With its historic buildings, iconic canals, fascinating museums and vibrant nightlife, it’s no wonder 20 million tourists visit Amsterdam each year. But the Netherlands has so much more to offer outside of its famous capital and it’s best discovered by bike!
All of the tours below include at least one night in Amsterdam, but you’ll also hop on your bike to discover luscious landscapes, colourful flowers, pretty windmills, historic landmarks and even open seas!
Cycling tours in the Netherlands are easy-going in every respect. The cycle paths aren’t just gentle and impeccably maintained, they’re also well connected by the ‘junction network’, a series of straightforward signposts labelled with numbers and arrows. The routes require little effort to follow, so you can spend more time enjoying the cycling and scenery instead of worrying about getting lost. Plus, all tours include luggage transportation so you can travel lighter and faster.
If you're hoping to see the famous tulips, that time has unfortunately passed for 2025 travel - get in touch with us and we'll make sure you're the first to know when 2026 departures are live.
The Netherlands is one of our most popular destinations, so tours do book up fast. If you've got your eye on a tour, make sure to secure your spot before dates fill up. Book online or call our team on +44 (0)1273 224066 for personal advice.
Amsterdam's 750th Anniversary
2025 is a brilliant year to visit. It's Amsterdam's 750th anniversary on 27 October, but in true Dutch style, celebrations have already started and will continue throughout the year!
Highlights include ‘The Roof of Amsterdam’, a specially constructed platform built around the newly restored spire on the Nieuwe Kerk offering the best views across the city (you’ll just need to climb the 216 stairs to get there), and the fascinating ‘Amsterdam Eats’ exhibition at the Allard Pierson. A good opportunity to learn more about the local dishes before you go and try them!
Amsterdam Bike Tour From One Hotel
Spend more time in the capital city
If you’re absolutely set on staying in Amsterdam but want to see what the surrounding towns, coast and countryside have to offer then Amsterdam From One Hotel might be the tour for you.
It does just what it says on the tin, with five nights in the city and four easy loop rides (45-78km / 28mi-48mi) out to a different town or attraction. Highlights include Edam, renowned for its cheeses, the fishing village of Volendam, the famous windmills of Zaanse Schans, the medieval Muiden Castle and the elegant city of Haarlem. The cycling on this tour is flexible and optional, so it’s up to you when and how much cycling you want to do.

Off the saddle, you’ll have plenty of time to stroll along Amsterdam’s canals, stopping for coffees and beers in the city’s cosy cafes and pubs, as well as visits to the stylish galleries and captivating museums. Even more so than most of our tours as you’ll be staying in the same hotel every night - no need to pack and unpack each day. The bike-friendly hotel is in the quiet and green Westerpark area of Amsterdam, just 10 minutes from the city centre, with easy access to the cycle routes without cycling through the very busy and often overwhelming cycle paths in the centre of Amsterdam.
Freedom Trekkers say:
“An excellent short break based in Amsterdam. The hotel was lovely, and well placed for easy access to cycle routes leading out of the city. The cycling in Holland is fantastic with easily marked, well-maintained designated cycle paths and no hills! Daily distances were fine, with the opportunity for short ferry rides - so easy to take bikes on and off the boats, unlike some countries.” - Sandra Airey, UK
View tour: Amsterdam Bike Tour From One Hotel
Amsterdam to Bruges Bike Tour
Double the fun in two countries
Why settle for one famous city when you can see two? Spend a wonderful week cycling south on our Amsterdam to Bruges Bike Tour, ending your journey in the charming medieval city of Bruges in Belgium, which has maintained its historic fabric as it's evolved over the centuries. Pedal at a relaxed pace along some of the finest bike routes in the world, winding past tree-lined canals, wide-open meadows, and picturesque rural views.
Stopping at the iconic windmills of UNESCO World Heritage recognised Kinderdijk is always popular with Freedom Trekkers - a must-do!

