Self Guided Family Cycling Holiday

It is always a pleasure to cycle in the Netherlands. The wonderful network of cycle paths makes it un-necessary ever to ride on busy roads. Conditions are as suitable for children to cycle safely as they are for adults.

Assen is the capital of the "Cycling Province" of the Netherlands and is a perfect place to base a family holiday.

As this is a self guided holiday, you can take it on any week that you wish.

The price includes Bed and Breakfast accommodation for seven nights. We can also arrange different length holidays. Required maps and ride guides are included.

The rides

Ride distances can be between 10 and 40 km in length with a variety of destinations. Let us know your preference. Below is an example of what is possible.

Saturday Arrive in Assen. If you are early enough, have a look at Assen's award winning market. Sunday Out of the city towards Hunebedden and a windmill, through heath and forest. A short ride as it's your first: 22 km Monday Forest, farmland and a choice of swimming pool or a beach. Or both. Two possible routes: 15 or 24 km Tuesday A windmill again, forest, wetland, a tall lookout tower, radio telescope, a walking route with scale solar system models, a concentration camp museum and visitor centre, heath, possible chance to see some very large cattle, and return through farmland. 39 km. Wednesday Assen's award winning market is today, and Assen's Drentsmuseum has many interesting exhibits. This makes Wednesday a good day for a rest from cycling. However, if you prefer we also provide some ideas for short rides to a very large petting zoo in a forest and a traffic park, where children can learn the rules of the road. Or... Ride to a village set in forest which houses a swimming pool, windmill and many restaurants and cafes. Return through villages and countryside. 40 km Thursday A ride past a clog museum, beautiful garden and museum and lakes to the city of Groningen, which has the highest cycle usage of any city in the world. The route is 30 km long. You can return to Assen by train (train tickets are not included in the holiday price). Groningen has many museums, restaurants and parks. Friday Take a picnic to a huge area of heath and forest in the countryside (we also pass cafes). We go out through a startling new housing estate, returning along the side of a canal. 35 km Saturday Depart after breakfast.

You can start each day at any time you like after breakfast. The distances are short, so plenty of time is included for morning coffee and lunch stops (the ride guides point out good locations). For evening meals you will be back in Assen (or perhaps in Groningen on Thursday) and be able to go to any of the many varied restaurants.

Bicycles

If you bring you own bicycles, we ask that you please make sure in advance that they are well maintained, possibly by asking a bike shop to service the bikes. Also, we ask that you carry with you a puncture repair kit and any required spare parts.

As the holiday has a fixed base you will not have to carry all your luggage with you. However, please consider how you will carry what you need from day to day on your bike. It is more comfortable to carry items on the bike in a basket or pannier than in a backpack.

All our rides are on solid concrete and tarmac road surfaces.

With adequate warning we can also help with hire bicycles. These will not have a bewildering array of un-necessary gears but will have mudguards and racks and a comfortable saddle. Hire of child seats etc. may increase the cost of hire. A hire bicycle typically costs per day.

About us

Judith and David Hembrow are experienced British cycle tourists who have toured extensively in both the UK and the Netherlands. We are also parents and have considerable experience of cycling with children.

Before we moved to the Netherlands to live, we already knew it was a great place to bring children to cycle. This webpage describes one of our family cycling holidays in the Netherlands:

2003 Holiday with children

Anything Else ?

If you have special dietary needs, such as being a vegetarian or vegan, we can help. Just let us know.

Cycling in the Netherlands is very safe. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend that participants have both travel insurance and third party liability insurance.

Children must be supervised by their parents or carers at all times.

How to book

For this week of holiday we have selected Bed and Breakfast accomodation within walking or cycling distance of the city centre so that you have the choice of eating in the evening at any of Assen's many restaurants.

The total cost of the holiday including 7 nights of Bed and Breakfast accomodation is just per adult or per child (under 16 years of age - children must be accompanied by parents or guardians).

It is also possible to book accommodation for two adults sharing the same hotel room at a rate of per person. We regret that a discount for children is not available in the hotel accommodation.

A non returnable deposit of per person is required on booking and full payment of the balance 1 month in advance of the tour. Or you can pay the full amount now.

Please contact us directly by email or use the paypal buttons below to book.

Self guided family ride deposit of per person
Self guided family ride adult B&B - full advance payment of
Self Guided Family Ride Child (under 16) B&B - full advance payment of
Self guided family ride for adult or child in hotel accommodation - full advance payment of
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How to get here

Please book the tour first and wait for confirmation before booking your transport.

From the USA: It is possible to fly to Amsterdam Schiphol directly from many US airports. There is a direct train service from Schiphol to Assen which takes about 2 hours. When I last checked, Schiphol to Assen by train cost for a single ticket and for a return. A non-folding bicycle costs an additional per day for any journey.

From the UK: Assen is near to Groningen Eelde airport which is served by VLM from London City Airport (www.flyvlm.com). It is also possible to fly from most UK airports to Schiphol. You can then take a direct train from Schiphol to Assen which takes about 2 hours. When I last checked, Schiphol to Assen by train cost for a single ticket and for a return. A bicycle costs an additional per day for any journey.

For those who would rather not fly, there is of course also the option of taking a ferry (Harwich to Hoek-van-Holland, Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to Ijmuiden) and continuing by rail, or all the way by rail.

One of the most convenient and lowest cost options for those in East Anglia or London is to take the Dutch Flyer combined train/ferry service which provides a train from London or East Anglia to Harwich, the ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland and a train from Hoek van Holland to any location in the Netherlands including Assen for one all in price of about £30.

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