The south route, a round-trip of South Holland, startling and finisching at Amsterdam.
Day 1.
Saturday
You arrive on board at around 12 o'clock and you have the choice to stay in Amsterdam until the next morning of we go to Haarlem where you can try your bike and sight see the attractive centre of Haarlem.
Day 2.
Sunday 38 or 42 km
Leaving Haarlem in southerly direction to a museum witch was a former pumphouse used to punp the water form the Haarlemmermeer. It is in perfect condition with its steam engine and complex machinery. After this visit you continue in the direction of Sassenheim and the coastal dunes along the North Sea to Noordwijk aan Zee and Katwijk aan Zee. Continuing to Rijnsburg and Leiden where you are united with our boat, berthed near the centre of the town.
Day 3.
Monday ± 32 km
Leaving Leiden along the canal De Vliet in the direction of Leidschendam. A small city with a historic ships-lock. Continuing in the direction of Delft. At the outskirt of Delft you can visit the famous Delftware factory free of charge. You can watch the china bone products being hand painted in traditional patterns. You continue to the very nice centre of Delft. You find the ship just outside the centre to stay the night.
Day 4.
Tuesday 33 or 44 km
Leaving Delft trough the countryside filled with fields of vegetables until you reach a protection lock in the Nieuwe Waterweg (part of the Delta Works). Or you can choose to go first to the coast and visit Hoek van Holland to travel alongside the New Waterway to Maassluis, Vlaardingen and Schiedam, where you can see the highest windmills in the world. You find the Irmadan II docked in the centre of Schiedam.
Day 5.
Wednesday 48 to 54 km
Leaving Schiedam by boat we sail trough the harbors of Rotterdam. You can continue your journey by bike passing the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk in the direction of Schoonhoven. Continuing trough the beautiful area De Vlist to Gouda with its beautiful central market. You find the Irmadan II berthed just five minutes from the centre.
Day 6.
Tuesday 38 km or 45 km
Leaving Gouda to the Reeuwijkse Plassen. A bike path leads you trough an area filled with small lakes. Continuing to Bodegraven following the path trough a nature reserve traveling in the direction of The river De Amstel. You will find the Irmadan II in the picturesque town of Uithoorn near the river De Amstel.
Day 7.
25 km or 34 km
Leaving Uithoorn and cycling along De Amstel, passing Oudekerk a/d Amstel with lots of original old mansions. Or you choose to journey trough the countryside traveling along small rivers to Abcoude, returning to Oudekerk a/d Amstel on jour way to Amsterdam. Where you will spend the last night on board.
Day 8.
After breakfast we end the trip and we hope to see you again on another vacation, on bike or on board.
On this journey you can travel between mid of April and end of May trough the flower filed and visit the world famous flower exhibition De Keukenhof at its prettiest.
Henk en Anneke
