"The country couldn't have been better designed for bicycling if God had designed it himself." Skin bronzed from a summer of biking and boating in the Netherlands, Jeannie of Olympia, Washington still glowed with the excitement of a great traveling adventure. "The mornings were cool, but it would burn off by afternoon--perfect weather for biking."
If you've ever visited the Netherlands (also called Holland), it is impossible to ignore their love of the bicycle. Virtually every mile of road is paralleled with its own bike lane. Bicycles are extended the same respect as cars, even having their own designated traffic lights. In fact, hundreds of miles of lush green farmlands and shoreline are accessible only by bicycle. And with land as flat as a Dutch pancake, it is a perfect way to travel for even the moderate bicycle enthusiast.
There are several ways you can go about biking the Netherlands. Those of you who can't part with your personal bicycle can pack it as a piece of luggage, being careful to follow your airline's packing instructions. This is generally not recommended however, since bicycles are very cheap to rent in Holland and you risk serious damage to your beloved bike in transit. Virtually every town in Holland has a bicycle rental shop. Even many town's train stations will rent you a bike--though not necessarily the best models--and allow you to drop them off in another town. Trains and the Amsterdam subway have special cars for people to ride with their bicycles, so returning to where you rented a bike is quick and painless.
It is easy to travel by bicycle on your own. The Dutch Tourist Board offers free maps, specifically outlining the major national trails. But if you'd rather have all the little details taken care of for you, there are also a number of great tour companies that run tours throughout the summer. Perhaps the most fascinating of these tour offerings are the bike and boat tours.
Many have discovered that the Netherlands is a great place to bike, but what it is most widely known for are its windmills and canals. Thousands of miles of canals perforate the countryside while the windmills slowly reclaim the land by pumping water back into the sea. A large number of these canals are fully navigable by sizable barges, and some of these barges have been converted into mobile hotels. Complete with cozy rooms, shared bathrooms with hot showers, and kitchens, they may not be first-class hotels, but they are clean, safe and affordable.
It was only natural then, for companies like Cycletours Holland to introduce the bike and boat tour. Offering several packages for various areas of the country, you can travel for a week, or link the packages together, traveling throughout the Netherlands.
"I'm not big on tours, but this is the way to go," offered Jeannie. "You are constantly exploring new areas, without having to pack and unpack, because the hotel moves each night!" Each day travelers bike from the boat. You can travel with the group, or with some suggestions from your guide, explore on your own. Typically you eat breakfast on the boat, are given a bag lunch to eat while out exploring, and eat dinner out at one of the many fabulous Dutch restaurants. Returning by a designated time, the boat then moves to the next area in the late evening.
In spite of the amazing convenience of the bike and boat tour, they are surprisingly affordable. While rates vary considerably with each tour, length of trip and group size, when compared to the cost of hotels, bike rentals, some meals and transportation, the prices hold up very well.
"If you've ever considered biking in Europe, the Netherlands is the place to start," suggests Jeannie. "I absolutely recommend the bike and boat tours." With so much to offer the traveling bicyclist, it's hard to disagree.
(Photo by J. Dees)
For more information on bike and boat tours, visit the Cycletours Holland website.
For information on bicycling in the Netherlands in general, visit one of these websites:
