Country of Tulips Tour

Tulips are only the beginning. The Country of Tulips Tour combines flower fields with Delft pottery, old churches, windmills, quiet canals, and four carefully planned dinners. I especially like the small group of no more than 14 and the support van, which make the daily cycling feel far less intimidating. I also like the mix of guided sightseeing and free time, particularly the morning to explore Delft on your own.

The main consideration is the biking. Holland is famously flat, but six days in the saddle still requires reasonable fitness, especially on the longest day. The route includes dunes, which bring some gentle rolling hills, and the support van is useful if your legs give out. At $2,990 per person, this is not a bargain cycling holiday, but the price covers bicycles, hotels, two guides, many meals, major entries, and airport transfer help.

The tour is led personally by Denise, and that matters. A small party, two multilingual guides, and a van give the trip a personal feel that large coach tours cannot match. You will see famous sights, but you will also spend time along farm roads, peat rivers, bulb fields, and working waterways where daily Dutch life is still the main attraction.

Key points to know before booking

• Keukenhof before the crowds: An early visit lets you see the famous bulb gardens before the busiest part of the day.
• Four substantial dinners included: Meals range from Dutch cooking to a generous Indonesian rijsttafel and a final gourmet dinner by a lake.
• Two guides plus a support van: You can keep riding at your own pace, with help available if the distance becomes too much.
• Delft is more than an overnight stop: You get time for the New Church, bell tower, boutiques, herring stand, pottery, and canals.
• The longest ride reaches six hours: The Westland, River Rotte, windmills, and countryside around Noorden make this a real cycling tour, not a sightseeing trip with a few short rides.
• The group is capped at 14: This is a useful size for bike handling, meals, and informal contact with Denise and the second guide.

Leiden begins the tour with Rembrandt and the Pilgrims

You meet at 11 a.m. in the arrival hall of Leiden Centraal. That starting point is practical because Leiden is a short train ride from Amsterdam, so you do not need to arrange a complicated first-day transfer. Still, plan your arrival carefully. The first afternoon begins soon after the meeting time.

After lunch and a short orientation, you walk through central Leiden for about two hours. The city gives the tour a good opening because it is not simply a staging point for the bicycles. You follow the footsteps of Rembrandt and visit St. Peter’s Church, where the Pilgrims prayed before leaving for Delftshaven and sailing onward to Plymouth in Massachusetts.

That connection gives the first walk some real purpose. You are seeing a Dutch city tied to both art and early American history, rather than ticking off a famous square. The admission is free, and the pace should help you get your bearings before the cycling begins.

Later, the group transfers to a four-star hotel in Noordwijkerhout, near the dunes and the bulb-growing area. The hotel is described as close to the coast and the spring fields of daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. After your bicycle fitting, you can take an optional warm-up ride through the nearby fields.

I like this arrangement. You can test the bicycle on a short ride instead of discovering a poor seat adjustment halfway through the next day. The evening includes a first Dutch dinner and an explanation of the week ahead. Four dinners are included across the tour, which helps justify part of the price and removes some nightly restaurant planning.

Keukenhof and the bulb fields are the visual high point

Day two starts with Keukenhof, the grand spring garden famous for more than six million bulbs. The flowers are arranged among ponds, fountains, sculptures, and formal garden areas. The site began as the kitchen garden of Countess Jacoba van Beieren in the fifteenth century, a useful reminder that this was not created only for modern tourism.

The early timing is one of the smartest choices in the program. Keukenhof can become crowded, and seeing it before the busiest hours gives you more room for photographs and a calmer look at the displays. You will want comfortable shoes for the garden, even though the rest of the day is built around the bicycle.

After the garden, you ride north toward Vogelenzang and stop in one of the tulip fields for a group photograph. The distinction matters: Keukenhof is a designed display, while the bulb fields are working farmland. The rows of flowers are grown for bulbs, not simply for visitors to admire, so stay on the permitted paths and follow your guides’ instructions.

In the afternoon, Herman van Amsterdam joins the group. He is a local historian, writer, tulip expert, and resident of the area for more than 30 years. He explains how the fields are planted and harvested and answers questions as you ride.

