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“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” ~ St. Augustine of Hippo

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Imagine cycling through the scenic Dutch countryside surrounded by fields of multicolored tulips. The route of this tour will take you through vast fields of tulips as well as historic town centers. You will also visit the world-famous, 32-hectares park, The Keukenhof Gardens, where you can admire the bright and colorful fields of flowering bulbs at your leisure.

~~~~~~~~TOUR ITINERARY~~~~~~~~

Saturday, April 22: Amsterdam 9.5 miles Board the barge by 2:00 pm. When you arrive on board, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers. You will leave Amsterdam cruising on the river Amstel to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. From Ouderkerk you will cycle your first miles through the polder Ronde Hoep to Uithoorn. During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the planning of the week will be discussed.

Sunday, April 23: Uithoorn – Gouda 28 miles From Uithoorn you will continue your tour over country roads, along river banks and channels through the Green Heart to the city known for its cheese: Gouda. Who thinks of Gouda, not only thinks of cheese, pipes, ‘stroopwafels’ (treacle-waffle) and pottery, but also of beautiful stained glass windows, a fairy-like town hall and atmospheric canals. Gouda is a beautiful Old Dutch city with a mostly intact city centre. As on most days, after dinner you can take a walk through the city.

Monday, April 24: Gouda – Alblasserdam, ferry to Rotterdam and sailing to Delft 25 miles From Gouda you cycle past scenic polders via Kinderdijk to Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest group of windmills in the Netherlands. The windmills at Kinderdijk were still actively used until 1950. These days, a large pumping station is responsible for controlling the water level in the polder. After visiting the windmills of Kinderdijk you take the ferrey to Rotterdam. In Rotterdam you embark and from there the ship takes you to Delft. Delft is the town famous for its pottery, the “Delft blue.” The Prinsenhof Museum is housed in the former St Agatha’s monastery. In 1572 William of Orange chose the convent as one of his residences. It was from here that he led the revolt against the Spanish tyranny of Holland. He was murdered on the steps of the Prinsenhof on July 10, 1584, by Balthazar Gerards, a Spanish sympathizer. Two bullet holes in the wall of the stairs bear witness to this event.

Tuesday, April 25: Delft – Leiden 22 miles From Delft we cycle in the direction of The Hague, through “het Haagse Bosch,” a large park, and past the former Royal Palace “Huis ten Bosch.” The long tour leads you over tranquil cycle paths through the dunes to Wassenaarse Slag. Here you can see the remains of the Atlantikwall. Five bunkers are connected by nearly 3,000-feet-long brick tunnels. Now the underground network serves as a bat reserve. The route continues through the dunes, to Katwijk aan Zee, an old fishing village. The old inhabitants of Katwijk still speak their own dialect, “Kattuks.” Following the course of the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) river we cycle to Leiden. Leiden boasts 14 museums, including the Rijksmuseum. The ship is moored near the Zijlpoort, a gate that once formed part of the city walls. The shorter route leads you inland after “Huis den Bosch” and brings you along “Vlietlanden,” a large recreational lake, to Leiden.

Wednesday, April 26: Leiden - visit to Keukenhof Today you visit the Keukenhof Gardens, the most beautiful spring park in the world. The Keukenhof is the place where the spring begins. It is there that you will discover various gardens and gardening styles: the English Landscape Garden, the Historical Garden, the Natural Garden, the Japanese Natural Garden, the Formal Garden and three special color gardens. Spread throughout the entire park there are approximately eighty sculptures from well-known Dutch artists as well as several other art objects, such as the collection “Surprising Tulips.”

Thursday, April 27: Leiden – flower bulb fields – Haarlem 23 miles From Leiden you cycle through wonderful flower fields in the direction of Haarlem. In the period of March to May the bulb fields are blooming, starting with daffodils and followed by hyacinths, tulips and lilies. Once in the city of Haarlem you take a short tour through the city to see some typical “hofjes’” (almshouses), old houses around a central courtyard, now usually housing elderly people. These “hofjes” are definitely worth a visit. Haarlem, which rendered its name to Harlem, New York, is a lively city with good shopping possibilities. The ship is berthed in the city centre, with a view of St Bavo’s Church and with easy access to the Grote Markt with its many outdoor cafés.

Friday, April 28: Haarlem – Amsterdam 25 miles From Haarlem you sail to Spaarndam, a picturesque village on the edge of Haarlem, in the direction of Amsterdam. Spaarndam’s name comes from the dam built in the Spaarne River to limit the danger of flooding from the sea. Here you can find the statue

of Hansje Brinker on the IJdijk. Hansje is a character from an American novel, which saved the country from flooding by putting his finger in the dike. The Buitenhuizen ferry takes you across the North Sea Canal and from there you cycle to the Zaanse Schans. The Zaanse Schans, with its traditional weatherboard houses, warehouses and windmills may give you the feeling of stepping back into the 17th or 18th century. Yet this is no open air museum, but a lively neighborhood where people live and work. Among other things a cheese farm, a clog maker and an old bakery can be visited here.

Saturday, April 29: Amsterdam End of the tour after breakfast, before 10 am.

FAQs

~ Can I rejoin the barge before the end of the days’ cycling? No, the barge doesn’t take the same route that the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.

~ What happens if it rains? Most people wear rainwear and get on their bicycle. If the weather makes cycling absolutely impossible (this doesn’t happen very often!) the guide will arrange an alternative program which might include a longer visit to one of the towns along the way or cultural excursions.

~Do I have to wear a safety helmet in the Netherlands? No, but it is, of course, sensible to wear one. Helmets for adults are not included with the trip package. You can rent one or bring your own.

~Can I choose my own itinerary without a guide? Cyclists can choose a longer route than the group takes. The guide will gladly advise you on the choice of an alternative route.

~How much is trip insurance? Please contact Book It! Travel if you are interested in purchasing trip insurance. A quote will be sent to you via email.

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About the barge ” Wending”…… 2 The Wending is a former freight barge that started a new life in the early nineties as a luxury passenger motor barge. Since then the “Wending” is a familiar fixture on several routes in the Netherlands and Belgium. The mooring place of the Wending is in Amsterdam. The Wending has a roomy and cozy salon, equipped with a complete music installation and TV. After a day of bicycling it is a great place to relax. There are 10 double and 2 triple cabins, the beds in the cabins are side by side. In the triple cabin one bed is placed over the other two. All cabins are equipped with a private bathroom and central heating.

$1549 per person/double occupancy

add $400 for single occupancy

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

~ English-speaking guide ~ 7 night’s accommodations on the Wending ~ 24 speed bicycle with handbrakes, pannier bags, lock and water bottle ~ breakfast and a 3 course dinner on board ~ a packed lunch daily ~ Road book, 1x per cabin ~ coffee and tea on board ~ entrance to Keukenhof Gardens

TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

~ International air (contact Book It! Travel if you would like to include air ~Transfers ~Passport fees (a passport valid six months after re-entry to the United States is required) ~Optional trip cancellation insurance Contact Book It! Travel if you are interested in purchasing insurance ~Extra services not part of the tour program, such as laundry, bar services, internet etc. ~Charges for excess baggage ~Gratuities to the guide and barge staff

EXTRAS ~ Electric Bicycle rental: $75 ~ Bicycle helmet rental: $15 ~ Bike maps (7X): $88 to be ordered when booking

~ Bicycle insurance: $55 per bicycle

For more information contact Book It! Travel at 612-253-3383 or carrie@bookittravel.com

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TULIP TIME TOUR, cycling through the Dutch countryside April 22 – 29, 2017

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