Northern route Holland: bike & boat with MS Serena

The Netherlands on its Northern Route

Waterways and bike paths characterize the Netherlands like no other country in Europe. So what could be more natural than to travel here by bike and boat? The northern route in particular offers everything that beach, wind and water enthusiasts dream of. Picturesque dune landscapes, dreamlike sea views, graceful canals through cozy little towns and villages. Of course, your typical Dutch riverboat will chug along on each of your bike tours. So there's nothing to stop you from simply staying on board - and treating yourself to a wonderfully decelerated day on the sun deck.

MS SERENA

A comfortable river cruiser with restaurant, saloon and air-conditioned bar will be your home during this trip. The sundeck is partly canopied and offers beautiful spots to sit down as well as facilities to park your bikes. The MS Serena wears the Dutch flag. It provides enough room for a maximum of 99 passengers and measures 90 metres in length and 9,90 metres in breadth. A total of 51 two-bed-cabins are situated on the main deck and on the upper deck. All double cabins measure 8-9 square metres and are equipped with two single beds, shower and toilet and ventilation system. On the main deck there are two junior-suites (12 m²) with french beds (Grand Lit 1,40 m x 2 m). Three single cabins (6 m²) are available. One on the upper deck, two on the main deck. The windows can be opened in all cabins. All meals served on board are prepared with fresh ingredients. You will be enjoying simple but high quality meals.

1. day Arriving in Enkhuizen

Embarkation on board takes place from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. If you arrive early, you will still have time to take a first short walk around Enkhuizen and enjoy the atmosphere of the pretty historic harbor town with its worth seeing old town.

2. day Enkhuizen round trip 28-36 km

After breakfast you start for a bike tour around the pretty town on the IJsselmeer. Marvel at the historic center, the South and West Churches, and many magnificent town houses. If you have a little more time to spare, a visit to the Zuiderzee Museum is definitely worthwhile.
Alternatively, you can take a day trip to Amsterdam. Enkhuizen train station is close to the pier and Amsterdam is quickly reached by train in about 1 hour (train ticket not included).

3. day Boat trip Enkhuizen - Lemmer, Bike trip around Lemmer 32 - 42 km

With the boat you cross the IJsselmeer to Lemmer. Here you start your bike tour via Munnekeburen,Scherpenzeel and Schoterzijl and back to Lemmer.

4. day Lemmer - Stavoren 33-48 km + boat trip Stavoren - Oudeschild

You cycle to the Sondeler Leien Sea and through the forest area Rijsterbos to Stavoren. Afterwards the Serena brings you to Oudeschild.

5. day Texel island 29 - 70 km + boat trip Oudeschild - Den Helder

What a magnificent day, what a beautiful island! Today’s route leads over the Thijsseroute, about 45km long, it is a very well signposted roundtrip for bikes. Follow the trails through picturesque villages along the mudflats and steep dunes. If you are interested, you may plan to stop at the station for seal raising EcoMare. At 5:30 pm you will leave the island towards the harbour of Den Helder.

6. day Den Helder - Alkmaar 27-57 km

You leave Den Helder and cycle first along the dike and then through a beautiful dune landscape to Alkmaar. It is also possible to rejoin the boat in St. Maartensvlotbrug on the way and continue to Alkmaar or to start the bike tour in St. Maartensvlotbrug.

7. day Boat trip Alkmaar - Wormerveer / Wormerveer - Hoorn 55 km

In the morning you enjoy the boat trip from Alkmaar to Wormerveer. From there you cycle to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans, which is well worth seeing. Marvel at an old Dutch village, a cheese dairy, a shipyard, a clog workshop, a bakery museum, the Zaanse Clock Museum and the world's only paint mill. Cycle to Hoorn via the traditional fishing village of Volendam. Plan time to visit the historic old town with its many 17th century buildings.

8. day boat trip Hoorn - Enkhuizen + departure

In the early morning the ship brings you back to Enkhuizen. Here your bike tour ends at 09:00 am with disembarkation.

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the bike and boat tour in Holland. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.

Parking in Enkhuizen

In Enkhuizen you have free parking at the train station, directly at the harbor, within walking distance of the berth. Reservation is not possible.

Arrival by train

Enkhuizen can be reached by train. The berth of the Serena is within walking distance of the train station. You will receive detailed information about the location of the ship with the detailed travel documents two weeks before departure. Current DB timetable information can be found very conveniently at www.bahn.de.

Train Connections

Luggage

For reasons of space, we ask you to refrain from luggage with hard shell, the storage space in the cabin is very limited!

Available rental bikes

So-called unisex bikes are available (suitable for men and women). They have a 7-speed gear shift with coaster brake and are available in different frame sizes. Please enter therefore your weight when booking the tour. On request and extra charge some electric bikes can be made available.

