Spring Tulips & Historic Towns

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.