EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND - SELF GUIDED CYCLING

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.

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

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.

SUMMARY

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?

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

HIGHLIGHTS

Cycling Days: 6 Nights: 7 Days: 8 Grade: Moderate

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

CHEESE, WINDMILLS & TULIPS

ITINERARY: CHSENH

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

EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND

organised street plan.

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.

Overnight: Amsterdam

DAY 8

Onward Travel

After breakfast in your hotel, commence your onward travel

Additional Nights and Extensions

You can add additional nights at any point before, during or after your tour.

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.

Solo Cyclists

This trip is available with a solo supplement

Grade

This cycle tour is graded moderate. The five cycling days vary from 50 - 60 km in length (about 3 - 4 hours cycling).

Navigation

We supply you with detailed route descriptions and maps as well as tourist information on all the places of interest.

Baggage Transfer

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).

Rental Bikes

Bike hire is not included though may be booked as an option.

Helmets are not included as part of the optional rental package and we ask that you bring your own.

Getting to/from Amsterdam

By Air

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.

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.

By Train

Amsterdam is linked with London, either via Paris or Brussels (around 5 hours) by high speed train. Visit Rail Europe for prices and booking.

By Car

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.

Travel Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is a pre-requisite on all bookings

Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit

Our operating policies, office policies, holidays and tours are all designed to minimise impact and maximise benefit to the environment and local communities.

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

M.A.C.S RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

TRAVEL INFORMATION

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

RECOMMENDATIONS

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

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: info@macsadventure.com if you have any queries and one of our expert customer service team will be happy to help.

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

EXPLORING NORTH HOLLAND

CHEESE, WINDMILLS & TULIPS

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