Thinking of taking a holiday in the Netherlands

[midliferider]

I am thinking of doing the same, cycle in Holland with my teenage (14) son. I have looked at various options for travelling and finally decided (this afternoon) to fly to Amsterdam and hire cycles. I am thinking of going in April, school holidays, to see tulips.

I went to Amsterdam a year ago and cycled for a day, again with my son in rented bikes. It is an amazing experience. You will certainly enjoy it.

Does anybody know whether I could hire cycles close to Amsterdam airport?

 

[MarkF]

I would only be doing 20 mile or so a day, and I think sticking to hostels/B and Bs to avoid having to take camping gear etc.
I may do this on my own, or may encourage my daughter to join me on an adventure
Realistically, how do-able is this for a 40 something woman and a teenage girl. Would it be safe?

Easily do-able, for both you and the girl.
Yes you'll be safe, very.

I did a tour earlier this year, Holland & Belgium, met my family, mid-tour, in North Brabant for a 2 week holiday and my daughter (9) managed more than your intended distance per day, previously her daily record would have been maybe 4 miles! I can't see how the cycling could ever get difficult but the wind ensures that it's not as easy as you think it'll be, first time.

The weather was appalling, I don't think there was one dry day, afternoons and nights saw freakish thunderstorms, this was August.........

I was genuinely shocked at how friendly and helpful the Dutch were, not that I've ever met unfriendly people but they went out of their way to be helpful.

 

[midliferider]

OK, if you need any more persuation, today I booked airline tickets. I have worked out a route following all the advice given in various forums and wesites.
Cost for two people
airline tickets: £115
Cycle hire for 4 days: 80
Accomodation (3 nights): 300 (but may be less, still looking for cheaper B and B)
Maps etc: 30
Total:£525 so far but supect that it will be about £600-650
Not bad for two people, 3 nights, 4 days holiday.

 

[Scotmitchy]

I have two options for when to go - in April, when the tulips me be in fine bloom, or in July.

Can anyone tell me what the weather might be? Is it much the same as Britain at that time of year?

I have costed out both the ferry and the plane, and the plane looks like the better option, though we will probably take our own bikes.

 

[ComedyPilot]

April will be cold/cooler than July. I went in mid-May this year, and was scraping ice off my tent on the second morning - I was cold the previous night (sleeping almost as nature intended), but wrapped up well for the second night (tracky pants, warm socks and thermal top) and was lovely and snug, the frost in the morning was a surprise as I didn't think it was as cold as the previous night.

In general mainland Europe tends to be a little dryer than the UK, that said, if you want to be almost certain of sunny weather, go in July.

Don't let weather put you off, just be prepared for it, and carry on regardless.

 

[Scotmitchy]

Thanks guys, will debate this with DD then decide.

 

[willem]

As the resident Dutchman here, let me give a few more comments. First, the budget for the hotel and b&b is quite revealing, as it is at least 85 euros a day more expensive than camping, and probably more so since you will have to eat out. Second, yes you can rent bikes, and that will not cost you an arm and a leg (for short trips it may well be the cheapest option). However, the only bikes you can rent are heavy three speed bikes (or even single speeds with coaster brake). They wil do just fine in my flat country, but they will be slower than a modern multispeed tourer. And the racks will have bigger diameter tubing so your pannier hooks may not fit. I don't think you can rent bikes at the airpoirt, but you can at just about any larger nearby railway station such as Amsterdam or Leiden (take a train there from the airport). Finally, I grew up in the tulip area, and I think it is vastly overrated as an attraction. This is modern hi tec monoculture at its worst.
Willem

 

[steveindenmark]

Here are my tips for what they are worth.

Join up for Warmshowers.com, Couchsurfers.com and if you looking for hostels look on Hostelworld.

We were in Holland this year and saw lots of women and their children cycling, judging by the trailers, most of them were camping.

We went into Amsterdam and to be honest I was glad to get out of it because it is so busy and I certainly would not have left my trike by itself because it would have gone walkabout.

We went to Edam and had a great few days riding around very quiet country roads. We spent very enjoyable evenings at Volendam having some lovely meals along the marina.

