You will cycle straight across a distinctly rural environment. Not until the 17th Century was this area recovered from the sea and reclaimed with the use of hundreds of windmills. Many of these windmills are still in working order. One can get a feel for the old Dutch atmosphere in Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam and Volendam: traditional costumes, sailing ships and long johns on the clotheslines. Then you sail to Texel, an island with thousands of sheep and a magnificent nature reserve.
Back on the mainland the route brings you over small dykes and country roads, through vast polders and through the most beautiful dune area: from Schoorl, almost unpronounceable for foreigners, to Bergen. These are also the only kilometres you will be cycling above sea level.
Alkmaar will also provide a good picture of ancient times. It is the capital of Dutch cheese with its own cheese market and weighhouse for cheese. In Zaanse Schans the mills, still in working order, and houses bring the past to life.
April and May are the tulip months. You will cycle amid colourful tulip fields stretching for miles.
The route from day to day
sat Amsterdam, embarkation at 4 PM near Central Station, short round trip 20 sun Amsterdam – Volendam 42 mon Volendam – Enkhuizen 58; or go ashore in Hoorn 27 tue Visit the Zuiderzeemuseum, biking from Enkhuizen to Oude Zeug 43, sailing to Texel. wed Texel, round trip 40/50/66 thu Texel sailing to Den Helder biking to Alkmaar 58; or go ashore in ‘t Zand/Schagerbrug or St Maartensvlotbrug 30/40;Tulip tour 67(in April and May) fri Alkmaar – Zaanse Schans – Amsterdam 45; or go ashore in Zaandam 20 sat Amsterdam, debarkation before 10 AM near Central Station
1 km = 0,62 miles
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