Tulip Cycling
It's better by bike!
Tulip Cycling is a small Dutch bike tour specialist offering self-guided cycling holidays across the Netherlands, with some routes extending into Belgium and Germany. Peter Vos, a former land surveyor with a lifelong passion for maps, started the business in 2010 after 20 years in surveying, supported by his wife Liesbeth van Vulpen. To keep up with growing demand they brought in a partner, Pieter van der Schee, who previously worked for travel companies organising tours worldwide. Peter remains closely involved, and they work with freelance bike guides and support staff as needed.
Their concept comes in two forms. Tailor-made tours are built around each guest's preferences: support level, duration, start and finish points, dates and a chosen theme. Ready to Go tours are fixed self-guided itineraries of four to seven days that balance historic towns with countryside, covering the tulip fields and classic towns of Holland, the Hoge Veluwe and other national parks, the medieval Hansa towns, Giethoorn, the old Zuiderzee ports and Flanders. One route is designed for gravel riding. Tours are graded beginner, moderate or expert, and family tours with children's equipment are available.
Each holiday starts with a personal orientation, route book briefing and bike fitting. Guests ride with pre-programmed GPS devices and maps, and they can add characterful accommodation, luggage transport by courier, e-bikes, tandems and road bikes. Tulip Cycling is a member of VvKR, the Dutch association of small-scale travel organisations, and bookings are covered by the VZR Garant guarantee scheme.
Giethoorn: Dutch Venice & National Park
Tour Operator: Tulip Cycling
Netherlands
4 days (Bike: 4 days)
181 km (~45km per day)
Leisure
Mostly flat, Cycle paths and trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
€ 880
Overview
Tour Operator Tulip Cycling
Apeldoorn, Deventer, Zwolle, Giethoorn and Kampen: a self-guided ride through mediaeval Hansa towns to Weerribben-Wieden National Park and the "Dutch Venice".
The highlight of this self-guided tour is Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the largest marsh and fenland in Northwest Europe. Shaped by centuries of peat and reed cutting, it is a landscape of lakes, canals, reedlands and forest, dotted with historic villages including Giethoorn, where bridges link narrow paths to small islands with thatch-roofed farmhouses.
From Apeldoorn, the route crosses the IJssel to Zutphen and follows largely car-free paths to Deventer. The next day leads through the Salland landscape past stately estates and Cold War bunkers, crossing the river by ferry to picturesque Hattem and on to Zwolle, the largest Dutch Hansa town.
A hand-operated bicycle ferry and a dyke ride lead to the pilgrimage town of Hasselt and into the national park for a night in Giethoorn. The final day passes fairytale Dwarsgracht and the harbour town of Blokzijl before finishing in Kampen.
Highlights:
- Weerribben-Wieden National Park and its visitor centre
- Giethoorn, the "Dutch Venice", with the option of exploring by boat
- Hansa towns of Zutphen, Deventer, Hattem, Zwolle, Hasselt and Kampen
- Traditional bicycle ferries across the IJssel, including a hand-operated one
- Thatched villages of Belt-Schutsloot and Dwarsgracht, and the harbour at Blokzijl
- Cold War bunkers of the IJssellinie and the Mastenbroek steam pumping station
Surface and terrain:
Flat riding on largely car-free cycle paths and river dykes through the IJssel valley, Salland countryside and the fenland of the national park. Several small ferry crossings. No shorter route options are published for this tour.
Suitable for:
Leisure riders comfortable with 41-50 km a day on flat cycle paths, with an interest in mediaeval towns, wetland nature and quiet rural villages. E-bikes are available for extra assistance.
Spring Tulips & Historic Towns
Tour Operator: Tulip Cycling
Netherlands
5 days (Bike: 5 days)
223 km (~45km per day)
Leisure
Mostly flat, Cycle paths and trails
Self-Guided
Prices from
Self-Guided
€ 1070
Overview
Tour Operator Tulip Cycling
Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, Gouda, Schoonhoven and Utrecht: a self-guided ride through Holland's historic towns, windmill country and spring flower fields.
This self-guided tour takes in the major highlights of Holland, linking towns alive with charming canals, grand houses and fascinating culture. Between them, the country's network of safe cycle paths crosses low-lying polders, rolling sand dunes and mighty rivers. In spring, the route passes through the flower district, where tulips, daffodils and hyacinths turn the fields into a coloured carpet, with the Keukenhof gardens on the way.
From Haarlem, riders follow the quiet coastal bike lane past Zandvoort to the university town of Leiden, then continue via The Hague to Delft, known for its pottery and the painter Vermeer. The route then crosses the "green heart" of Holland to the cheese town of Gouda.
The final days visit the UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk windmills and the silver town of Schoonhoven on the Rhine, before following the river Vlist through Oudewater to medieval Utrecht.
Highlights:
- Spring flower fields (early April to mid-May) and the Keukenhof gardens
- Haarlem's historic centre, hidden "hofjes" and the Frans Hals Museum
- Coastal bike lane and sand dunes near Zandvoort
- Leiden's canals and Burcht, The Hague's government quarter and historic Delft
- Gouda, with its traditional Thursday morning cheese market
- UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk windmills, Schoonhoven and the Witches Scales at Oudewater
Surface and terrain:
Flat riding on the Netherlands' extensive network of safe, dedicated cycle paths, including a coastal bike lane through the dunes, canal and riverside paths, forest sections and polder lanes. A few small ferry crossings. Short cuts are available every day.
Weather:
The season runs from late March to late September (spring to early autumn), with flower fields in bloom from early April to mid-May and beach swimming possible in summer. Tulip Cycling accept no liability for adverse weather.
Suitable for:
First-time cycle tourers in the Netherlands, families and leisure riders wanting flat, easy days on safe cycle paths with plenty of time for towns and museums. Daily short cuts and e-bikes suit less confident riders.