About our trips

Welcome to all cyclists
So you want to find out more about cycling (holidays) in the Netherlands? Great! Because there is a real cycling culture in the Netherlands. People don’t just cycle for leisure here, but also to get about and commute to work. You will see all kinds of cyclists on the road: office workers with briefcases slung over their shoulders, students with their school bags secured on the back of their bikes, mothers on carrier bikes with their children, dog owners with their pooches in dog trailers. And let’s not forget the many recreational cyclists.
The Netherlands is the perfect place to explore by bike. The country has many cycle paths and signposted cycle routes, the landscape is flat, distances are short and there is lots to see and do along the way. So come visit the Netherlands and get on a bike! This is how our tours work:

Arrival

Day 1 of your holiday is arrival day, the day you travel to the starting point of your tour. We haven’t planned any cycling on this day. A town selected by us as starting point for a tour is easy to reach by public transport unless otherwise specified. For those arriving by car, a parking place is not possible to reservate. Not all the hotels have free parking spots.

Alternative Starting Point

Should you wish to start your tour at a different town on the route from the one we have assigned as the starting point, this can usually be arranged. However, please keep in mind that it will not always be possible to rent our bikes at an alternative point of departure. Nor is free parking at the hotel guaranteed. Please contact us for further details. 

Bank details

The name and address of our bank is:
ING Bank N.V.
Foppingadreef 7
1000 BV Amsterdam 

Iban nummer: NL16 RABO 0364 3612 55
T.N.V.  De Fietsvakantiewinkel B.V.
Bic/Swift: RABONL2U 

Bicycle Hire and Insurance

Do you wish to insure your bike against theft? The cost is € 3,- per day per bicycle.
For an electric bicycle: € 6,00 per day per bicycle. Please see the General Terms and Conditions for Bicycle Hire and Insurance.   

Booking

The easiest way to book your bike holiday, is to fill out our online booking form. But feel free to use e-mail or phone if you prefer. The booking will be definitive and irrevocable as soon as the booking confirmation has been sent to you. Please also read our Conditions of Booking. Should you wish to make changes to your booking, this will be possible up to 14 days before the start of the holiday (if the hotels are still able to accept the changes). We charge €25, - per booking for processing the change irrespective of the number of participants.
If you want to change a Boat Bike tour to a normal bike tour, we will see this as a cancellation of your booking.

Breakdown

We advise that you bring your own puncture kit in case you have to fix a flat tire. For minor repairs you can turn to a bicycle repairman. For anything bigger, call our service hotline.

Bike breakdown pass/Emergency service

Mile after wonderful mile of untroubled cycling is what we would wish our clients. However there is a minimal chance of breakdown along the way. If this thought is a nagging worry to you, a Bicycle Breakdown Assistance insurance policy may ease your mind. If you buy this insurance from our partner FietsNED in advance, their service is as follows. The costs are €3 per bicycle per day. If your bike breaks down by the roadside a FietsNED bicycle repair man will drive to you in his repair van and fix your bike so you can continue your tour. You won’t have to pay him repair costs. If you are cycling on your own bicycle you will be charged for any new spare parts your bike may require. If you are renting a bicycle through Cyclingholidays Groningen any new parts are at our expense. If it turns out the bicycle cannot be repaired on the spot, or if you can't continue cycling, the repairman can drop you off somewhere in his van. One companion plus bikes may join you in the van.

Children

Some of our bike tours are suitable for families with children. We rent out child bikes, child seats, trailers and trailer-bikes.

Cycle Hire

If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle from us. Our touring bikes are 24-speed gear.

For € 12,- a day you can hire a 24-speed gear bike.
An e-bike is € 25,- a day.

For photographs, see our website. 

You will receive your rental bike at the start of your holiday and return it before you go home. All bikes are provided with chain locks. If a rental bike gets stolen or damaged, we will hold the client responsible. If your insurance does not cover this event, you will have to pay the costs yourself.

Departure Day

The last day of the holiday is departure day: the day you check out of the hotel and travel home. We have not planned any cycling on this day. Rental bikes will not be available to you on this day. 

Discounts

Children

A child aged 0-4 sharing a room with its parents: free

For a child aged 4-11 sharing a room with its parents: 20% discount For an extra bed in a double room, the third person of 12 years or older gets 10% discount

Groups

For groups of Seven or more, who book a holiday together, Cyclingholidays Groningen offer group discounts:

• Seven or eight people: 7% off per person

• Nine or more people: 10% off per person.

