Bike and boat: Zeeland Holland

8 Days
  • 198
  • flexible design
  • Round trip
  • Summer
  • Bike & Ship
  • Ship
  • Individual trip

Your trip

Discover the Golden Holland on your own by bike and boat!

On this tour you will experience the rivers, canals, the vastness, the wind and the old Nordic trading and fishing towns of Holland in the most beautiful way imaginable.

You cycle the 'land of all bicycle dreams' - and the ship takes you from port to port through waterways and old lifelines of the Netherlands.

Well-developed cycling paths and an extensive network of waterways guarantee an unforgettable vacation.

During the day, you can explore the scenic beauty of the land of Rembrandt and van Gogh under your own steam. In the later afternoon, the MS NORMANDIE is again at your disposal as a "floating hotel".

Hardly any other province is more varied and has as many faces as South Holland.
City life and unspoiled nature lie side by side here. The waterways offer many opportunities to discover the beautiful landscapes and cultural and historical highlights of the province of "Zuid-Holland".

Experience cities as diverse as Dordrecht and Utrecht and of course Rotterdam, also known as “Manhattan on the Meuse”, vast polder country, the famous row of windmills at Kinderdijk and not forgetting the “porcelain stronghold” of Delft with its “Delft Blue”.

Your ship

MS Normandy

On board the cozy middle class ship MS Normandie you can expect a personal and familiar atmosphere. All cabins were completely renovated in winter 2020. On the upper deck is the friendly panoramic salon with bar, on the main deck is the tasteful restaurant. Oddly enough, it does not have direct access from the cabin area.

The heart and head of the ship is the large sundeck with its seating areas and deck chairs.

Length of the ship: 91,2 m, width: 10,50 m, draught: 1,60 m, capacity: 100 passengers.

MS Normandie Board Plan

On-board language: German & English

Currency on board: EUR; Credit cards: Mastercard and Visacard

Your cabins

MS NORMANDIE has a total of forty-nine 2-bed cabins and two 1-bed cabins.

All 2-bed cabins on the main and upper deck are about 10-11 sqm. They are equipped with two level hotel beds, shower/WC, flat screen TV, safe, hairdryer, centrally controlled air conditioning and a panoramic window. The windows on the upper deck can be opened.

The 1-bed cabins are smaller (about 7 sqm) and have a level hotel bed.

Ausflugsprogramm, Fahrplan- und Programmänderungen

Die Crew bietet Ihnen ein kleines Ausflugsprogramm an. Die Vorschläge werden tagtäglich vorgestellt und sind ausschließlich an Bord buchbar. You will receive a brief description with your travel documents. Depending on the composition of the participants, the excursions may be offered bilingually German-English.

Timetable

DayLocationToFrom
Day 1Rotterdam - Schiedam,
Embarkation 16:00 hrs
18:00
1st dayDordrecht19:30
2nd dayDordrecht06:30
2nd dayWillemstad09:0010:00
2nd dayHellevoetsluis11:00
Day 3Hellevoetsluis 10:00
3rd dayBruinisse14:30
4th dayBruinisse10:00
4th dayVeere12:00
5th dayVeere
Day 6Veere15:00
7th dayDordrecht01:0011:00
Day 7Rotterdam - Schiedam13:00
Day 8Rotterdam - Schiedam , disembarkation until 09:00 am

Timetables and programs are subject to change without notice. Wenn z.B. wegen Niedrig-, Hochwasser oder Schlechtwetter eine Strecke nicht befahren werden kann, behält sich der Kapitän das Recht vor, die Route zu Ihrer Sicherheit zu ändern (dies ist kein kostenloser Rücktrittsgrund). The same applies to lock and/or bridge repairs ordered by the authorities and not announced in advance.

Rental bikes

7-speed unisex touring bikes and 8-speed e-bikes from Velo de Ville with handbrake, freewheel or coaster brake (please specify as a non-binding customer request when booking). The bikes are equipped with a pannier bag and rental bike insurance.

E-Bikes sind nur begrenzt verfügbar. Please indicate your height when booking.

Mitnahme eigener Räder

Sie können Ihre eigenen Fahrräder oder E-Bikes mitnehmen. Only e-bikes with removable, not permanently installed battery can be taken along. Please note that this is done at your own risk. The shipping company excludes any liability for loss, theft, damage. This also applies to transport damage from ship to shore and back. The shipping company charges a small additional fee for taking your bikes with you. Please book the option"own bike" with.

Arrival

We recommend that you arrive by train. Rotterdam is easily accessible by train. You can find connections e.g. at www.bahn.de.

Get in on the vacation at home. Enjoy your journey - and look forward to the punctuality of Dutch Railways. Book our rental bikes and come aboard completely relaxed.

If you arrive by car, you can park not far from the pier, about 10 minutes walk, about € 25,- per 24 hours.

