What about the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is the formal name of the country commonly referred to as “Holland” by Americans. Holland is actually the name of the two largest provinces (similar to states in the USA) in the Netherlands. The people who live in the Netherlands are called the Dutch in English. In Dutch, the country is called “Nederland”, the language is called “Nederlands” and the people are called “Nederlanders.”
2008 Tour Dates:
Sorry, No Longer Available.
2009 Tour Dates:
Sorry, Registration Deadline is Past.
Saturday August 8- Saturday August 15, 2009
8 Day, 7 Night, All Inclusive Tour:
24 Passenger maximum
Tour Rates:
Family Package: 2 adults and 1 or 2 children
(2 Rooms on Barge)
$4490 Total Family Price
Babies under 12 months are free
Contact us for pricing for families with more than 2 kids
Single Person
$1500 based on Two Adults in Double (Single Supplement Applies)
Add $100 for one child sharing parents' room (parents must provide pack n play or toddler cot)
Babies under 12 months are free
Prices Include:
7 nights lodging on the barge, all meals taken on the barge, self-guided bike route maps and information packet, a guide on the barge, bike rental for a week for each adult, up to 2 bike seats per family, babysitting services, airport transfers. Airfare and optional activities are not included. See FAQ Holland page for more details on what is included. Travel insurance is recommended.
Holland with Kids
Bike and Boat Tour
Unpack once on the lovely and cosy Lena Maria canal barge (2008 the barge will be the Anna Cornelia, a similar barge). Folklore and tradition in rural areas and picturesque, romantic fishing villages. Enjoy the North Sea island of Texel and the beautiful shores and historic harbour towns of the Ijsselmeer lake. Relax on the sundeck of the barge, bike with your family or take advantage of our babysitting services on the barge and head out for some adult time. Daily opportunities for a serious self-guided cycle through the country where bicycles rule!
All Tours Include a Guide and Babysitting Services
Day 1: WELCOME TO THE NETHERLANDS! ARRIVAL IN AMSTERDAM
Arrival in Amsterdam. Transfer to barge Lena Maria, a lovely new boat. Afternoon embarkation in Amsterdam (centre). Explore downtown Amsterdam: time for shopping, to visit a museum or to make a canal tour – a nice introduction to Amsterdam.
Day 2: ALKMAAR; WINDMILL VILLAGE, CHEESE FARM, WOODEN SHOES
Bike or barge ride from Amsterdam to Alkmaar traveling through the canals. En route: visit the charming open-air museum village “Zaanse Schans” which has a spectacular row of historic windmills, a cheese farm & a fun wooden shoe factory.
Day 3: ALKMAAR to DEN HELDER: BEACHES and SHEEP
Bike or barge ride from Alkmaar along the North Sea beaches and through a picturesque rural area to the port of Den Helder.
Day 4: ISLAND OF TEXEL
Cross the open water (by barge) to the largest of the Dutch North Sea islands: Texel. Optional round trip bike ride on the island through beautiful nature reserves and dunes. Take a break on one of the sandy beaches. Return to the barge in late afternoon for dinner cruise.
Day 5: ENKHUIZEN and OPEN AIR FISHING VILLAGE MUSEUM
Bike or barge ride along the Ijsselmeer coast to Enkhuizen. Enkhuizen is a fascinating historical city with a very picturesque harbor and an open air Zuiderzeemuseum (restored fishing village).
Day 6: CHEESE IN EDAM and EEL & HERRING IN THE HARBOR
Bike or barge ride from Enkhuizen via Hoorn and the small cheese town of Edam to the old fishing village of Volendam. Opportunity to taste local specialities of “smoked eel” or “salted herring” in one of the harbours.
Day 7: VOLENDAM to AMSTERDAM
Bike or barge ride from Volendam through the “Waterland,” a beautiful area with its various small canals and lakes. Possibility for a short detour to former island of Marken, which is now part of the mainland due to the land around it having been recovered from the sea for habitation and farming. Continue through the northern part of the “Garden of Amsterdam” to end in Amsterdam. Spend afternoon & evening in Amsterdam
Day 8: AMSTERDAM TRANSFER OUT – THANK YOU/ DANK U WEL!
After breakfast: disembarkation in Amsterdam. Transfer to airport or extension tour. Thank you for exploring northern Holland with Global Family Adventures!
Global Family Adventures makes every effort to follow the itinerary as printed. However, unforeseen changes may be required as a result of organizational, nautical, technical and/or weather reasons. The barge route is sometimes required to go in reverse order due to weather conditions.
