Holland Texel-island tour
May 10 - 17 / 2025
Departure date: 10 may 2025
Average biking distance per day 35 to 55 KM / Level: Easy
Highlights
Bike Barge & Cruise the north/western part of the Netherlands. Start and finish in Amsterdam, make sure to reserve some extra time before or after your cruise in this vibrant city! Next stop; ‘de Zaanse schans’ with its open air museum and windmills. You then head to Texel island, ‘a country’ on its own, to reach this island you’ll cruise the beautiful open waters of the; UNESCO Heritage Wadden Sea, where you might be able to spot some seals. As if it were all not enough, you also see many little fishing towns on the way back to Amsterdam.
Day-to-day itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam – Zaandam
Check in: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, Merlijn will set sail for Zaandam where there is an overnight stay. We’ll present you with a welcome drink and introduce the crew. We will also provide information on the tour, the ship, and offer you a safety briefing. During dinner we will arrive in Zaandam. In the evening there will be time for a city walk.
Day 2: Zaandam - Alkmaar
After your first breakfast on board, you can try out your bike and do some sightseeing in ‘de Zaanse Schans’, which is famous for its open-air museum and windmills, and you might want to visit one of the mills. You will get the experience of the real ancient Dutch history. Afterwards the bike tour gets underway, and you will cycle to Alkmaar, leading you through an attractive Dutch landscape. After dinner we offer you an evening stroll through this pretty city, well known for its open-air-cheese-market, unfortunately on Fridays only.
Day 3: Alkmaar – Den Helder
Today’s bike tour leads you through a part of the Netherlands that we call ‘Dutch nature at its purest’, meadows, canals, farm houses and more. Your tour ends in Den Helder, the most northern part of the province ‘North-Holland’, where we will stay overnight.
Day 4: Den Helder – Texel
While you enjoy your breakfast, Captain steers the Merlijn to the isle of Texel. We will sail very close to open sea, if you look very carefully; you can see England. Merlijn might move a little more with the waves. Arrived in Texel you will have the opportunity to cycle this island. Here are dunes, beaches and lots of great bike paths. You will have the chance to visit a cheese farm today or tomorrow and if you want to take a break from cycling you will definitely enjoy the nature and the sea. There are many local dishes on the island as well.
Day 5: Texel – Wadden Sea - Stavoren
This morning we will stay longer on the island of Texel, so you will be able to cycle more on this beautiful island. Early afternoon we will sail across the Wadden Sea to Stavoren. The Wadden Sea sailing gives you a stunning view on the shallow body of water with tidal flats and wetlands. It has a high biological diversity and is an important area for both breeding and migrating birds. It is also possible you will be able to spot some seals. Early evening we will arrive in Stavoren. Enjoy your stroll through this ancient harbor city with many monuments to see.
Day 6: Stavoren - Urk
Your bike tour starts in Stavoren and takes you through the charming landscape of province ‘Friesland’, with lots of small canals and lake. Afternoon you will board the Merlijn and together we sail to Urk, a formerly fisher village with a lot of history, your evening walk through this village after dinner will be very interesting to you.
Day 7: Urk - Amsterdam
Early morning we’ll leave the Harbour of Urk behind and motor the IJsselmeer (lake), along the coast of our new land. Your bike tour of today will be in the ‘new land’, our youngest province called Flevoland. Once this was the ‘Zuiderzee’, an open sea. Flevoland has been reclaimed in the sixties and has become the 12th province of the Netherlands. After you board the Merlijn again, we have a wonderful afternoon of cruising. Have that last drink or finally read that book you brought! This evening there will be a farewell dinner and the last night on board.
Day 8: Amsterdam
Breakfast, check out and departure. Extend your stay in Holland and reserve some time to explore the city, you might want to go on a ride through the canals, or you may want to visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh museum.
Included in your tour:
- 7 nights onboard Merlijn
- Individual climate control and private bathroom with shower, sink and toilet in all cabins
- Supply of bedding, towels, facial tissues, hand soap, shampoo, sewing kit, vanity kit, bathrobe & slippers
- Full service of staff, daily cleaning of the cabins, manned bar (no self-service)
- Porterage of luggage upon arrival and departure
- Daily loading and unloading of your bicycle to and from the ship
- Use of lightweight state-of-the-art bicycle
- Use of a waterproof bike bag, universal sized helmet, towel and a personal water bottle
- Tour guide (we offer an experienced guide who know the routes like the back of his/her hand)
- Brochures of the area available on board
- Harbour, lock and canal fees
Included culinary care:
- Welcome drink with bubbles
- All day unlimited coffee, tea, hot chocolate and potable ice water (self-service)
- Extensive breakfast buffet daily with at least; 2 warm dishes, freshly baked croissants or similar pastries, various types of bread, toaster, yoghurt, cereals, fresh fruit and various beverages.
- Packed lunch prepared by the staff in a special lunch bag with at least a lavish sandwich, snack and drink.
- 6 three-course dinners
- Dinners are based on ‘plate service’, meals are served in the dining area.
- Meals are perceived by our guests as “luxurious” or even “gourmet style”.
Included beverages during bar opening hours:
- Several sodas served from a small bottle
- Wide variety of wines (also non-alcoholic wine)
- Beer on tap and various beers from the bottle (also non-alcoholic beer)
Included excursions:
- Ferry costs on the bicycle route
- Visit to cheese farm
Not included in your tour:
- 1 dinner
- Excursions, entrance fees and guided tours other than mentioned
- Beverages other than those mentioned (such as spirits and cocktails)
- City maps, bike maps, etc. (we have a lot available however we can’t guarantee every destination)
- Inbound and outbound journeys, such as flights, trains, bus or other type of transfers
- Insurances
- Gratuities (cash only)
- Electronic payments of your onboard expenses (cash only)
For your comfort, we rent out electric bikes at € 30,- each per day, reservations in advance are advisable.
The Cancellation policy also applies to pre-booked and reserved use of e-bike or any other extra requested services.
The general terms and conditions of Merlijn de magie van water B.V. apply to all bookings, offers and agreements. Please find them on our website under ‘Terms & Conditions’.
Merlijn complies the General Data Protection Regulation to protect your privacy. Please find them on our website under ‘Privacy statement’.
We reserve the right to modify schedule and/or program. If (part of) the route is not navigable due to weather conditions and/or other nautical reasons and/or is closed off due to circumstances and/or for safety reasons, the operator and/or the captain has the right to change the schedule. This includes changing the location of departure and/or arrival and temporarily suspending departure. Nautical and/or meteorological reasons are understood to mean, among others, weather conditions, the tide, obstruction of waterways/shipping lanes, and the condition of the ship. Closed off due to circumstances and/or safety reasons are understood to mean, among others, terrorism, diseases, natural disasters. Changes in schedule and/or program do not give the customer the right on free cancellation.