perfect trip!
Duinhotel Burgh Haamstede
Bike Tour: Duinhotel Burgh Haamstede - 6 days
Discover Zeeland province on your bicycle using Duinhotel near the village of Burgh- Haamstede as your home base. Duinhotel is in a blissfully peaceful location: in the dunes, 30 minutes’ walk from the beach. If what you are looking for is peace, then look no further. Zeeland province on the south-western coast of the Netherlands is a promise of wind, water, sunshine and solitude. Your home base is on a lovely island called Schouwen-Duiveland.
If you want to cycle on the arrival and / or departure day, please request extra days of bicycle rental through the remarks field in the booking form.
If you are travelling by public transport please note that the train will get you only as far as Rotterdam or Middelburg. There is a regular bus service to Burgh-Haamstede for the last leg of your journey. The “airport” in the vicinity of the hotel is used as a take-off runway for gliders. There’s no noise nuisance, only a slight whirring sound.
Today you will cross the Oosterschelde sea-arm riding atop the Storm Surge Barrier. The sixty-two steel gates in the barrier are nearly always open, letting in seawater, but can be closed if a big storm is brewing to protect the hinterland from flooding. Designing and building this Storm Surge Barrier (1986) was an extraordinary feat of hydraulic engineering, the jewel in the crown of the thirteen Delta Works that have safeguarded Zeeland from deadly storms. Unfortunately, there seems to have been an unforeseen negative impact on the saline environment the Dutch were trying so hard to preserve in the sea-arm. The mudflats are eroding away because the tide is no longer bringing in enough sediment. As mudflats are an important habitat for many species such as waders feeding on oysters, mussels and clams, wildlife numbers could well start to dwindle. Moreover, the mudflats in themselves are currently an extra barrier to help protect the hinterland from flooding so their disappearance could theoretically increase wave action and flood risk. The sea-arm and its coastline have been given ‘National Park’ status to help preserve marine flora and fauna. So far, it continues to attract divers, tourists and bird spotters. Today’s route continues on the isle of Noord-Beveland, the smallest and most tranquil of Zeeland’s islands. Before the Delta Works opened it up to visitors relatively recently, it was secluded and stilled in time. Catch a ferry to the isle of Walcheren. The picturesque village of Veere (1296) is a good place to have a fine lunch of locally caught seafood. Originally a fishing port, it soon started to prosper thanks to shipping and trade. For centuries there were close ties with Scotland: trading relations and even royal relations. Veere had sole rights to import and trade Scottish goods in the Netherlands. In return the Scots were granted all kinds of privileges in the town of Veere. Can you find their traces? If you have a sweet tooth, visit the traditional sweet shop to purchase Zeeuwse Babbelaars, typical for Zeeland.
Today you will go on a tour of the isle of Schouwen-Duiveland. Your first stop is Slot Haamstede, which encompasses a moated (haunted!) castle, a country estate, woods and a nature reserve grazed by Shetland ponies. Then set course for Renesse, well-loved for its beautiful beaches. Sit down at one of the charming beach pavilions for a well-earned cup of coffee and a big piece of apple tart. Subsequently, a ride through tranquil countryside will lead to the Eastern Scheldt sea-arm. The land along this coast is being allowed to return to its original, natural, wetter, brackish state. This is being done to help the bird population. A few kilometres south of Burgh-Haamstede a lonely church tower is the only remnant of what was once the village of Koudekerke, washed away in the waves. Climb the tower for interesting views. The mudflats are submerged at high tide, but at low tide you can see them. This is when the sea leaves behind a banquet for the many species of waders that then come to forage. The mudflats are also a welcome place for seals to rest in the sunshine. Can you spot any? Some people get lucky and see harbour porpoises (related to the dolphin) swimming along the coast. The church tower, called Plompe Toren, has been turned into a tiny visitor’s centre focussing on local history, legend and wildlife. Back in twin villages Burgh and Haamstede, there is yet more to see. Museum De Burghse Schoole, in an 1843 school building, is open most afternoons. One room has been turned back into an old-fashioned class room, perfect in every detail. In the other room there’s a permanent exhibition explaining all about the origins of Burgh.
