Slow Tours

Overview

A wonderful cycling holiday that kicks off in Belgium and leads up through the Netherlands to Amsterdam. Recurring themes include historical architecture, pastoral countryside and water vistas. In eight days you will discover a great many delightful places you otherwise wouldn't have chanced upon. Starting in Bruges, you will go to the following towns: Damme, Sluis, Vlissingen (Flushing), Middelburg, Zierikzee, Willemstad, Dordrecht, Gouda and Amsterdam. They count among the most picturesque towns in the Netherlands and Flanders and are remarkably well-preserved and evocative of centuries past. The route is predominantly rural and passes through a number of nature reserves. Cycling paths are of high quality. 7 Nights included in 3/4 Star Hotels (upgrade to mainly 4 star hotels available on request) Breakfast included Tourist information on all the places of interest 7-days a week service-hotline Luggage transport (1 piece, 20kg per person) The ferry Leeuweveerke through the National Park de Biesbosch is not included. Tickets are available on the spot, cash is not accepted Bruges is known as the pearl of Flanders. It’s a truly enchanting town that has been welcoming tourists for about 150 years. With most of its medieval architecture intact, it remains exceptionally well preserved and can really give you a sense of times gone by when it was at the centre of the European wool and cloth trade. After a hearty breakfast, hit the tracks and pedal to the charming little town of Damme on the banks of the Damse Vaart. Then continue to the border and enter Zeeland, a Dutch province marked by light, wind, water and lots of space. It is mostly made up of islands so bridges and ferries will be taking you across the waters as you drift north east. Picture-book towns with ancient houses and cobbled streets are lined up for the coming days. But first you will pass through Zeelandic Flanders with its winding country roads, pollard willows, wet meadows and scattered villages. At the end of the day, hop on a ferry boat to the maritime town of Vlissingen. After dinner, head for the beach to watch the sun set into the sea. Discover the nostalgic splendour of the city of Middelburg. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the most important centres of trade in the Netherlands. Next up, is the charming village of Veere. From 1541 everything that was exported to Holland from Scotland (mainly wool) came ashore in and was distributed from Veere. This contract brought the town not only prosperity but also a very lively Scottish expat community that stayed for 300 years. Walk in their footsteps as you take a tour of the sights. A wander down the narrow streets of Zierikzee is an absolute delight. Quaint little old houses take you back in time to the town's glory days when ships set sail for the Baltic and Mediterranean to sell salt, wool, fish, grain and red dye. Enjoying your last day in Zeeland, traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes and golden sand flats. Round off the day in Willemstad, a fortified town shaped like a seven-point star. The result of a major flood in 1421, Biesbosch is one of the few remaining wetland habitats in Europe where the ecosystem has adapted both to saltwater coming in from the sea through tidal creeks, and to freshwater coming down in the rivers. It’s an ever-changing labyrinth of creeks and riverlets encompassing countless little islands of willow woods and reeds, a paradise for birds. Pedalling on, you will reach one of the oldest towns in Holland: Dordrecht, completely surrounded by water. The area around the marina is a true gem. This oldest part of town counts over a thousand historical buildings and three nostalgic canals. The hotel is in Papendrecht, but if you like to stay in Dordrecht this is possible, you can upgrade to ****Hotel Bellevue Groothoofd, right in the old center and on the crossroads of 2 major rivers. Hit the trail once again and set off for the village of Kinderdijk where nineteen majestic windmills present a unique spectacle. They were used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. As you ride your bike towards Gouda, cruising at about two meters below sea level, enjoy pastoral countryside and wonderful cloudscapes. For centuries, people flocked from far and wide to buy horses, cows, meat, turf, seed, cheese etc, at weekly and annual markets in Gouda. We recommend a stroll around the old part of town to soak up the yesteryear atmosphere. Walk all the way around St. John’s church and the market square boasting a 15th-century town hall and a Weighing House (“Waag”). For availability reasons it's possible you will stay in Oudewater instead of Gouda. Plunge into the “Groene Hart” (green heart), a pleasant rural area of low-lying polders with peat meadows and grazing cattle. It’s a flat, open, spacious landscape where church spires and windmills touch the horizon and clouds are reflected in lakes and canals. Your bicycle holiday ends in Amsterdam, famous for its gorgeous 400-year-old canal district. This city is brimming with things to see and do. As always, street artists and performers draw crowds on Dam, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. A new attraction is “Het Grachtenhuis” (Museum of the Canals). Have you been to the renovated Rijksmuseum and Maritime Museum? Would the 80 km be to long for you then you can split this day by booking an extra overnight in Woerden. (30 km and 48 km) Riding through stunningly beautiful countryside dotted with historic and charming towns and villages was a delight, pure and simple. No stigma is attached to ebikes here as everyone uses them. We were fascinated by the close integration of bicycles of all kinds into everyday life. Being able to ride on to a ferry and pay for a ticket without dismounting was impressive. - July 2022 We had a wonderful trip and the team was accommodating and helpful . We loved the quaint DUTCH villages and countryside. It’s a great way to see the country and meet people and experience the culture . The best part is that it is a slow holiday - no rushing around - and that’s what we loved most. - July 2022 This tour was fantastic and provided me with an experience that will last a lifetime. The hotels were INCREDIBLE and the days went very smoothly. The villages I biked through were safe and all so different - I really felt like I was biking through history. The experience I had was something like none other, I likely wouldn't have visited many of these villages if I was just taking a trip to Amsterdam. I feel very accomplished saying that I've biked across Holland on my own and it's thanks to the incredible team at Slow Tours. Thank you!! - July 2023

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included