Cycling in the Netherlands
Cycling Holidays in Holland
Top Five Cities to Visit on Netherlands Cycling Holidays
Haarlem: As well as playing host to Bohemian pavement cafes and world-class restaurants, Haarlem is home to some of the Netherland’s greatest art galleries and museums. Teylers Museum is the oldest in the city and houses a curious collection of art, science and history pieces. You’ll discover everything here from ancient fossils to musical instruments. And don’t forget to explore Grote Markt, Haarlem’s historic centre, where magnificent buildings such as the UNESCO-listed, Gothic Grote Kerk line the square. In the summer, the square come alive with the Haarlem Culinair, an annual food festival where you can try speciality beers and listen to sound of live music pervading the streets.
Amsterdam: Most famous for the beautiful waterways that weave through the centre, the vibrant city of Amsterdam is a must-visit destination on cycling holidays in Holland. Its mesmerising backdrop of historic buildings are interwoven by narrow lanes lined with charming boutiques, flower stalls and atmospheric restaurants where the locals hang out. And you won’t get very far without coming across some impressive artwork. Amsterdam is world renowned for its museums and galleries, with the Van Gogh Museum being one of the most famous. Other notable museums include the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, and the Hermitage, so if you’re an art lover you’ll be in your element here.
Getting around by bike in Amsterdam is a way of life for the locals, so you won’t feel out of place cycling in the Netherlands. But if you fancy a change, hop on a canal boat and admire the city from a different perspective.
Gouda: Mostly synonymous with the cheese of the same name, Gouda is a spellbinding city in South Holland. If you want to get your hands on this tasty cheese, don’t worry, you’ll find it everywhere! From the weekly Gouda cheese market and the Kaasboerderji Jongehoeve (a working cheese farm) to the many local shops that pepper the city, you can indulge to your heart’s content. But Gouda isn’t the only delicacy to make you salivate, a trip to the syrup waffle factory should also be on your list of places to visit when you’re cycling in the Netherlands.
If architecture is more your thing, everywhere you look you’ll see elegant buildings piercing the skyline. The City Hall is a Gothic masterpiece that takes pride of place at the heart of the Markt Square and is the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.
Delft: It’s likely you’ll mostly associate Delftware, the distinctive blue and white hand-painted pottery, with the city but it was also the home of the famous artist, Johannes Vermeer. Visit the Vermeer Centre to learn more about his life and incredible artwork. As you explore Delft on one of our Netherland cycling holidays, you’ll pedal along glistening lakes and verdant pastures that are dotted with ancient windmills. The landscapes are just breath-taking and the city itself is equally as charming with its medieval old town, and laid-back cafes that grace the market square.
Leiden: Laced together by pretty canals, Leiden has a beguiling atmosphere that blends 17th-century architecture, fascinating museums and a colourful nightlife. On several of our cycling tours, you’ll ride among the Dune and Bulb region where blazing blooms of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths carpet the ground throughout springtime. You can also linger for longer to see the most beautiful flower exhibition at Keukenhof or visit the world-famous botanical gardens.
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