perfect trip!
Paris - Amsterdam
Bike Tour: Paris - Amsterdam - 12 days
Great cycling in France, Belgium and the Netherlands
A dream bike ride through Europe, from the Eifel tower of Paris to the canals of Amsterdam. These two European cities with big importance for history, world-famous buildings and museums are the start and the finish of this journey through 3 countries.
In between you will explore famous and beautiful towns like Ghent, Antwerp and Gouda as you cycle through varied landscapes. You will start in France, beautiful France with it's very wide spectrum of food and wines.
Your holiday starts in Paris, ‘The City of Lights’. There is so much to see and do here: stroll along the river banks of the Seine or the Montmartre district or visit the famous attractions such as the Sacre Cœur Basilica, the Notre Dame cathedral, the Louvre museum with the Mona Lisa and of course the Eifel Tower.
! Bikes are not allowed on the train from Amsterdam to Paris (or vice versa). We therefore strongly recommend to book this trip with rental bikes, so you can leave the rental bikes at the hotel in Amsterdam at the end of the trip.
Today you start cycling! Exiting the capital along the Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Martin really allows us to dive into a history book, an open-air museum.
On the first 30 kilometers from Paris to Gressy, the route follows the nice cycle track of the Canal de l’Ourcq, a rural setting away from cars, for a safe exit out of Paris.
As you get closer to Senlis you will encounter forests and true nature as you reach the region “Ile de France”: guaranteed change of scenery with these great pines and this sandy soil in the Landes, south west of France.
The program of the day: Prestigious castle, medieval towns and large forest area!
Chantilly is world renowned for its castle (sometimes compared to a castle of the Loire), its Great Stables, its porcelain, its lace and its gastronomy (yes the famous cream Chantilly would have been invented here)
An ancient foundation, a royal residence during the Middle Ages, the charming city of Senlis preserves its rich history and has several museums. Its protected environment of 40 ha is particularly appreciated by filmmakers.
After crossing the forest of Halatte you cross the "plateau" of Nery but the slope is soft! You pass close to Béthisy-Saint-Pierre which is worth a detour.
After going down the Automne river which gave its name to this valley, called the 35 bell-towers, today’s journey ends the in the forest of Compiègne. A large town bordering the forest, a palace opening towards wooded immensities, these are the first impressions that Compiègne leaves. The city, furrowed by charming and shopping streets, has museums with varied collections.
In the morning, we recommend to make the abbey of Ourscamp your first stop of the day. The route continues along the canal, toward Noyon. Noyon is listed as a city of Art and History: medieval atmosphere around the cathedral which saw the coronation of Hugues Capet in 987.
Further along the route, you cross vast natural areas with more than 200 species of birds and cycle through the fertile valley of the Oise before you reach Saint Question. Discover its streets with Art Deco houses, the details of which deserve to be spotted. It is the style adopted during the rebuilding of the city, which was hardly destroyed during the Great War and once again became a dynamic city, the economic capital of Haute Picardie.
The route in the morning takes you towards the Touage Museum, through small hilly roads between villages devoted to agriculture and memorial sites of the Great War: cemeteries, memorials and vestiges of the Hindenburg line. A few pedaling strokes and you pass the sources of l’Escaut, the famous river that you follow for kilometers and whose course flows into the North Sea in Netherlands. In the Haute Vallée de l’Escaut lies a jewel: the abbey of Vaucelles (XII century). As it is presented to you today, the abbey remains an unusual construction both in its dimensions and the quality of its restoration.
Passing through typical villages and hamlets, you reach the town of Cambrai, peaceful city of Art and History. Take advantage of it to discover its streets, where half-timbered houses, rich private mansions, Flemish mansions mingle with pleasure. And don't leave without having tasted the famous "Bétises de Cambrai" or other local specialties!
This day offers a pleasant ride through to the Parc Naturel Régional Scarpe-Escaut, the first French regional park. Here, Belgium and France link with the barges on Escaut river, between lands and waters where you pedal through to the forests, marshes and ponds populated with various species. You will discover the mining villages classified by UNESCO, and the agricultural landscapes.
While leaving the 5 bell-towers of Tournai behind you, today you will leave Wallonia and enter the province of Flanders. Down the road do try one of the most famous Belgian local products "Geraardsbergse mattentaart", a pie with an ancient history of making. The river Scheldt is still your guide as you cycle to the old town of Oudenaarde (AD 974). Also center of the famous classic cycle race "Ronde van Vlaanderen". The former towing paths along the banks have been transformed to smooth cycle paths, occasionally leafy and then through the open fields of Flanders. At the end of the day the sparkling cultural city of Ghent is waiting for you. The Belgians call Ghent their most beautiful city and the city will undoubtedly charm you.
