Nordic Walking in the Netherlands: A Walk-and-Barge Adventure

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

Boat Bike Tours BV, the entity that will provide the Nordic Walking and barging activity during this program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

Road Scholar provides a 24-hour emergency assistance plan, which is included in the cost of your program. This insurance plan is designed to supplement your primary insurance coverage for accidents and illnesses requiring medical treatment and/or evacuation and covers you during the extent of the program only. There is a $100 deductible per person, per illness and the policy operates on a reimbursement basis. If you have medical expenses during the program, you must be prepared to pay on-site and submit insurance claims as appropriate after your return.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on August 8, 2025

Meet the group at Lena Maria in Purmerend

Start of Trip:  10:30 a.m. transfer from airport to Zaanse Schans; 2:00 p.m. embarkation; 4:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner on barge.

Getting to the site: If you cannot make the 10:30 a.m. meeting time, there are two options for traveling from the airport to the barge BEFORE 2:00 p.m. 1) Take a taxi from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Oosterdok. Tell the driver you want to go to NEMO; all the barges dock in front of NEMO, look for the Lena Maria. Travel time is about 25 minutes and taxi will cost approximately €70. 2) Take a train from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station. From Amsterdam Centraal Station, walk to NEMO, which is about a 15-minute walk. Travel time is about 45 minutes and fare will cost approximately €7. If your flight arrives AFTER 1:00 p.m., you will need to meet the barge in Permerend. From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, take the train to Centraal Station, then take a train in the direction Hoorn and get off in Permerend. Then ask for directions to “Gedempte Singelgracht” on the canal where the Lena Maria is moored. Or take a taxi from the train station. The barge will arrive in Purmerend after 4:00 p.m. on the day of arrival. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport to Permerend for about €90 and 40 minutes. If you are departing the U.S. prior to the group departure and plan to connect with the group at the airport on the day the program commences, be sure to be at the meeting point at the time indicated. If you plan to meet the group at the barge, please notify our office prior to your departure: 203-814-1249 or roadscholar@boatbiketours.com.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Taxi, bus and train available. Review schedules and fares online: Amsterdam Municipal Public Transport (GVB) www.gvb.nl, or Dutch Railways (NS) www.ns.nl.

Your trip ends on: Friday, August 15, 2025 in Amsterdam at Lena Maria

End of Trip: 9:00 a.m. after breakfast; 9:00 a.m. barge check-out (okay to check-out earlier).

Getting to the airport: There are two options for traveling from the barge to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: 1) Take a taxi from the barge in Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport. Travel time is about 25 minutes and taxi will cost approximately €70. 2) Take a train from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Schiphol Airport. Centraal Station is a 15-minute walk from the barge. Travel time is about 30 minutes and fare will cost approximately €7.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: As an exception on this program, Independent Travelers are welcome to utilize the group transfers at the beginning of the program if you rendezvous at the designated time and place for the group transfer. However, if you are not present at the time indicated, we will assume you are transferring on your own and are responsible for making your own arrangements, and for all costs involved. At the end of the program, all independent travelers will be assisted by the Group Leaders, but costs are incurred by the participant. According to Road Scholar policy, participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. (We make an exception for this program for the ARRIVAL only.) If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.