Check in to your hotel and settle in, you have two nights here to immerse yourself into the vibrant city of Amsterdam. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have time to head to central Amsterdam to explore its world famous network of canals. Originating in the 17th century, these iconic waterways were created to transport goods to the city while also controlling the water and acting as a strategic deterrence to potential enemies. The maze of canals and beautiful narrow buildings form Amsterdam's unique cultural heritage, leading to its inclusion in 2010 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take your time to explore the atmospheric narrow lanes and soak in the scenery. It is said that the best way to experience the canals is from the water; you could sail along on a guided canal boat tour, or you might like to hire a canoe or even a SUP to propel yourself along at your own pace. You can also learn more about the history of the canals at the Grachten Museum, located in a 17th century canal house with period rooms, housing informative exhibitions and a pretty canal garden. Foodies will also love to delve into the delicious and diverse cuisine on offer; you will be spoilt for choice for fantastic places to eat.

Today you have a full free day to discover Amsterdam. With a rich history, Amsterdam offers a myriad of fascinating sights to visit and museums to explore, as well as a number of beautiful public squares where you can experience the beating heart of the city. The Royal Palace can be found at the thriving Dam Square, an opulent building with marble floors, numerous spectacular chandeliers, paintings and sculptures. Head to the Rembrandtplein for cafes, clubs and vibrant nightlife; to the Museumplein for your fill of art and culture; or for bustling markets, immerse yourself into Waterlooplein and Nieuwmarkt. The life and works of Vincent Van Gogh, perhaps one of the most famous and recognisable Dutch artists, are celebrated here with a dedicated museum in downtown Amsterdam's Museumplein, housing a permanent collection of some of his masterpieces including 'Sunflowers', and his distinctive self-portraits. The Rijksmuseum is also nearby, home to a diverse collection of works including those of Dutch Masters including Rembrandt and Vermeer. TULIP FESTIVAL: Tulips are synonymous with the Netherlands and herald the arrival of spring. Throughout April, the Tulip Festival is in bloom, and visitors can go on a journey of discovery along dozens of locations all over Amsterdam to catch these colourful bulbs in bloom.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast this morning to fuel up ready for your first day of cycling and enjoyment of the excellent Dutch cycle paths. Leaving the bustle of the city behind, your journey today takes you into the rural Green Heart of Holland and the peace and quiet of its flat, open landscapes. The Green Heart is a pleasant region of low-lying polders and meadows, often occupied with lazily grazing cattle. The landscape with its far reaching flat ground and big skies reflected in lakes and canals, interspersed with church spires and windmills touching the horizon, makes for a relaxing ride and a delightful first taste of rural Dutch country. Your destination for the day is the market town of Gouda, famous not only for its namesake cheese, but also for the delicious syrup waffles known as stroopwafels or siroopwafels. The perfect bike snack! This ancient city offers a lovely blend of historic buildings, medieval cobbled streets and pretty canals. Enjoy a stroll around the old town to discover the towering spire and stained glass windows of Saint Jan church and admire the magnificent 15th century town hall and the central market square. GOUDA CHEESE MARKET: Every Thursday morning from early April to the end of August, the spectacle of the traditional cheese market is re-enacted. Farmers negotiate with merchants, and deals are sealed with a hand slap. The cheeses are delivered on briquettes and taken away after the sale to be weighed in the 17th century weighing house De Goudse Waag - now also housing a museum to the cheese trade, and offers cheese tastings paired with wine or beer.

Perhaps with a supply of delicious cheese in your pannier for a picnic lunch, set off from Gouda this morning to continue your journey through the peaceful Green Heart, aiming for the village of Kinderdijk. Here you will find the 19 windmills that have stood the test of time since 1740, an iconic representation of Dutch ingenuity in water management, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. You can discover the history of the windmills and waterways by visiting one of the mill museums; it is also possible to take a canal cruise or perhaps enjoy a mindful quiet moment with a spot of birdwatching - if you are lucky you might spot some rare and endangered species sheltering among the swampy reed beds. This would be an idyllic location for your lunch stop, indeed there is a café at the visitors centre which offers a wonderful viewpoint over the picturesque mills and canal. When you ready, continue your leisurely journey towards your home for the night. Depending on the accommodation booked, you may stay tonight in either Papendrecht, or in neighbouring Dordrecht.