This is the kind of addition that makes the day more useful than a quick photo stop. You learn why the area looks the way it does and how the commercial bulb industry works. The route is also a good test of the tour’s rhythm: a major garden in the morning, a field ride after lunch, and local interpretation during the afternoon.

The drawbacks are simple. Spring bloom dates can vary, and the tour is tied to the tulip season. Also, Keukenhof is a popular attraction by nature, so even an early visit does not mean you will have the place to yourself.

From dunes and royal estates to Delft Blue pottery

The third day leaves the bulb fields behind. You ride from Noordwijk through sand dunes toward Katwijk, a former fishing village, then continue to Wassenaarse Slag. The dunes are not perfectly flat, so expect rolling sections here. Holland’s reputation for easy cycling is deserved, but it does not mean every kilometer is level.

The route then passes elegant Wassenaar estates and wooded paths before reaching the area near King Willem Alexander’s private mansion. From there, you cycle toward The Hague, passing government buildings and the official palace of the king.

This section gives you a change of scenery without requiring a bus ride. You move from coastal dunes to formal estates, woods, and the political center of the Netherlands. The scheduled visit to The Hague is relatively short, about two hours, so you should think of it as an introduction rather than a full city tour.

Lunch is a Dutch pancake, followed by the 12-kilometer ride to Delft. Before reaching the hotel, you visit a Delft pottery factory connected with the famous blue-and-white ceramics. The Royal Delft Pottery Museum is included, giving you a closer look at the craft than you would get by merely browsing souvenir shops.

Your hotel is in Delft’s historic center, which is a major advantage. You are already positioned for the next morning’s free time, and an evening orientation walk helps you decide how to use it.

Dinner is Indonesian rijsttafel, a large meal made up of many dishes served on warming plates. This is one of the tour’s strongest food choices because it reflects the Netherlands’ long connection with Indonesia. It also gives the group a shared evening that feels different from a standard hotel meal.

Delft rewards a slower morning

Day four gives you several hours to explore Delft on foot. This is a welcome pause after several riding days. You can visit the New Church, completed in 1380, and see the burial place of William of Orange. You can also climb the bell tower for a view over Delft’s red-tiled roofs, though the supplied information does not state whether a separate entrance fee is included.

Delft works especially well in this itinerary because you are not forced to rush through it between transport connections. Browse the shops and boutiques, take in the town hall, or simply use the morning to walk without a helmet and cycling shoes.

A six-hundred-year-old fish stand near the town hall offers a chance to try new herring. This is an optional food experience, and it is best approached with curiosity rather than courage alone. If raw herring is not for you, Delft has many other places for lunch.

In the afternoon, you can join an optional ride through the countryside to Schipluiden and onward to the Nieuwe Waterweg. The route follows charming rural surroundings before reaching the major waterway linking Rotterdam’s harbor with the North Sea. From a restaurant terrace, you can watch barges, riverboats, and large ocean cargo ships.

This ride gives you a look at modern working Holland. Windmills and farm paths are part of the picture, but so are freight routes and commercial shipping. Dinner is on your own in Delft, so budget for that extra meal. The free evening is also useful if you prefer a quiet night after cycling.

The six-hour ride crosses Holland’s productive countryside

Day five is the tour’s longest cycling day, listed at about six hours. You travel through the Westland, a major greenhouse region where tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are grown. This is a practical side of Dutch agriculture, and it contrasts nicely with the decorative tulip fields.

The route continues near the small River Rotte, now used as a nature and wildlife reservation. Along the way, you pass classic windmills and grazing cows, sheep, and lambs. The ride later reaches an important shrub-growing area before ending at a private hotel in Noorden.

The hotel sits beside an idyllic lake and has a well-known gourmet restaurant. After six hours of riding, that setting and dinner are more than decoration. They give you a comfortable finish to the hardest day, and the included meal provides a clear part of the tour’s value.

You should take the support van seriously on this day. It is not a sign that you have failed. A van lets the group keep its schedule if someone needs a break, and it makes a long ride possible for people who are comfortable cycling but do not want to prove anything.

