Day 1 Sat Arrive Amsterdam. Spaarndam to Harlem 12 miles.

In the morning you will be able to check into the barge, be shown your cabin and meet your fellow travellers. At approximately 1.00pm your barge will cruise to Spaarndam where you will unload your bikes and cycle to Haarlem. The Flemish moved here in droves in search of their fortunes and it was partly because of them that the linen commerce grew so much. The wealth that came with this commerce attracted lots of artists, among them Frans Hals. In the evening, after your delicious meal, a special guest will tell you all about the history of the Haarlem Breweries

Day 2 Sun Harlem to Leiden 20 miles.

After a short cruise you cycle right through Holland’s Green Heart to Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt and also home to one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. You may like to visit the local museum De Lakenhal, where you will find an interesting collection of industrial art and paintings from the 17th-20th century. In the evening you have the option of a walk through the historical centre of the town with your guide.

Day 3 Mon Leiden to Delft 22 miles.

Your barge cruises to Leidschendam and from there you will cycle to Delft. In the 17th century the Delft potters were so impressed by the chinaware that was brought in from the far east that they created there own Delft ware (Delft Blue). A visit to the chinaware factory ‘De Porceleyne Fles’ gives you a good impression of the Delft Blue and modern ceramics.

Day 4 Tues Delft to Schiedam 20 miles.

After a city walk through the historic centre of Delft, which is crammed with 17th and 18th Century houses, streets that overlook canals, magnificent public buildings, outdoor markets, and a surprising number of museums, you cycle via the Westland region to the town of Schiedam. Here you will find the 5 highest mills of the world. Schiedam is also famous for its many gin distilleries (called jenever in Dutch) that were founded during the Golden Age. You might want to try a 'jenevertje' and strong liquor in the museum of spirits 'De Gecroonde Brandersketel'.

Day 5 Wed Schiedam to Dordrecht 25 miles.

Today the programme consists of a cycle tour through small rural villages and a through part of the nature reserve ‘De Biesbosch’. The cycle trip ends in Dordrecht, formerly one of the most important ports in the Netherlands where goods were transferred from sea going vessels to river boats. In the Dordrecht Museum you will find an interesting collection of paintings by several Dutch Masters.

Day 6 Thur Dordrecht to Gouda 22 miles.

How Dutch can a landscape be? After leaving Dordrecht you cycle to Kinderdijk, where you will see 19 windmills in line: Don’t forget your cameras! The mills, built around 1740, drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea level - after which the water is sluiced into the river Lek. After visiting one of the mills you continue to Gouda where in the central marketplace cheese markets have been held since the Middle Ages. The famous St. Jans church with beautiful stained glass windows is certainly worth a visit. A potter, the only craftsman still practising today, shows you the art of making traditional Gouda pipes from clay. In Gouda during mediaeval times it was obligatory for pharmacists, if they wanted to offer their clients a new potion, to taste all the ingredients in public. Some laws should never be changed.

Day 7 Fri Gouda to Amsterdam 16 miles.

Early in the morning the barge leaves Gouda on its way back to Amsterdam. Around noon you disembark and cycle alongside the river Amstel into Amsterdam. In the afternoon there is still time left to visit the Dutch capital. In the evening you may wish to make a round trip of the Amsterdam canals, which would make a memorable end to your holiday, or join your guide for a walk.

Day 8 Sat Depart from Amsterdam.

It is the end of the tour and so it is time to say farewells, exchange contact details and make your way home.