The peninsula making up the province of North Holland is the focus of this tour, which first introduces Amsterdam and its abundant attractions. Amsterdam's prosperity really grew during the 1600's when it established itself as Europe's foremost trading center. Its vast history and culture continue to exude in the rich architecture and museums, such as the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Leaving the bustling city center for the countryside, you will ride via Marken, where some of the old houses are built on poles, to the old fishing village of Volendam, where traditional Dutch costumes are still worn. Enkhuizen is a quiet little town with a picturesque harbor and scenic fishermen cottages. It has an interesting Outdoor Museum that offers a unique insight into the town’s rich past as a trading center. The island of Texel is a vacationer's dream with 80 km of foot- and bike-paths and white sandy beaches. It is Holland’s oldest island and often called the Pearl of the Wadden Islands due to its unspoiled landscape that includes rich foliage, thousands of birds and countless sheep. The largest village on the island is Den Burg, where a 15th century church dominates. Next, you'll follow your appetite to the famous cheese town of Alkmaar, where cheese is still regularly weighed and sold in the Waag. Also of interest is the St. Lawrence Church of late-Gothic style that holds Holland's oldest church organ. From here, you will continue on to the Zaanse Schans in Zaandam. This large Open Air Museum authentically depicts Dutch life during the 17th and 18th centuries and includes windmills, a cheese mill, a paint mill and traditional timbered buildings, just to name a few. After a leisure visit, you’ll finish the tour back in Holland’s cosmopolitan capital of Amsterdam. (During Holland’s famous tulip months of April and May, you will cycle alongside endless acres of colorful bulbfields).