Blog

Why does spring always give us the travel bug? Is it the pleasant temperatures? The budding trees and the scent of blossoms? Or maybe you’re a clever traveler with a flexible schedule who likes to avoid the crowds and high prices? Whatever takes you traveling in the blissful spring months, now is exactly the right time to think about your next spring trip! So forget the dreary weather outside for a moment and let yourself be inspired!   Petra’s spring travel trips We asked our travel expert Petra about her…

Tulips, more sunshine than at any other time of year, and many exciting events: a spring trip to Amsterdam is simply the best. So, it’s no wonder that the canal metropolis gets particularly crowded. But what if you need a breather from the hustle and bustle of the big city? One of our favorite quick escapes is to go cycling through the Waterland nature reserve north of Amsterdam. Let yourself be surprised by the city’s idyllic hinterland; where green meadows, cows and farms are so much closer than you think.…

At the office, the maps and documents stack up high. Erik takes one quick look at the schedule to see which boats will be heading out today. But that is really just a formality. He knows the routes and schedules of all 22 tours and 20 ships off the top of his head.    Erik is the beating heart of our logistics operation in the Netherlands. Are all the maps and programs on board? Are cabins ready for our guests? Which boat moors when and where in the harbors of…

Did you ever wonder which is the correct name for the land of windmills, clogs and tulips? Well, you’re not alone. And you’re certainly not the first! Here we set the record straight for the true name of this low-lying land.   The correct name of the Dutch nation The official and correct name for the home of the Dutch is the Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, or the “Kingdom of the Netherlands”. This is usually shortened to “the Netherlands”. The terms Nether or Neder are derived from Germanic words meaning “low”,…

Laura works in the marketing department at Boat Bike Tours and most recently traveled with her mother on the 5-day Premium Tulip Tour. Here’s her advice on how to prepare for a cycling cruise.   Have you booked a bike and barge tour but don’t know what to expect? Here are five good ways to prepare in advance, so that you can make the most of your trip: 1. Make sure you have a basic level of fitness Of course, with a bit of grit you’ll get along, whatever your…

Tamara Veenendaal is one of our most experienced tour leaders. For seven years she’s been leading boat bike trips with us. But that doesn’t mean she’s seen it all. Far from it. This year she stepped aboard one of our sailing ships for the first time. Here she shares what she learned from the Sail & Bike Tulip Tour, and why she liked it so much.   Hello, Tamara! You already have lots of experience with cycling and boat tours, but this was your first trip on a sailing ship.…

Besides being the biggest lake in the Netherlands, the IJsselmeer (IJssel Lake) boasts some other remarkable facts thanks to its dramatic transformations through time: from when it was the stormy Zuiderzee to its modern identity as a freshwater lake.   Here are five fascinating things about the IJsselmeer, truly one of the Netherlands’ most incredible combinations of nature and engineering: 1. The IJsselmeer was a lake, then the sea, then a lake again In ancient Roman times, a body of water quite separate from the sea, known as Lacus Flevo,…

It’s glorious summer and whether you’re basking in sunshine or already at your desk again, the prospect of going back to the usual routine is never very appealing. But there’s a bright side. One of the few consolations of returning home from a vacation is… looking forward to the next one! That’s why this summer we’re already busy with one of our favorite activities: travel planning! Our tours have become so popular that they’re being booked a year in advance. To keep up with demand, we’re introducing a bunch of…

To e-bike or not to e-bike? That is the question! Some people turn their noses up at the idea, while others are crazy about it: with e-bikes, opinions are divided. In this blog we look at the pros and cons of motorized bicycles, and ask the fundamental question: are e-bikes really just for lazy people?   How an e-bike works First of all, the defining feature of an e-bike, also known as a “pedelec”, is the small, battery-powered electric motor that makes pedaling easier. An electric bicycle does not ride…

At Boat Bike Tours we offer full-service boat and bike tours in 14 countries across Europe. Our multi-day tours are fully-catered-for in every way, from gourmet meals to cycling equipment. European cycling vacations offer the curious traveler an inexhaustible wealth of experiences and adventures, but the huge range of possibilities can be overwhelming: what equipment do you need to bring for day trips, bike-packing, bike touring, or even a boat and bike tour?   Seven things you need for bike touring Luckily, at Bike Boat Tours we have more than…