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At Boat Bike Tours we run multi-day cycling cruises that take you by boat and bike through some of Europe’s most spectacular (and romantic) landscapes. It’s that time of year again, mid-February, when many people’s thoughts turn to the art of the romantic gesture. There are so many ways to express your appreciation for the one you love. For some, a romantic gesture means candlelit dinners, a bouquet or a surprise gift; for others it may be just a simple kiss, hug, or “I love you”. For those who like…

At Boat Bike Tours we offer full-service boat and bike tours in 14 countries across Europe. GPS is a great feature that we offer on many of our tours. Bike touring, or cycling trips, are an increasingly popular holiday format with so many benefits: you can escape the busy city, breathe fresh air, enjoy an adventure with friends and admire the beautiful surroundings.   What is a GPS? An invaluable tool for bike touring is a GPS (Global Positioning System), which uses satellites to determine your location. GPS was initially…

Many Boat Bike Tours newcomers ask: “What is the difference between a barge and a ship?”. To which we reply: “There’s a short answer and a long one — you’d best fetch a cup of tea!” Simply said, ‘ship’ is a generic term for any watercraft of considerable size that is used for the transportation of people or goods. Meanwhile, a ‘barge’ is a long, flat-bottomed vessel traditionally used to transport goods (and now, also people) through inland waterways. So, technically a barge is a ship, but the key difference…

Harry and Sandy Johnson’s eighth bike and barge trip was destined to be a special one, joining their similarly boat and bike-loving friends who had chartered the Sarah, along with their respective adult children and partners, and other close friends and relatives. Their wish for the week: giving their children a shared experience of the wonderful cycling in Holland.   Laughter and hugs “As the crew on the Sarah would attest, the collegiality aboard the ship was immediate and set the tone for the week,” recalls Harry. With a party…

2019 is up and running! What does it have in store for you? Is it the year you try a boat bike tour for the first time? Whether you’re already familiar with our cycling and boat accommodation concept, or it’s a new experience for you, we have some wonderful tour suggestions to get you in the travel mood. We have many tours and destinations to choose from (more than 22 within the Netherlands alone), so sometimes it can be hard to decide which one suits you best. Here we list…

At Boat Bike Tours we run unique multi-day boat and bike tours that immerse you in authentic Dutch life and culture, including spectacular cycling trips through tulip fields. From the official season launch mid-January, to peak tulip season from mid-March to mid-May, there are so many ways to experience the beauty of the tulip flower and its importance in Dutch culture.   Here are four very different ways you can enjoy tulips in the Netherlands: 1. See tulip season launch at Dam Square in Amsterdam Every January, on Nationale Tulpendag,…

How was your New Years Eve? Here in the Netherlands, we celebrate it with lots of fireworks and deep-fried doughy goodness, such as oliebollen and appelflappen — if we’re not on a holiday. Another thing that many of us do to prepare for the new year, is setting resolutions. We like to think of them as goals to make them more real, instead of just a wish to forget about after a couple of weeks. What are the most common resolutions?   I’m going to travel more Let’s say one…

If you’re planning a unique cycling and cruising trip through the lovely Dutch lowlands, you won’t want to miss perfect photo opportunities when they arise… from the sunset over the windmills, to cyclists against the flower fields and reflections in the vast array of waterways. These pictures will be the physical presence of your memories for years to come, and you’ll no doubt show them off to friends, family, co-workers, and really, anyone who asks. But combining landscape photography and moving objects (cyclists!) can be daunting, especially if you’re not…

Preparing for the biking season the Dutch way  We all know the Dutch are avid cyclists, and they have the strong legs to show for it. But all of this cycling activity has to be fueled by something, and we’ll let you in on a secret: It’s the traditional winter foods that have them biking year-round — rain or shine. So if you want to prepare for the biking season the Dutch way, then make sure you try out these three traditional dishes to stay warm and fuel those cycling…

The Dutch really love riding their bikes. Did you know the average adult pedals about 1,000 kilometers a year—and teenagers do double, a whopping 2,000 kilometers! Everybody bikes, no matter their age (even 25% of seniors ride their bikes every single day!). Cycling is just a lifestyle here—the country’s young professionals use their bikes for about 75% of all their journeys. If you’re thinking the Dutch must have some kind of cycling magic…well, we won’t argue with you. In fact, we’ve come up with 16 reasons the Dutch are in…