Bike and Boat tour in northern Netherlands and Friesland with MS Serena
This cycling experience takes you through the Dutch countryside, past windmills, sand dunes and tulip fields. You sail with MS Serena in North Holland between the North Sea, the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer. When you disembark, it's up on the bike saddle and out to discover the varied and fascinating landscapes and quirky villages. You'll cycle through a former lake and marshland area that has been drained by windmills since the 17th century. Cycling through the typical polder landscape, you will be surrounded by fields, tranquillity and the gentle sounds of the sea.
You spend seven nights on the MS Serena, which sails around the bays of the North Sea. The starting point of the tour is Enkhuizen, located about 50 km north of the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. From here you sail to Hoorn, Lemmer and up to the sunny island of Texel, from where the trip returns to Enkhuizen.
Highlights of the trip
- The steam pumping station "Woudagemaal": this is the largest, still operating steam pumping station in the world, and is located just outside the town of Lemmer. The architecture of the plant is also worth noting
- The sunny island of Texel - Nowhere in the Netherlands does the sun shine more often than on this Dutch North Sea island, and it's also home to the brewery of the famous beer of the same name
- The beautiful white North Sea beaches
- The windmills of the open-air Zaanse Schans
- The unique atmosphere of the small fishing villages along the long coastline
- A tour for the hobby cyclist who appreciates the peace and quiet of nature. With pleasant cycle stages of 25-55 km, on flat paths surrounded by water, dykes and dunes
More about the route
You cycle between 25 and 55 km per day. The terrain is flat and easy to cycle. You cycle on paved cycle paths with marked routes. Everyone can join in and if you fancy a relaxing day on the sundeck of the MS Serena, simply stay on board.
Great things about this tour
MS Serena
On its trip in North Holland, the MS Serena can accommodate 99 passengers. It has a unique charm and cosy atmosphere. The elegant furniture in the common areas invites you to relax, which will hopefully make every passenger feel at home. The 10-man crew will be there to help you with advice and tips and will take care of you throughout the bike cruise. They speak English and German.
Cabins on MS Serena
Up to 99 people can be accommodated, divided into 51 cabins.
There are three types of cabins:
2 junior suites, each with a queen-size bed,
46 double cabins, each with two single beds
3 single cabins. All cabins have a shower, toilet, ventilation system and a window that can be opened. The size of the cabins varies between 12, 9 and 6 square metres.
Common areas on MS Serena
The cosy riverboat has an elegant restaurant, a bar and a lounge. The partly covered, spacious sundeck invites you to relax after a day in the saddle and also provides storage space for bicycles while sailing.
In the evening, the restaurant offers a 3-course menu, after which you can end the day in the lounge or enjoy a cold drink in the bar.
Technical information on MS Serena:
Length: 90m
Width: 9.9m
Depth below waterline: 1.7m
Number of cabins: 51
Capacity: 99 guests and 10 crew
Decks: Main deck, upper deck and sundeck
Itinerary See all daysClose all days
Individual arrival in Enkhuizen, located about 50 km north of Amsterdam. The mooring is within walking distance of the train station, from where trains run directly to and from Amsterdam. Check-in on board MS Serena is (from 15.00 in 2023 and from 16.00 in 2024), and for the rest of the afternoon. The boat is not sailing this evening, so should you be unintentionally delayed you can still catch the boat. We recommend that after check-in, you take advantage of the afternoon/evening for a walk in this small atmospheric port town.
The first cycling stage of the tour is a round trip from Enkhuizen.
Today you will discover the beautiful harbour town on the shore of the IJsselmeer and its beautiful surroundings. The rich history of the town can still be felt on a walk through the old town with its many villas, canals, churches, city walls and harbours.
Tip of the day: We recommend a visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum, which among other things consists of old houses, farms and workshops collected from the local area.
If you want a day trip to Amsterdam, this is also possible on your own: the Enkhuizen train station is within walking distance of the berth. There are train connections to Amsterdam T/R return every 30 minutes. Travel time approx. 1 hour (ticket not included).
Today you sail across the IJsselmeer to Lemmer. Here you begin your cycle tour, which takes you through the village of Oosterzee Buren, along the Tjkukemeer lake and on to the small residential area of Munnekeburen. Then the route goes around the Rottige Meente nature reserve. You cycle via the small old villages of Scherpenzel and Schoterzijl back to Lemmer, where you should experience the historic old town and the beautiful gabled houses.