Alternatively, please use valet parking at a guarded parking lot in Rotterdam (Holiday Extras). You will receive a registration form for the parking garage with the booking confirmation. You drive your car to the ship in comfort, unload and hand over the key. Your car will be picked up at the landing stage on the day of arrival and brought back to the ship on the day of departure. The reservation is made directly through the company Holiday Extras. You will receive further information after your booking. Costs: approx. € 200,- / week, rate depending on occupancy.

Important notes:

The minimum number of participants on the ship is 60. If we do not reach the minimum number of participants, we must cancel the trip up to 21 days before the start of the trip. In practice, this restriction is hardly relevant, as the ships are almost always overbooked. We are not aware that a tour has ever not taken place due to the minimum number of participants.

Please note: In the 2-bed cabins at the rear of the upper deck, engine and generator noise is perceptible.

We recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance.

Country information

Please refer to the country notes and entry information for the Netherlands on the Country Information page. Please also note our Notes on package tours.

Trips

  • We offer a small excursion program, which you can book directly on board - mostly in German and English.

From day to day

  • Rotterdam
    -
    embarkation

    Day 1

    Embarkation day & Cruise Rotterdam - Dordrecht

    Individual arrival in Rotterdam. Embarkation from 16:00. Please be at the quay on time. You will find information on parking in the Questions & Answers. A little more time? You will guess: Rotterdam is not just oil. Not by a long shot. The city pulsates future. Destroyed by the German Wehrmacht during the war, Rotterdam today presents itself as a futuristic northern metropolis on the harbor. Take the time for the city with many faces: Port, nightlife, shopping and artists' city. Architecture, flair and, of course, first and foremost its people make it one of the most exciting cities in Europe. We will be happy to assist you if you wish to arrive a day in advance or stay longer.

  • Dordrecht
    -
    Willemstad
    -
    Hellevoetsluis

    Day 2

    Bike tour Dordrecht - Willemstad - Hellevoetsluis, approx. 45 bike km

    Early in the morning, your ship will take you to Willemstad, a small 17th/18th century fortified town worth seeing. Century. The tranquil place captivates with its freshly caught fish, which you can taste in many restaurants. Here you will start your first bike tour. You cross the inland waterway Haringvliet via the Volkerakdam and cycle across open fields and through picturesque farming villages to the popular water sports resort of Hellevoetsluis. Windmills Kinderdijk

  • Hellevoetsluis
    -
    Bruinisse

    Day 3

    Bike tour Hellevoetsluis - Bruinisse, approx. 45 bike km

    Before you start your bike tour, you should take a discovery tour through the spacious harbor and a detour to the old lighthouse in the south of the city. You cycle over the Haringvliet and through small villages like Stellendam, agricultural towns like Melissant and water sports towns like Herkingen with a large marina.

    National Park De Biesbosch

    Via the Grevelingendam you cycle to the mussel village Bruinisse. A stroll through the harbor in the north of the city is a must for every visitor.

  • Bruinisse
    -
    Veere

    Day 4

    Bike tour Bruinisse - Veere, approx. 46 bike km

    Today you can visit the "Watersnoodmuesum" during your bike tour. Here you will learn all about the great flood disaster of 1953 and the "drowned" village of Viane, which was flooded and never rebuilt. Continue towards Zierikzee, which is one of the ten most beautiful Dutch monument towns.

    The "Thick Tower" towers high above the city. A detour to the historic center is worthwhile. You will then continue your journey via the Zeelandbrug - an impressive structure 5 km long, built on 54 piers - to your destination for the day - the harbor town of Veere. Where once richly laden ships from Scotland docked, today imposing yachts are moored.

  • Veere
    -
    Neeltje
    Jans
    -
    Veere

    Day 5

    Cycle tour Veere - Neeltje Jans - Veere, approx. 35 cycle km

    Experience the "picture book Holland" on today's bike tour. Discover the former working island Neeltje Jans, which was washed up especially for the construction of the storm surge barrier of the Oosterschelde, the impressive structure of the Delta Works.

    You will have the opportunity to admire the locks not only up close, but also from the inside. The adjacent amusement park "Deltapark" gives an insight into the life of sea lions and the underwater world of the Oosterschelde (optional).

    .

  • Veere
    -
    Middelburg
    -
    Veere
    /
    Shipping
    Veere
    -
    Dordrecht

    Day 6

    Bike tour Veere - Middelburg - Veere / Boat trip Veere - Dordrecht, approx. 40 bike km

    First stop of your cycling tour is Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland. The city has a rich past and was once the most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. Numerous stores and cafes invite you to visit. During a city tour (optional) you will have the opportunity to learn all sorts of interesting and interesting facts about the charming city. We continue through the picturesque, typically Dutch landscape on the Walcheren peninsula. Wide beaches, forests and dunes await you. Nowhere in the Netherlands does the sun shine as often and as long as here.