Steve

 

[NickC]

As the resident Dutchman here, let me give a few more comments. First, the budget for the hotel and b&b is quite revealing, as it is at least 85 euros a day more expensive than camping, and probably more so since you will have to eat out. Second, yes you can rent bikes, and that will not cost you an arm and a leg (for short trips it may well be the cheapest option). However, the only bikes you can rent are heavy three speed bikes (or even single speeds with coaster brake). They wil do just fine in my flat country, but they will be slower than a modern multispeed tourer. And the racks will have bigger diameter tubing so your pannier hooks may not fit. I don't think you can rent bikes at the airpoirt, but you can at just about any larger nearby railway station such as Amsterdam or Leiden (take a train there from the airport). Finally, I grew up in the tulip area, and I think it is vastly overrated as an attraction. This is modern hi tec monoculture at its worst.
Willem

As an Englishman rsident in NL for 20 years, I agree with Willem - the tulip fields, though impressive, are overrated; one day looking at them is more than enough, and there's a lot else to see that will probably give more pleasure. Do bring your own bike though, renting a Dutch bike will not be a particularly pleasant experience. And don't worry about miles per day; you'll find they roll under your wheel s largely without effort,except when you're battling a headwind. But because it's a small country (you can nearly always see the curch spire of a town or village from wherever you happen to be at the moment) there's no need to cover big distances in order to see the country.

Enjoy! NickC.

 

[midliferider]

As the resident Dutchman here, let me give a few more comments. First, the budget for the hotel and b&b is quite revealing, as it is at least 85 euros a day more expensive than camping, and probably more so since you will have to eat out. Second, yes you can rent bikes, and that will not cost you an arm and a leg (for short trips it may well be the cheapest option). However, the only bikes you can rent are heavy three speed bikes (or even single speeds with coaster brake). They wil do just fine in my flat country, but they will be slower than a modern multispeed tourer. And the racks will have bigger diameter tubing so your pannier hooks may not fit. I don't think you can rent bikes at the airpoirt, but you can at just about any larger nearby railway station such as Amsterdam or Leiden (take a train there from the airport). Finally, I grew up in the tulip area, and I think it is vastly overrated as an attraction. This is modern hi tec monoculture at its worst.
Willem

Willem, I did not understand what you try to say about my estimate about accommodation (hotels or B and B).
Do you think I would not be able to find a B and B for two people for £75 a night?

 

[sheddy]

BTW is there anyway to get around the 4 (?) month Eurostar booking window ? Is it possible to book a lot further ahead ?

 

[HJ]

Scotmitchy, you are at serious risk, stop now! Don't you know cycle touring is highly addictive, it might start with just a wee tour of the Netherlands, next thing you know you'll have spent £££ and be setting off to do the rest of Europe (or the world)!! You have been warned

 

[MarkF]

I did not pay 75 euros a night in nearly a month around Holland & Belgium, nor did I book anywhere in advance, this was August. Still, go and take a tent, great independent "mini-camping" sites all over.

Funny what Willem said, the most popular phrase from the lovely people I met was "Why do you want to come here for your holiday"? as if I was nuts to visit. Then, they'd go on to tell how beautiful the UK was.........

 

[slowmotion]

Amsterdam is well worth a visit, IMVHO. If you go there, the hotel van Onna is well worth considering.

http://www.hotelvanonna.nl/

It is very central and excellent value compared to other places.

If you need cycle maps of Holland, get them from these people.

http://www.dezwerver.nl/home/

If you need help filling out the online order form, phone them and a helful person speaking excellent English will help you.
Have fun.

 

[willem]

As for the price of accommodation, yes sometimes 75 euro will do, but sometimes not. We just paid rather more, for a not very nice room. By and large, I find accommodation in Holland rather expensive, and standards relatively low compared to some other countries.
My negative comment about the tulips was not meant as a general comment about touring in Holland. I think there are wonderful parts of the country, it is just that I think the tulips are grossly overrated. Stay only a few miles further west, in the sanddunes immediately next to the coast, and you will find a wonderful landscape instead, with quiet long distance cycles routes.
Willem