Your journey today will first take you through the historic city of Dordrecht, the oldest city in the Netherlands. Its location at the confluence of major rivers made it an important trading point for goods including timber, cereals and wine. Its prosperity is evident in the historic harbour centre. You will have the opportunity to discover the Grote Kerk, the beautiful medieval church (officially known as the Church of Our Lady) on the waterfront, and the picturesque buildings lining the pretty canals interlinked with narrow alleys. Heading out from the city, you will follow the Wantij canal to reach the ferry crossing heading for the National Park De Biesbosch. These wetlands are a maze of rivers, islands and creeks. It has a unique ecosystem and is a paradise for wildlife, with bird species including kingfishers, eagle and osprey resident here, as well as the elusive beaver. Please note ferry schedules should be checked in advance, as these may not operate daily or in the event of bad weather. If the ferry is not operating on this day of your trip, you can follow the alternative route via the Moerdijkse bridge to cross the Holland Dieps river and continue your journey on to the fortified town of Willemstad and your home for the night. Shaped like a seven point star, Willemstad was a fortified garrison town named after Prince William of Orange, with its seven bastions named after the original provinces of the 16th century Dutch Republic. Check in to your hotel within the old ramparts and take a leisurely walk to explore its scenic streets, unchanged since 1585. Along the way you can discover historical monuments including a gunpowder house built by Napoleon, the 17th century octagonal church of Koepelkerk, and the impressive former country house and hunting lodge of Mauritshuis.

Your route today will take you through the island province of Zeeland, with charming rural scenery, little industry and few large towns. Gliding peacefully along quiet cycle lanes, through picturesque towns with cobbled streets, the landscape of coastline and waterways melds with green fields and woods. Your hotel this evening is located in the tranquil wooded hamlet of Schuddebeurs, a favourite location of Zierikzee dignitaries where their country homes and retreats were built among the verdant parks and gardens. The hotel has an excellent restaurant utilising quality seasonal local produce from Zeeland, with plenty of seafood on offer including lobster when in season. Alternatively you can also to head to Zierikzee to explore the town and take your pick of the restaurants available here, before returning to your secluded hotel for a good night's rest. Depending on availability, tonight your stay may alternatively be arranged in Zierikzee.

Enjoy a leisurely start this morning and take the time to head first into Zierikzee, a small town steeped in history. The 14th century town gates of Zuidhavenpoort and Noordhavenpoort were built as part of the waterfront defences; standing opposite these gates you can take in a superb vista of the medieval buildings and the double drawbridge spanning the canal. Park up your bike and take a wander through the streets to discover the town's squares, narrow alleyways and photogenic buildings from a bygone time. You will continue your ride by crossing the Zeeland Bridge, an impressive 5km long structure linking the islands between Zierikzee and Colijnsplaat. When the sky is reflected endlessly in the water you could imagine you are riding across the clouds. Traversing the polder landscapes of inlets and dikes, you can either cross Veerse Meer lagoon via the ferry, or continue riding along the coast and across the Veerse Dam to reach Middelburg. With a long history stretching back to the 9th century, Middelburg today still has a large number of historic buildings preserved in the old town, despite the heavy bombings experienced here during the Second World War. In the heart of the city lies the abbey and its 90m high tower known as 'Long John'. If you are feeling energetic, you can climb its 207 steps to gain fantastic views over the city and beyond. The beautiful Gothic town hall & market square are also prominent landmarks of the city; a weekly market takes place here every Thursday.

After a fuelling breakfast this morning, embark on the final leg of your cycle journey taking you across the border into Belgium. Setting off in a southerly direction, you will soon reach the port town of Vlissingen from where you will take the ferry to Breskens (approx. 25 minutes journey) to continue your scenic ride along the coastline edged with long sandy beaches, through placid villages, and along ubiquitous canals and pastures. From the border town of Sluis, much of the way to Bruges will be along the pretty tree-lined Damme Canal, originally commissioned by Napoleon hence why it is sometimes referred to as the Napoleonchannel. Arriving at your hotel and handing over your rental bike, you can freshen up and delve into all that Bruges has to offer you. Rounding off your week in another magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can really immerse yourself into this city and discover its beautiful Gothic structures, medieval canals, romantic bridges, historic buildings and atmospheric squares that helped to place it firmly on this coveted list. At the centre of Bruges, the 83m high Belfry Tower stands as a prominent landmark of the city. A climb to the top will reward you with a stunning panorama. Beneath, the Market Square is the beating heart of the city and is host to a weekly food market (Wednesday mornings) as well as events including the start of the Tour of Flanders. Of course, no visit to Belgium is complete without enjoying a glass of Belgian beer, what better way to celebrate a fantastic week of cycling.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and take a final exploration of Bruges before making your onward journey. You can also extend your time in Bruges to really soak in this enchanting city, just speak to our sales team to arrange additional nights accommodation.