Cycling North, you will follow the banks of the river Scheldt you leave Ghent and cycle towards Lokeren. The bushes and polders show the wild and pure nature here. The wide Schelde is not only a natural, but also a tourist attraction.
Antwerp is the largest town in Flanders and Belgium’s most important port city. After viewing the historical town center, you might like to venture to the hip and trendy parts of the city: ‘t Zuid and Het Eilandje. Have you worked up a thirst for Belgian beer? Consider visiting De Koninck beer brewery. It has been going strong since 1833 and has a new visitors centre welcoming guests wishing to look around and do some tasting. This brewery is best known for its ‘Bollekes’.
The landscape along today’s cycling route is predominantly woody. On the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, catch your breath in De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide, a lovely cross-border nature reserve. Upon crossing the border, you will find yourself in the south of the Netherlands. In village after village, Brabant hospitality will entice you to stop for a cup of coffee and big slice of fruit tart.
Today’s destination is Breda, the main city of Nassau in Holland, boasting many imposing monuments. The ancestors of our royal family converted Breda to a beautiful city with richly decorated buildings.
The route today will take you right past one of the few remaining fresh-water tidal areas in Europe: Biesbosch National Park. You will cycle through Dordrecht, one of the Netherlands’ oldest towns and a great place to stop for a lunch break. A visit to the scenic harbour quarter with its wonderful historical buildings should not be missed.
Today’s highlight is one of the Netherlands’ most popular tourist attractions: Kinderdijk, a world-famous complex of windmills. Nineteen historical windmills reach to the skies in the epitome of classical Dutch countryside. You can visit an authentic workshop and find out how these mills were built and how they work. Have you always wanted to be a miller? This is where you can still learn the trade!
End the day in medieval Gouda. Amble through the beautifully preserved town centre and visit the old town hall and St. John’s church. Stop off at a bakery to buy fresh syrup waffles (Gouda is the hometown of syrup waffles) and Gouda cheese - perhaps the world’s most famous type of cheese. For availability reasons it's possible you will stay in Bodegraven instead of Gouda.
Please note: Biesbosch Park can only be cycled on days the ferry runs. There is an alternate route for days with no ferry departure.
Today’s route takes you through the Green Heart of Holland, abounding in water. It is a true cycling paradise, with characteristic peat and polder landscapes, small farming communities and picturesque historical towns.
Your cycling holiday ends in Amsterdam, one of the crown-jewels of Europe. With so much to see and do, you couldn’t wish for a more exciting way to end your holiday. Make sure to go for a walk to marvel at the townhouses in the 17th-century canal district (listed as World Heritage). Have you got time and energy left? Opt to saunter down the infamous red-light district which attracts millions of curious tourists every year; or enjoy the street performers on friendly Rembrandtplein.
End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Amsterdam.
Starting dates:
2025: June 29th and August 24th
ATTENTION: Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 6 participants. We reserve the right to cancel a confirmed booking up to 9 weeks before departure if we don't reach the minimum number of participants.
Please note: a minimum stay of 2 nights in a row is required in the hotel in Amsterdam on the following dates (and a higher price will be charged):
April 18-20 2025
April 25-26 2025
May 29-31 2025
June 6-8 2025
June 21-22 2025
June 24-25 2025
August 29-31 2025
| Price pp | € | |
| Double room, breakfast | 1,450.00 | |
| Single room, breakfast | 2,230.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only | 105.00 | |
| Upgrades pp/night | € | |
| NH Collection Antwerp Centre, Antwerpen | 10.00 | |
| Westcord Art Hotel, Amsterdam | 10.00 | |
| Surcharge per person | € | |
| Stay in Amsterdam on Saturday | 25.00 | |
| Stay in Amsterdam from:
18 Apr 2025 - 20 Apr 2025 25 Apr 2025 - 26 Apr 2025 29 May 2025 - 31 May 2025 06 Jun 2025 - 08 Jun 2025 21 Jun 2025 - 22 Jun 2025 24 Jun 2025 - 25 Jun 2025 29 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2025 |
40.00 | |
| Rental bike | € | |
| Premium bike | 286.00 | |
| E-bike | 330.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| Bike theft insurance | € 3.00 x 11 | 33.00 |
| E-bike theft insurance | € 6.00 x 11 | 66.00 |
| Theft insurance premium bike | € 6.00 x 11 | 66.00 |
| Extra luggage | € 5.00 x 11 | 55.00 |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
Starting point:
Paris
Flights:
You can fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly and return from Amsterdam Schiphol.
Train:
To get back to Paris there is a fast train Thalys that takes you in 3 hours and 17 minutes back to Paris. Bookable 3 month in advance starting at € 39,- one way p.p. During weekdays this train runs every 2 hours. You can not take a bike on this train (we take care of the rentalbikes).