Cross 6 km Brouwers Dam to the isle of Goeree-Overflakkee. The dam is part of the Delta Works and separates Lake Grevelingenmeer from the North Sea. There is no tide or current in the lake so the water is very clear. A sluice was built into the dam to let seawater into the lake ensuring the continuation of mussel and oyster farming. Ouddorp village attracts holiday makers and water sports enthusiasts. Sit down at one of the many pavement cafes and ask for “bolus”, tender cinnamon pastry covered in sticky syrup, a Zeeland speciality. Some bakeries still sell “palingbroodje”. It’s like a sausage roll only it’s filled with eel (fish) instead of sausage. It’s a Zeeland speciality traditionally eaten warm, on special occasions, with a cup of tea. On Goeree attempts are being made to give parts of the land back to nature as you will see when you continue today’s bicycle route.
If you like, you could dedicate this day to visiting Zierikzee, one of the cultural highlights of this holiday. Many centuries ago the town grew prosperous thanks to trade and shipping. After it fell into decline there were no resources to demolish and replace the old houses. So they still stand today, for all to admire. Five hundred and sixty-eight lovingly restored monuments and a medieval street plan. Try one of the city walks and keep your camera at the ready. Maritiem Museum recounts stories of the town’s seafaring and trading glory days. It is housed in the former prison. Stadhuismuseum focuses on the relationship between town, sea and countryside. From mid-July to the end of August a ferry can take you from Zierikzee back to Burgh-Haamstede. Should you prefer, you could opt to use this last day to visit Delta Park Neeltje Jans, a top tourist attraction. At the centre of the park is the Delta Expo which explains everything you ever wanted to know about the Delta Works designed to prevent a repeat of the catastrophic 1953 floods. In Topshuis you can find an exhibition on Oosterschelde National Park. There’s also a saltwater aquarium, a sea lion show, a playground, an amazing water slide and more. You will find Delta Park Neeltje Jans halfway across the Storm Surge Barrier Oosterscheldekering.
After breakfast, it’s time to go home.
Starting dates:
Daily departure from April till end of September
| Price pp | € | |
| Double room, breakfast | 525.00 | |
| Single room, breakfast | 875.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only | 80.00 | |
| Rental bike | € | |
| Child bike | 77.00 | |
| Standard bike | 91.00 | |
| E-bike | 189.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| Bike Breakdown pass | € 5.60 x 5 | 28.00 |
| Child seat | € 7.00 x 5 | 35.00 |
| Bike theft insurance | € 4.20 x 5 | 21.00 |
| E-bike theft insurance | € 8.40 x 5 | 42.00 |
| Tag-along bike | € 8.40 x 5 | 42.00 |
| Child trailer | € 24.50 x 5 | 122.50 |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
Starting point:
Burgh Haamstede
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.
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle 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 bikes 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!
The bikes are circa 16,5 kilo and have 7 gears with hand brakes.
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. 27 kilo.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24” or higher).
The child bikes come with 3-gears and hand brakes.
The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm. 
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
Brakes
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
Childseat
For children up to 3 years old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. For children older than 30 months (max. 20KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat.
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: 54-61cm, Child: 50-55cm (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). One lock per 2 bikes.
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
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. They will have 5-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 can be used for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
The trailer is attached to the bike by the bike supplier and cannot be removed in the meantime, for safety reasons
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.
5 Nights included
4 Star Hotel
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included
Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information
The possibility of renting our bikes
7-days a week service-hotline
Middelburg
Parking possibilities at the hotel
GPS-tracks available
Any ferry crossings are not included
Nearest Airport are Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Burgh Haamstede by public transport is not recommended, it is about 3,5 / 4 hours. If you do want to book this tour and arrive by Public Transport, check this website for all details: www.9292.nl/en
09-09-2019
...The hotel we were at did not have a great variety of food. So being on the meal plan meant eating some of the same foods repeatedly. But over all it was nice. Loved the little towns along the way...
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Duinhotel Burgh Haamstede
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info@dutch-biketours.com
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