster Polder (1612), a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 Texel Nature Reserve on Texel Island
 Zaanse Schans a recreated and inhabited 17/18th century village
 Sampling local Gouda & Edam cheese at a cheese market
Tour: Exploring North Holland
Code: CHSENH
Type: Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Price: See Website
Dates: April – September
Nights: 7
Days: 8
Cycling Days: 6
Start: Amsterdam
Finish: Amsterdam
Distance: 270km (167 miles) excl. Texel
Tour
Grade: Moderate
IS IT FOR ME?
Cycling through outstanding historical towns
and picturesque villages, alongside windmills
through unique landscape while sampling
local cheeses and trying on clogs. This is a
wonderful taste of all North Holland has to
offer
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Why choose a self guided cycling holiday in Holland with us?
There is no doubt that Holland boasts the world’s best cycle infrastructure; dedicated cycle lanes and
paths, proper cycle lanes, clear signage throughout and it’s flat. No wonder there are more bicycles than
people. This makes a cycling holiday in Holland a delight and the perfect way to discover the villages,
landscape, food and people of Holland. It is particularly well suited to families and children as the routes
are predominantly traffic free.
Our turn by turn route notes, detailed maps, comfortable cycle friendly hotels and reliable baggage service
mean you can relax and enjoy every moment of your cycling holiday in Holland with us.
Accommodation: 7 Nights accommodation
in 3/4* hotels.
Meals: 7 Breakfasts . Dinner is not included
but can be added as an option
Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage
transfer.
Bike Hire: Not included but we can arrange
this for your cycling holiday and is an option
on the booking form.
Information Pack: Comprehensive route
directions, information pack and maps.
EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND
CHEESE, WINDMILLS & TULIPS
ITINERARY: CHSENH
Cycling Days: 6
Nights: 7
Days: 8
Grade: Moderate
Day
Route
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Arrive in Amsterdam
Cycle to Alkmaar: 55 km
Cycle to Dan Helder: 60 km
Cycle round Texel: 26/55 km
Cycle to Medemblik: 50 km
Cycle to Hoorn: 50 km
Cycle to Amsterdam: 55 km
Onward Travel
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
DAY 1
Arrival in Amsterdam
Wander around the gorgeous and surprisingly
peaceful seventeenth century canal ring area
(World Heritage Site). Make your way to the
city’s famous squares: Dam, Rembrandtplein and
Leidseplein. Should you prefer to roam off the
beaten track, saunter up Brouwersgracht or hire
a canal bike and find out what the city looks like
from the water.
Overnight: Amsterdam (Hotel Casa400)
DAY 2
Cycle to Alkmaar- 55km/34m
This stretch of the tour is very diverse. Zaanse
Schans is a recreated (inhabited) neighbourhood
in the style typical of this area on the River Zaan
in the 17/18th Centuries: beautiful dark green
wooden buildings and windmills. See clog,
cheese and tin making demonstrations. Treat
yourself to a pancake at Pancake Restaurant De
Kraai, a former grain barn.
Then get back on your bike and cycle the rest of
the way back to the beautiful town Alkmaar.
Famous cheese market on Thursdays.
Overnight: Alkmaar
DAY 3
Cycle to Dan Helder - 40km/37m
You continue your cycle through and behind the
dunes and woods up the North Sea coast to Den
Helder. You will pass pretty seaside resorts and
Zwanenwater, a nature reserve with a mix of
seawater and rainwater. All along our North Sea
coast, dunes protect the hinterland from being
flooded by the sea except near the town of
Petten where the dunes have been washed away
and a sea wall has been built.
The "De Dijk te Kijk” exhibition explains all about
the past, present and future of this sea wall
called Hondsbosse Zeewering and about the
trials and tribulations of the people of Petten over
the course of many centuries.
Overnight: Dan Helder
DAY 4
Cycle round Texel - 26-55km/16-31m
Texel is the largest of Hollands five Wadden
Islands and is a place of outstanding natural
beauty. The centre of the Island is hilly, the
hangover from the ice age, and is surrounded by
three distinct separate landscapes. Dunes and
beaches, flatlands and polders and, of course,
wetlands.
There are many bike routes to choose from, be
sure to visit De Slufter, a beautiful nature reserve
and one of the few areas in The Netherlands
where the sea has always been able to penetrate
unhindered. Lilac sea lavender comes into bloom
here in July and August.
Overnight: Dan Helder
DAY 5
Cycle to Medemblik - 50km/31m
The area just south of Den Helder has developed
into one of the largest flower bulb growing areas
in the world. Most of the bulbs are for export. In
spring, when tulips, hyacinths and daffodils come
into bloom, the landscape is a sea of colour. The
route continues through Wieringermeer, a polder
drained and desalinated between 1927 and 1934
to create new arable land of which there was a
great shortage. The ancient town of Medemblik is
on splendid Lake IJsselmeer. It has a marina and
a steam engine museum.
Overnight: Medemblik
DAY 6
Cycle to Hoorn - 50km/31m
This region, confusingly called West-Friesland,
offers peace and quiet as well as pretty villages,
traditional farmhouses and windmills. You will
cycle atop the old sea dike with continuous views
of Lake IJsselmeer.
