Holland: Southern Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
You will board your floating home at Minervahaven between 2:00 and 4:30 pm. Take the afternoon to wander Amsterdam's cobblestone streets, glide beneath its iconic bridges on a canal cruise, or lose yourself in a world-class museum. At 5:00 pm, a welcome drink awaits on board, followed by a briefing about the week ahead and your first dinner on the water.

Day 2: Amsterdam – Breukelen – Utrecht (20 or 39 km) | Cruise to Rotterdam
Your first ride begins in Breukelen, following the winding River Vecht past imposing castles, stately country houses, and quaint tearooms. You will pedal into the heart of Utrecht, where the majestic Dom Cathedral and its medieval tower rise above tranquil canals lined with vibrant cafés. In the afternoon, the ship will carry you southward to Rotterdam while you settle in for dinner on board.

Day 3: Rotterdam – Schiedam – Delft – Rotterdam (48 km)
You will cycle through the "jenever city" of Schiedam, famous for its traditional gin distilleries and towering windmills, before crossing the Delfland countryside to Delft. Narrow canals, arched bridges, and the unmistakable blue-and-white gleam of Delft pottery will greet you at every turn. A visit to the Royal Delftware factory is one of the week's true highlights. You will return to Rotterdam in the evening for a stroll through Europe's busiest port city.

Day 4: Rotterdam – Kinderdijk – Schoonhoven (30 or 58 km)
A waterbus will spirit you and your bicycle across the water to Alblasserdam. Minutes later, the nineteen grand windmills of Kinderdijk will line the horizon — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Holland's most iconic vistas. The longer route leads through the famous cheese city of Gouda; the shorter ride glides through the serene Alblasserwaard polder. Both paths end in Schoonhoven, the "silver city," where master silversmiths still practise their centuries-old craft.

Day 5: Schoonhoven – Oudewater – Utrecht (36 or 44 km) | Cruise to Haarlem
Today you will ride through the very heart of Holland — the Green Heart. Quiet lanes will lead you past traditional cheese farms, sleepy villages, and endless meadows. In Oudewater, you can visit the legendary Witches Weigh House. The ship will then cruise from Utrecht to Haarlem while dinner is served on board.

Day 6: Haarlem – North Sea Coast – Haarlem (40 or 50 km) | Cruise to Zaandam
You will cycle through the Kennemer dunes, a national park where Scottish Highland cattle and Shetland ponies roam freely among the rolling sands. The seaside resorts of Bloemendaal and Zandvoort will offer a refreshing breath of salt air and broad sandy beaches. The longer route takes you to the Cruquius pumping station, the largest steam engine in the world. You will return to Haarlem before the ship sets sail for Zaandam during dinner.

Day 7: Zaandam – Zaanse Schans – Amsterdam (32 or 53 km)
Your final ride will take you to the open-air museum of Zaanse Schans, where historic windmills turn against the sky, traditional wooden houses stand painted in their original greens, and artisans craft clogs and cheese the old-fashioned way. You will then pedal through the recreational area of Twiske and back into Amsterdam, where the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy one last time.

Day 8: Departure from Amsterdam
After breakfast, disembarkation is until 9:30 am. Your week on the water comes to an end, but the memories of Holland's windmills, canals, and open skies will stay with you far longer.