Netherlands: Cycling the Green Heart and Hanseatic Towns

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

Netherlands: Cycling the Green Heart and Hanseatic Towns

May 2-14, 2022

OVERVIEW
Spend 12 nights and days discovering the Green Heart and the Hanseatic Towns of the Netherlands with six nights in each of two lovely hotels known for their farm-to-table food; one in the former arsenal in Woerden and one in a former monastery in Zutphen. Enjoy rides through the countryside on well-marked routes and paths through typical Dutch natural areas with windmills, cheese, historic towns, and traditional crafts. Daily loop rides in the Green Heart will take us to such iconic Dutch sites as the cheese market in Gouda, to the windmill complex of Kinderdijk, to the university town of Leiden to visit the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands, to Utrecht, an ancient university town built around the Dom Tower, and a ride along the waterline to Weesp, a small, old Dutch town in the shadow of Amsterdam. Loop rides in the Hanseatic Towns in the Gelderland province will take us to De Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kröller-Müller Museum, to Arnhem for a visit to the Netherlands Open Air Museum, to Deventer, a centuries-old Hanseatic town by the banks of the river Ijssel, and east into the countryside known as Achterhoek (the rear corner) of the Netherlands.

RIDE RATING
This ride is rated a 1B. The Netherlands is very flat and there is minimal climbing but the wind can be an issue. We have 10 riding days with the average ride length of 40 miles; the longest ride is 60 miles and shorter alternate routes will be available. However, the pace will not be at your usual road cycling MPH given the sights to stop and see. Most days offer the possibility of visiting an attraction or city so the days out could be long but there will be about 15 hours of daylight. Routes have not yet been scouted due to COVID but plans are to scout them before the trip. There is an option to purchase an anonymous OV-Chipkaart for train travel (7.50 EUR) in the Netherlands that you load with at least a $20 EUR credit before use so then you (and your bikes!) can return to the hotels via train—both hotels are in cities with train stations. Some, but not all of the routes, will pass through towns will train stations. A map of trains in the Netherlands is available at: https://nieuws.ns.nl/spoorkaart-2020-hier-te-downloaden/

As we will be in two fixed locations, riders have the option of the daily ride, doing an alternate ride, or can take a day of leisure. All routes are loop rides and are self-supported as there will be no support vehicle.  A ride day off is planned in the middle of the trip when we will transfer from Woerden to Zutphen.

ITINERARY AND HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1, Mon., 5/2: arrive in Amsterdam, 2 PM meet at airport for bus to hotel in Woerden; get rental bikes, and at 6 PM, we will have our first social hour.

Day 2, Tues., 5/3 Ride 1 to Keukenhof, 57 miles

ALT Ride 1 to Utretch and Restaurant Vroeg for lunch, 40 miles

Day 3: Weds., 5/4; Ride 2 to Kinderdijk Windmills, $18 EUR entry fee, 50 miles

Day 4: Thurs., 5/5, Ride 3 to Gouda (cheese market 10-12:30), Schoonhaven, Nieuwpoort, Oudewater, 43 miles 

Day 5: Fri., 5/6, Ride 4 to Leiden, Botanical garden 48 miles

Day 6, Sat 5/7, Ride 5 to Weesp and along Vecht River return, 50 miles

Day 7, Sun 5/8: TRANSFER TO ZUTPHEN/VORDEN BY BUS; 75 miles; 1.5 hours.  Walking tour of Zutphen.

Day 8, Mon 5/9: Ride 6 to De Hoge Veluwe national park, 60 miles

Alt ride: Doesburg Castle Kepple 40 miles

Day 9, Tues 5/10, Ride 7 to Deventer, Bussloo Therme optional 30 miles

Day 10, Wed 5/11, Ride 8 to Arnhem, NL Open Air Museum $20 EUR 47 miles

Days 11, Thurs., 5/12, Ride 9 to Castles and Estates east of Zutphen, 30 miles

Day 12, Fri. 5/13, Ride 10 to Bronkhorst Wine Route, 25 miles

Day 13, Sat., 5/14: depart for Amsterdam by bus

WEATHER

May is one of the best months to visit the Netherlands. Daily highs average in the mid 60s and lows average 50 degrees with rainfall averaging 2.2 inches. NL is green and lush for a reason and cool cloudy weather and rain showers can occur—don't forget to bring breathable waterproof rain gear and be prepared for all types of weather to ensure that your trip is enjoyable.

