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Highlights of this tour
The sea is always near
Delta Works, Holland’s storm barriers
Paradise for flora and fauna lovers
Ship with max. 96 passengers
- Fully-guided: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
- Semi-guided: Daily briefing by the tour leader, independent cycling but tour leader available ICE.
- Independent: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
Individual
- Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
- Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
- Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
- Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1
Bike and Barge The Netherlands: Exploring the province of Zeeland | Olympia
The province of Zeeland, also referred to as the “Land in the Sea“ is located in the west of the Netherlands and mostly consists of islands and peninsulas. The Eastern and Western Scheldt estuaries reach far inland, thus making Zeeland a paradise for flora and fauna. Cycle with us from the energetic city of Rotterdam to the province of Zeeland. Discover the historic towns of Zierikzee and Middelburg, and the Delta Works, Holland’s most impressive storm surge barriers. Make sure you don’t forget to taste delicious fresh mussels, oysters and Eastern Scheldt Lobster in one of the numerous fish restaurants!
Day to day program
Timetable and Itinerary: subject to alterations. In case a section of the journey cannot be sailed due to low or high water levels or bad weather conditions, the Captain reserves the right to modify the itinerary for your safety (this does not constitute a valid reason for withdrawal).
Details: In italics printed parts will be covered by the ship.
Day 1 (Sat): Arrival in Rotterdam | Rotterdam – Dordrecht
Individual arrival in Rotterdam. Embarkation at about 4 p.m. You may have some time left to see Rotterdam’s stunning Market Hall. The Dutch refer to it as their version of the “Sistine Chapel“. At 5 p.m. sail to Holland’s oldest town, Dordrecht, impressively located on an island between three wide rivers.
Day 2 (Sun): Dordrecht – Willemstad – Hellevoetsluis, approx. 45 km/27 mi.
In the morning, set sail for Willemstad, a small fortified town dating from the 17th-18th century, which is well worth visiting. Here start for your first cycle tour. Cross the inland waters of Haringvliet over the Volkerakdam, and cycle through fields and past storybook villages like Zwartsluis and Goudswaard to the popular water sports center of Hellevoetsluis.
Day 3 (Mon): Hellevoetsluis – Bruinisse, approx. 45 km/27 mi.
With fine weather, it is worth to take a detour to the bathing beach of Rockanje, a wide fine-sandy beach with marvelous dunes, before starting the bike tour. Crossing the Haringvliet again, you pass through small villages like Stellendam with the mill Korenlust, the small water sport village of Herkingen and, continuing along the Grevelingendam, you reach the mussel village of Bruinisse.
Day 4 (Tue): Bruinisse – Middelburg, approx. 54 km/32.4 mi.
Today cycle to the small town of Zierikzee, which is among the 10 most beautiful Dutch national heritage towns. The „fat tower“ rises high above the town. The top of the tower offers marvelous views over the town, the harbor and the island. Continue your tour crossing the Zeeland Bridge to Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland. Once the second most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam, Middleburg is a town full of history. Numerous shops and cafes are waiting to be discovered.
Day 5 (Wed): Middelburg – Veere | Middelburg – Neeltje Jans – Veere, approx. 35 km/21 mi.
Destination of today’s cycle tour is Neeltje Jans. The former working island was created by rising a sand flat to facilitate the construction of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the most impressive construction of the Delta Works. You will have the possibility not only to marvel at the locks from up close but also from the inside. Afterwards, continue the cycle tour to Veere, a beautiful holiday seaside town, where once deeply loaded Scottish ships landed.
Day 6 (Thu): Veere – Bruinisse – Willemstad | Bruinisse – Willemstad, approx. 34 km/20.4 mi.
Cycle via Oude-Tonge – the small, popular water sports village was badly impacted by the 1953 flood catastrophe. 305 people are buried in a mass grave near the dike just outside the village – and via small villages like Achthuizen back to Willemstad.
Day 7 (Fri): Willemstad – Rotterdam, approx. 39 km/23.4 mi.
Today´s cycle tour starts in Willemstad and takes you back to Rotterdam. While passing the popular Erasmus Bridge you can see the Olympia from a distance which already awaits you. Use the chance and experience Europe´s largest harbor on an interesting harbor tour.
Day 8 (Sat): Departure from Rotterdam
Disembarkation until 9 a.m. and individual home journey home.
Timetable and Itinerary: subject to alterations. In case a section of the journey cannot be sailed due to low or high water levels or bad weather conditions, the Captain reserves the right to modify the itinerary for your safety (this does not constitute a valid reason for withdrawal).
Details: In italics printed parts will be covered by the ship.
- Embarkation: from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Disembarkation: until 9 a.m.
- On-Board Language: German, English
- Cycle Tours: Individual and self-guided. Daily distances range from 25 – 58 km. All indicated distances are approximate and refer to the recommended cycling tours.
- Cycle Sections/ Level of Difficulty: Due to its numerous cycle paths, Holland has become a paradise for cyclists. The cycle routes are on flat terrain and are easy to cycle on, strong headwinds possible.
