Would you like to explore the Netherlands in a sustainable and healthy way? Enjoy being outside all day while the polders, windmills and cities whizz by? Of course, the best way to explore the Netherlands is by bike. In this article, we have collected the best cycling routes in the Netherlands, so you can discover our little country in a green and healthy way.
The undiscovered cycling routes in the Netherlands
We of thegreenlist.nl are fans of (electric) cycling. It is healthy, sustainable and enjoyable. We previously wrote an extensive article On a sustainable cycling holiday and how to go about it (including handy packing list). This time, we zoom in on the country's most fun and original cycling routes. Because our small flat country with relatively short distances, fantastically constructed cycle paths and a rich history ensure that there is a lot to cycle in the Netherlands. And there is something for every type of holidaymaker. Whether you prefer a challenging bike ride through hilly terrain or prefer a flat route through well-known fishing villages, in the Netherlands you will always find a surprising cycling route to suit you. We take you through the best cycling routes in the Netherlands!
Cycling across the seabed in South Limburg
Where: South Limburg
How long: 120 kilometres
Yes, you heard correctly: cycling across the seabed with the Cretaceous cycle route. This is a geological journey by bike through South Limburg. This route takes you on a journey through the history of the seabed in four different cycling tours. The Cretaceous Sea is a former sea that covered a large part of Europe. This seabed is now visible through erosion of rivers and streams. Be amazed by this special environment with limestone walls and marl caves. Besides exploring the sea bed, this cycle tour also takes you past old villages full of cosy terraces and cities such as Valkenburg, Margraten and Maastricht making it the perfect mix of being active and enjoying burgundy. Can you already see yourself sitting with a cold beer on the terrace after a day outdoors? Every day you will cycle between 19 and 37 kilometres across the seabed of South Limburg. Sounds wonderful doesn't it? On the website of Visit South Limburg you will find all information about this bike ride.
Left: Maastricht. Right: for all wine lovers, of course, a Dutch wine route on a bicycle would not go amiss either.
A Dutch wine route by bike
Where: Gelderland (the Achterhoek region)
How long: 60 kilometres
Did you know that the Achterhoek is the largest wine region in the Netherlands? In 2004, a group of Achterhoek farmers started viniculture. They united in a cooperative. I think it would be lovely to cycle the Achterhoek wine route in spring and discover all the wineries. This beautiful cycle route in the Netherlands is sixty kilometres long and takes you past several Dutch vineyards, past the historic fortified town of Groenlo and even a little over the border to our eastern neighbours, before continuing your way along the vineyards. Are you a true wine lover? Then this cycle route is definitely for you. After a day of cycling fun, you can sit down at a vineyard and enjoy the delicious wines made there.
Did you know that many wineries offer the possibility to stay overnight? On the website of Wine tourism in the Netherlands you will find many nice wineries that have places to sleep. You can also approach the wineries directly to check if they have anything free.
Multi-day cycle route: the Waterline Route
Where: Central Netherlands
How long: 410 kilometres
This multi-day route is ideal for cycling enthusiasts who love Dutch history. You will literally cycle through a piece of World Heritage. The Dutch Waterlines tell the story of our ancestors who, starting in 1672, started defending the country from the French with the help of water. If an enemy threatened to attack the area, the land could be quickly flooded. This way, the military could not occupy the area and the danger was (temporarily) gone. During a Waterline route imagine yourself in the Middle Ages past the many forts and castles that our country also boasts. This long-distance cycle route of no less than 410 kilometres takes you from Edam (Noord-Holland, above Volendam) to Bergen op Zoom (Noord-Brabant, near the border). On the way, you will cycle along several water lines, including the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie and part of the Zuiderwaterlinie. On the way, you will pass several nice campsites, bed and breakfasts and cosy little hotels, all described in the handy LF app (long-distance app).
How do you actually get your bike to the starting point of your cycling routes?
Did you know that you can take your bike on the train outside peak hours, i.e. between nine in the morning and 3.30 in the afternoon, and also after seven in the evening? To take your bike with you, you have to buy a day ticket for your bike in advance. If you don't feel like travelling by train, you can always look into options for renting a bike or taking your own bike on a bike carrier with your car.
