Several companies offer bike-and-barge tours, which spend a week traveling along the country’s canals, stopping for daily rides. Other tour groups offer organized week-long rides. Or cyclists can use Amsterdam as a base. Here’s a sampling of easy trips. (Detailed info on the routes is available from MacBike; see below.)
Trips Waterland bicycle tour: By taking a ferry behind Central Station, hardy cyclists can see the countryside and bike as far as Marken (about 28 miles round trip).
Amstel-windmill tour: Cycle along the scenic Amstel River, seeing thatched-roof Dutch houses, windmills, dikes and houseboats. Begin at the Waterlooplein, cycling 7 to 15 miles roundtrip.
Hans Brinker tour: This tour, named after the fictional boy who plugged a leak by putting his finger into a dike, rambles through green countryside, heading to Spaarndam. Begin at Central Station, cycling 22 miles round trip.
Resources MacBike: T12 Stationsplein, 20-624-83-91, www.macbike.nl. This large bike rental and repair company has four locations in Amsterdam. Open 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m. daily.
Yellow Bike: 29 Nieuwezijds Kolk, 1012 PV Amsterdam, 20-620-69-40, yellowbike.nl. Bike rentals or organized city or countryside bike tours offered March-November. Open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily.
