2009 is our Sixteenth year -
Becky Snow and Saskia de Groot
13440 179th Ave NE
Redmond, WA 98052-1103
425.636.8071
800.437.4771
email: tours@bikebarge.com
Bill & Iris Snow
[ bicycling | touring | barge | scheduling | costs | inclusions | deposits/payments | Availability
This site is designed to print out all eight pages easily in black & white. After printing out this site or reading all of it by scrolling down through the pages, please click on
and view photo sights & maps from our tours.
After viewing the photos please return to these yellow pages as they contain the detailed information you need.
2009 "Bike & Barge" schedules
13 nights/parts of 14 days Bike & Barge Tours
The perfect answer to cycling in Europe.
The barge is your hotel, restaurant, and baggage carrier. You are served breakfast and dinner on the barge, and you make sandwiches, etc. to carry with you for lunch. The barge supplies a bicycle for everyone (included). There are guided bike trips every day that meet the barge each night at its new destination.
BICYCLING:
Each day - two groups - three choices
You can bike with the short/slow group or the long/faster group. The short group rides about 25 - 30 miles per day and the long group may do around 40± miles. If you don't want to bike any day, you just ride the barge. The pace is really called a "social ride" adjusted to see the sights, take pictures and enjoy the coffee and bakery stops. Each group has a Dutch guide. It is recommended that you should be able to ride a bike for one hour and cover at least ten miles.
You leave the tour on the morning of the last day, a Friday. You spend 13 nights on the boat.
See our Quick List of availabilities scroll to the end of this page.
Tour #1 (April 11 to April 24) The North/South tour, including the Tulip tour is the North and South coastal routing along the North Sea and the IJsselmeer. Dunes, windmills, and traditional Holland. Amsterdam, Gouda, Delft, Leiden, Haarlem, Alkmaar to Texel island and return through Enkhuizen, Volendam and one full day in Amsterdam. You visit Keukenhof gardens and the tulips in bloom. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam. Note: Airline fares are generally cheaper in April and May.
Tour #2 (April 25 to May 8) The North/South tour, including the Tulip tour is the North and South coastal routing along the North Sea and the IJsselmeer. Dunes, windmills, and traditional Holland. Amsterdam, Gouda, Delft, Leiden, Haarlem, Alkmaar to Texel island and return through Enkhuizen, Volendam and one full day in Amsterdam. You visit Keukenhof gardens and the tulips in bloom. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam. Note: Airline fares are generally cheaper in April and May.
Tour #3 (May 9 to May 22) The IJssel tour is eastern Holland with castles, ancient towns, national parks, lakes and canals; older Netherlands at its best. The cycling starts along the scenic river Vecht with its prosperous mansions. Utrecht, once a bishop seat shows its long history with all its churches, canals and city castles. Along the river landscape of the delta country, you will cycle to Arnhem where the Allied effort to end World War II took place. The “bridge too far” is next to the barge. We cycle through heather fields and forests that create De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The park hosts the Kroller-Mueller museum, which is famous for its collection of Van Gogh and other impressionistic paintings. The river IJssel leads us along old Hanseatic cities like Zutphen, Deventer and Hattem, where trade took place in the 14th century. We’ll visit the Palace Het Loo, built in 1685, a beautiful palace that we tour along with its impressive French gardens. Enjoy the “Venice of the North” in Giethoorn, where waterways are more abundant than roads. Strategical places like the fortified town of Naarden and Muiderslot castle from 1285, are on your path to Amsterdam. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam. Note: Airline fares are generally cheaper in April and May
Tour #4 (May 23 to June 5) Amsterdam/Antwerp/Bruges tour, a new tour for 2009. A southbound eastern route, the tour begins in Amsterdam, has a day off in Antwerp, and ends in Bruges. Enjoy scenic riding among mansions, dikes, castles and farms. In Den Bosch the underground river and the gothic cathedral are a must see. In Antwerp there is a day off to enjoy the shops, museums and churches. We visit Gent an important and beautiful city with lots of monuments and history. The final destination is Bruges, where we spend a full day touring the city surroundings by bike. The final day is on your own enjoying its picturesque town center, possibly the most beautiful of the historical Flemish cities. Bruges is about a four hour train ride to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. Trains usually run twice an hour - no need for a schedule.
