Tulip Cycle Tour info needed

We are two couples (in our fifties) planning to visit Nederland during the major flower season – tulips (March to May 2009/10). We want to cycle daily and start and end at Amsterdam. In what region will you find the tulip fields? We might include Maastricht. Can you cycle daily from Amsterdam via the tulip area to Maastricht? The plan also includes visiting Belgium. We have 14 days.

grrrr I just typed a long reply and it disappeared... not sure my second try will be as spontaneous.....

Anyway. I pointed out these threads about cycling in the Netherlands. Lots of info about signposted scenic routes and the knooppunten system (signposted numbered connection points to create your own route). And about Vrienden op de Fiets cheap B&B for cyclists, you stay in people's homes in cities, villages or even farms.

one useful thread
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I'm not too sure where the flower fields are but I think mostly in the west, near Lisse and Haarlem. A Google search gave me these results.

Amsterdam - Maastricht is more than 200 kilometers; in my experience this means about 300 kilometers on the counter of my bike, because of curves and detours you make to do scenic routes. How many km's are you planning on doing per day? Aren't you taking rest days inbetween? Are you experienced bikers and what types of bikes will you use?

Personally I like to bike about 60-80 km (max!) per day (on my sports bike, but not a racer bike), for about two days in a row, then have a day of rest / sightseeing. This would have me end up in Maastricht on day 5 or 6.

You can easily cross into Belgium, and back into the Netherlands elsewhere. They also have many signposted routes and connection points. And quite a few Vrienden op de Fiets addresses (B&B).

For my recommendations about things to see and do in Amsterdam go to my website > Travel > Amsterdam Tips.

Hope this helps!
Veel plezier,
Cécile
Amsterdam

I now see in your profile that you are from South Africa, so you might understand Dutch.
On the VVV website for tourist info you will find various organised bike tours through the Netherlands (each with their own theme). Even if you don't feel like booking one of those, you could have a look at their itinerary and just do it yourself. :-)

And as I mentioned in the other threads, buy special cycling maps at an ANWB shop or VVV tourist info (in small towns these are often in one place). You might find a map with all the LF-routes useful; the long distance scenic routes, signposted in both directions; you can hop on halfway and follow it for as long as you like, and some also connect with other signposted routes. And I really like 'De sterkste kaart', the strongest map, it is not plastic but feels like it and contains various types of routes, and knooppunten / connection points. Then there are plenty of regional maps with daily circular routes or multiple day circles... plenty to choose from!

In addition to the great info provided by Cecilia: the main tulip area is indeed around Haarlem and Lisse, roughly in the area between Schiphol Airport, Leiden, Hillegom and Haarlem. Keep in mind that most tulips and other flowers in the fields bloom only in April, so if you go in March or May you won't see many (of course this depends also on climatological conditions). Besides the weather in April and May is usually better than in March, which makes for more pleasant cycling.

Travelling further down the coast (stay on the inland side of the dunes) from Lisse towards the village of Wassenaar, you'll see more tulip fields although not as many as in the main areas mentioned in the previous posts.

The cycle route through the dunes can be really nice too. That way you can cycle all the way in to the city of The Hague. If you stop over there, don't forget to see the excellent art collection at the Mauritshuis.

