Bike & Boat Hanseatic Route from Amsterdam, MPS LIZA MARLEEN

From 12:30 pm, embarkation in Amsterdam, Oosterdok, near the main station. At 2:00 pm, the ship leaves and sails through the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to Wijk bij Duurstede, an enchanting town with a beautiful medieval market square on the Lower Rhine. After dinner, you may enjoy a stroll through the old lanes of the town.

During breakfast, your ship sets sail for Wageningen. Here, you start for your first cycle route through the picturesque Lower Rhine River Valley. Around lunchtime, you cycle through Arnhem city centre and cross the historic “John Frost bridge”. This bridge was the centre of the Battle of Arnhem in 1944 as part of “Operation Market Garden”. In the afternoon, continue along the IJssel to the Hanseatic city of Doesburg.

Alternatively, you can extend your cycle tour individually (unguided) by approx. 15 kilometres and cycle through the woodlands and heathlands of the Veluwe National Park. The Park is approx. 54 km² (14,000 acres) in area and is home to many plants and animals. (If you want to visit the park, the day pass is about € 13.-).

Today your cycle tour starts in the Hanseatic city of Doesburg. From here, follow the Hanse Cycle Route along the IJssel River to Bronkhorst, a hamlet that is proud to be considered the Netherlands`smallest town. Today`s destination is Zutphen, the city of towers. Already from afar, you can see the big and small church towers that characterise the panorama of the city. During dinner, your ship sails to Deventer. The historic „Stadsplein de Brink“ square has already been a central meeting point during the heyday of the Hanseatic League and is today surrounded by numerous cosy terraced cafes.

During breakfast, the ship sails to Wijhe, from here you go on a cycle tour. Cross the IJssel River by ferry (approx. € 1.50 per pers.) and cycle through woodlands and the magnificent unspoilt landscape of the Eastern Veluwe. In the afternoon, you reach Hattem respectively Zwolle. Both cities are lively Hanseatic cities and have a charming medieval old town. During dinner boat tour to Kampen, with one of the best preserved historic city centres in the Netherlands. The city is also home to the Cog Ship of Kampen, a reconstructed medieval Hansa cog ship.

In the morning, shipping to Reevesluis. Here you begin your cycle tour. Along the Lake Veluwe – here you can take a bath, rent a boat, go surfing and much else – you cycle through typical Dutch landscape to Elburg, a charming medieval fortified town and ancient fishing town. You should not miss out on a visit of the historic Old Town, which is no larger than 250 by 350 metres. Afterwards continue through the huge woodlands of the Veluwe to reach Harderwijk. A stroll through the city leads inevitably to the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, a basilica that dates back to the 14th/15th century. Overnight stop in the old fishing port.

During breakfast, you sail to Huizen. From there, you cycle to the marvellous fortified city of Naarden and to the castle in Muiden (Dutch Muiderslot). Along a quiet route, you reach Amsterdam. The afternoon and the evening you spend in Amsterdam.

In the morning you start from Wormerveer to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans (windmills, ancient Dutch village, cheese factory, etc). After your visit you will continue in the direction of Volendam. On the way you have the opportunity to visit a cheese dairy in Katwoude. Here you can see how Gouda cheese and the traditional Dutch wooden shoes are made. Via Volendam, known as a traditional fishing village with typical authentic cottages, you cycle to Hoorn. For a short visit of the historic old town with its many buildings from the 17th century (e.g. the harbour tower as well as the storage houses at the old quai) you should take some time.

After breakfast, disembarkation until 09:00 am and individual journey home.