Extra Nights

It is possible to stay extra nights at any of the hotels on your route at the cost of € 70,- per extra night per person (based on a double room). 

Flexibility

The starting date is flexible: set off any day between April 1st and October 1st. Moreover, your point of departure is also flexible. Should you wish to start your tour at a different town on the route from the one designated by us, this can be arranged. However, please keep in mind that

a) free car parking will not be not possible in all the cities;

b) nor will it be possible to rent our bikes at an alternative point of departure; so bring your own or arrange to rent one elsewhere.

Full Payment

The total amount due must be in our possession 6 weeks before the start of your cycling holiday. The deposit is 15% of the total amount (minimum €100,-) and is due no later than ten days after receipt of our booking confirmation.

Hotels

After a wonderful day’s cycling, there’s nothing like a comfortable and pleasant hotel to top off the experience. We make a point of selecting hotels that have a good atmosphere and ample luxury and comfort. You will stay in hotel rooms with en-suite shower/toilet or bath/toilet. In the booking form you can opt for just bed and breakfast or choose to also have your evening meals at the hotels.

Insurance

For a holiday without a care, you need to set off well insured because in the event of unexpected incidents you’ll want help. Moreover, it is in your best interest to limit your financial risk as much as possible in case of cancellation or other unforeseen circumstance. We recommend to take out a travel insurance at home before your trip starts. We do offer the possibility to take out a cancellation insurance with us. 

Knooppunt (=intersection) signs

For the most part, our tours follow the Knooppunten cycling routes. Holland has an elaborate system of numbered crossroads / intersections with signs for cyclists indicating the way to connecting crossroads. On paper it will look something like this: knooppunt 61 - 70 - 71 - 72 - 73 - 47. When you arrive at intersection 61, another sign will point the way to the next intersection (70) where you will find another sign (71) pointing the way to the next intersection etc. It’s a very good system! Occasionally, these Knooppunten cycling routes run parallel to LF routes. Due to road works or temporary closure of a road it may not always be possible to follow the original routes. Where possible, we will provide you with an alternative route. 

LF Routes

LF cycling routes form an extensive national network and can be identified by special signs. They show you around the Netherlands in all its diversity: natural areas and farmland, as well as pretty towns and villages. The routes follow quiet, safe back roads and segregated cycleways.

Luggage

Your luggage – one suitcase per person (max. 20 kilo) – will be transported by us from hotel to hotel. The luggage is picked up after 9 a.m. and usually delivered to your next hotel before 5 p.m. 
If you wish to bring more luggage, please let us know in advance. This is possible for an extra fee of 5 euro per bag per day. 
We will handle your luggage with care. With normal use scratches, dents and other minor damages of your suitcases can occur. For this, we are not responsible. For large damages you can file a claim with your travel and/or luggage insurance. 

Payment

As soon as we can confirm your holiday, we will send you the travel agreement (contract) per e-mail. It will stipulate the sum of your down payment, to be paid immediately. The down payment is 15% of the total price of your holiday plus insurance premium if you want to buy travel insurance. For bike & boat tours the deposit is 30%. The remaining sum is due no later than six weeks before the starting date of your holiday.

After the booking is confimed by us, you will receive the log in information for My FVG, your personal holiday page.

On My FVG you can see a lot of payment options to make it easier for you to transfer the money.

The name and address of our bank is:
ING Bank N.V.
Foppingadreef 7
1000 BV Amsterdam

Account Number: 9679616
IBAN: NL45INGB0009679616
BIC (Swift code): INGBNL2AXXX 

Pets

Most hotels don’t accept pets. If you want to take your dog with you on your holiday, please contact us to discuss the options.

Points of departure

We have assigned an official point of departure to every tour. However, should you wish to start the tour at a different stop on the route, this can be arranged. Please note that rental bikes are not available at these alternative points of departure. Moreover, we only transfer luggage from and to hotels on the route.

Rental Bikes

We have a wide range of rental bikes. Click on Rental Bikes to check them out.

