Cycle the Pearls of Holland

Welcome to the cycling city of Amsterdam! Feel free to arrive early and start exploring one of Europe's most charming capitals. Stroll along the UNESCO-listed canals, settle into a cosy café or visit one of the city's world-famous museums. It is a perfect start to a week filled with cycling, culture and Dutch joie de vivre. Consider adding an extra night in the city so you have time to discover it at a relaxed pace.

Spend the morning in Amsterdam – visit one of the city's world-famous museums, stroll along the beautiful canals or sit down at a café and enjoy the pulse of the city. As you leave the capital, a calmer landscape soon awaits, with open wetlands, reeds and mirror-like waterways. Just before Haarlem you pass the historic Cruquius steam pumping station, an impressive industrial monument that played an important role in the draining of the Haarlemmermeer and in the industrial development of the Netherlands. The day ends in charming Haarlem, where cobbled streets, cosy courtyards (hofjes), the lively Grote Markt and the city's beautiful canals invite you to a lovely evening stroll.

If hotel capacity is limited, the overnight stay may instead take place in Santpoort, about 7 km outside Haarlem. Here you stay at the beautiful manor hotel Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg, surrounded by lush nature. Dinner is included with this option.

Before leaving Haarlem there is plenty of time to discover the historic centre with its cobbled streets, the stately Grote Kerk and the famous Frans Hals Museum. Then one of the most scenic stages of the trip awaits, through the famous bulb-growing region, where a large part of the Netherlands' tulips are grown in a colourful landscape. You cycle through sand dunes and along the coast past the popular seaside resorts of Zandvoort and Noordwijk, which attract visitors with long sandy beaches and beautiful nature. In spring the area offers a sea of colourful flowers. The day ends in the charming university town of Leiden, where historic canal houses, picturesque alleys and one of the oldest university environments in the Netherlands make a perfect end to the day's ride.

In early spring, from 1 April to 8 May, the route passes the world-famous flower park Keukenhof. If you want to spend a day at the park, we recommend booking an extra night in Leiden and buying tickets for Keukenhof online in advance.

Today's stage offers calm and relaxing cycling through the classic Dutch polder landscape. Follow winding cycle paths past glittering lakes, green pastures, traditional farms and historic windmills before reaching the charming city of Delft. Delft is world-famous for its blue-and-white Delftware, but also as the home town of the celebrated painter Johannes Vermeer. Take your time to stroll through the historic centre with its canals, squares and beautiful buildings before the day is rounded off.

Today's stage takes you through the Groene Hart – the green heart of the Netherlands. Here you cycle along quiet polder roads through an open landscape of canals, pastures and charming villages. The destination for the day is the historic city of Gouda, known for its cheese, syrup waffles (stroopwafels), beautiful town houses and picturesque canals. If you travel between early April and the end of August, you also have the chance to experience the traditional cheese market on Thursday morning, if you plan the start of your trip around it.

The longest stage of the trip also offers some of the most beautiful views. You follow quiet cycle paths past lakes, meadows and small villages before the river Amstel leads you all the way back to Amsterdam. End the week with dinner by one of the city's many canals. Perhaps with an Amstel beer too?

If 68 km feels too long, you can extend the trip to 8 days. This adds an extra overnight stay in Woerden between Gouda and Amsterdam, which splits the route into two shorter stages of 38 and 49 km respectively. Please note this in the booking form if you would like this option.

Enjoy a last hearty breakfast and don't forget to try the classic Dutch chocolate sprinkles on bread! Then it is time to begin your journey home. Hopefully you leave the Netherlands with many wonderful cycling memories, new favourite cities and a longing to return to the country where the bicycle always has a natural place.