On today's stage you will pass through the nature area of the Sondeler Leien lake. This area was probably formed when the sea broke the dikes of the Zuiderzee in the 1300s (what is now the IJsselmeer). From here you cycle through the Rijsterbos forest, past the Mokkebank bird sanctuary, to the Roode Klif (Red Cliff) near Stavoren. From here you sail to the fishing village of Oudeschild, situated on the Wadden Sea dyke on the island of Texel.
Today you'll explore Texel, the largest north island in the Netherlands. There are several routes to choose from and you can also make your own.
Tip: If you're into beer, we highly recommend stopping by the brewery where the famous Texel beers are brewed. You need to be back in Oudeschilde before 17.00 where you sail to Den Helder.
Den Helder is the northernmost town in the province of North Holland. It overlooks the North Sea to the west, Texel to the north, and the Wadden Sea to the east. It is also home to Holland's navy. Today's bike leg is split in two, and you decide whether you want to cycle both stretches or whether you want to sail. The tour goes from Den Helder along the North Sea dunes to Sint Maartensvlotbrug. The village originated from the floating bridge (raft farm) built here in the 1820s which was located near the village of Sint Maarten. In 1959 the original wooden bridge was replaced by the steel pontoon bridge. Here you have the opportunity to board the MS Serena and sail the next leg along smaller canals to Alkmaar. Otherwise, the trip is also easily taken by bike.
During breakfast you sail from Alkmaar to Wormerveer, from where the cycle route takes you directly to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans (windmills, old Dutch village, cheese factory, etc.). After the visit you continue towards Volendam. On the way you have the opportunity to visit a cheese dairy in Katwoude. Here you can see how Gouda cheese and the traditional Dutch wooden shoes are made. Via Volendam, known as a traditional fishing village with typical authentic huts, you cycle to Hoorn. Here you should take some time for a short visit to the historic old town with its many 17th century buildings (e.g. the harbour tower and the warehouses at the old harbour).
Early in the morning (at 6 am) the MS Serena sails you from Hoorn to Enkhuizen, and after breakfast there is check-out by 9 am and from here individual return.
Price includes
- 7 nights in outside cabins with private bathroom in the reserved category
- Programme according to itinerary from/to Amsterdam
- Full board: 7 x breakfast buffet, 6 x lunch/packed lunch, 6 x afternoon coffee or tea, 7x 3-course dinner
- Welcome drink
- Daily cleaning of cabins
- Bed linen and towels
- All port, lock, bridge and passenger fees
- Daily information meeting on the day's cycle stage
- Information pack with itineraries in English (one per cabin)
- English- and German-speaking guide on board
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to/from Enkhuizen
- Handling fee (€20)
Practical info
All overnight stays on this tour are in the booked cabin category on board MS Serena.
It is possible to travel alone and stay in a single room on this voyage. If you wish this, it can be selected on the booking form.
All departures require a minimum of 50 guests to depart. Departures will be cancelled at least 21 days before departure if there are not enough seats sold. It is therefore important that you wait to arrange transport to the destination until you have received final confirmation of the trip from us.
Please be aware that a cruise ship in the Netherlands is not only your hotel, but also a machine that occasionally works with engine power at night. Especially when passing locks and bridges - and preparing for the journey - noise may occur. If you are sensitive, please bring your own earplugs.
OBS. This tour starts and ends in and end in Enkhuizen.
This trip takes place from Saturday to Saturday.
Prices vary throughout the season, check the exact price by finding your desired start date.
On all our cycling holidays it is possible bring your own bike but it also possible to rent a bike for the tour. The bikes you can rent are all perfectly suited for the tour and the local terrain and all bikes are perfectly maintained. If you want to rent a bike on your holiday, then you select this on the booking form where you can also see the price. Remember to write your height in the message field when you book so that we know which size bike you need.
PHOTOS OF THE BIKES ARE BELOW THIS TEXT
On this tour it is possible to rent the following bikes:
- Unisex 7-gear bike – with back pedal breaks
- Unisex ebike – with backpedal breaks
Equipment included in the bike rental:
- Saddle bag (water repellent)
- Handlebar bag (water repellent)
- Service-set with tools and extra bicycle tube
- Combination lock
Roadside assistance
All bikes are equipped with puncture resistant tyres which means that it is virtually impossible to puncture. No rule without exceptions, so should you experience a punctured tyre then you can quickly fix it by using the tools in the service-set. If the damage is greater than a simply puncture then you simply call us and we make sure that your bike is fixed or you will be supplied with a new bike as quickly as possible.