Important note

The captain reserves the rights to make any necessary changes to the itinerary due to wind, weather and navigational features.

For every bicycle and boat tours there are special cancellation conditions which can be found in our terms.

Cancellation conditions

Extra costs which are not included in the tour price

A fuel surcharge due to the sharp rise in fuel prices, is not included in the cruise price and must be paid on board. The amount of the surcharge we will let you know approx. 3 to 4 weeks prior to your arrival.

7 day hotline service

In case of chain breakdown, flooding or other bad surprises that makes a continuation of your tour impossible: no problem, we also work during weekends and you can reach us 7 days a week in case of emergency.

Deck plans

Bar MS Serena

Sun deck MS Serena

Cabins MS Serena

Double cabin Promenade Deck MS Serena

Bad MS Serena

Lounge MS Serena

Restaurant auf der MS Serena

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Enkhuizen

The history of the Dutch East India Company, the VOC, is still visible in Enkhhuizen today. In the 17th and 18th century the VOC was the largest trading company in the world that travelled to Asiatic countries with its beautiful ships to conduct trade. The favourable location beside the IJsselmeer made it attractive to base a 'VOC Chamber' here. The 'Drommedaris', the defence towers in the port, and the centre with its historical buildings are reminders of these prosperous times.

Enkhuizen

Enkhuizen Zuiderzeemuseum

Zuiderzeemuseum Enkhuizen, located in more than a hundred and thirty authentic houses, shops and workshops, shows the history and culture of this unique region. Much attention is given to the past, present and future of the area in relation to such themes as water, traditional crafts and communities. The Buitenmuseum (Open-Air Museum), open from March to October, is visited with a true museum ferry. Here, you will see authentic buildings and learn all kinds of things about life around the Zuiderzee between 1880 and 1930 – in other words, the last years before the completion of the Afsluitdijk in 1932. There are workshops, fish smokehouses and net makers, and you can visit Urk homes and share a meal in a 1920 household.

Enkhuizen Zuiderzeemuseum

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the greatest small cities in the world. From Amsterdam canals to world-famous Amsterdam museums and historical Amsterdam sights, it is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe. Canal cruises are a popular way to see the city from the perspective of its canals.

Amsterdam

Duinen van Texel Nationalpark

Much of Texel’s dunescape forms part of the Duinen van Texel National Park. Nationwide there are 20 such National Parks, 17 of which have been planned by the state. These are all areas of outstanding natural beauty which require special attention and preservation. Texel’s National Park covers the entirety of the island’s dunes and woodland - from the southernmost tip at De Hors to the dunes close to the lighthouse at the island’s most northerly point. In total, an area of 43 square kilometres. The Duinen van Texel National Park is home to a wide diversity of landscapes.

Duinen van Texel Nationalpark

Ecomare

Ecomare is a fun and exciting day trip for all ages. You can see seals and porpoises. You also get very close to birds, fish and other marine animals. In Ecomare’s nature museum, you learn lots about the Wadden Sea World Heritage, the North Sea and Texel. Ecomare is situated in the middle of the National Park Dunes of Texel. 

Ecomare

Alkmaar - City of Cheese

Alkmaar is known as the city of cheese in Holland, but that title covers only part of what the town has to offer. It has a beautiful old centre with many historic monuments, great shopping districts and countless welcoming terraces, cafes and restaurants for every budget. Alkmaar also has a range of interesting museums, including the Stedelijk Museum, Beer Museum, Beatles Museum and naturally the Cheese Museum. If you want to get out of the city for a while, the beach and dunes are just fifteen minutes away.

Alkmaar

Zaanse Schans

The Zaanse Schans is a residential area in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh bread, or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops. Make a cycling or sailing trip, browse the shops or treat yourself at the pancake restaurant. A day out at the Zaanse Schans in North Holland is fun and educational.

Zaanse Schans

Hoorn

Discover the wonderful little city of Hoorn near Ijsselmeer lake and enjoy the history, pleasant Enkhuizen atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings. Hoorn’s heyday was in the 17th century, when it was one of the main VOC cities. Like Amsterdam and Enkhuizen, Hoorn became a very wealthy city. Today dozens of monuments and churches allow you to sense those historic times. Enjoy a day out in Hoorn and combine a guided tour of the historic city centre with an afternoon of shopping and a lovely dinner. Hoorn is a small shopping paradise with lots of terraces and restaurants to enjoy and rest. If you want to be active for a few hours, Hoorn offers excellent water sports facilities. The dunes and beaches nearby are perfect spots for nature lovers.  

Hoorn