Extra night in Paris (breakfast only):
Double room €110 per person
Single room €205 per person
The hotels and the B&B on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the accomodation we work with appears below. If a certain accomodation is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will try to request a comparable alternative if possible.
When selecting the accomodation, we try to take into account as much as possible a safe and closed bicycle shed. However, we cannot do this with all of them guarantee and this partly depends on the number of bicycles of other guests.
E-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be recharged at hotels. You still have to pedal: an e-bike just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes (due to the electric motor). An e-bike weighs about 25 pounds. The range on a full battery is +/- 100 KM. For the e-bike we recommend a minimum height of 160 cm.
Koga Signature Grandtourer-S, Shimano XT completed
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
Brakes
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
Helmet
Helmets are included with bike rental.
Lights
All our bikes come with both front- and rear lights. You need to push the button on the lamp and it will flash three times. This means that the lights will automatically start working when it gets dark.
When you push again, the lamp will flash one time and the lights will be turned off.
Locks
Our bikes come with a defender lock with plug in chain (cable lock that is attached to the regular lock, see picture).
You need to turn the key a bit, take out the pin from the cable lock and attach it to a pole/other bike/fence etc.
When you push the pin back into the regular lock, you need to lock the regular lock as you always do, and both locks will be secured.
Pannier
1 pannier is included at the 'standard' bikes and the e-bikes.
Height: 42 cm
Depth front to the side: 17 cm
Wide top: 32 cm
Wide down: 23 cm
Volume: 20 liters
It has an easy click-on/click-off system. The panniers are water resistant, so everything will stay dry.
pedals
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals.
Quickrelease
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
Repairkit
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. In case a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop or call the bike breakdown emergency number which is provided in the travel documents when you book this extra service.
Saddle
Saddles can be adjusted in height without using any tools, see ‘Quick Release’.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover.
Waterbottles
Dutch Biketours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Mile after wonderful mile of untroubled cycling is what we would wish our clients. However there is a minimal chance of breakdown along the way. If this thought is a nagging worry to you, a Bicycle Breakdown Assistance insurance policy may ease your mind. If you buy this insurance from our partner ANWB pechhulp in advance, their service is as follows. The costs are €4,- per bicycle per day. If your bike breaks down by the roadside an ANWB bicycle repair man will drive to you in his repair van and fix your bike so you can continue your tour. You won’t have to pay him repair costs. If you are cycling on your own bicycle you will be charged for any new spare parts your bike may require. If you are renting a bicycle through Dutch Bike Tours any new parts are at our expense. If it turns out the bicycle cannot be repaired on the spot, or if you can't continue cycling, the repairman can drop you off somewhere in his van. One companion plus bikes may join you in the van.
Do you wish to insure your bike against theft? The cost is € 3,- per day per standard hybrid bicycle.
For an electric bicycle, premium bike or racing bike: € 6,00 per day per bicycle.
Please see the General Terms and Conditions for Bicycle Hire and Insurance.
If a rental bike gets stolen or damaged, we will hold the client responsible.
If your insurance does not cover this event, you will have to pay the costs yourself.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the Dutch Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, Dutch Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (the departure day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. Dutch Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Theft Insurance
It is possible to purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance. Covered are: damages arising out of the theft of the bicycle; and damages to the bicycle as a consequence of the theft. Not covered are: theft of bicycle parts; and damages arising out of attempted theft.
Article 7 Theft Insurance Premium
a. The premium for Bicycle Theft Insurance is € 3,00 per day per standard hybrid bicycle. For an electric bicycle € 6,00 per day as well for a Premium bike and racing bike.
The number of insurance days is the same as the number of cycling days as stated in our booking confirmation.
Article 8 Liability in the Event of Theft
a. If you did not purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us before the start of the holiday, you will be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
b. If you did purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us, but you failed to lock the wheel lock and failed to produce the original wheel lock key and failed to produce an official theft report drawn up by the police, you will still be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
Article 9 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
11 nights included
3/4 Star hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included, half board option
Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information
The possibility of renting our bikes
7-days a week service-hotline
Luggage transport to your next hotel
Paris Gare du Nord / Amsterdam CS
GPS tracks available
Any ferry crossings are not included
21-06-2024
Cycling through 3 countries and navigating cities gave us a real sense if achievement.
16-06-2024
The whole trip was such a wonderful experience exploring where we had never been before. The routes through the countryside and the guibo guidance through the route were superb as was each of the accommodations. We would recommend it to everyone.
Maybe you also like these cycling holidays:
Paris - Amsterdam
Info
- Who are we?
- Contact
- General Information
- FAQ
- Environmental Policy
- Privacy
- Sitemap
-
Celsiusweg 12/12A
6662 PX Elst
Nederland
info@dutch-biketours.com
+31(0)24 324 47 12
