The Best Bike Tours From Amsterdam

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.

So if you’re looking to immerse yourself in Dutch culture by exploring the Netherlands beyond its most famous city, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find the best bike tours where Amsterdam is just the beginning.

The Netherlands is one of our most popular destinations so tours do book up fast. We still have limited availability for 2023 and select tours are now on sale for 2024, so if you spot a tour you like, make sure you nab your spot before someone else does! Book online or call our team on +44 (0)1273 224066 for personal advice.

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 or 28m-48m) 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.

“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

Why settle for one famous city when you can see two? 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 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.

“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

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.

“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

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.

There’s no need to lug your bags around whilst cycling. 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.

“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

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.

“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 

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.

“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

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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