Tulips & Postcards | 5 Days

Today you’ll arrive in Edam, a picture-perfect little town just a short bus ride from Amsterdam. Settle into your hotel and take some time to explore its quiet canals, historic houses, charming drawbridges, and, of course, the town famous for its Edam cheese.

At 5:00 p.m., we’ll meet as a group to get acquainted and go over the itinerary and plans for the days ahead. Afterwards, we’ll head out together for our welcome dinner at one of Edam’s lovely restaurants.

After dinner, those who wish can join us for a short evening stroll through the historic center. A wonderful way to get your first taste of this charming Dutch town and start our Tulips & Postcards adventure.

Today begins with a bike fitting, making sure everyone is comfortable and ready for our first ride. Then we’ll hop on our bikes and follow quiet bike paths through the beautiful Waterland countryside toward Monnickendam, a historic harbor town with picturesque canals, old merchant houses, and traditional boats.

Along the way, we’ll stop at a local cheese farm to learn a little more about one of Holland’s most famous products and, of course, have a taste (or more)!

We then continue to Marken, a former island known for its characteristic green wooden houses, narrow lanes, and charming harbor. Here we’ll take a break and enjoy lunch together before boarding the ferry with our bikes for the short crossing to Volendam.

In Volendam, we’ll have some fun stepping back in time and dress up in traditional Volendam costumes for a photo, a perfect souvenir from our Tulips & Postcards tour! There will also be time to explore the lively waterfront before we get back on our bikes.

From Volendam, it’s just a short and easy ride through the countryside back to our hotel in Edam, where we’ll end our first wonderful day of cycling.

Today we leave Edam behind and cycle north through some of the most beautiful rural landscapes of North Holland. We’ll follow peaceful canal dikes through centuries-old polders, passing green pastures, traditional farmhouses, windmills, and at this time of year colorful tulip fields along the way.

Our first stop is De Rijp, a beautifully preserved village once described by Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater as “Holland’s best village.” Leeghwater, born here in 1575, played an important role in reclaiming the surrounding land from the water. With its narrow streets, historic houses, and lovely old town hall, De Rijp is the perfect place to take a break and have a look around.

We then continue through the Beemster and Schermer polders, where the landscape tells the story of the Dutch battle against the water. Along the way, we’ll visit an authentic windmill and have the opportunity to step inside and see how these mighty machines helped keep the land beneath our wheels dry.

Our ride continues through small villages and wide-open countryside before we reach Hoorn, our home for the next two nights. Once an important trading port on the former Zuiderzee, Hoorn played a major role during the Dutch Golden Age as one of the principal cities of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Its prosperous maritime past can still be seen in the impressive 17th-century merchant houses and historic warehouses lining its streets and harbor. Today, Hoorn is a lively and charming town filled with inviting terraces, cobbled streets, and a bustling pleasure-boat harbor.

After checking into our hotel, those who still have some energy can join us for a relaxed afternoon walk through Hoorn. We’ll finish like the Dutch do, with a borrel (a very Dutch tradition of getting together for a drink accompanied by a few savory snacks bitterballen, while enjoying each other’s company).

Dinner is on your own tonight, giving you the chance to discover Hoorn’s restaurant scene at your own pace. There are plenty of great choices within walking distance of our hotel, and we’ll be happy to share some of our favorite recommendations.

In the morning, we’ll start the day with a journey back in time aboard the historic steam tram from Hoorn to Medemblik, and yes, our bikes come along with us! The tram travels along a local railway dating from 1887, slowly making its way through the West-Frisian countryside and makes short stops at charming old stations such as Wognum, Twisk, and Opperdoes.

In Medemblik, we’ll get back on our bikes and cycle toward Enkhuizen, following quiet country roads through one of North Holland’s most beautiful rural areas. Depending on what Mother Nature has planned for us, we may once again find ourselves surrounded by colorful tulip fields.

In Enkhuizen, we’ll visit the fascinating Zuiderzee Museum, where historic houses, workshops, shops, and fishing villages bring to life what it was like to live around the former Zuiderzee before the construction of the Afsluitdijk. It’s a wonderful place to experience the traditions and everyday life of old Holland.

After our visit, we’ll cycle back toward Hoorn with wonderful views across the IJsselmeer. Until the 1930s, this vast freshwater lake was the saltwater Zuiderzee, connected directly to the North Sea. The construction of the 32-kilometer-long Afsluitdijk transformed the region forever, protecting communities from flooding while dramatically changing the lives of the fishing families who had depended on the sea for generations.

Back in Hoorn, there will be time to relax before we gather for our farewell dinner. After several days of cycling, tulips, windmills, fishing villages, Dutch treats, and plenty of postcard moments, we’ll raise a glass to our adventure and enjoy one final evening together in Holland.

After breakfast, it’s time to say tot ziens as our Tulips & Postcards tour comes to an end. From Hoorn, you can take a direct train to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, a journey of about 40 minutes, or continue on to the next chapter of your European vacation.

Not quite ready to leave? You’re welcome to spend a few more hours in Hoorn, browse the shops, enjoy a coffee along the harbor, or visit one of the town’s museums before heading on your way. We’re always happy to help with your onward travel plans.

We hope you leave with wonderful memories of colorful tulip fields, quiet country roads, historic towns, Dutch traditions, good food, and new friendships, and perhaps a camera filled with your own postcards from Holland.