perfect trip!
Pearls of Holland - Relax
Bike Tour: Pearls of Holland - Relax - 8 days
After the great success of our Pearls of Holland 7-days tour, now the NEW Pearls of Holland - Relax is online.
Now this tour is 8-days and it's suitable for everyone!
Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, Gouda and Woerden are among our cyclists’ all-time favourite cities – each unique and all brimming with that typical Olde Holland character. We have decided to combine them into this one route for the ultimate cultural bike holiday. Cycling distances are relatively short allowing more time for sightseeing and museums. Although you will stay within the Randstad conurbation you’ll discover how rural and quiet the countryside can be, where polders, windmills, bulb flower fields (in spring!), lakes and rivers take the spotlight. In short, this route stands for seven days of enjoying cultural gems and idyllic countryside.
Get here early and opt to wander around the gorgeous and surprisingly peaceful seventeenth century canal ring area (World Heritage Site). If you like bustle, 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.
Spend the morning visiting your favourite Amsterdam museum, or sitting in the sun on Rembrandtplein watching the world go by, or go for a walk along the canals. The possibilities are endless. As you leave the capital in the early afternoon, the urban buzz will soon make way for the peace and quiet of the countryside. This region is called Zuid-Kennemerland. In the low-lying peat landscape clouds are reflected in the water and reed sways in the wind.
The steam mill Cruquius, just before you cycle into Haarlem, is itself a National Monument for the steam history of the engine within, and it has also been declared an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage. It is thought to be the largest steam engine – and certainly the largest beam engine – ever built. The reclamation of Haarlemmermeer by means of steam power marked the breakthrough of the Industrial Revolution in the Netherlands.
Top off your day roaming lovely downtown Haarlem, from impressive Grote Markt square, to the white drawbridge on the River Spaarne. Idyllic courtyards, known as ‘hofjes’, will set your heart a-flutter. Haarlem is home to the oldest hofje dating from 1395.
It can happen that we will book a hotel in Santpoort instead of Haarlem, due to availability.
The hotel is located in a manor house with a beautiful park, surrounded by nature, about 7 km outside Haarlem.
Please check the extra price of Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg Hotel in Santpoort in the price overview below. The price includes dinner for this night.
Haarlem, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, deserves to be explored extensively before your bicycle tour today. In the monumental city center, with many sights, you can stroll around for hours without getting bored for a moment.
Famous photo spot is the small white drawbridge over the Spaarne with the two gabled houses in the background. On the market you will find the Grote Kerk with the organ that Mozart played on when he visited Haarlem.
Fancy a morning of soaking up art? Then visit the Frans Hals museum with unique art from the Golden Age, including works by Haarlem painters Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael and Pieter Saenredam.
After Haarlem, get ready for a bike ride through the famous Dutch Bulb Region, the area where much of Holland's flower bulb cultivation takes place. Cycle through the dunes past well-known seaside resorts such as Noordwijk and Zandvoort. Noordwijk is a seaside resort of international stature with a 13 km long sandy beach. Surrounded by beautiful forest areas, rugged dunes and the flower bulb region near De Keukenhof, Noordwijk is is also referred to as the flower resort of Europe. Formula 1 fans know the CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, which is known as a real ""Old School"" circuit, with fast, undulating and challenging corners formed by the natural dunes. With a track length of 4.3 kilometers, it is one of the shorter circuits on the F1 calendar. Almost nowhere else do drivers race past race fans so often!
In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Leiden, another beautiful historic city rich in attractions.
The city has much to offer. Beautiful are the seventeenth-century houses and characteristic canals. Also worth a visit are the oldest university in the Netherlands, the historic botanical garden and the Gothic St. Pieterskerk.
After taking your leave of lively Leiden, peace and quiet will reign once more in today’s typically Dutch scenery. Note all the orderly rectangles in this man-made polder landscape (mostly peatland reclamations). Let shining lakes and green pastures, old windmills and farmhouses pass you by whilst pedalling on to the famous city of Delft. The melancholy charm of historical Delft is breathtaking. Most will associate Delft with its blue and white hand-painted pottery: Delftware. But did you know that painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) lived in Delft all his life? The Vermeer Centre gives illuminating insights into his life, works and city (no original paintings on show here).
This stretch of the tour takes you through the Green Heart: a stronghold against urban sprawl in Randstad conurbation. Balancing atop 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).
The vast landscape of your route today is graced by several small rivers, unique white bridges and various crafts. Leaving Gouda, following the Hollandsche IJssel, you arrive in one of the most beautiful villages in the province of South Holland, Haastrecht. Haastrecht is one of the most beautiful villages of Zuid-Holland. Via the small river the Vlist, the silver town of Schoonhoven now comes into view. Schoonhoven is known for its silver and therefore carries the nickname: Zilverstad ("Silver City"). Since the 17th century, silver and gold smiths have been working here. Today, Schoonhoven is still known for its silver. The route along the river then takes you to Oudewater, internationally known for its atmospheric and monumental town centre including the Heksenwaag and the Rope Museum. Finally, you will arrive in the town of Woerden, the centre of the Green Heart.
