JOIN Holland Bike & Sailing Tour

Sailing and cycling through Holland from picturesque fishing villages to history-laden centers of culture. At the end of each day you return to your comfortable barge where a delicious meal will be waiting for you. You will overnight in one of the air-conditioned cabins with private facilities.

Traveling in such a manner has many benefits: no lugging baggage around, no searching for hotel rooms, restaurants or having to arrange outings. We have a variety of eight-day trips, including multi-lingual bicycle guide, on offer for both individuals and (small!) bike and barge Tour-groups.

JOIN Holland Bike & Sailing Tour

JULY 5TH- JULY 12TH 2009

Holland Bike & Sailing Tour is a cruise around a significant part of the IJsselmeer which enables you to visit the most famous and beautiful ports by bike and sail. We will visit Volendam, Amsterdam, after which the Succes will sail to Alkmaar via the Zaanse Schans. We will visit this authentic city and then continue our trip via the canals to one of the Wadden islands. Via the Wadden Sea we will return to the IJsselmeer.

The cruise combines the most beautiful towns of North Holland and their sights by bicycle with a comfortable stay on board of the luxurious clipper Succes.

The ship can sail to and moor at places that the much larger cruise ships are unable to reach. Thereby, the Succes offers the comfort of a sailing hotel in which the guests shall want for nothing.

Sunday:

4 p.m. Bus transfer from Amsterdam Schiphol to Enkhuizen

6 p.m. Embarking in Enkhuizen

You are welcomed on board by the skipper and his crew with a herring snack and corn brandy. When everyone has found their cabin, an introduction will be given by the skipper to the upcoming cruise and cycling route followed by a presentation on the wealthy history of the ship.

8 p.m. Three course dinner on board.

During the evening, there is time to make a walking tour around Enkhuizen or to talk about the day in the deck saloon.

Monday: (cycling dist. 30-50 Km)

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon.

9 a.m. After Breakfast, the bicycles will be handed over to the guests and preparations made for the upcoming journey. Every morning there will be a explanation on the route to cycle and points of interest. A tour guide will be coming along with the group.

The ship will cast off and sail towards the locks of Enkhuizen through which we will pass from the IJsselmeer to the Markermeer. Our destination: the harbour of Hoorn.

12a.m. The Succes moors at the 'Houten Hoofd' (lit. wooden head: a wooden landing stage) in the harbour of Hoorn after which the guests will arrive shortly after by bicycle.

12.30 A lunch buffet is served on board of the Succes.

2 p.m. We will leave the harbour of Hoorn and sail to Volendam.

The sails are hoisted with the help of the guests and, naturally, they are also encouraged to help on the afterdeck with steering and navigating!

There is also the option to continue the journey by bicycle from Hoorn, along the dike, via Edam to Volendam.

6 p.m. We will moor in the harbour of Volendam

7 p.m. Three course dinner on board of the Succes.

In the evening, there is time to explore this eccentric town.

Tuesday: ( Cycling dist. 50 Km)

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon

9:00 The guests will take the bicycle from Volendam to the former island Marken where they are enabled to visit this picturesque town and its harbour.

From there, the cycling continues along the dike via uitdam, durgerdam to the centre of Amsterdam where the Succes is Moored at the Java Island.

16:00 Arrival Sumatrakade, Java Island.

17:30 A sightseeing boat will come to pick up the guests for a round trip of the canals.

The tour takes the guests through the famous canals while the history of the city and its famous buildings and bridges is told.

18:30 Sightseeing tour ends and the guests embark the Succes.

7 p.m. Three course dinner on board of the Succes.

9 p.m. Together with ex-police officer Martin Grimberg, the guests will leave for the old city centre/red-light district of Amsterdam. Martin Grimberg worked in this district for many years and informs the guests on the history and the life in the red-light area.

Wednesday: (Cycling Dist. 40 Km)

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon

08:30 The Succes leaves the Sumatrakade for Zaandam.

We will sail the IJ and a part of the North Sea Channel, passing the city centre and the harbour area of Amsterdam. Once we reach channel G we will pass the bridges/locks and sail along the Zaan.

10 a.m. Arrival at the Zaanse Schans

We will moor for a short stop and the guests will be enabled to visit the Zaanse Schans and see the various windmills and authentic buildings.

13:30 Lunch buffet on board.

After the lunch, the guests can cycle from zaandam through the beautifull landscape with many canals, bridges and windmills to the city of Alkmaar.

18:00 Arrival in the city centre of Alkmaar.

7 p.m. Three course dinner on board of the Succes.

In the evening there is time to explore the old city centre of Alkmaar.

Thursday: (Cycling dist. 50 Km)

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon

08:30 Departure of the Succes for Den Helder

This route will take us via the North Holland Channel, through numerous bridges and floating bridges, and alongside the tulip fields of North Holland. We will moor in Sint (Saint) Maartensvlotbrug for lunch.

1 p.m. After lunch, we will continue our way and pass the locks near Den Helder, passing the Marine harbour, towards the Wadden Sea. We will set sail for Texel's fishing port Oude Schild.

The guests will cycle from Alkmaar along the North Sea Coast Line, to Sint Maartens vlotbrug. The route will be via dunes, forrest and coast line. After lunch we will cycle to Den Helder where we emark the succes again for the trip to the Island of Texel.

8 p.m. The Succes moors in the harbour of Oude Schild

Three course dinner on board.

During the evening, there is time to pay a visit to the harbour with its fishing boats and to walk along the Wadden Sea's shore.

Friday: (Cycling Dist. 50 Km)

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon

9 a.m. This day can be used for cycling ones of the many routes on the Island of Texel, to visit the Norht Sea Beach or visit Ecomare, a educational centre where the waddensea and its live is explained.

5 p.m. The Succes will Depart the harbour of Oude Schild and we will sail to the fishing port Den Oever on the Mainland, where the grand dike ( afsluitdijk) starts.

8 p.m. Arrival at Den Oever and Three course dinner on board of the Succes.

Saturday: (Cycling Dist. 50 Km)

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon, after which there is some time to visit the cooperative store CIV where all kinds of sailing equipments and clothing are sold.

09:30 We will pass the locks of the IJsselmeer Dam onto the IJsselmeer. We will set sail and course to Medemblik.

The guest will cycle from Den Oever to Medemblik where the lunch is served.

13:00 The Succes sails into the harbour of Enkhuizen. Here, the guests can pay a visit to the museum after which they can walk via the old fortress and the city centre to the berth of the Succes. An other option is to cycle from Medemblik to Enkhuizen

8 p.m. Captain's dinner on board.

Sunday:

8 a.m. Breakfast buffet in the downstairs saloon

10 a.m. Departure and disembarking the Succes

bus transport to Schiphol airport.