IJsselmeer is the name of the large lake created when the Dutch cut the Zuiderzee off from the North Sea with a closure dike. This step was taken to put a stop to the sea flooding towns on the Zuiderzee. Once the dike was in place (1932), the sea had become a lake. Fresh water from the River IJssel gradually replaced the seawater. Because there was a shortage of arable land, it was decided to create four polders in the south eastern part of IJsselmeer. The third polder was finished in 1968 but the fourth, in Lake Markermeer, was never drained after protests from the environmental movement and water sports enthusiasts. Your hotels for this tour have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. If a certain hotel is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will try to request a comparable alternative if possible. 6 nights in 3*/ 4* hotels with breakfast, Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information, Luggage transport (1 piece, 20kg per person), 7-day hotline service, Tourist tax, Naarden/Bussum Please note: a minimum stay of 2 nights in a row is required in the hotel in Amsterdam on the following dates (and a higher price will be charged): 03 Apr 2026 - 05 Apr 2026, 17 Apr 2026 - 18 Apr 2026, 24 Apr 2026 - 27 Apr 2026, 14 May 2026 - 16 May 2026 and 22 May 2026 - 24 May 2026. Extra night in Amsterdam (breakfast included) - 100 EUR. Saturday nights in Amsterdam are charged at 25 EUR extra per person. Daily Departure from April to 24 September. Room upgrades available per night - on request. Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). The train from Schiphol to Naarden-Bussum departees 4 times per hour. Travel time is about 40 minutes. A single ticket costs approx €7,- per person excl. bicycle. If you would like to rent a Hybrid bike (80 EUR) or E-bike (170 EUR) please contact our office when booking: [[email protected]] The town of Naarden is a good example of a star-shaped fortification (have a peek on google maps!). It’s very well preserved, complete with walls and a moat. Next up is the village of Muiden, at the mouth of the River Vecht. Although very picturesque in itself, it is best known for its small moated castle built around 1280 - well worth a visit! As the sun sets in Amsterdam, you could go for a leisurely stroll through the romantic canal district. There’s so much to see and do in Amsterdam. Have you seen the new and improved Rijksmuseum? The Maritime Museum, Van Gogh, Anne Frank…? Pick and choose and then hop back on your bike and plunge into peaceful countryside: Waterland awaits, with wet meadows, wooden bridges and windswept reeds and rushes. Via the isle of Marken you'll boat / cycle up to Volendam. The quaint stone houses in the distinctive heart of the catholic fishing village seem to have been drawn up without an organized street plan. "De Dijk”, overlooking the harbour, is lined with souvenir shops, pavement cafes and restaurants. Today’s peaceful route, past farmhouses and windmills, continues up the coast to Edam, Hoorn and then Enkhuizen. Beautiful buildings are reminders of the prosperous 17th century Golden Age when they were affluent harbour towns, focussed on trade and shipbuilding. For centuries, small, round, salty cheeses produced by dairy farmers in neighbouring polders were shipped out of Edam and exported all over Europe. For six weeks in summer a traditional Wednesday-morning cheese-market is put on for tourists (10.30 -12.30 hrs). If you’re into cheese, opt to plan your trip around this Edam spectacle. In Zuiderzee Museum, in Enkhuizen, learn all about the days when ships from villages on the Zuiderzee sailed the seven seas trading in bulbs and spices. The biggest attraction is a re-created Zuiderzee village of old, boasting adorable local architecture. Inquisitive minds can spend a whole day here, so if history is your thing, consider booking an extra night. A 32-km dike will take you across the waters to the town of Lelystad in the Flevo Polder. This is the newest part of the Netherlands, reclaimed in 1968! Lelystad is named after the engineer of the Zuiderzee Works, Cornelis Lely. The Zuiderzee Works started with the building of the great closure dam (1932) that cut off Zuiderzee sea from the North Sea. It turned a choppy sea into a harmless lake and put a stop to regular floods. Subsequently, polders were created in the lake because there was a great need for more farmland. Museum Nieuwland tells the story of why and how the Flevo Polder came to be and how it affected the people who used to live by and off the sea. Our bicycle route continues on the new land, through woods and cropfields, while we try to imagine how much fun spatial planners and urban planners must have had designing this whole place from scratch. At the end of the day you will reach Harderwijk. Once upon a time it was a bustling Hansa town and a thriving fishing port by the sea - but now it’s on a lake overlooking a polder! Set those wheels in motion and pedal along the shores of Randmeren lakes. Arkemheen-Eemland is a National Heritage Landscape. The area was surrounded by dikes in the year 1360 to stop cropfields from being flooded. Arkemheen polder is so special because the original lots are still intact. The lots are divided by creeks, remainders of Zuiderzee tidal streams. Some plant species still recall the influence of salt water. Part of the polder is being preserved as a bird habitat for “Natura 2000”. The visitors’ centre has more information. Should you have an abiding interest in the Age of Steam, you may like to visit steam-driven pumping station Hertog Reijnout. It controlled water levels in the low-lying polder from 1883 till 1983. If you would like to drive yourself before or after your tour, ask us for a quote on any brand new Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicle for driving in Europe. Pick up your vehicle from most capital cities in Europe and return it to your drop off destination. Top insurance cover. Email [[email protected]] for a competitive quote Local language barriers. Lost passport. Unexpected medical expenses. Sometimes, our trips don’t go as planned. That’s why Slow Tours Pty Ltd wants you to have the most robust travel advisory and protection for your vacation. Ask us for a quote [[email protected]]
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