Cancelled Netherlands-Cities, Canals and Windmills

This Ride has been Cancelled

This ride is a fixed-base or semi-fixed-base ride, please read the ride description for more details.

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW:  The Netherlands is a cycling paradise!  Cyclists have their own lanes and there are twice as many bicycles are there are cars.  We cycle from cities on bike paths to picturesque towns, through dunes, woods and along canals, meadows and rivers, sometimes all in one day.  We see historic sites, many churches and beautiful architecture in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Gouda and the Hague as well as quaint small towns along the way.  This is a leisurely ride averaging 37 miles a day over 10 cycling days. There are 3 layover days (Scheveningen, Rotterdam and Alkmaar) to allow for sightseeing.  There are castles, windmills, farmers markets and museums to see and time for stopping for coffee and the famous dutch applecake.  The Dutch introduced the apple to America as well as settling in New York and naming many of the boroughs of New York City (Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx).  What is Manhattan now was originally "New Amsterdam".  This ride is almost exclusively on designated bike paths and lanes.  We stay in 4 and 5 star hotels with very nice breakfasts included.

In a country that has 26% of its land below sea level, we will spend some time at Kinderdijk, where you will see working windmills and learn how windmills were used to pump water out of the polders to create farmland and living space.

In the 1970's the Dutch decided that they had to change their ways and be less dependent on cars.  They started pedestrianizing their town centers and continue to this day to give cyclists and pedestrians priority over cars.  The Netherlands is the safest place to cycle in the western world and has over 20,000 miles of traffic free cycling paths.  The Netherlands also has a special liability law making drivers automatically liable for accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians.  Most drivers are cyclists too and they are extremely courteous to cyclists.

Dutch Bike Tours will be supporting this ride as a self guided ride only.  They have arranged hotels/breakfasts, GPS routes and very helpful daily route booklets as well as transporting our luggage daily.  There will be no van support option on the ride, including in the event of emergencies, illness, mechanical issues.  In most of the towns that we are staying in there are train stations that can get you from one town to the next.  You need to be able to do basic maintenance on your bicycle.  There are many bicycle shops in the Netherlands.

The daily itinerary is as follows:

May 17  Meet at the Amsterdam Westcord Art Hotel

May 18  Gouda  48 miles

May 19  Scheveningen 42 miles  

May 20  Rest day/visit The Hague

May 21  Rotterdam  40 miles

May 22  Rest day/visit Rotterdam

May 23  Dordrecht  21 miles (longer route available)

May 24  Gorinchem  35 miles (longer route available)

May 25  Utrecht  36 miles

May 26  Harderwijk  38 miles

May 27  Enkhuizen  38 miles

May 28  Alkmaar  37 miles

May 29  Rest day

May 30  Amsterdam  37 miles

May 31  Leave for home

RIDE RATING:  The ride is rated a 1 B.  The Netherlands is very flat and there is very minimal climbing.  The longest day is from Amsterdam to Gouda and is 48 miles.  Wind can be more of an issue in the Netherlands.  On one day we ride across a 19 mile dyke where the winds can be very strong. We will be riding on some cobblestones and brick roads as well as some hard packed dirt paths.  In the towns, the trolley tracts can be dangerous if your tire slips into the tract.

WEATHER:  The best times for cycling in the Netherlands is May to October.  Temperatures in late May range from highs of 65 F and lows of 46 F.  Average rainfall in May is 2 inches.  Sunny, cloudy with a chance of rain.  There will be some windy days.

LODGING AND MEALS:  Lodging will be in 3-5 star hotels, 14 nights, 14 breakfasts and 4 dinners are included.

LOGISTICS:  The tour starts in Amsterdam on May 17.  Airport code is AMS.  Transfer from the airport (on your own) will be taxi or shuttle service (or Uber) to the hotel.  You can also take the train from the airport into Amsterdam which will then require a bus or taxi to the hotel.  The start and end hotel is the Westcord Art Hotel on Spaarndammerdijk. Our first Happy Hour will be at 5:30 PM at the Westcord Art Hotel.  The tour will conclude after breakfast on May 31,2021 at the Westcord Art Hotel in Amsterdam. The hotel will store any bike boxes.  Dutch Bike tours will rent bicycles as needed.  There are bicycle shops in all the towns we stay in.  You can either rent a bicycle or bring your own in good working condition and be able to change your own tires.  Bicycle rentals must be arranged directly with Dutch Bike Tours and will be available for $188 for a hybrid.  Road bikes are available for $320 and E-bikes are $390 from Dutch Bike Tours.

COST & ADMINISTRATION:  The estimated cost of this tour is $2500 (which does not include the $100 non-refundable ride fee for international rides) and includes 14 nights lodging based on double occupancy, 14 breakfasts and 4 group dinners.  Cue sheets (route booklets), GPS files and luggage transportation is included.  Most of the daily Happy Hours will be at hotel bars. Your first drink will be included every night.  Ferry fees will be on your own and are usually 1-2 euros.  There will be no van support for the tour.  Bicycle repair service is available from Dutch Bike Tours for the rental bicycles and is an extra fee. Final costs may need to be adjusted based on the euro-dollar conversion rate (1 euro to $1.20 dollar was used to estimate the tour cost, the solo supplement cost and the bicycle rental).

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY:  It is recommended that singles that want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until December 31,2020 to find a roommate.  If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $470 solo supplement cost and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate witihout a roommate if necessary.  The ride leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Please be aware that in the Netherlands, many of the double rooms  (for singles sharing a room) consists of two single/twin beds that may be only a few centimeters apart.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office.  Checks to be made out to "BAC" with the notation of the tour name included on the check.  Solo supplement is due on December 31, 2020.   They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee are not refundable unless the entire ride is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of the cancellation.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can not be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to the other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.  In addition to the BAC cancellation policy, those who cancel and are not replaced may be subject to Dutch Bike Tours cancellation policy:

The initial 15% deposit is non-refundable (unless you are replaced)

Cancellation until 21st day (inclusive) before the start of your tour - 15% of tour

Cancellation from the 21st day (inclusive) to the 14th day (inclusive) before the start - 50%

Cancellation from the 14th day (inclusive) until the 5th day (inclusive) before the start -  75%

Cancellation from the 5th day (inclusive) to the start - 90%

Cancellation on the starting day or later:  100%

RIDE PARTICIPATION POLICY:  Please remember that BAC ride leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to the Ride Leaders.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leaders with offers to help with various tasks such as Happy Hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non participants on to any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special requests that you may have and respect the Ride Leaders decisions.

SIGN UP:  To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an e-mail notification to log in to the BAC website to sign the Release of Liability form and pay the non refundable BAC ride registration fee of $100 and the initial tour deposit of $1200 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed and the forms signed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. The final payment of $1300 is due January 31,2021.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this ride description.