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Lake Yssel Road Cycling Loop

4 days / 3 nights

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Cycle over 400 kilometers through Holland’s iconic landscapes, charming villages, and awe-inspiring engineering marvels on this remarkable four-day adventure.

Starting point

Zaandam

Finish point

Zaandam

Fitness level

4/5

Season

From May to October

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  • Conquer the iconic 32-kilometer Afsluitdijk with its sweeping water views
  • Explore historic landmarks, including Muiderslot Castle and medieval Kampen
  • Cycle over 100 kilometers per day through lush nature reserves
  • Experience the beauty of Giethoorn, known as the ‘Venice of the North’
  • Marvel at traditional Dutch windmills in the picturesque Zaanse Schans
  • Feel the tranquility of cycling through the Twiske nature reserve

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

3 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your tour
Luggage transfer

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Airport transfer
E-bike
E-road bike
Gravel bike
MTB
Regular bike
Road bike
Single supplement

The Lake Yssel Road Cycling Loop showcases Holland’s mastery of living with water. From historic windmills and medieval towns to the iconic Afsluitdijk and tranquil waterways, this is a ride for those seeking both physical challenge and cultural immersion

The Afsluitdijk – a 32-kilometer engineering feat – delivers stunning panoramic views as it separates the North Sea from Lake Yssel. Friesland’s vast polders and the serene Veluwemeer highlight the interplay of land and water, while charming fishing villages and canal-laced towns offer glimpses into centuries-old traditions. 

This tour is designed for avid cyclists ready to push their limits. With daily rides often exceeding 100 kilometers, the journey demands endurance but rewards with unmatched scenery and experiences. 

Each day presents its own unique challenges, from long stretches along dikes to rolling countryside paths and historic cityscapes

Throughout the tour, all logistics are expertly handled so you can focus on the ride. Comfortable accommodations, a personalized digital guidebook full of recommendations, GPS navigation, and round-the-clock support ensure a hassle-free experience. 

Whether you’re drawn by the physical demands, the cultural treasures, or the breathtaking landscapes, this cycling adventure promises memories that will last a lifetime.

Our Bikes

To ensure the best possible experience on your cycling adventure, we offer top-quality bikes for rent. Our fleet features the latest models, meticulously maintained for both performance and comfort.

To match each rider with the right equipment, our team will also assist you in selecting the most suitable bike based on your physical profile, personal preferences, and the technical requirements of the tour.

Road Bikes image 1

Road Bikes

Best for: Paved routes, longer distances, and climbs


Our road bikes are lightweight, fast, and built for endurance. They typically feature carbon or high-quality aluminium frames, smooth gearing, and reliable components—often Shimano 105 or similar. Well-suited for long days in the saddle, they’re perfect for climbs, steady cruising, and covering serious distance on tarmac.


Frequently Asked Questions

Our tours can be adapted to any bike type, whether road, gravel, or mountain bike. We are in constant communication with you to find the optimal conditions for your cycling holidays in Netherlands.

The most versatile option is a gravel bike, even if you are coming on a road cycling holiday. It does not really affect your road performance while allowing you to take some scenic backroads that can be in a slightly worse state than the main ones. A gravel bike is usually more comfortable as well.

We are always looking for the perfect fit for you. We use a few different accommodation providers that fit our standards but they are subjected to availability, especially in the high season. We can also adjust the holiday, keeping in mind your preferences and budget and can always find a more suitable solution for your taste.

We recommend booking as early as possible. Most of our tours run through very touristy places where accommodation is limited. Most of the great places start getting booked for summer before spring.

It really depends on the level of your restriction. Vegetarian options are fairly easy to find in Holland, also vegan dishes, but they may be a bit harder to find rural areas of the country and in smaller towns. Please note that the places where we stop for lunch are often traditional and may have difficulties accommodating you outside of their standard menu. We suggest you keep this in mind.

If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way. It is your holiday, after all! Please feel free to customize your itinerary and create your own adventure, with as much free time as you need. There are no set timelines (except having to reach your accommodation by the evening), so you can spend the ways as you please.

Depending on the tour, generally, spring (April – May) and early autumn (September) are the best times, summer is of course also always great and some of our holidays are also possible in winter! It also depends on your preferences, if you wish to avoid heat, October can also be a great possibility.

Most of the tours can be done even in light rain, as long as you dress accordingly. It is not unusual in the summer that there are afternoon thunderstorms, so early starts are advisable. If the weather looks really bad, we will try to adjust the tour or skip a stage with a shuttle.

On cycling trips, luggage transfer allows you to ride without carrying heavy bags. Each morning, you leave your luggage at the designated spot—often the hotel reception—and it’s transported to your next overnight stop. Your bags are usually waiting for you when you arrive. Weight limits and pickup times can vary slightly depending on the service provider.

Ratings & Reviews

Google Reviews

5.0 average rating

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Greg Martin

Verified customer

Great holiday. Really easy to follow routes, good choice of hotels and the en route places to eat and visit was really helpful. Super responsive to questions during my holiday. Would definitely use them again.

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Charles E. Stuart

Verified customer · 4 months ago

Bike and Barge Tours offers the best of Holland's people and scenery from a bike's saddle and a sailing ship's deck. We took the April Tulip Tour which was fantastic. We were able to see so much more than tulips however as we learned about Holland's historic and innovative battle with the water. The tour offered superb meals on board our three-mast sailing ship. Our Dutch guides were the best -- amiable and informative. I cannot recommend this company and tour enough.

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SHONA Goaman

Verified customer · 11 months ago

Well organised, great route and lovely hotels.

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Karen Bergman

Verified customer

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip! The guides were professional and provided excellent leadership. They clearly know this country and the best cycling routes. I would definitely do another trip with them.

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Amy Berger

Verified customer

Great trip! Klemen set up our trip perfectly. When we needed him he was there. The hotels were excellent. The biking a blast. We did a 5 day self guided tour. Do it!!

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enric tomas

Verified customer

Good organization, we made the trip without any setbacks, and if there were any (a reservation that couldn't be found), they were able to resolve it satisfactorily. Recommended.

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All available guidance options

Self-guided

Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday...

Hassle-Free

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree holiday.

Completely Customizable

Completely Customizable

Flexibility is our middle name — whether you want more or less, or just beyond ordinary, we’ll make it happen.

Book with confidence

Book with confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Unbeatable support

Unbeatable support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

from 650 € /person
Head on your cycling vacation in Holland with one of our expertly crafted bike tours and discover the picturesque countryside and delightful towns of the country.

Have questions? Talk to us.

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Lan Lajovic
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