Hello everyone!

I am an American who visited the Netherlands last year. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. Your country is so beautiful and as a cyclist I was so excited to be able to ride on all the wonderful infrastructure you have.

I’m planning a more long term trip to do some long distance cycling. The goal is to start out in Amsterdam, ride down to The Hague, then make our way to Kinderdjik, and ride back to Amsterdam over the course of 5 days or so. By my math it’s around 50 KM per day.

Something like this: https://imgur.com/a/xz2gIss

The trip will likely be in late August or early September.

As an ignorant American I’d like some feedback from the locals! Is this a decent route? Would we be okay doing some camping along the way? Last time I was there one of the locals I met in a pub said there are many campgrounds along cycling paths. What places should we stay? I’m open to any advice on how to experience the amazingness of the Netherlands!

EDIT: Thank you everyone for your awesome advice! Changes I’ve made are moving our south route west to the coast. including the Dunes for sure. I’m also making sure we hit Delft as well. I’ll be using a lot of the routes that /u/K_R_O_O_N was generous enough to make for me!

by Jericho5589

16 comments

  1. Be sure to go into Rotterdam’s center and allocate time for it. Also don’t skip Delft.

  2. >okay doing some camping along the way

    Yes, but only at official locations. You can’t camp in the wild. Be sure to find those before planning your trip.

    (edit)

    Also, I would readjust your route so that you cycle through the dunes close to the coast. There’s a couple of excellent cycling paths and they provide a great riding experience.

  3. I think you’d be missing out if you don’t at least cycle part of your route through the dunes along the coast (the red route on your map)

  4. Nice! There are campgrounds but not like you’re thinking of if you’re coming from the States. They’re more like holiday parks on the edges of town than a nice time in nature.

  5. Okay, if you can handle a bit more on the first day, I’d alter the course on the first day to go down the coast. Exit Amsterdam, go through Haarlem and to Zandvoort. Down though Katwjik to Scheveningen along the dune cycle path.

    The way you have now is through some dull fields, a few 70s housing estates and along a motorway. I ride up in the opposite direction when I can’t be bothered with driving or taking a train to a friend’s place 😀

    Really, don’t miss Delft, as has been said. Go through the centre, it’s a lovely town. From the centre of The Hague, it’s not the most interesting bike (though you may find it all a novelty!) but you can go up to Oud Rijswijk and ride along a canal made by Hadrian (dude that made the wall between Scotland and England) a couple of thousand years ago. See big cargo barges.

    Your route to Rotterdam is through a bit of countryside, so nice. You loop round the airport then it’s not far to get right into the centre.

    I’m not a native, but I spend alllll my time biking here. Feel free to message me if you want more help.

    Komoot is an excellent tool for making these routes, by the way.

  6. Be sure to have some rainprotection with you! Summer is no guarantee for nice weather 😉

  7. Don’t spend too much time in Amsterdam. Leiden and Delft are more beautiful.

    Use big locks on your bicycle. At least two.

    Camping: Deltse Hout near Delft is OK (although not small scale), and you can bicycle into the city.

  8. You can make a pretty diverse route. First days along the coast, then along the rivers and Groene Hart, and back along De Vecht; all the highlights of the Holland countryside.

    I took the liberty to plan a little route in Komoot (I really recommend it) with campgrounds to stay at. It’s cobbled together in 5 minutes during work, so far from perfect.

    [https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/collection/2558307/-amsterdam-groene-hart-amsterdam](https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/collection/2558307/-amsterdam-groene-hart-amsterdam)

  9. Be aware that nowadays, it *could* be quite hot in late August and early September. I’m afraid it’s not something you can quite plan around without running the risk of it raining the whole day, but just something to be aware of.

  10. For Rotterdam.
    Visit the city center and Delfshaven then cycle to Krimpen aan den IJssel, from there take the lekdijk to Krimpen aan de Lek where you can take a ferry to Kinderdijk.

  11. Maybe it is a bit ambitious, but I’d go from the Hague to Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam. The dunes and seaside there are really nice! Also the route from Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam is great, almost no cars and you pass the Maaslandkerging, which is the most incredible piece of infrastructure we have!

  12. > As an ignorant American I’d like some feedback from the locals! Is this a decent route?

    Any route will be at least _okay_, though consider some interesting detours or POIs along the way. The dunes near Wassenaar would be an obvious one along your currnet route I’d say.

    EDIT: but do check for not being routed along a highway/A-road (at all) or an N-road (for too long). Your route seems to catch up with the A13 near Delft, parts of which are depressing even for a route along a highway.

    Also consder (partially) riding the [LF routes](https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/lf-routes/) – the parts I’ve ridden contained some nice non-shortest-path scenic bits. Plus, those are signposted along the full route using dedicated signs which means you don’t _need_ GPS.

    Have you considered integrating trains into your plans? That would allow you to get further into the country and just take the train on the way back (or vice versa).

    > Would we be okay doing some camping along the way? Last time I was there one of the locals I met in a pub said there are many campgrounds along cycling paths. What places should we stay?

    You’ll be definitely okay (as long as you enjoy camping and don’t mind packing additional gear). Assuming you prefer nice and small/cozy/scenic campgrounds do check out [Natuurkamperen](https://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/) – those are all small campgrounds and every single one of them I visited was amazing.

    Speaking of which, your planned POI of Kinderdijk is exactly 20km/1hr away from [National Park de Biesbosch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Biesbosch_National_Park). You *need* to go there, else you’re missing out on a gorgeous bit of the Netherlands. If you’re going camping: there’s a Natuurkamperen campsite as well and it’s a great place to watch the sun set.

    I cycled through the Biesbosch last (late) August in plain awe – it was a beautiful sunny evening, stunning views, yet in parts there was not a single other person to be seen. Amazing.

  14. Instead of passing Schiphol on the east side, I would taking the west side and drive/cycle through the ‘Bollenstreek’. Its the area where the flowers are grown in spring, but its a green area in the rest of the year as well. You could take a little detour and cycle along some of the coast roads between Zandvoort and Katwijk for example, theres some ‘wooded’ areas there with winding roads (Vogelenzang and de Zilk for example) that are fantastic and beautiful.

  15. Personally I think Kinderdijk is overrated and very crowded with tourists (boomers on motorcycles)

  16. From Amsterdam cycle to Haarlem, than through the dunes to Den Haag. Than along de Vliet to Delft/Rotterdam/Kinderdijk. Back along the Hollandse IJssel, Gouwe, Aarkanaal, Amstel.

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