A week long trip trough Noord-Holland, The province north of Amsterdam
Day 1.
Saturday
After arriving on board around 12 o'clock, only ten minutes from the Amsterdam Central Station you can relax or visit the centre of Amsterdam.
Day 2.
Sunday ± 38 km
We leave at appox 9 o'clock, leaving Amsterdam trough the north passing the ships-lock Willemsluis where you can continue the journey on bike over the dyke of De Markermeer. Continuing to the former island Marken to visit the nice little Village with the same name. You take the ferry to Volendam, a scenic former fishing village. Where you continue the journey to Edam, famous for its cheese Ending the trip in Purmerend where the Irmadan II is berthed only five walking minutes form the old centre.
Day 3.
Monday ± 38 km
Leaving Purmerend along the dyke of Noord Hollands Kanaal to a Spijkerboor where you cross the canal on a small ferry, continuing to the village De Rijp and the system of windmills used to pump the polders dry. Still in use today to keep that part of Holland dry. Following an attractive route trough the countryside to Broek op Langedijk where we spend the night in the cozy harbor.
Day 4.
Tuesday 28 km or 52 km
You can choose to take the short of the long route. We start with a trip on the ship over a small canal passing 2 ship-locks trough the atmospheric countryside, mostly plated with cabbages, trough pastures with cows, dotted with small villages. You can start the short cycling tour to the north at the second ships-lock. Or, you start at Broek of Langedijk to the Anna Palowna polder to Juliana Dorp, along the dunes and dykes tot Den Helder we you will find us moored near the centre of the town.
Day 5.
Wednesday 36 or 45 km
Form Den Helder you go with a ferry to the island Texel, a bike paradise with astrictive varied scenery, dunes, forest areas, beaches and very nice little villages. On Texel you find thousands of special breed of sheep, the Texelaars. The Texelaar sheep are renowned for their very soft wool. Returning at approx 16.30 we depart with the ship to the village T'Zand, situated south of Den Helder alongside the Noord-Hollands Kanaal, where we stay for the night and have dinner.
Day 6.
Thursday ± 40 km
Leaving T'Zand you can visit Schagen. The weekly market in the beautiful centre. Visited by the inhabitants, often in folkloric costume, complete with horse drawn carriages and much more folklore. The journey continues to the coast, trough the dunes and along dykes along the seaside and beaches. Passing the town of Bergen on the way to Alkmaar where you find the Iramdan II in the harbor, in the centre.
Day 7.
Friday up to 52 km
First you have the opportunity to visit the cheese market in Alkmaar. Start off in the direction of Zaanse Schans, a place filled with a collection rebuild original houses, sheds and windmills. After this experience you continue the journey trough the a nature reserve in the direction of Amsterdam. The last leg of the journey is made by ferry to the harbor side of the Amsterdam Central Station.
Day 8.
Saturday
After breakfast we end the trip and we hope to see you again on another vacation.
In April and May you travel trough vast fields of flowering tulips and form May tot mid August all kinds of other flowers will be blooming.
Henk en Anneke