LODGING & MEALS 

Stadshotel Woerdern and Van Rossum Restaurant in Woerden and Hampshire Hotel's Gravenhof in Zutphen will be our homes during the tour, where breakfast is included every morning and dinner at the hotel restaurant is included on all six nights that we are in Woerden and on three of our evenings in Zutphen for a total of 12 breakfasts and 9 dinners. One drink from the hotel bars is also included for our daily happy hour. Both hotel restaurants are known for their emphasis on local products. Lunches will be on your own when you’re out riding.

LOGISTICS 

On Monday, May 2, we will meet you (around 2pm) at Amsterdam Schiphol airport (you are responsible for your own travel to Amsterdam) with a charter bus to take you to the hotel in Woerden, about 30 miles south of Amsterdam. On Sunday, May 8, we’ll transfer by bus about 1.5 hours east to Zutphen and on Friday, May 14, the bus will leave Zutphen early in the morning to take ride participants back to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (with possibility to make a morning flight back to the U.S.) Ride participants who plan to spend extra time in the Netherlands after the trip and don’t want to ride the bus to the airport, can take a train to Amsterdam Centraal later in the morning at an additional cost of approx. 20 EUR (or to any other location of their choosing).

Transportation of bike boxes for those desiring to bring their own bikes will be provided. Tandems and e-bikes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Talk with the leaders about this. Rental bikes will be available through Holland Bike Tours (hollandbiketours.com). Each rider will pay Holland Bike Tours directly with a credit card. Rental bikes will be delivered to our hotel, transferred to our second location, and picked up at the completion of the tour. The bikes are high quality recreational touring bikes selected for touring in the Netherlands and e-bikes are also available. If you choose to bring your own bike, it should have wide (at least 28 mm) tires. Although we will be riding mostly on paved trails, we may also be riding for short periods of time on dirt or crushed rock packed roads and cobblestones. Road bikes are not suitable for this tour. 

COST & ADMINISTRATION
Cost estimate is $3300 per person (in addition to the non-refundable $100 BAC ride registration fee). Cost includes bus transportation from Amsterdam Schiphol to the first hotel, transfer between hotels, and from the second hotel back to Amsterdam Schiphol; double occupancy for 12 nights; 12 breakfasts; 9 four-course group dinners; a happy hour drink and light snacks daily; route maps, GPS tracks and sightseeing information. Final plans for a special event will be made in late 2021 given the pandemic situation. A local cyclist may be hired to join us for the first ride and dinner in each location to provide context about the NL bike culture and local tips and suggestions but that is still to be confirmed. GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS before the trip begins. Additionally, numerous cycle routing mobile apps such as Fietsknoop, Fietsen NL, and Route NL are available and may be used. The initial deposit is $1500 and is due April 1, 2021 with the final payment of $1500 due December 1, 2021. The cost is estimated based on $1.30 USD per Euro. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment. 

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICIES

It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until December 1, 2021 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 $750 solo supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the solo supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The Ride Leaders will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.  

Solo riders will be accepted on the ride; the solo supplement cost is $750. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by the Dec. 1, 2021 due date of the final payment. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  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 tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements. 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 tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant can't 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 other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling 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.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES 

Before participating in any BAC tour, members should review their medical coverage and assess whether what you have is sufficient. If it isn’t, you should purchase additional travel medical coverage. BAC maintains a policy that provides coverage for expenses related to medical emergencies and repatriation when members are on tours outside the US and their home country. The policy ceases to be applicable if a member makes a personal deviation (e.g., makes a side trip not related to the planned BAC tour), has limits on expenses covered for family members and only applies for 45 days following departure from home. There is also limited coverage for medical expenses associated with accidents incurred by US residents when on tours within the US. None of the policies maintained by BAC will cover costs associated with self-quarantines that may be government mandated. Members should also ensure that vaccinations are up to date (e.g., annual influenza, tetanus, etc.). If travelling outside your home country you may wish to consult with a travel physician or nurse to ensure that the appropriate vaccinations are up to date.

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 requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as photographer, weather reporter, or Tripper report writer. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special requests you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s 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 email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1500 by credit card within two weeks of being accepted on the ride. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description. Final payment of $1800 will be due on December 1, 2021.