Cycling routes for the truly adventurous: a tour of the Netherlands
Where: All over the Netherlands
How long: 1,373 kilometres
Want to see all of our own beautiful Netherlands? Then cycle the surprising cycle route around the Netherlands. Yes, you read that right. At 1,373 kilometres, this impressive long-distance route is the longest cycling route you can do in the Netherlands. During this cycling holiday along the borders of the Netherlands, you will cycle over dykes, through towns and villages, through dense forests, along winding rivers and through polders, heath and hills. This way, you will experience the diversity of landscapes in our small country. If you want to get to know the Netherlands even better during this cycling holiday, you can buy a copy at Friends on Bikes overnight. You stay in people's homes, your host provides a comfortable bedroom and a delicious breakfast so you can get back on the bike the next day feeling energetic.
Another great destination for a sustainable cycling holiday: the Biesbosch.
Are you going cycling and camping in North Brabant?
Where: North Brabant
How long: 500 kilometres
Are you a fan of camping as well as cycling? Then the Nature camping route in North Brabant a great cycling route for you. Cycle in more than five hundred kilometres along the beautiful nature reserves of Brabant and then spend the night at a nature campsite located along the route. This cycle route takes you along the Kampina, the Strabrechtse heather, through the largest freshwater tidal area in Europe (the Biesbosch) and across the shifting sand plains of the Loonse and Drunense Dunes. During this cycle route, you will even have to make an occasional crossing by ferry. How fun is that? Just be aware that these ferries operate from April to October. If you make this surprising cycle route outside these months, you will have to make a detour. This cycle route starts at the Central Station in Den Bosch, of course, before you actually get on your bike, you have to make a eating a real Bossche Bol at Jan de Groot bakery.
Camping on a nature campsite is for true nature lovers. A nature campsite is a small-scale campsite in the middle of the forest, by the sea, along a river or in the dunes. To camp on a nature campsite, you need the ‘green booklet’. You can buy this at the nature campsite, from Bever or the ANWB shop.
For the true bon vivant: Culinary Eleven Cities Route
Where: West Friesland
How long: 114 kilometres
The Culinary Elfstedentocht is the perfect cycling route for the true bon vivant. Of course, we all know the Elfstedentocht from skating. During the Culinary Eleven Cities Tour, we don't have to worry about whether the ice is thick enough, because this culinary tour is done by bike. To make it a bit more confusing, you do not pass through eleven but seven cities. The eleven refers to the eleven snacks you will encounter along the way. During the Culinary Eleven Cities Tour, you will discover the local Frisian delicacies by bike. Will you go in search of the tastiest Drabbelkoek and Dúmke iis (Frisian Dumkes ice cream) and drink a glass of Middelsee wit, a real Frisian wine? Personally, I would cycle this route in three days, that way you keep enough appetite left over to taste all the Frisian delicacies. Spend the night in a tiny house or bed & breakfast along the route. You can find these accommodations at VVV Waterland of Friesland, among others.
Left: sustainable accommodation in your own tent. Right: the Culinary Eleven Cities Route takes you along the most beautiful and delicious spots.
Cycling routes on the Wadden Islands: discover our beautiful Wadden by bike
Where: Texel
How long: 54 kilometres
You will also find fantastic cycling routes on our Wadden Islands. The Wadden Islands are our only natural world heritage site with unique flora and fauna. Created by influences of low tides, the Wadden area is the habitat of many rare plant and animal species. Take Texel, for example. This cycle route takes you along all the different pieces of nature the island has to offer. After you have boarded the boat with your bike, you will start your cycling holiday on Texel over the dyke towards Den Hoorn, where a first cup of coffee will be waiting for you on a terrace. After you have rested, it is time to hit the pedals, as the cycle route continues through the dunes of Texel. On the way you will pass Ecomare, the place where injured seals are taken in and cared for. Via the tourist village of De Koog and nature reserve De Slufter, you arrive at Texel's lighthouse, where there is a good chance of spotting seals. You have now arrived on the eastern side of Texel. Here you cycle mainly over the dyke with the sea on one side and meadows full of sheep on the other. I have spotted wild flamingos here, so keep your eyes peeled!
The cycle route does not officially pass Den Burg, yet this is worth the detour, as you will find a Stayokay hostel. This is a super cosy and sustainable place to stay. From Oudeschild, you cycle past Texel's food forest and are at Stayokay's doorstep within a few kilometres. Apart from Stayokay in Den Burg, you can also spend the night sustainably on Texel in various hiker's huts. Will you explore Texel by bike?
Thousands of years back in time: cycle a round of dolmens
Where: Southwest Drenthe
How long: 49 kilometres
Cycle over five thousand years back in time with this 49-kilometre cycle route along the Hunebedden in Drenthe. Experience how our ancestors lived at this time through the information available at the dolmens. Also explore the large forests, vast heaths and meandering rivers of Drenthe during this surprising cycle route. During my weekend in Drenthe, I really felt like I had travelled back in time by visiting the dolmens, various villages and historic farms. The highlight of this cycle route, though, is the Chamadron Havelte. Where you won't hear bells ringing on the hour, but trumpets playing. This is because the organ of the Dutch Reformed Church in Havelte has an organ register of horizontally placed trumpets. You normally often find organs like this in Spanish-Portuguese organs. Quite unusual in the Netherlands, then.