Further highlights along the way include the unique wetlands of Biesbosch National Park, and the scenic island region of Zeeland. You'll ride between plenty of historic and quaint towns - always a good opportunity to try some of the local coffee shops and restaurants!
Your accommodation will be in a selection of carefully chosen hotels that are close to the cycle routes, often with a lovely local flair. Your luggage is transferred between hotels daily, so all you have to do is enjoy the sights from your saddle!
We recommend adding an extra night in either, or both, of Amsterdam or Bruges - more time to wander the lively streets, enjoy some local food and experience the culture.
You can cycle this tour from Bruges to Amsterdam if you’d rather end your trip with a few nights in the Netherlands.
Freedom Trekkers say:
"The Amsterdam tour exceeded our expectations. The routes were scenic and varied, providing a wonderful opportunity to experience the Netherlands and Belgium from a different perspective. We particularly enjoyed cycling through UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinderdijk, and the final day cycling along the coastal route to Belgium was fantastic. Such a relaxing and enjoyable trip, thank you Freedom Treks! Top tip: Plan your days out so that you get to enjoy maximum time in the places with the most to see, such as Gouda" - Katherine Thorley, UK
View tour: Amsterdam to Bruges Bike Tour
Amsterdam to Bruges Boat & Bike Tour
Set sail on a Freedom Treks favourite
Like the look of the above tour, but prefer travelling by Boat & Bike? On this easygoing seven-night Boat & Bike tour, you’ll cruise and cycle from Amsterdam to Bruges across the Netherland's and Belgium’s consistently flat terrain and pretty riverside paths. There’s plenty to experience on the way - similar to the Hotel & Bike tour - including Kinderdijk’s 18th-century windmills, Ghent's historic oil paintings and Antwerp's cobbled streets and wonky houses.

The popularity of the tour is in no small part down to the accommodation. In particular the premium Magnifique barges, which sell out up to a year in advance! There are three to choose from, all with spacious cabins and suites, stylish restaurants and lounges and even a hot tub on the top deck. Floating down serene canals on a luxurious barge whilst fueling up with tea, coffee and breakfast before hopping on your bike is the perfect way to start the day. In the evening, you can unwind with a beer or glass of wine on the top deck’s modern saloon bar before enjoying a sumptuous meal with fellow cyclists.
This tour also runs from Bruges to Amsterdam if you’d rather end your trip with a few nights in the Netherlands.
Freedom Trekkers say:
“A most memorable holiday combining the joys of cycling with travelling down the canals of Holland and Belgium and visiting the enchanting cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. The Magnifique II barge was a delight with excellent accommodation, wonderful food, considerate and helpful staff and a great bar.” - William Hurst, UK
View tour: Amsterdam to Bruges Boat & Bike Tour
Northern Holland Boat & Bike Tour
‘Sea’ a different side to the Netherlands
There’s more to the Netherlands’ waterways than canals and rivers as you’ll discover this tour as you cycle up to the North Sea Coast and back down to Amsterdam along the Ijsselmeer, one of Europe’s largest lakes. Along the way you’ll roll past serene islands and delightful harbour villages, stopping off for breaks at historic sites and beautiful beaches.
Your mobile accommodation, De Willemstad, will do the heavy lifting of transporting your luggage whilst you effortlessly rack up the miles to your next overnight stop.

You’ll find yourself engrossed in Dutch culture right from the get-go with a visit to the open-air museum of Zaanse Shans on your first day of cycling. The reconstructed 17th centre village is home to historic windmills and traditional houses and cheese and clog makers using age-old methods. Smoked eel and salted herring are a must for fitting in to coastal life once you reach the North Sea.
Freedom Trekkers say:
“The North Holland was my first Boat & Bike holiday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The boat was comfortable, the evening meals were good and the routes we cycled were enjoyable, nearly always flat, but with a varying landscape, villages, farmland, sand dunes, and canals. The boat crew were friendly and helpful.” - Dorothy Hart, UK
View tour: Northern Holland Boat & Bike Tour
Cities & Countryside of Southern Holland Boat & Bike Tour
Combine famous cities and the peaceful ‘Green Heart of Holland’
If quiet coastlines aren’t for you and you’d rather spend seven nights discovering the Netherlands’ most famous cities, how about a journey cruising through Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Haarlem? You’ll have time to dive into these four incredible cities and learn why their distinctive features make them famous. While on your bike, you’ll swap the city's cobbled streets and grand architecture for the waterways, green meadows and UNESCO windmills as you pass through the country's spectacular ‘Green Heart’.

