We get to know the Dutch province North-Holland. Here you will find the typical Dutch landscape of polders, mills, harbours and tulips.
Our program is a good mixture of bike and boat tours with cultural highlights. Experience one of Holland's top tourist attractions "Zaanse Schans", get to know Edam, Alkmaar, Haarlem and the Dutch capital Amsterdam and enjoy biking on small dikes and through the most beautiful dune area nearby Alkmaar.
Sa: Alphen a/d Rijn
Embarkation in Alphen a/d Rijn at 16.00 'o clock and welcome by the crew. Over a cup of coffee we will introduce you to the travel program. In the evening, explore the inner city of Alphen or/and end your first day with a cosy evening on board.
Sun: Alphen-Amsterdam
After breakfast we enjoy our first boat trip through the city of Alphen and over the beautiful Amstel river to Oudekerk aan den Amstel, a nice place just before Amsterdam. From here we cycle through the 'Amstelland' along picturesque rivers and will meet the Ali-B2 in Amsterdam moored for the night.
Enjoy an evening walk along the Amstel river and the famous canals of Amsterdam!
Mo: Amsterdam-Purmerend
Just after breakfast our canal tour on board Ali-B2 starts: Enjoy Amsterdam in an unforgettable way, cruising "on the famous canals of Amsterdam" we pass about 10 bridges! At 11 am we arrive at our second mooring in the centre of the Dutch capital.
Then leisure time to visit the historic city centre, one of the largest in the world. We advise you to do a city walk of about 3 hours: Amsterdam is by nature a walking city. Nowhere else will you find so many points of interest within a single square kilometre. Or what about visiting a museum in Amsterdam, such as the famous Van Gogh museum, the Rijksmuseum of the Anne Frank House?
After dinner we will leave Amsterdam. A short evening cruise takes us to the market town of Purmerend across the Amsterdam port area, through a lock and on the North Holland Canal .
Tue: Purmerend/Edam/Volendam-Alkmaar
In the morning time for strolling over the greatest weekly market of the Netherlands.
Today's biking tour is really special: It takes us on old dikes and across the polder Purmer to the harbour and cheese town Edam, situated by the former Zuiderzee now IJsselmeer. Here we take a break to admire many historical houses and buildings with artfully gables and charming canals.
Enjoy biking on the dike overlooking the IJsselmeer to the tourist place Volendam known for its traditional costumes. On our way back to the Ali-B2 we visit the village of Monnikendam with its old harbour.
Our evening cruise brings us through two wonderful polders (Beemster and Schermer) in about 2 ½ hours to Alkmaar. Enjoy the view of the town in the setting sun.
During your evening walk get a first impression of Alkmaar, the centre of the cheese trade.
Wed: Alkmaar
After breakfast we discover by bike a large dune area of about 1800 hectare with the most beautiful sand beaches of Europe. Our destination is Schoorl aan Zee a popular bathing resort of Holland.
Going back via Bergen aan Zee to Alkmaar we have time for sightseeing: The Weigh House, dating back in its earliest form to the 14th century, the 16th century town-hall, Grote St. Laurens Church and the many courtyards, facades and canals give the town an ambience all of its own.
Thu: Alkmaar-Zaanse Schans-Haarlem
After an early start the Ali-b2 takes us through the Alkmaarder Lake and the River Zaan to one of Holland's top tourist attractions "Zaanse Schans", an occupied open-air museum with traditional green painted wooden houses from the 17 century, warehouses and 6 working mills.
We sail further on the North Sea Canal to the lock of Spaarndam, from where we get to know by bike the surrounding including cycling through the dunes.
Back on board Ali-B2 moored in Haarlem we enjoy our dinner and have time to visit romantic Haarlem: Walk to the Market Square (Grote Markt) and have a look around the square itself, one of the most beautiful of its kind in Holland. Come face to face with the late-Gothic Saint Bavo's church (Bavo-kerk), the 13th century town hall, the magnificent Butchers' hall (Vleeshal) built by Lieven de Key and the Fish auction hall (Vishal) and dream back in time. Or experience the atmosphere of the many historic courts.
Fr: Haarlem-Alphen
Today we enjoy our last cruise: On the way out of Haarlem we pass through some very old bridges. Sailing further on the Spaarne and the „Ring canal" we stop nearby Leiden from where we start to bike. We follow the "Geuzenroute" along old church paths, polder, dikes and typical farms towards Alphen where we meet the Ali-B2.
We will finish this eventful week with our traditional Captain's Dinner.
Sat: Debarkation after breakfast