The lively town of Enkhuizen is home to the
excellent Zuiderzee Museum which explains all
about the heyday of the harbour towns of the
former Zuiderzee. In the 17th Century ships from
these towns sailed the seven seas trading in
spices and bulbs. Also explore the recreated
Zuiderzee village of old. Your destination, Hoorn,
is a beautiful old town with many buildings that
also date back to the Golden Age.
Overnight: Hoorn
DAY 7
Cycle to Amsterdam - 55km/34m
This lovely cycle takes you along the shores of
Lake Hoornsche Hop and Lake Markermeer
through pretty towns and villages such as Edam,
Volendam and Monnickendam. The beautiful
stone houses in the fishing village Volendam
seem to have been drawn up without an
EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND
CHEESE, WINDMILLS & TULIPS
organised street plan.
Navigation
By Car
From here, make your way to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam will welcome you with romantic
canals, bridges and... more than 800,000
bicycles! Amsterdam is for exploring whether you
like, art, culture, an evening out or just looking
around the canal area. A canal boat trip is a
great way to get a better look at the canal
houses.
We supply you with detailed route descriptions
and maps as well as tourist information on all the
places of interest.
For directions to your accommodation in
Amsterdam please see the Hotel Casa400
website. Parking is available at a special rate of
€12.50 a day.
Baggage Transfer
Travel
Insurance
Overnight: Amsterdam
Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in
the price of your trip. We ask you to keep your
baggage to a maximum of 1 bag per person
(maximum weight 20kg).
DAY 8
Rental Bikes
Onward Travel
Bike hire is not included though may be booked
as an option.
Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit
Helmets are not included as part of the optional
rental package and we ask that you bring your
own.
Our operating policies, office policies, holidays
and tours are all designed to minimise impact
and maximise benefit to the environment and
local communities.
After breakfast in your hotel, commence your
onward travel
RECOMMENDATIONS
Additional Nights and Extensions
You can add additional nights at any point
before, during or after your tour.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Getting to/from Amsterdam
By Air
HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Accommodation
Your trip includes 7 nights in carefully selected
hotels of 3/4 star standard.
Single Rooms
Single rooms are available although a
supplement is payable.
Amsterdam Schiphol airport is served by direct
flights from most major UK and European
airports.
By Ferry
Ferries depart daily between Newcastle and
Amsterdam. Check DFDS Seaways for prices
and booking.
This trip is available with a solo supplement
Stenaline also run ferries 7 days a week from
Harwich to Hook of Holland, while daily ferries
between Hull and Rotterdam are run by P&O
Ferries.
Grade
By Train
This cycle tour is graded moderate. The five
cycling days vary from 50 - 60 km in length
(about 3 - 4 hours cycling).
Amsterdam is linked with London, either via Paris
or Brussels (around 5 hours) by high speed train.
Visit Rail Europe for prices and booking.
Solo Cyclists
Adequate travel insurance is a pre-requisite on
all bookings
M.A.C.S RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Action & Advocacy
We believe that by engaging our team and
clients in environmental and community projects
we can make a real difference.
Carbon & Communities
Travel and our business activity does of course
contribute to carbon output and climate change.
We have put several policies in place to minimise
our carbon footprint.
Sensitive & Sustainable
Macs Adventure has worked hard to ensure that
our holidays are sensitive to the community you
are visiting and sustainable over the long term.
EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND
CHEESE, WINDMILLS & TULIPS
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
Availability
This cycling holiday is best enjoyed between
April and September. You can start on any date
that suits your travel plans and you will find up to
date availability on our website. During the
spring months (generally March - April) the bulb
flowers come into bloom. During July and August
on Texal Island lilac sea lavender comes into
bloom.
Included:
 7 nights in 3/4* hotels
 7 Breakfasts
 Daily luggage transport (1 bag per person/
max. 20 kg)
 Detailed information pack with route notes,
maps and useful information.
 24/7 emergency support
Excluded:
 Drinks, snacks and lunches and dinners
 Travel to /from Amsterdam
 Bike hire - May be booked as an option
 Personal equipment
 Travel insurance
 Entrance fees to museums and attractions
Optional
 Additional nights accommodation
 Single room supplement (if applicable)
 Bike hire
 Evening meals
HOW TO BOOK
Once you have read all the information in this
factsheet or on our website and decided on your
preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a
call to confirm availability. You can then book by
any of the following methods:
Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886
Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form
and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf,
Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845
527 5688
Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on
+44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email:
[email protected] if you have any
queries and one of our expert customer service
team will be happy to help.
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
Financial Security
In order to provide clients with
peace of mind Macs
Adventure Ltd has effected a
policy with IGI Insurance
Company Ltd through travel insurance specialists
Milsom Howard Limited to ensure that all
passengers booking with Macs Adventure
Limited are fully protected for the initial deposit
and subsequently the balance of all monies paid
to Macs Adventure Ltd, arising from cancellation
or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to
the insolvency of Macs Adventure Limited.
ABTA Member Statement
Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA.
ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers
to get the most from their travel and assist when
things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged
to maintain a high standard of service to you by
ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For more information
on ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the
arbitration scheme available to you if you have a
complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London
SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 0581 www.abta.com