Bike & Barge Holland Tours
Our Story
Bike & Barge Holland Tours offers family-run excursions that combine the fun of barge travel with the adventure of cycling through the iconic Dutch countryside. Founded on a passion for personal attention and immersive discovery, we invite you to see a country the best way possible—by bicycle.
Three Generations in the Saddle
Founded in 1992 by Bill and Iris Snow, Bike & Barge Holland Tours began with a simple but powerful belief: that the most profound way to see a country is from the seat of a bicycle. That legacy was meticulously carried forward by Lowry and Becky Snow and now Aimee Paxton—who will continue to share the magic of Holland’s countryside with travelers from around the globe.
OUR ROUTE
Bike & Barge Holland Tours has been around since 1992, sparked by a simple idea: combine a love of travel with a love of biking, and you get something pretty special. Seeing a country by bike just hits different—you notice the little things, take in the scenery, and experience local life in a unique way.
I grew up going on these tours—traveling with my grandparents and the whole family—so they’ve always felt like a second home. A few summers in college, I even worked in the kitchen, getting a behind-the-scenes look at what makes each trip so special. I’ve known Winfried since I was a kid, which makes it all the more meaningful. Being able to carry this forward now honestly feels like a dream.
A big part of what makes the trip work so well is the people behind it. Our Dutch coordinator, Winfried Veenker, knows these routes inside and out and helps shape each journey. And on board, our Captain and Crew are the heart of the experience—they’ll take care of you, keep things running smoothly, and make sure you’re having a good time along the way.
We put a lot into making sure everything comes together, so you can just enjoy the ride.
- Aimee
Local Guides
Winfried Veenker
My name is Winfried Veenker, eyes and ears for Bike & Barge Holland Tours in the Low Lands. You book often far in advance in the States. When the tour is due, you fly over to Europe and land in the welcoming hands of an experienced crew, guides and bike supplier. My job is to coordinate that team.
Our team is fully aware of the wonderful elements that all together make a tour. The stunning landscape, the waterways, the well preserved history and not to forget the wonder of our bike path infrastructure. We also realize that we are there for you to get the max out of all those elements. An often heard comment is that the team made the tour.
My guiding started while I was a professional musician performing mostly for young audiences. As such I visited North America and performed on children’s festivals in the big cities on both coasts. As a guide I discovered the similarities between guide and performer. I started to suck in the knowledge and experience of colleague guides, especially of my predecessor Saskia de Groot, guide of Bill & Iris Snow first Bike & Barge Holland Tour.
I am still a musician, you can find me on triotrabant.nl and winfriedveenker.nl. But biking and guiding became just as important. Beside appreciating having an active profession, every season I look forward to the wonder of the seeing the beauty of the Low Lands through your eyes. I developed a new passion, capturing it all on camera. You can find my Daily Postcards on winfriedbikebarge.nl.
When I became head guide, Bike & Barge Holland Tours was run by Becky and Lowry Snow and is now in the hands of Aimee Paxton. The third generation of a successful family business that thrives by a true understanding of what the Netherlands has to offer and fully appreciate the valuable contribution of their Dutch partners.