Tour #5 (June 6 to June 19) The Bruges/Antwerp/Amsterdam tour, a new tour for 2009. A northbound western route, the tour begins in Bruges with an afternoon of biking around the surroundings of Bruges. Your first night will be spent in Bruges; the barge sails on Sunday. From Bruges we visit Gent, Dendermonde, and then have a day off in Antwerp to enjoy the shops, museums and churches. Later we visit Middelburg, with the Storm Surge Delta Works, then through Zeeland, Dordrecht and Gouda. Cycle through Medieval cities and fishing villages even the Europeans come to see. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam. Bruges is about a four hour train ride to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. Trains usually run twice an hour - no need for a schedule.
Tour #6 (June 20 to July 3) The North/South tour is the North and South coastal routing along the North Sea and the IJsselmeer. Dunes, windmills, and traditional Holland. Amsterdam, Gouda, Delft, Leiden, Haarlem, Alkmaar to Texel island and return through Enkhuizen, Volendam and one full day in Amsterdam. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam.
Tour #7 (July 4 to July 17)
The IJssel tour is eastern Holland with castles, ancient towns, national parks, lakes and canals; older Netherlands at its best. The cycling starts along the scenic river Vecht with its prosperous mansions. Utrecht, once a bishop seat shows its long history with all its churches, canals and city castles. Along the river landscape of the delta country, you will cycle to Arnhem where the Allied effort to end World War II took place. The “bridge too far” is next to the barge. We cycle through heather fields and forests that create De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The park hosts the Kroller-Mueller museum, which is famous for its collection of Van Gogh and other impressionistic paintings. The river IJssel leads us along old Hanseatic cities like Zutphen, Deventer and Hattem, where trade took place in the 14th century. We’ll visit the Palace Het Loo, built in 1685, a beautiful palace that we tour along with its impressive French gardens. Enjoy the “Venice of the North” in Giethoorn, where waterways are more abundant than roads. Strategical places like the fortified town of Naarden and Muiderslot castle from 1285, are on your path to Amsterdam. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam.
Tour #8 (July
18 to July 31) The
Friesland tour, a giant circle north of Amsterdam and then east, visiting two islands: Vlieland (weather permitting) and Terschelling. Friesland is the water province of the Netherlands and is famous for its Arts and Crafts. Along the small villages of North Holland we arrive in Friesland, a province with pastures, huge farms, lakes, 11 cities and its own language. Enjoy the laid back character of the quiet life of the old villages and harbors along the IJsselmeer. The barge brings us to Terschelling, one of the 5 Wadden Islands. Biking on the picturesque bike trails, beaches and dunes is not to be missed. In Leeuwarden, the provincial capital dating back to the 8th century, we spend an extra day. The cycling continues to Sneek, the quaint water sports town whose history starts in the 12th century. We’ll visit Sloten, the smallest of the 11 cities with just one canal, lined with cobble stoned streets. We’ll cycle through the new land of the Noord Oost polder and Flevoland, where people live on average 9 feet below sea level. New land, new towns, new nature is part of our riding before we reach the old land near Muiden where we visit Muiderslot, a castle from 1285. Weesp with its quaint canals and historic downtown is our last stop before our return to Amsterdam. The tour begins and ends in Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam.
Tour #9 (August 1 to August 14) Tour is Booked
Tour #10 (August 15 to August 28) Amsterdam/Bremen, Germany tour, a new tour for 2009. From Amsterdam we sail and bike through the rural Dutch provinces Flevoland, Friesland and Groningen to Germany. Enjoy a day visit to the German Wadden island of Borkum. Visiting towns like Leer, Papenburg, Oldenburg and Elsfleth gives you a real feel for hospitable Northern Germany. The flat countryside consists of wooded lands, small towns, old peat land and abundant bike trails. We sail the Weser, Hunte and Ems rivers to reach our goal: 1200-year-old Bremen. Your last full day is spent in Bremen.