As you cycle from city to city, admiring your new blue and white pottery, full of Gouda cheese, you’ll enjoy the comforts of your luxury river cruiser, De Amsterdam. Your floating accommodation boasts all the amenities you’ll need for a relaxing trip, including a restaurant, panoramic lounge and bar, spacious sun deck and a range of cabins.
Freedom Trekkers say:
“Our first experience of a boat and cycling holiday and one we hope to repeat. The standard of accommodation exceeded expectations and the standard of service on the De Amsterdam boat was exceptional - friendly and very efficient. The tour is well thought out and the route is relatively easy to follow and undemanding. It offers the chance to visit some beautiful historic towns - Amsterdam, Utrecht, Delft, Gouda and Haarlem.” - Lois Davies, UK
View tour: Cities & Countryside of Southern Holland Boat & Bike Tour
Highlights of Holland Bike Tour
Simply the best bits in one short tour
If you lead a busy lifestyle and want to maximise your time in the Netherlands by seeing only the best bits, we’ve got good news for you with this tour!
Spend five nights visiting some of Holland’s most iconic areas and sights on our Highlights of Holland Bike Tour. With deliberately short routes, you’ll have plenty of time to soak in all the impressive natural scenery along the flat cycle routes and be inspired by many of the captivating museums in the cities along the way.

The tour begins with a cycle out of Amsterdam, through the countryside to the charming city of Haarlem, where you can discover the impressive Grote Markt Square. Afterwards, you'll make your way to Zaanse Schans, a museum village featuring impeccably maintained, functioning windmills, and have the opportunity to discover the traditional crafts of clog and cheese-making. To cap off your adventure, you'll visit the picturesque fishing port of Volendam, where you can admire the sea views from De Dijk and savour the mouth-watering taste of freshly caught seafood.
And we couldn’t call it ‘Highlights of Holland’ without including a good portion of time in Amsterdam. Luckily you’ll start and end the tour here, so you can easily add extra nights to explore more of Holland’s exciting capital city.
What Freedom Trekkers say:
“Another great trip with Freedom Treks. This year we chose Holland and was rather easy going as expected. Really enjoyed the Dutch who were very hospitable.” - Steve Pickard, UK
View tour: Highlights of Holland Bike Tour
Holland's Tulips, Windmills and Historic Cities Bike Tour
See the classic sights in just a few days
Short on time but want to see some of the Netherlands’ most famous sights? You’ll bloomin’ love this tour! Beginning and ending in Amsterdam, you’ll cycle between historic cities along quiet cycle paths lined by colourful flowers and pretty windmills. Our Holland's Tulips, Windmills and Historic Cities Bike Tour only runs in spring for the best chance of seeing the famous Dutch tulips in bloom, when the landscapes come alive with vibrant colour and sweet fragrances.

As well as two nights in Amsterdam, you’ll also spend one night in the historic city of Haarlem, with its impressive churches and museums, and one in Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt. Green-fingered cyclists will want to book an extra night in Leiden to allow time to visit the world-famous Keukenhof flower exhibition.
Please note that all 2025 dates are now sold out. If you like the look of this tour, contact us and we'll be in touch when 2026 departures are live.
Freedom Trekkers say:
“Our tour to the Netherlands was fantastic! It was great fun following the routes through a variety of towns and villages and we got a real "feel" of life in this amazing country. Cycling alongside the many fields of flowers and other produce was an unforgettable experience. The entire tour was trouble-free.” - Linda Davies, UK
View tour: Holland's Tulips, Windmills and Historic Cities Bike Tour
Find out more
Now you know - while Amsterdam is a must-visit city, there's plenty of history and beauty to be uncovered outside of the capital by bike. If one of these routes has piqued your interest, you can find out more information, view prices and book through our website.
Don't hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team if you have any questions or are seeking further inspiration. You can enquire online or call us on +44 (0) 1273 224066.
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