Cycling past Neeltje Jans
Where: Zeeland
How long: 82 kilometres
Cycle past one of the most famous structures in the world. The Deltapark Neeltje Jans in Zeeland. As more than half of the Netherlands is below sea level, they built the Delta Works for the safety of us all. These flood defences should protect the Netherlands from the high water from the North Sea, preventing a repeat of the 1953 flood disaster.
This great bike route of 82 kilometres takes you through various nature reserves, over the working island Neeltje Jans, past the Plomptoren and past the Watersnoodmuseum. During the cycle route along Neeltje Jans, you will learn all about our struggle with water. On a summer day, you can enjoy the sun while cycling, but cycling along the coast and over the flood barrier can also mean much, much headwind. So be prepared to pedal hard every now and then.
Once the R is in the month, you can have another typically Dutch outing here. After all, that's the time to oysters to collect. What could be better than eating home-grown oysters? If you are going to eat oysters, of course you will drink a delicious wine with them. So start looking for a place to stay. In Zeeland, there are many nice nature cottages for a sustainable overnight stay.
There are plenty of unusual cycling routes in the Netherlands: how about this cool route along the Delta Works?
Cycling routes in South Holland: cycle from the dunes to the big city
Where: South Holland
How long: 96 kilometres
Are you someone who loves both a city trip and the beach? Then this Cycle Route In Zuid-Holland is for you! Hop on your bike to cycle through the dunes to several bustling cities and through the impressive harbours of Rotterdam. This 96 kilometre long cycle route takes you past several iconic spots in the Netherlands. From the dunes, you will cycle to The Hague, before continuing through the polders to Delft, where a visit to the Royal Delft museum should not be missed. Via a few hamlets you then cycle to the Maasvlakte, from which you take the ferry to Hoek van Holland to end your cycling holiday in the dunes.
Want to visit my favourite spot on the Maasvlakte too? Then you'll have to make a detour by bike. I like to visit Balcony of Europe, a snack bar overlooking all the big ships passing by. Take enough time to cycle this route in a few days and explore all the towns you encounter along the way. In these South Holland towns, you might like to stay overnight in the homes of the residents via Friends on Bikes. Although two Stayokay hostels sit. In Rotterdam, you will then sleep in the famous yellow cube houses! Tips for The Hague with a green edge can be found here!
Cycle around the IJsselmeer
Where: Central Netherlands
How long: 440 kilometres
Before the Afsluitdijk was built in 1932, you had the Zuiderzee in the Netherlands. This was an inland sea in the northern part of the Netherlands. After the Afsluitdijk was built, the Zuiderzee was split into today's IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea. During the time of the Zuiderzee, the surrounding villages had golden times, they lived from fishing, shipbuilding, whaling and they even developed their own culture. During this eight-day cycling holiday along the Zuiderzee route, you will learn all about this history. You will get to know the typical Dutch polder landscape, picturesque fishing villages, historic VOC towns, Hanseatic cities and defence lines. Before you know it, you will be herringhappening in Volendam and you will take the well-known photo in typical costume. Will you hop on your bike to discover this piece of Dutch history?
Will you discover the most fun cycling routes in the Netherlands?
These are some of the best cycling routes in the Netherlands where you can explore our country in a sustainable and healthy way. I hope you got excited and will have fun on your green cycling holiday. Do you know more fun cycling routes? Let us know! You can get in touch with us via the contact buttons at the bottom of this page.
More sustainable travel tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Fancy a walking holiday? Check out our tips for a sustainable walking holiday in the Netherlands and its surroundings.
- Sustainable accommodation? Here's how to pick out those truly sustainable locations
- Or would you rather camp? Check out the special campsites and glamping sites in the Netherlands.
Photo credits: main image: Joop vd Schaaf (Unsplash), Maastricht: Guillaume Henrotte (Unsplash), wine: Grape Things (Pexels), bike with flower: Didgeman (Pixabay), Biesbosch: Stan Versluis (Unsplash), tent: Cottonbro Studio (Pexels), windmill: Maarten Zuidhoorn (Unsplash), wheel: Himiway Bikes (Unsplash), Delta Works: Ermir Hoxhaj (Unsplash).
