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Dutch Bike Tours Cycling holiday  From Europe's Biggest Harbour to the Countryside
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Cycling days
Distance
From Europe's Biggest Harbour to the Countryside
From Europe's Biggest Harbour to the Countryside
Type :
Hybrid :
E-Bike :
Duration :
7 days
Cycling days :
 5
Comfort :
period:
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Code:
7-07
Seacoast Nature
price from € 820
From Europe's Biggest Harbour to the Countryside
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From Europe's Biggest Harbour to the Countryside

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Bike Tour: From Europe's Biggest Harbour to the Countryside - 7 days

Start this tour in the modern city of Rotterdam, voted 5th in the top 10 'world top cities' (Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016) Leaving the skyscrapers and port cranes of Rotterdam behind you, plunge into tranquil countryside. The far horizons give you a feeling of peace, space and freedom.
You will visit the old town of Dordrecht with its picturesque harbour quarter. Next you will head south to Willemstad, a former garrison town inside star-shaped fortifications. The next day enter Zeeland province, mainly made up of islands. 

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Route
Day 1: Arrival in Rotterdam
Day 2: Rotterdam - Willemstad
Day 3: Willemstad - Noordgouwe (Zierikzee)
Day 4: Noordgouwe (Zierikzee) - Burgh Haamstede
Day 5: Burgh Haamstede - Brielle
Day 6: Brielle - Rotterdam
Day 7: Return Home

Day 1:    Arrival in Rotterdam

Arrival in Rotterdam

Day 2:    Rotterdam - Willemstad
66 km

Firstly from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk. With all its pitoresque windmills.
Pedalling on, you will reach one of the oldest towns in Holland: Dordrecht, completely surrounded by water. The area around the marina is a true gem. This oldest part of town counts over a thousand historical buildings and three nostalgic canals.
Round off the day in Willemstad, a fortified town shaped like a seven-point star.

Day 3:    Willemstad - Noordgouwe (Zierikzee)
50 km

Make your way across the isle of Goeree Overflakkee amid a mosaic landscape of rectangular polders, rolling dunes and golden sand flats. A bridge will take you across Grevelingenmeer Lake back to the isle of Schouwen Duiveland. In mussel town Bruinisse, "the Gateway to Zeeland”, look around the fishing harbour or stroll over to the attractive marina. Back in the saddle, pedal on to the historical town of Zierikzee, a real gem, situated on the Oosterschelde estuary. The street plan is medieval and meandering, the historical buildings number over 500, the impressive marina is well worth a visit. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a Zeeland delicacy: "Zeeuwse bolus” (pastry with syrup and cinnamon -sometimes buttered) or "Schouws palingbroodje” (a bread roll stuffed with smoked eel). If you want to delve into local history, do explore the Maritime Museum revealing all on Zierikzee’s glorious (notorious?) seafaring and trading past.

Day 4:    Noordgouwe (Zierikzee) - Burgh Haamstede
48 km

Oosterschelde National Park is an estuarine tidal habitat. Tidal flats are submerged by seawater at high tide and re-emerge at low tide covered in food for water birds. They are also a favourite resting place for seals. Flora and fauna in and around the Oosterschelde adapt to both freshwater from the rivers and salty seawater. Today you will cross the Oosterschelde on Zeelandbrug Bridge to the isle of Noord-Beveland. It’s like entering a different world. Few tourists have made it this far! Cycling west, past fields and pastures and through tiny villages, you will reach world famous Oosterscheldekering. This is the Storm Surge Barrier, the largest, most ingenious and expensive of the Delta Works. Nine km long, connecting Noord-Beveland to Schouwen-Duiveland, initially it was planned as a closed dam. But under pressure from the fishing lobby and environmentalists, sixty-two big sliding sluice gates were installed in the dam. These steel doors are nearly always open, allowing sea water to pass thus safeguarding Oosterschelde’s saltwater ecosystem. They close only when sea levels are expected to rise more than three meters. Halfway across the barrier, on an artificial island, lies Delta Park "Neeltje Jans”, Zealand’s number one tourist attraction, built around the Delta Expo. It offers illuminating insights into the Delta Works, why they were necessary, how they protect our coastline and relative environmental matters. But there’s more: a water theme park with a playground, an amazing waterslide, saltwater aquarium, sea lion show and more... Back on the isle of Schouwen-Duiveland, you will cycle through the tranquil woods of "Kop van Schouwen” nature reserve.

Day 5:    Burgh Haamstede - Brielle
50 km

Twenty-one kilometres of the Netherlands’ most pristine coastline await you this morning. Pedalling up the beautiful coast of Schouwen-Duiveland island, you will enjoy bright white beaches and rolling dunes. The Delta Works, a series of thirteen sea barriers, sluices and dams all down the coast of Zeeland were constructed to protect the low-lying hinterland from flooding. But it also dramatically improved infrastructure in the region. Brouwers Dam and Haringvliet Dam are part of the Delta Works and will take you across to the next two islands on today’s route. Ride atop the dams with the sea to your left and lakes on your right. You will end the day in the town of Brielle. The star-shaped fortifications (including moat, canals, ramparts, bastions) have been lovingly restored and the 400+ listed buildings are a sight to behold.

