Amsterdam countryside bike tour: Windmill & apple pie

You'll ride below sea level and see how the Dutch keep the water out.

A small-group bike tour through the Waterland region north of Amsterdam covers 30 km of countryside, farmland and old fishing villages, with a guide explaining water management and Dutch history. The group stays under 12 riders. Halfway through, you stop in the village of Holysloot for apple pie and a rest, then finish at a windmill from 1792. Bikes, helmets and a live English-speaking guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day bike tour in countryside

• Ride bike through Waterland region
• Pass old fishermen villages
• Break and apple pie in Holysloot
• Learn history at Ransdorp tower
• See historic windmill from 1792

The experience

How do you escape Amsterdam's city center without renting a car or joining a tour bus? Ride a bike through the Waterland region, where the landscape sits below sea level and the embankments that hold back the water become the roads you pedal on. The tour covers 30 km across polder farmland and through old fishermen villages, with your guide pointing out how the Dutch have managed to live and farm in this low-lying terrain for centuries. You'll pass through Ransdorp, where the tower is the oldest building in the area, and learn the history of the 80-years war between Holland and Spain that shaped the region.

Halfway through, you arrive in Holysloot, a tiny farmer's village where you stop at het Schoolhuis (a restaurant in the village's former school) for apple pie and a break to refuel. The pie is known locally as the best in the area. After you leave Holysloot, the tour heads toward the windmill at the end of the route, a monument from 1792 that once powered the old mill industry of Holland. Your guide explains how it worked and why these structures mattered to the region.

The group stays small, no more than 12 riders, which keeps the pace relaxed and the experience manageable. You'll need a moderate level of fitness to ride 30 km over four hours, but the terrain is flat and the pace is leisurely. Bikes and helmets are provided, and if you're traveling with small children, specialized infant seats and prams are available.

What’s included

• Bike and helmet for each rider.
• four-hour guided tour with a live English-speaking guide.
• small group of no more than 12 people.
• break in Holysloot with time to rest and purchase apple pie.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 98 years) · Senior (99 and older) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by We Bike Amsterdam

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a leisurely pace over flat terrain, so it suits riders who want to explore the countryside without a strenuous effort, but you do need moderate fitness to pedal 30 km over four hours. Small-group size means you'll stay with the same 11 other riders and hear your guide clearly, which matters if you want to learn the history and water management details instead of just passing through.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is the bike ride and how long does the tour take?

The tour covers 30 km (18 miles) over four hours, with a break in Holysloot halfway through. The pace is leisurely and the terrain is flat.

What happens in Holysloot?

Holysloot is a small farmer's village where you stop at het Schoolhuis restaurant, housed in the village's former school, for a break and apple pie: a local specialty that fuels the second half of the ride.

Will I see a windmill on this tour?

Yes. At the end of the route, you pass a windmill built in 1792, and your guide explains the history of the old mill industry in the region.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a bike, helmet, and a live English-speaking guide leading a group of no more than 12 riders through the countryside for four hours.

Why is the landscape below sea level?

The Waterland region is a polder: land reclaimed from water and kept dry by embankments and water management systems. Your guide explains how the Dutch have maintained these systems for centuries so people can live and farm safely below sea level.