Round Tours

Most of our tours are round tours, i.e. the hotel where you start your holiday is also the hotel you return to at the end. Free parking is not standard for all our tours. The hotels in Groningen and Pieterburen have free parking. Most of the other locations will charge costs for a parking place.

Route Pack

After full payment has been made, we will send you the hotel list per e-mail. The complete route package incl maps etc. you will find in the first hotel when you arrive.

Cancellation

For hotel tours the following cancellation terms apply:

• cancellation until 21th day (exclusive) before the start of your bike trip: 15% of the full amount (with a minimum of €100,-)
• cancellation from the 21th day (inclusive) until the 14th day (exclusive) before the start: 50% of the full amount
• cancellation from the 14th day (inclusive) until the 5th day (exclusive) before the start: 75% of the full amount
• cancellation from the 5th day (inclusive) to the start: 90% of the full amount
• Cancellation on the starting day or later: the full amount 

For group bookings (10 persons or more) different cancellation terms can apply. 

Included in the Price of our Tours:

• Accommodation in *** or **** hotels.
• Breakfast (buffet)
• Luggage transport to your next hotel (one piece per person)
• Detailed route descriptions
• On demand: Tour as GPS-file
• Tourist information on all the places of interest
• Saddlebag (only for rental bikes) for carrying things you need on the road
• Seven days a week service hotline
• The possibility of renting our bikes and trailers (at extra cost)

Not included

• Cost of rental bikes and trailers
• Journey to the starting point of your DBT cycle holiday
• Journey from the finishing point of your DBT cycling holiday back home
• If you book Half Board: Drinks with your evening meal.
• Ferry crossings
• Compulsory fee for Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden (SGR, garantuee fund in case of bankruptcy of travel organisation) of €5,- per person. 

Cycling by Numbers - Finding Your Way!

How does it work?

It’s really easy. The Dutch have a brilliant system for navigating the cycling path network!

Main intersections in the bike track network have been assigned a number. You’ll find them on the map we provide you with.

These are examples of the kind of signs you will see on your tour:

At every numbered intersection there’s a big sign with a map of the surroundings where you can see where you are and what options you have, just like on the map that we provide you with.

In the picture above, the bottom three signs refer to fixed routes. For our tours, we sometimes use a combination of cycling-by-numbers and fixed routes, sending you along short stretches of long-distance LF routes, for example. This works just fine because the two systems tie in nicely. You’ll also find written directions in your Route Pack.

Look here for a little Dutch movie about the numbers system:

 

Why the Dutch don't wear helmets!

How to Book

The easiest way to book is to fill out online booking form. But you can also send us a message by e-mail or just give us a ring. Your booking will be irrevocable as soon as we send you the booking confirmation.

Conditions of Payment

After receiving our booking confirmation, kindly transfer 15% down payment per person (minimum €100,-) as soon as possible. For bike & boat tours we ask 30% down payment.  The remaining sum is due not later than 6 weeks before the start date of your cycling holiday as stated in the booking.

Your Changes to Arrangements

Should you wish to make changes to your booking, this will be possible up to 14 days before the start of the holiday (if the hotels are still able to accept the changes). We charge €25, - per booking for processing the change, irrespective of the number of participants.

Changes to the Route

If, due to unforeseen circumstance, we are forced to deviate from the published route descriptions, participants will be informed a.s.a.p.

Prices

Prices are per person, unless otherwise specified, and based on two (or more) adults sharing a room. We do not charge you extra for taxes, administrative booking fees, etc. You will receive one Route Pack per room.

Singles Surcharge

If you are travelling alone, we will calculate a surcharge that takes into account the additional costs for luggage transport, single room and Route Pack.

Extra Nights

It is possible to stay extra nights at any of the hotels on your route. 

Extra nights cost € 70,- per person per night for a double room and breakfast.

Cyclingholidays Groningen/Fietsvakantiewinkel (Chamber of Commerce registration number 30088748) is a registered participant of SGR. You can verify this on www.sgr.nl. Holidays listed on this website are covered by SGR’s guarantee, within the terms of the SGR guarantee scheme. Under SGR’s guarantee, consumers shall have their prepaid travel sum refunded if their counterparty is unable to fulfil its contractual obligations due to financial inability. Insofar as the agreement includes the transport and the destination has already been reached, the return trip will be arranged. A mandatory SGR contribution of € 5 per person will be charged when booking, for the benefit of the SGR fund.