  • Dordrecht
    -
    Rotterdam

    Day 7

    Bike tour Dordrecht - Rotterdam, approx. 45 bike km

    On the last cycling stage you will experience the most famous windmills of the Netherlands at Kinderdijk. The 19 still well-preserved mills date back to the 18th century and have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is worth a visit! Further on your way leads you along the river Maas to Rotterdam. Take the opportunity to take a harbor tour of Europe's largest deep-water port and admire the skyline and impressive architecture from the water.Delft

  • Departure
    from
    Rotterdam

    Day 8

    Departure from Rotterdam

    After breakfast disembarkation until 09:00 and individual journey home. You would like to stay one more day in Rotterdam. Great idea. Please let us know. We are happy to support you.

contain

  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked cabin category
  • Program as per itinerary from and to Rotterdam
  • All port, bridge and lock fees
  • Welcome drink
  • Full board: 7 x breakfast, 6 x packed lunch for bike tours or lunch snack, 6 x coffee and tea in the afternoon, 7 x 3-course dinner
  • Route book for individual tours (1 x per cabin)
  • Daily bike tour briefing
  • Daily cabin cleaning, bed linen and towel change as required
  • On-board tour guide
  • GPS data

not included

  • Arrival and departure
  • Parking fees
  • Transfers
  • Bike rental
  • Entrance fees and excursions
  • City maps
  • Ferry fees and charges for the waterbus
  • Tips
  • Drinks and personal expenses
  • Travel insurance

Dates and prices

Travel start 2026: Saturday only in ...
Season 1 23.05. - 19.06. and 01.08. - 28.08.
The day of arrival determines the season.
All prices per person. The prices in the booking form or shopping cart apply.
Travel package Season 1
Main deck: 2-bed cabin / pers 1.230 €
Main deck: 2-bed cabin single use 1.720 €
Upper deck: 2-bed cabin / pers 1.380 €
Upper deck: 2-bed single use 1.930 €
Upper deck: Single cabin 1.650 €
Upper deck aft double cabin / pers (1) 1.300 €
All 2-bed cabins on the main and upper decks are approx. 10-11 m² in size. The 1-bed cabins are approx. 7 m² in size. The windows on the upper deck can be opened.
(1) Cabins in the rear part of the ship, engine and generator noise perceptible when the ship is moving or in the locks.
Bicycles
Bring your own bike or e-bike 50 €
Rental bike tours 125 €
E-bike rental 250 €

Questions & Answers

Will the trip go ahead in any case?

As soon as at least 60 people have booked the trip, it will take place. If we fall short of the minimum number of participants, we must cancel the trip up to 21 days before the start of the trip.

What are aft cabins?

The aft cabins are located in the rear part of the ship. Engine and generator noise is particularly audible in locks and while sailing.

What rental bikes are available?

You can choose: - Standard touring bike: Rental touring bike, 7-speed unisex with coaster brake or freewheel (subject to availability), pannier bags, rental bike insurance - E-bike: Rental electric bike, 8-speed unisex with coaster brake or freewheel (subject to availability), pannier bags, rental bike insurance

Can I bring my own bike?

In principle, you can take your own bike on the ship. However, please note the following: - Due to limited space, it is only possible to take your own bike on board on request. - You take your bike on board at your own risk. - We cannot be held liable for any damage/loss etc. to your own bike during the entire cycle tour or for damage during transportation. Neither on board nor on land. - Please only load and care for your bike in accordance with the instructions of the on-board staff. For your own safety, we recommend that you always wear a bicycle helmet on all bicycle tours.

What are the conditions and technical requirements of the trip?

The cycle tours are individual and unguided. You cover between 40 and 70 km a day. The routes are generally flat and can be classified as easy. However, it can be very windy. Please consider whether you would like to cycle the tour on a touring bike or bring or hire an e-bike. The tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please contact us for detailed information if needed.

Are there any excursions?

In addition to the bike tours we offer a small excursion program. You can spontaneously register on board. You will receive a brief description with your travel documents. Depending on the composition of the participants, the excursions are mostly bilingual German-English.

What to pack in?

Well, depending on the season recommend good rainwear and wind protection (scarf, ear muffs, gloves, windbreaker), bicycle helmet, sun hat, as well as sports shoes. Please also remember sunscreen, 'after-sun', mosquito repellent. The cabins do have lockers. However, you will not regret it if you can arrive with duffel bag, bag or backpacks instead of suitcases. Towels can be found on board.

Are there parking facilities in Rotterdam?

We recommend the following parking options in Rotterdam: - "Parkeergarage de Boompjes" Rotterdam: parking garage not far from the jetty (approx. 10 minutes' walk), approx. € 25 per 24 hours or - valet parking in a guarded parking lot in Rotterdam (holiday extras): On the day of arrival, your car will be collected at the jetty and taken back to the ship on the day of departure (you will receive a registration form with your booking confirmation). Costs from about € 150,-/week (rate according to workload).

Is there travel insurance?

The standard price does not include travel cancellation insurance. However, we strongly recommend that you take out cancellation insurance. Please ask for a quote when booking. We are happy to recommend an insurance company with whom we have had good experiences all around in the past.