Thank you for all the information, I've read all about 'die sterkte kaart' and will have to order it. Yes, I am from South Africa en my huistaal is Afrikaans, vind Nederlands 'n bietjie moeilik soos byvoorbeeld: In Afrikaans sê ons: "Ons gaan fiets ry" In Nederlands " Ons gaan fiets"! "Fiets" in Nederlands is nou 'n naam en 'n werkwoord! In Afrikaans we use the double negative form, like the French while the Dutch people not. So far I do find my way reading Dutch websites!
For the Dutch, cycling is a way of live or a social way of movement and it is fairly easy due to the flatness of their country, according to several websites. In South Africa it is a form of recreation, exercise and sport. My wife and I cycle for exercise. I use a race bike or "pad fiats" while my wife uses a mountain bike "berg fiets" with sliks on! We average about 50 km per weekend, valley up and down under 3 hours. We are going to increase our distances and days of exercise to ensure we will be fit for the tulip trip.
To me it is difficult to understand distances in Nederland, comparing distances in South Africa. The Kruger National Park is about 450 km from my house, Cape Town is 1200km and Durban about +600km! You do not cycle that distances over a weekend, not for leisure!
Once again thank you for the valuable information. Affordable accommodation is very important to us because of our weak currency measured against the Euro or US$. Even in South Africa I have to flip the coin several times as accommodation – in general – is very expensive. All I need is a safe, clean room. No fancy frills, Turkish carpets, original paintings on the wall or TV. I just want to bath and sleep comfortable and be safe or feel safe!

In Afrikaans sê ons: "Ons gaan fiets ry" In Nederlands " Ons gaan fiets"! "Fiets" in Nederlands is nou 'n naam en 'n werkwoord!

Even worse, we say: "wij gaan fietsen". Fietsen can mean biking, or bikes. You can try speaking Afrikaans here but if communication is difficult I think you should swap to English and you'll be more succesful! Most people here speak quite good English.

Yes over here the bike is a means of transportation just like the car is. Most cities are so overcrowded (yet small) that a bike is faster than a car. I sometimes cycle alongside a tram for half an hour in Amsterdam, it overtakes me with its speed, then at its stop people get out and I overtake the tram, then it overtakes me... and so on... until we arrive at the other end of the city at exactly the same time after half an hour of this routine. :-) It makes you want to wave at the people in the tram, or tell them: why don't you use a bike and get some exercise while you travel!

But lots of people also do recreational bike rides or ride as a work-out. These vary from very old grey people on shiny new bikes, sitting up straight with a map in front, to speedy thin racer bikes with guys on them that have nothing with them except the shirt and short they're wearing, and the banana and some money tucked into their shirt pocket. And anything inbetween: mountian bikes, hybrid bikes,... young and old people, solo or in pairs or groups.

Yes the distances here are ridiculous compared to South-Africa. Drive a car for 2 hours in any direction and there's a good chance you're at the border to another country, or at the sea. Maastricht is about as far away from Amsterdam as you can get and like I said it's 200 km (but I think 300 km on the counter of your bike because of detours, curvy roads, scenic routes that take you a bit away from the boring straight road). The scenic routes (white signs, green letters) are really much, much nicer than the shortest ones (white signs, red letters with bike icon) which often run along busy roads for cars.

As for Vrienden op de Fiets accommodation, make sure you get a membership on time so that you receive the membership card and the booklet with all the addresses. You can then use Google Maps to locate the addresses and pick the most convenient one in that town, and print off a map. The rooms are often simple but nicely decorated, and clean. And I love getting a peek inside people's homes.... :-) The hosts can also help you find a good restaurant. You're expected to be out during the evening, and leave early in the morning. So I personally like to mix this with hotel stays too, so that I can go to my room during the day, take long showers without feeling guilty, etc.

Hostels can also be affordable although the rates go up during high season. For example try StayOkay hostels, but I believe there are more types of hostels.

Nogmaals: veel plezier!
Cécile
Amsterdam

Thanks Cecile, I’ve visited your site and it is packed with information! I will be in touch with you during our planning stages. Baie dankie.

OP, one word of advice about language: don't ask for the nearest "aftrekplek" when you're on the road - it has a totally different meaning in Dutch ;-)
Otherwise I found it pretty easy to understand Afrikaans when I was in SA, though it may be more difficult the other way around given that verb tenses etc in Nederlands are more complicated as explained by Cecilia.
Veel plezier bij het plannen van uw reis!

Aftrekplek? Thanks Aribo. With the current economicle situation where the US$ is pussing the rand (1 US& = 12.00ZAR) sky high, not even mentioning the Euro, I think the planning stage will take much longer!