Insurance is included
Insurance against theft and damages are included in the bike rental. Should you have any problems of this nature then all you have to do is to let us know and we will supply a new bike as quickly as possible. Naturally, careless or mischievous behavior is exempt from this.
Unisex 7-gear bike – with back pedal breaks
Unisex ebike – with backpedal breaks
Due to the limited storage space on the sundeck, it is only possible to bring your own bike on request and only limited space is available.
It is also important to be aware that your bikes will be packed tightly with the rental bikes during sailing, with no possibility of extraordinary gentle handling.
This tour has difficulty grade 1.
Grade 1
Suitable for cyclists who enjoy shorter distances in flat or gently rolling terrain. Ideal if you just want to explore the area by bicycle at a leisurely pace. On most itineraries it will be possible to shorten the trip distance, or skip a cycling day.
Read more about our Grading System
It is not compulsory to wear a helmet in the Netherlands, but at Bering Travel we ALWAYS recommend that you wear a helmet and that you bring your own. It is not possible to purchase a helmet on board.
The flights to/from Amsterdam are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 48 hours)
- You arrange your transportation
Arrival with plane:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is a major European airport with good connections to almost anywhere.
From the airport there are trains via Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station to Enkhuizen with a total travel time of
approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. See more here.
The train station in Enkhuizen is within walking distance of the berth where your boat docks.
Please be aware not to buy the transport to Amsterdam until your bike cruise is finally confirmed from our side. We will do this as soon as possible.
Arrival by car
If you arrive by car, it is possible to park for free at the train station in Enkhuizen, which is within walking distance of the quay. It is not possible to book in advance.
More information on how to get there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
On this trip, you'll stay on the boat for the entire trip in your chosen cabin. There are two options for cabins:
- Cabin on the main deck
- Cabin on upper deck
All cabins have single beds, bath/toilet, ventilation system and a window that can be opened.
All meals are included in the price of the trip. This means:
- 7x Breakfast
- 6x lunch packed lunch
- 6x Afternoon coffee or tea
- 7x Evening meals (3-course menus)
Special meal requests, e.g. dietary or vegetarian food can be accommodated by arrangement.
All drinks must be paid for on board.
- For a stress-free start to your trip, it is recommended to arrive at the starting point early in the evening of the day before. The individual return journey will take place on the last day of the trip.
- The indicated cycling distance is an approximation and may differ from the actual distance.
- This journey is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
- Further important information about your trip by bike and boat:
- There is always a possibility of changes in the schedule and programme. In the event of extremely high or low water levels, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of the route with a bus or to cancel the trip at short notice without liability (water level is force majeure). The same applies in the case of officially arranged lock and/or bridge repairs not previously announced or in the case of engine damage not caused by the fault of the ship.
- Also be aware that your riverboat is both your "holiday hotel" and a working machine, constantly moving with engine power, even at night (sometimes with lock and bridge passengers and consequent ejection and retraction of structures). Particularly noise-sensitive guests are advised to bring earplugs. Lock passages are particularly associated with noise nuisance - it is the same on all boat trips - and unfortunately cannot be changed!
- Please note that storage space in the cabin is very limited. In your luggage you should pack good rainwear (jacket and trousers), a helmet, sun hat and sun cream and sports shoes.
Tips are not included in the price.
It is customary to tip the crew of the riverboat at the end of the trip. The level is about 7-10€ from each participant. per day. On a trip like this of 7 days duration, about 50-70€ per person would be appropriate - depending on your experience.
There will typically be an envelope in the cabin for this purpose, or information will be provided to this effect at the end of the trip.
Travel Insurance In general we recommend that you are covered by a good travel insurance covering at least Medical Expenses, Illness, Personal Accident, Baggage and Repatriation. The customer is responsible to take the necessary travel insurance that covers these costs. Bering Travel, or our local partners, do not have any responsibility for our customers not being covered by a necessary travel insurance. You have to arrange your insurance in your home country.
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, you can see the data below:
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. This covers you regardless of your nationality. Read more about that here.
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Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
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