Bike Tour: Dutch villages north of Amsterdam - 7 days

Within half an hour by bus from Amsterdam Central train station you will be in the fishing village of Volendam. Volendam is world famous for its many rummage shops, restaurants and terraces, where hundreds of tourists enjoy the authentic atmosphere and the view of the harbour and the water every day.

You can pick up your bike in the morning at our rental station in the harbour of Volendam. 

Just north of Volendam lies Edam. Back in the Golden Age, cheese town Edam was specialised in shipbuilding and in shipping. The well-preserved buildings in the town centre date back to this prosperous 17th century period. Go for a walk and enjoy the bridges, squares, canals and monuments. Cycle further to Hoorn, taking in the ever-changing views of the glistening lake next to you. 

The pleasing historical town centre of Hoorn boasts many lovely buildings that hark back to the 16th and 17th centuries. It was then that the town became prosperous thanks to trade and shipping. Ships sailing out of Hoorn harbour navigated as far afield as the Americas (Cape Horn!) and Japan. At home, merchants invested their earnings not only in the arts but also in the building of houses and warehouses which can still be seen today. Find out more at Westfries Museum which has specialised in the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great enterprise and maritime supremacy which we now look back on with mixed feelings. In the harbour you can visit a replica of VOC sailing ship “De Halve Maen”. This was one of a fleet of over two thousand ships belonging to the Dutch East India Company, the world’s first multinational.

From Hoorn to Enkhuizen you cycle entirely along the coast of the former Zuiderzee. Cosy old villages and especially space and tranquility, you can still find in this part of West Friesland with farmhouses and mills, large fields with all kinds of vegetables. Enkhuizen is a beautiful old town with many sights, including the open-air Zuiderzee Museum. If you want to spend a lot of time in this museum (there is plenty to see!), you can also choose to take the train back to Hoorn from Enkhuizen instead of cycling back (then it is 27 km cycling instead of 50 km).

Today's route offers wide views over green pastures and goes over narrow country roads on the edge of polder canals with numerous working mills. In the distance you can see the orange roofs of a number of traditional Dutch stepped gable houses, a white drawbridge and the historic Waag as you approach De Rijp. This village is small, but has a protected village view that has many national monuments. This beautiful town is definitely worth a break. Then you cycle through the water-rich polder towards Wormer. Here and there you may already see a green Zaan house, the famous architectural style of the region.

Wormer is one of the oldest places in the Zaanstreek. The first mention of the place dates from 1063, but the village is probably much older.

From Wormer it is only a short bike ride to the Zaanse Schans. The Zaanse Schans is a unique residential and working area full of working mills, old crafts, special museums and beautiful green wooden houses.

Today's bike route is short, so that you have enough time to look around the open-air museum full of Dutch heritage. Climb the mill for a beautiful view and watch the various workers who proudly show their craft from the past. Enjoy a delicious Dutch pancake on the terrace of the pancake restaurant.

Today's route goes through typical North Holland polder area, intersected by many ditches interspersed with meadows. Enjoy the peace and quiet and the views. Make a stop in Broek in Waterland, a beautiful village with a protected village view. A walk through the streets of this picturesque village to view the typical 'Broeker' (wooden) houses is recommended.

Then cycle on to the former Zuiderzee island of Marken. Marken is known for its green wooden houses and traditional costumes. From Marken you can take the boat to Volendam. At the end of the day you can return your bike to our supplier.
If you want to skip Marken (and the boat trip), you can also cycle to Volendam via the small town of Monnickendam.

After breakfast your cycling holiday has come to an end.