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Ijssel Lake Family Tour - 8D/7N
The Netherlands is often called Holland because of the role the two western provinces North and South holland played in its history. This region encompasses Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and other well known Dutch cities. During the Golden Age, Holland was the Capital of the World. It is a country of water; ever since the 16th century, many Dutch people have been living on the bottom of former lakes. Part of the country is covered by large rivers, whose estuaries form an immense delta. Ijssel Lake, a large freshwater lake, still covers 296,400 acres. Windmills are used to drain the land and keep it dry. They still form an important element of water management in these low lying lands.
Amsterdam, one of the great cities of Europe has many faces. You may know the romantic canals, the numerous bikes and the exciting night-life, however, Amsterdam offers so much more. It has a wide range of places of interest, historical monuments and more than 40 museums. Arts and antiques are for sale in quaint quarters, fashionable and upscale products in chic shopping streets.
Included: Accommodation, full board (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner), bicycle with gears and pannier, travel guidance, and entrance to the Zuiderzee museum.
Accommodations: Double cabin.
Departures: On Request.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Saturday: sailing trip and cycling ± 10 km - From Amsterdam, your boatel sails through the locks to the IJssel Lake. The sailing trip to Hoorn takes approximately 4 hours and you’ll see several traditional sailing ships on the way. In the evening there’s a test ride on your bike in and around Hoorn.
- Day 2: Sunday: cycling ± 20 km, excursion and sailing trip - By bike we continue along the coastline of the IJssel Lake. In Enkhuizen you’ll visit the Zuiderzee museum. In this open air museum you will get a nice impression about everyday life in former days in the fisherman’s villages around the old ‘Zuiderzee’. In the afternoon the barge crosses the IJssel Lake to Urk in the province of Flevoland.
- Day 3: Monday: sailing, cycling ± 22 km and canoe trip - During the barge trip to Blokzijl you can see lots of smaller and bigger boats. In the afternoon we’ll give it a try ourselves: on the program is an adventurous canoe trip through to reedlands of the nature reserve the Weerribben. To and fro we go by bike, we sleep in Blokzijl.
- Day 4: Tuesday: cycling ± 25 km - The area called North-West Overijssel is spotted with little lakes surrounded by reedland and meadows. A visit to the village of Dwarsgracht is one of the highlights of today. Our destination today is Giethoorn, where in old days all transportation used to go by ship. We may recommend the rental of a so-called ‘whisper boat’ and steer it yourself through the canals! We stay overnight in Zwartsluis.
- Day 5: Wednesday: sailing and cycling ± 30 km - A sailing trip over lakes and canals takes you to the protected fortified town of Elburg. Here you disembark and after a visit you start cycling cross the woodlands of the Veluwe to the hanseatic town of Harderwijk.
- Day 6: Thursday: ‘day off’ - Today you make your own plans. Ideas for spending the day in Harderwijk are: a visit to attraction park Walibi World, the dolphin show in the Dolfinarium, a day at the beach at the Lake ‘Veluwemeer’, a visit to a swimming pool or shopping in down-town Harderwijk.
- Day 7: Friday: sailing trip and cycling ± 25 km - By barge you head for Almere-Haven, an attractive ‘new’ town. Then by bike to Muiden, Schellingwoude and back to the ship in the centre of Amsterdam. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk through the centre or you may (on your own account) go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals.
- Day 8: Saturday - After breakfast your guide and the crew will say goodbye and your holiday has ended.
Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.
US Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here
Canadian Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here
Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.