Noorden reveals the Green Heart by canal and peat river

The final full riding day follows the Jaagpad route around Noorden, through what the Dutch call the Green Heart of Holland. The route includes a curving peat river called the Meije, small farms, wildflower meadows, canals, polders, and lakes.

The lakes here are not simply natural scenery. Farmers dug peat centuries ago for fuel, and the resulting excavations filled with water. That detail helps explain the shape of the countryside and makes the ride more than a succession of pretty views.

This is described as some of the best cycling in the Netherlands, with quiet waterways and a photographer-friendly route. You should still expect several hours on the bicycle, listed at about five hours. The van remains an important backup, particularly if you have already completed the longest ride the day before.

The tour ends after this day, with a taxi transfer arranged to Schiphol Airport. The stated end location is in the Schiphol area, so confirm your flight timing before booking. The provided information does not give a precise transfer hour, and you will want enough margin for airport check-in.

What the $2,990 price really buys you

At $2,990 per person, the tour sits in the premium category for a six-day cycling trip. The value comes from the structure rather than from one headline attraction.

Your price includes bicycle use, a support van, two multilingual guides, six nights in four-star hotels as listed, entry to Keukenhof, the Royal Delft Pottery Museum, a Delft canal tour, four dinners, and five lunches. The overview describes the hotels as a mix of three- and four-star properties, so I would confirm the exact hotel category before booking.

Four included dinners reduce the cost of eating out, and the meals are not treated as an afterthought. You get Dutch cooking, Indonesian rijsttafel, and a gourmet dinner by the lake. One lunch and two dinners are not included, so keep room in your budget for those.

Airfare and travel or cancellation insurance are also separate. The cancellation terms are fairly strict close to departure: a full refund requires cancellation at least six full days before the start time, while cancellations less than two days before the start receive no refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, with a refund or alternate date offered if the operator cancels for that reason.

Who will enjoy this cycling holiday most

I would choose this tour if you want an active Dutch holiday with comfort built in. It suits you best if you enjoy riding for several hours, appreciate small hotels and planned dinners, and like having a guide explain the places you pass.

The group limit of 14 is a real plus. It should make road crossings, restaurant seating, bike adjustments, and informal questions easier than on a large organized trip. Denise’s personal leadership is another reason to consider it, especially if you value a guide who knows the local area and handles the details.

This is less suitable if you want a relaxed coach tour with only occasional cycling. The longest days are substantial, and even flat routes can tire your back, hands, and legs. The van helps, but you should still arrive ready for daily riding.

Most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation at the start, with Leiden Centraal as the meeting point. Since the exact bicycle type and gear details are not provided, ask about those before you commit if equipment matters to you.

Should you book the Country of Tulips Tour?

Book it if you want to see the Netherlands through its bicycle paths, farm roads, canals, and food, not only through major city sights. The combination of early Keukenhof access, Herman van Amsterdam’s tulip expertise, Delft free time, and the support van gives the trip more substance than a standard flower excursion.

Skip it if you dislike structured days, long rides, or premium pricing. For the right person, though, the $2,990 cost buys a well-supported week with strong regional variety: Leiden, tulip country, dunes, The Hague, Delft, industrial waterways, greenhouse farms, windmills, peat rivers, and lakes.

FAQ

Where does the Country of Tulips Tour begin?

The tour begins at 11 a.m. in the arrival hall of Leiden Centraal, at 2312 AK Leiden, Netherlands.

Where does the tour end?

The stated end location is in the Schiphol area at postal code 1118 CP. A taxi transfer to the airport is arranged at the end of the trip.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately six days and includes six nights of lodging as listed.

How large is the group?

The group has a maximum of 14 travelers.

Are bicycles included?

Yes. Bicycle use is included in the tour price, and the bicycle fitting takes place after arrival at the first hotel.

Is a support van available?

Yes. A support van is included and can assist if you become tired during the cycling days.

What meals are included?

The tour includes four dinners and five lunches. One lunch and two dinners are not included.

Is Keukenhof included?

Yes. Admission to Keukenhof is included, and the visit takes place early in the day.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund by canceling at least six full days before the experience begins. Cancellation two to six full days before the start may receive a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before the start is not refunded.