From Woerden, you cycle along the eight-kilometre-long Kamerikse Wetering, which was dug almost exactly in a north-south direction. Soon, Wilnis comes into view. For the first inhabitants, living in Wilnis was literally living in the wilderness. Around the 11th century, they settled in a swampy area. Those times are long gone. The area has since been reclaimed. Wilnis put itself on the map in 2003. In a dry summer, the dike broke, causing a major flood. Remarkably, there were no casualties. A monument on the -reinforced- dike commemorates this special event.
Along the Vinkeveense Plassen, Vinkeveen soon comes into view. Vinkeveen's villagescape is like a postcard. On the north side of this lake area, you get a view of part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, Fort in the Botshol, Unesco World Heritage Site. If you want to check out a typical 'Old Dutch' village, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is definitely recommended. Stroll through the pretty historic streets and don't forget to visit the old Jewish cemetery 'Beth Haim' (house of life). The cemetery, with around 28,000 graves, is a national monument. The mere fact that this place in the Randstad, out of reach of the encroaching city and modernisation, makes it special and unique. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery still in use in the Western world. Finally, Amsterdam welcomes you with romantic canals.
After breakfast your cycling holiday has come to an end.
Starting dates:
Daily from April 1 till September 24
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 | 960.00 | |
| Single room, breakfast | 1,485.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only | 105.00 | |
| Upgrades pp/night | € | |
| Stadshotel Woerden, Woerden | 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 | € | |
| E-bike | 196.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| Bike Breakdown pass | € 4.00 x 7 | 28.00 |
| Bike theft insurance | € 3.00 x 7 | 21.00 |
| E-bike theft insurance | € 6.00 x 7 | 42.00 |
| Extra luggage | € 5.00 x 7 | 35.00 |
| Child trailer | € 18.00 x 7 | 126.00 |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
The hotels or B&Bs on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the hotels we work with appears below. If a certain accommodation is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a comparable alternative.
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.
If you don’t bring your own bike, you can rent one from us. Our touring bikes are 24-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
You will find your rental bike waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks.
Why the Dutch don't wear helmets!
Instruction video hybrid bike and e-bike
Our hybrid bikes have 24-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are circa 16,5 KG.
The e-bikes have a small electric engine and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine. The weight of the e-bike is ca. 25 KG. We recommend a minimum height of 160 cm for the e-bike.
For children who are at least 120 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm).
The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes.
The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
24" child bike:
26" child bike:
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
Brakes
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
Childseat
For children up to 30 months old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. This is not possible with e-bikes, due to the display.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
Both front- and rear child seats are €5,- per day.
Helmet
Helmets are not mandatory in the Netherlands, but can be rented for €10,- per piece.
Available sizes: Adult: 54-61 cm, Child: 50-55 cm (only available for children over 5 years).
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.
We have a limited amount of tandem bikes available on request.
Tandem bikes are suitable for two adults only.
The tandem bikes have a frame size of 48 cm.
We mostly use the Victoria Spezial 8.7.
This tandem bike comes with 24-derailleur gears or nuvinci gears.
The height of the handle bars on a tandem bike cannot be adjusted.
We have limited family tandem bikes available on request.
The family tandems have 7-gears and can be used for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and on their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
We mostly use the XLC Duo 2 child trailer.
Child trailers are not possible in combination with e-bikes.
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.
7 Nights included
3/4 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included, Halfboard optional
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
Amsterdam Sloterdijk / Amsterdam CS
Parking possibilities at the hotel
GPS-tracks availible
Any ferry crossings are not included
Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
The train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Sloterdijk departs 6 times per hour. Travel time is about 10 minutes. A single ticket costs approx €4,- per person excl. bicycle.
For timetables and tickets, go to www.ns.nl/en. For bus details, how to reach the hotel, check : www.9292.nl/en.
03-08-2024
The whole trip was wonderfully organised. The bikes were ready on arrival and even though my wife's bike was too large you managed to exchange it for a smaller frame. This was very much appreciated. All the hotels were expecting us on arrival, the staff were very friendly and always helped direct us to the bike parking areas. Once we got the hang of the junction numbers the navigation was easy and we never got lost once. In fact we even helped a Dutch tourist to find their way. We ate out every night and found there was plenty of choice and the quality of the meals was excellent. Taking everything in to account we both thoroughly enjoyed the holiday.
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Pearls of Holland - Relax
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