- Luggage: We recommend quality rain gear, bike helmet, sun hat and trainers
- Special Dietary Needs: (e.g. lactose-free and gluten-free dietary) possible upon request and for extra charge and must be ordered at least 14 days prior to departure. It might be necessary to bring special dietary products.
- Travel Documents: EU-citizens (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months of the return of your cruise. We kindly ask non-EU citizens, EU-nationals with multiple citizenship or anybody who has to respect special legal entry requirements for the country to visit, to inform about visa and entry documents at the competent embassy.
- This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
Prices & information
Below you see an overview of the available (blue) dates; the yellow dot means that this date has 2 or less cabins available, orange is ‘on request’ and red means that on this date there aren’t any cabins available. Then click on the preferred date. After this, choose your ship (some tours have only one ship, and therefore there is no choice), the number of cabins in the required (and available) category, any desired additional products, and ‘local costs’ (such as special dietary needs, which you usually pay for onboard). On the right side, you’ll find the ‘Booking Summary.’ After completing your preferences and necessary information click ‘Book now’ to finalize your booking.
7 nights in outside cabin with en-suite shower facilities in the booked category
Programme according to itinerary from/to Rotterdam
Welcome drink
Daily cabin cleaning
Change of linen and towels on request
Full board (7 x breakfast buffet, 6 x packed lunch for cycle tours or lunch snack, 6 x coffee and tea in the afternoon, 7x three-course dinner)
All port, bridge and lock fees
Daily briefing on the respective cycle tours
Maps and information material for the cycle tours, 1x per cabin
2020: GPS tracks
Tour manager on board
Insolvenzabsicherung: Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden (SGR) und (nur für Endverbraucher aus Deutschland) Sicherungsschein über tourVERS
Reiseveranstalter sind nach geltendem Europäischen Recht dazu verpflichtet, erhaltene Kundengelder für den Fall eigener Zahlungsunfähigkeit oder Insolvenz abzusichern. Boat Bike Tours (Handelsregisternummer 3714 7084) ist ein in den Niederlanden unter Nummer 3734 registrierter Teilnehmer von SGR (Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden). Diese Registrierung ist auf www.sgr.nl überprüfbar. Die teilnehmenden Reiseveranstalter unterliegen dem in den Niederlanden gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Garantieschutz des SGR Insolvenz-Garantiesystems. Gemäß der Garantieleistung von SGR werden dem Endverbraucher die im Voraus bezahlten Reisesummen erstattet, wenn der Reiseveranstalter finanziell nicht in der Lage ist, seine vertraglichen Verpflichtungen zu erfüllen. Sofern die Vereinbarung Transport beinhaltet und das Ziel bereits erreicht ist, wird die Rückreise arrangiert. Boat Bike Tours hat die vom Gesetzgeber vorgeschriebene Insolvenzversicherung für Endverbraucher, deren Wohnsitz in Deutschland ist, über die tourVERS, eines in Deutschland führenden Anbieters, abgeschlossen. Über 1.200 Veranstalter aller Größenordnungen und touristischen Bereiche sind über tourVERS versichert. Auf der Internetseite der tourVERS finden Sie alle Informationen zur Insolvenzabsicherung. Endverbraucher, die in Deutschland bewohnhaftet sind, erhalten bei Buchung bei Boat Bike Tours mit der Buchungsbestätigung auch den Sicherungsschein von tourVERS.
Hinweis: Die o.g. deutsche Übersetzung des Abschnitts über SGR ist keine offizielle SGR-Übersetzung. SGR kommuniziert nur auf Niederländisch und Englisch. Der niederländische Text zum SGR-Garantiesystem ist allgemeinverbindlich.
Read moreArrival and departure
Parking fees and transfers
Bike rental
Entrance fees and excursions
City maps
Travel insurances
Gratuities and own expenses
Rental bicycle: €70 per week
Rental E-Bike: €165 per week (only on request, limited number available)
You can find a description of the bicycles when you click on ship.
To bring your own bike: on request only – due to lack of space on sundeck.
Optional Excursion Programme: we have organised a small choice of optional excursions for you, these can be booked directly aboard the ship. A short description of the excursions you will find in the travel documents. Depending on the group composition, the tours will be bilingual, German-English
Car Parking Facilities in Rotterdam (subject to change, effective April 2018):
For example “Parkeergarage de Boompjes“ Rotterdam
Car park near the docking location (about 10 minutes walking distance), approx. € 28 every 24 hours or
Central Parking Valet Parking Services
At the day of arrival, leave the car at the docking where a driver will meet you, upon your return, the car will be waiting for you at the ship (application form enclosed in the travel documents). Charges about € 150/week (on-site payment).
Minimum number of participants: 70 guests (must have been reached within 21 days prior to departure).
Partner tour:
Legal notice: Boat Bike Tours is not the organizing operator, but the travel agent for this tour; this is a so called ‘partner tour’, available on request. Tour operator is: SE Tours GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany.
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