Day 6:    Brielle - Rotterdam
37 km

Today’s cycling distance is short, which means you will have plenty of time to explore the bustling city of Rotterdam.

Day 7:    Return Home

After breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to go home.

Prices

Starting dates:
Thursday until Tuesday from April 1 till September 24.


Price pp
Double room, breakfast 815.00
Single room, breakfast 1,235.00
Extra night double room, breakfast only 70.00
Upgrades pp/night
Fletcher Strandhotel Haamstede, Burgh Haamstede 25.00
Hotel Mondragon, Zierikzee 0.00
Rental bike
Child bike 66.00
Hybrid 78.00
E-bike 162.00
Extra services
Bike Breakdown pass € 4.00 x 6 24.00
Child seat € 5.00 x 6 30.00
Bike theft insurance € 3.00 x 6 18.00
E-bike theft insurance € 6.00 x 6 36.00
Extra luggage € 5.00 x 6 30.00
Tag-along bike € 6.00 x 6 36.00
Child trailer € 17.50 x 6 105.00
Bike helmet per piece 10.00
SGR per piece 5.00

Starting point:
Rotterdam or Burgh Haamstede 

Accommodation

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.

NH Hotel Atlanta Rotterdam **** (Rotterdam)
Hotel Mauritz *** (Willemstad)
Hostellerie Schuddebeurs *** (Noordgouwe)

www.schuddebeurs.nl

Be aware that the restaurant of the hotel is very populair so advance reservations is recommended. There is no other restaurant nearby. The nearest alternatives are in Zierikzee, 3 km away. 

Fletcher Duinhotel Burgh Haamstede **** (Burgh Haamstede)
Boutique Hotel Poorter **** (Brielle)
Bikes

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.

Rental bike

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.

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:
Child bike 26 inch

Bell

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.  


GPS

It is possible to rent a GPS device when you start your tour in Amsterdam, Bruges, Utrecht, Huizen or Bunnik for €20,-. 


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. 


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.

 

Practical info

6 Nights included

3/4 Star Hotels

Tourist tax included

Breakfast included

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

Rotterdam

Parking possibilities at the hotel

GPS-tracks availible

Any ferry crossings are not included

Arrival info

Nearest Airport are Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

From Rotterdam The Hague Airport you should take the bus and metro to reach the hotel. For timetables and tickets: www.9292.nl/en.
The train from Schiphol to Rotterdam departs 4 times per hour. Travel time is about 2 hours. A single ticket costs approx €15,- per person excl. bicycle. 

For timetables and tickets, go to www.ns.nl/en
From Rotterdam trainstation you should take a metro and bus to reach the hotel. For metro and bus details, how to reach the hotel, check : www.9292ov.nl/en.

Reviews

18-10-2023

I would like to say that the whole experience, from start to finish was a joy. Excellent support provided by Dutch Bike tours when we (rarely) needed it. I have been widely recommending your company since my return. 

07-08-2018

...Intersting route from Schuddebeurs to Burgh-Hamsteede because of the storm barriers. All in all we were very satisfied...

01-06-2018

...Cycling through the magical Kinderdijk, into the walled towns like Doredrecht, Zierikzee and the star shaped Willemstad’s and Brielle was delightful. We enjoyed riding with the sun warming us on one day and riding into the fog on another day over the vast expanses across the sea between the islands. It made us really feel at one with the environment. Recovering with a delicious Dutch beer at the end of the day cycling we marvelled over the feats of engineering, the history and the ingenious agricultural endeavours we’d seen... 

01-06-2018

...Part of the joy of a self guided cycling holiday is the adventure of following an unknown path, discovering new places off the usual tourist trail, being out and active in the environment. The tour gave us a terrific guide for the route and what to look out for and accommodation all arranged with our luggage waiting for us at the end of our day of riding...

02-06-2016

The holiday was excellent. ...Bike quality – very good, Hotel accommodation – very good.Routes and direction information – excellent. I particularly liked the daily maps which were provided to the right scale and were easy to follow. The routes provided some really good impressions of the Dutch countryside. My wife, daughter and myself were all impressed. Overall, I have very positive views of Dutch Biketours and would recommend your company to others. If we return to Holland, we will come to you again, Thanks for making it a pleasant experience...

22-05-2016

...The holiday was excellent. Bike quality – very good. Hotel accommodation – very good.
Routes and direction information – excellent. I particularly liked the daily maps which were provided to the right scale and were easy to follow...

 

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