Tour #11 (August 29 to September 11) Bremen, Germany/Amsterdam, a new tour for 2009. From 1200-year-old Bremen, we sail the Weser, Hunte and Ems rivers. Visiting towns like Elsfleth, Oldenburg, Papenburg and Leer gives you a real feel for hospitable Northern Germany. The flat countryside consists of wooded lands, small towns, old peat land and abundant bike trails. Enjoy a day visit to the German Wadden island of Borkum. Back in the Netherlands you sail and bike the rural provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Flevoland to reach the final destination of Amsterdam. Your last full day is spent in Amsterdam.
Tour #12 (September 12 to September 25) Available for group bookings for North/South, IJssel or Friesland Routes. Contact us at: tours@bikebarge.com or 1.800.437.4771 for details.
Tour in France
Tour #13 (August
8 to August 21 )
France: Paris/Bruges
tour
The tour starts right in the center of Paris; leaving it we follow
the Seine river, passing the Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel
Tower. From here we cruise through the valley of the Oise to Compiegne.
Painted by Van Gogh in his last days, this used to be the center
of the French kingdom. A wonderful old canal leads to Noyon and
St. Quentin with its gothic cathedrals. We enter the heart of
Picardy, a rolling bucolic landscape alternated with former mining
heritage. Moving are the scars and memorials of both WWI and WWII.
The tunnel of Riqueval brings us into Belgium where we dock in
the lovely cities Tournai and Oudenaarde. Once in Flanders, the
countryside is flat. Final destinations are Gent and Bruges, with
their picturesque town centers competing for the title of most
beautiful of the historical Flemish cities.
On a scale 1 (easy cycling) to 7 (very challenging cycling) this
trip is between 2 and 3. There are rolling hills leaving Paris
and the route flattens out as the tour progresses. Some itineraries
are optional depending on the biking skills. We will cycle in
two groups (short 25-35 miles, long 35-50 miles), each accompanied
by a professional guide. Of course you always have the option
to sail along with the Fleur. Biking paths and biking lanes are
rare in France. Preferably we will cycle on smaller roads with
minimal car-traffic, but sections on bigger roads are possible.
In order to avoid hills or traffic we sometimes choose unpaved
roads. The itinerary and program are subject to change due to
weather conditions; sailing challenges for the Fleur or changes
in the opening times of the places to visit.
This tour is on the Fleur an airconditioned 10 cabin boat.
Days for beginning tours are Saturdays in Europe, you must leave the USA on Friday to arrive on Saturday
The weather in Holland from April through September is rarely too hot or too cold to bike. Late April and May is the driest period of the year.
THE BARGE is the Angeline for 2009 tours
For pictures of the Angeline and its cabins, lounges and dinning room, send us a request via E-mail and we will E-mail you a set of pictures that also includes the bicycles. A free Photo CD of the tours is available for those who have the software to run a slideshow on their computer.
Or click on the following link to pictures of the boat
For 2009 we have the Angeline, with all fourteen cabins about the same size as the few largest cabins available on other boats in the past. The small windows open for ventilation and there are two beds, both on the floor, no upper and lower bunks. Each cabin has its own private bath. There is also 220 Volt electricity for hair dryers, etc.
The barge has a large dining area and separate lounge. The Captain and crew cook the meals and the guides serve.
for 2009 tours
You must arrive in Holland on a Saturday, or before, and be on board the boat by noon, the boat sails about 1:00 pm. It is easy to catch a train at the Airport for the short ride to Amsterdam Central station. It is then a short walk to the barge. The boat maybe docked in the Oosterdok adjacent to the train station or at another location to be named. A map to the boat will be supplied.
In the Netherlands we start touring Saturday afternoon with a short ride, after a short boat ride, to get acquainted with the bikes and the bike paths. Sunday morning we start daily touring and continue until we arrive back into Amsterdam on the second Wednesday afternoon. We have a city walk tour that Wednesday night.
We have a free choice day in Amsterdam, Bruges or Bremen the last Thursday. The evening meal on the last Thursday of the tour is not included giving you a chance to enjoy the local cuisine and the barge is docked right downtown.
