Travel like a hundred years ago?

Experience the awakening of the Dutch countryside using ancient and typically Dutch transport. Let the almost one hundred-year-old clipper barge the Gouwzee take you by picturesque old Dutch towns and cycle through seemingly never ending flower fields. For the first few days you will learn by own experience how people used to sail to Texel along the old Zuiderzee (South sea) coast. After a day by bike on Texel you sail to the Dutch naval town Den Helder and the last two days takes you (by bicycle) through stretched out dunes, flowerbulb fields and windmills. The Gouwzee will follow you through the Northern Holland canal. You will stay in comfortable two person cabins on a full board basis. All cabins have hot and cold running water and the whole ship has excellent sanitary facilities and a very comfortable dayroom.

The sails are easily managed by hand and the crew loves to show you the old ways of sailing. Luckily, the swords are powered by electricity.

Travel scheme:

Saturday: Amsterdam

You board the Gouwzee in Amsterdam from 2.00 PM onwards. After that you have the possibility to explore the inner city of Amsterdam: some shopping, a museum visit or a guided boat tour through the canals. You return to the ship early in the evening for dinner. Afterwards you might want to dip into Amsterdam's nightlife or meet the crew while enjoying a drink.

Sunday: Amsterdam - Volendam or Hoorn

The Gouwzee leaves Amsterdam via the Orange locks. Underway the crew explains how to set the sails together and after passing the Buiten IJ the sails are set. Depending on wind-direction, wind-force, weather and your and your fellow travellers' wishes the Gouwzee sails for fishing village Volendam or VOC city Hoorn.

Monday: Volendam or Hoorn - Medemblik

Today the Gouwzee sails for the beautiful Medemblik. She will also pass the unique Naviduct in Enkhuizen.

Tuesday: Medemblik - Oudeschild (Texel)

After passing the Afsluitdijk the ship sails past sandbanks and perhaps even seals to the largest Wadden island Texel. We moor in the old fishing harbour Oudeschild.

Wednesday: Round of Texel (choice: 25-55km)

contiguous: Oudeschild - Den Helder

You can use this day to explore Texel by bike and visit the Maritime and Beachcombers Museum or seal station Ecomare. Our journey continues in the afternoon via the Texelstream to naval town Den Helder. You can walk around the Willemsoord naval dockyard.

Thursday: Den Helder - Alkmaar (ca. 55km)

A bicycle tour starts from Den Helder and takes you through the flat polder landscape to the North Sea and then along the North Sea beach, through the dunes to Alkmaar. The Gouwzee will be waiting for you there with a delicious dinner.

Friday: Alkmaar - Amsterdam (ca. 35km)

First you can stroll around the famous cheese market of Alkmaar and after that your bicycle tour takes you through the Northern Holland flowerbulb fields. A visit to the open-air museum "Zaanse Schans" with its traditional Old Dutch wooden houses, three windmills and cheese and wooden shoemaker is also a possibility. The evening can be ended with an evening tour through the Amsterdam city canals.

Saturday: Amsterdam

After breakfast you leave the Gouwzee. This is the end of your journey.

All distances are approximate distances of recommended bicycle tours.

Routes in italics are taken by ship.

Content package: "Travel like a hundred years ago..."

Including:

Cycling-sailing-holiday with the Gouwzee:

8 days/7nights (sat-sat), from/to Amsterdam, Northern route;

Accommodation Gouwzee:

Cabin with 2 beds, 1 porthole, heating, washbasin with warm and cold running water, socket (220v), bed linnen and towels (and change of towels when requested), showers and toilets in the hallway, comfortable dayroom and a spacious sitting area on deck.

Full board:

7x breakfast, 3x lunch buffet, lunch package for bicycle tour, 7x three-course dinner on board;

Bike rental for three days and tour maps.

Excluding:

Transfer to/from Amsterdam mooring place, other transfers, entry fees and excursions, ferry fees, on board drinks, personal insurance, tips (of choice).

Prices in the table below are per person on basis of a two-person cabin booking.

Start                                                  End                                Per person

26-july-2008                           02-august-2008                           500,- Euro

02-august-2008                       09-august-2008                      500,- Euro     

We have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 people per trip.

info@gouwzee.eu