News

Friday 05 june 2026

Season Kick-Off 2026 — Summer Arrived Before We Expected!

Spring flew by, and as we write this, summer seems to have landed in Europe earlier than ever this season! We had wonderfully mild weather with little rain in April and early May, our guests absolutely loved it! During our last trip, we watched temperatures climb from 17°C (63°F) all the way up to 30°C (86°F)!

We're often asked what the weather will be like during a particular period, and this perfectly illustrates why we can never really answer that question…

Merlijn kicked off the 2026 season with her newly developed Tulip Expedition and what a success it was! We received so many compliments from our guests, it was truly overwhelming. We're incredibly proud ourselves too; after years of preparation, it's wonderful to see everything fall into place.

We moved the start and end point of the tulip journey away from Amsterdam, which felt like a bold move, but it was very well received! Amsterdam is the tourist hotspot and international flight hub, so a visit before the cruise is almost unavoidable, and that's perfectly fine. But afterwards, guests travel on to the starting point in Dordrecht or Schagen, spending 1 or 2 nights (independently) in these lesser-known but truly beautiful cities. It's a chance to experience the real Netherlands, less touristy and more authentic, exactly in line with Merlijn's vision!

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02 july 2025

Never did I imagine how amazing (not even a big enough word) was the experience on our trip. From the moment we stepped on the Merlijn, to the moment we stepped off, everything was exquisite. It is clear everyone who works on the Merlijn has a personal interest in her guests. The vessel itself is a work of art, the meals and care given to us, the same, the biking and leadership to get us through the amazing countryside, towns and other biking ventures so artfully and carefully arranged for us, nothing short of excellent. I almost don\'t want to go again because it might not match this experience - but I will!!! Over half of the people on this trip were return visitors - that says it all. I almost didn\'t write this because I want to make sure I can book another trip without competing with others, but everyone should experience this trip at least once.