Friday morning we have breakfast on the barge and you debark by 9:00am.
for 2009 tours
$2,895 per person is our Bike & Barge tour cost for the Netherland, Belgium and Germany tours
The French tour is $3,095 per person
On our Bike & Barge Tours we have a single supplement charge of $1,000 on our tours if you request it. If you are willing to accept a roommate (same gender) that we might provide, we will make an effort to find one at no extra charge.
YOUR "Bike & Barge" TOUR COST INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
(A) - All scheduled ferry fees & entry fees to parks and museums
(B) - Your own museum pass on tours that end in Amsterdam, good for a year.
(C) - All meals* except the last Thursday evening meal. (packed lunches)
*Starting with Saturday evening on arrival
(D) - Tips to the crew are included in your costs (however, you may tip a crew member extra for any personal service)
(E) - Two trained Dutch guides...one for each group, slow/short group & fast/long group.
(F) - A fully equipped 21 speed hybrid-bike for touring. (includes lock and two panniers)
(G) - bicycle insurance
(H) - A booklet detailing the daily routing will be supplied before departure
(I) - A Bike & Barge Holland T-shirt and water bottle. A gift to take home.
(J) - Return to the Schiphol airport (if docked in Amsterdam) via Van or Bus on Friday morning. One scheduled Van or Bus departure only. In Belgium, France and Germany like transportation to the local train station at the conclusion of the tour. Transport is to the Airport in Amsterdam and to the train station away from Amsterdam. Any deviation from our scheduled transport is at your expense.
To see our Quick List of availabilities scroll to the end of this page.
for 2009 tours
Early deposits on 2009 tours of $500 per person are fully refundable until 12/1/08. The $500 per person is refundable less $200pp after 12/1/08 until 70 days before departure when the balance is due. No refunds after 70 day before departure.
The remaining balance of the tour cost is due 70 days before departure.
Payment is made to
Bike & Barge Holland Tours
13440 179th Ave NE, Redmond,WA 98052-1103
(this is a new address)
Trip cancellation and medical insurance
is recommended. Information will be mailed to you with your receipt.
or
You can click on
to review and purchase a policy.
Travel agents should only call us for details on GROUP bookings as we are not able to pay a satisfactory commission for individual bookings.
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION & BOOKING
Contact Becky Snow at: 425.636.8071 or 800.437.4771
or by email at tours@bikebarge.com
We will have a booth at the following Travel Shows in
2008 - 2009
Sept 13 & 14th, 2008 - Adventures in Travel Expo - Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA
Jan 10th & 11th, 2009 - Adventures in Travel Expo - Chicago, IL
March 14th & 15th, 2009 - Seattle Bike Expo, Seattle, WA
of availabilities on 2009 scheduled Tours
All are 13 night tours
Dates are Saturdays in Holland, you leave the USA on Friday to arrive on Saturday
This information was updated 6/28/09
Tour #1 (April 11 to April 24) The North/South tour - Old Holland, including the Tulip tour
Tour #2 (April 25 to May 8) The North/South tour, Old Holland, including the Tulip tour
Tour #3 (May 9 to May 22) The IJssel tour
Tour #4 (May 23 to June 5) The Amsterdam/Antwerp/Bruges tour, a new tour for 2009
Tour #5 (June 6 to June 19) The Bruges/Antwerp/Amsterdam tour, a new tour for 2009
Tour #6 (June 20 to July 3) The North/South tour
Tour #7 (July 4 to July 17) The IJssel tour - cabins available
Tour #8 (July 18 to July 31) The Friesland tour - three cabins available
Tour #9 (August 1 to August 14) - Tour is Booked
Tour #10 (August 15 to August 28) The Amsterdam/Bremen, Germany tour, a new tour for 2009 - two cabins available and 1/2 cabin for female to share
Tour #11 (August 29 to September 11) The Bremen, Germany/Amsterdam, a new tour for 2009 - 1/2 cabin for male to share and 1/2 cabin for female to share
Tour #12 (September 12 to September 25) Available for group bookings for North/South, IJssel or Friesland Routes. Contact us at: tours@bikebarge.com or 1.800.437.4771 for details.
Tour in France
Tour #13 (August 8 to August 21 ) France: Paris/Bruges tour - Tour is booked
We do have standby lists for those tours that are full - let us know if interested.
Return to the Photo and Map Pages click here
