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Netherlands

Beauty in Bloom: A Cycle & Barge Adventure in the Netherlands

Program No. 24933RJ
Forget tiptoeing — get many perspectives on the Netherlands as you bike and barge along tulip fields and gardens while learning about Dutch culture.
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  • A classic Dutch windmill stands behind a vibrant field of colorful tulips in the Netherlands under a blue sky.
  • Map of the cycle and barge tour route in the Netherlands, connecting Amsterdam, Haarlem, Oude Wetering, and Alkmaar.
  • The De Holland ship is docked at a pier in the Netherlands on a partly cloudy day.
  • A group of smiling cyclists in helmets pose with their bikes on a charming street in the Netherlands.
  • Boats are docked along a canal in front of the historic Teylers Museum and other traditional Dutch buildings in Haarlem, Netherlands.
  • Colorful traditional Dutch houses with red-tiled roofs line a canal in De Rijp, Netherlands, under a blue sky with white clouds.
  • The modern bar and dining area aboard the De Holland ship in the Netherlands, featuring a curved wooden bar and mustard-yellow dining chairs.
  • A group of cyclists in helmets poses for a photo in front of a large tulip field in the Netherlands.
  • Cyclists park their bikes in a rack at the bottom of a sandy dune path in the Netherlands.
  • A colorful flower parade float in Haarlem, Netherlands, features large ducks made of yellow and red flowers in front of traditional Dutch buildings.
  • Colorful tulips and other flowers bloom in vibrant beds alongside a winding stream at Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands.
  • Two beds with towels folded into swans sit in a cabin on the De Holland ship in the Netherlands.
BicyclingOutdoor AdventuresAdventures Afloat Study CruiseBarge
Length
9 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,299
Flights start at
850
Program
At a Glance
Duration
9 days
Program Begins
Hoorn
Program Concludes
Amsterdam
Meals
16 ( 7B, 2L, 7D )
Activity Level
After windmills and wooden shoes, tulips and bicycles may be the most recognizable icons of the Netherlands — a country with more bikes than residents and home to the world’s largest permanent display of tulips. Combine these emblems of Dutch culture on a bike and barge journey, where you’ll travel through gardens and along rivers to experience the heritage of the Netherlands firsthand. Explore the canals and museums of Amsterdam, learn about a famed former steam-powered pumping station at the Cruquius Museum and enjoy exercising your mind and your body on this exciting adventure!
Best of all, you'll...
  • Visit the Keukenhof, known as the Garden of Europe, with its seven million spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Explore the North Holland Dune Reserve, one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands.
  • Learn about the 2,000-year history of the development of water management and land reclamation at the Cruquius Museum.
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Featured Expert
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Kees Grandia
Kees Grandia was born and raised in the city of Rotterdam. He received a teaching certificate in Dutch and English at the teachers training college in Delft and studied history at the University of Leiden and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, he returned to education at the Albeda College as a teacher of Dutch to immigrants. Kees currently works as an educational manager with Albeda College in Rotterdam. He enjoys a game of tennis, loves opera, and is interested in American politics.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Kees Grandia was born and raised in the city of Rotterdam. He received a teaching certificate in Dutch and English at the teachers training college in Delft and studied history at the University of Leiden and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, he returned to education at the Albeda College as a teacher of Dutch to immigrants. Kees currently works as an educational manager with Albeda College in Rotterdam. He enjoys a game of tennis, loves opera, and is interested in American politics.
Rikko Bulten grew up near Rotterdam, the city were he still lives. He worked about ten years as a consultant for social housing corporations in several major Dutch cities. His group leading experience started when friends he made abroad began visiting him in The Netherlands. Showing them the different natural and cultural characteristics of his country with his personal touch became addictive. Rikko was able to turn this hobby into his job, and now runs a bed-and-breakfast and leads groups in The Netherlands and abroad.
Frans Witkamp, born in Holland, studied cultural anthropology in Amsterdam and enjoys sharing his knowledge of European history, economics, and culture. He has been working in hospitality his entire career. In the winter, he runs a skiing school, and in the summer he leads cycling trips all over Europe. An experienced group leader, Frans is looking forward to showing you the beautiful roads, rivers, and valleys of your European adventure.
Hester van Vliet has bicycled and sailed for most of her life and naturally spends most of her time on the road or on the water. When she is not traveling or leading programs, she works in her stained glass art studio in the city of Arnhem in The Netherlands where she resides.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Novice to intermediate cyclists. Participants may select a standard bike or e-bike rental at time of enrollment. Cycling between 10-26 miles (5 hours) per day at 10-12 mph on primarily flat terrain on dedicated paved bicycle paths with frequent stops. Weather conditions such as wind and rain may affect biking difficulty. Walking up to one mile/day and standing for up to two hours/day on uneven terrain (including stairs and cobblestones).
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call 800-454-5768
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

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Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

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Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

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Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it
  • Peace of Mind

    We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

    An illustration of a hand using a pen to check off the final item on a clipboard checklist
  • Assurance Plan

    Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

    An illustration of an elderly man sitting at a computer with a pair of binoculars beside him
  • Want to Protect Your Investment?

    Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

    An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
  • Sustainable Travel

    We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

    An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it