I’m going on a bike tour, partially going through the Netherlands, and I’d like some feedback on my planned route. Please and thank you!

26 comments

  1. This will be my first proper visit to the Netherlands in my life.

    I will start my tour by follwing the Lippe river in Germany to the Rhine at Xanten, then follow the Rhine to Arnhem, crossing over the John Frost Bridge (big fan of A Bridge Too Far) at which point I semi-randomly selected LF-routes to follow, such that I would eventually arrive back in Germany, and then take the train back home from some larger town close to the border; currently I’m going for Emden in Ostfriesland. My (German, non-bike-tourist) friends tell me this route will be boring, but I don’t think so. Do you have any suggestions for interesting places I might get to see if I make a diversion? Is Assen worth a short visit?

    I will have about four up to four-and-a-half days maximum to spend in the Netherlands. Thank you for your input!

  2. You could decide to swing west earlier and follow the forests of the Veluwe down to Arnhem. That said, if I recall correctly following the IJssel from Zwolle to Deventer can be nice too. You seem to be going in between, I’m not really familiar with that area though.

    I see that you’re following the LF route. That’s probably the easiest, though be aware there’s also the junction routes, which is more fine grained and where you plan ahead which “junctions” to follow (knooppuntenroute/knotenpunkt), and during the trip follow the signs from junction to junction. https://www.hollandfahrradland.de/tagestouren

  3. Would definitely recommend you to cycle through the dark green part above Arnhem to Zwolle (Veluwe). Just be aware that “de Kroondomeinen” is closed for the next three months.

    But definitely go through the National Park De Hoge Veluwe (paid visit). I’d recommend after this: Radio Kootwijk, Hoog Soeren, Wenum-Wiesel, Niersen, Vierhouten, Tongeren, through the woods (try for restaurant De Ossenstal and grab a Dutch pancake, and go up De Haelberg there, beautiful view from the tower!), Heerderstrand, Hattem, Zwolle.

    Hattem to Zwolle is the same environment as Deventer to Zwolle, only following the IJssel from Deventer to Zwolle might be boring after 10-15km, that’s why I’d recommend this route.

    Have fun on your trip!

  4. If you have the chance I might suggest visiting Emmen.

    It has amazing nature around, including some “Hunnebedden” (tombs originating from the stone age)
    Furthermore there is the zoo there which is also nice to visit (I guess it is open again with some restrictions)

  5. Of course there are some tweaks you can do to hit certain beautiful spots, but the LF-routes are designed to be attractive routes in the first place!

  7. Great route! You could get more elevation if you decide to go through Nijmegen after Arnhem. And go back into Germany via Beei, Kranenburg and Kleve.

  9. After passing Zwolle I recommend going more west to go through the “weerribben”. Firstly, passing Zwartsluis and after some really cute villages like belt-schutsloot and Giethoorn. Thereafter you can follow Steenwijk -> Appelscha and you will be back on your route. It’s like max 10k extra but definitely worth it!

    Also highly recommend passing the Veluwe like other comments are suggesting.

  10. LF routes are generally nice. I agree though, try to fit in some more National Parks like Veluwe, maybe Dwingelderveld, looks like you’re already going through Drents-Friese Wold.

    Definitely skip Assen.

  11. You are skipping some of the most beautiful nature area’s in the middle of your route

    **Fochteloërveen**

    It is one of the few and best-preserved raised moor areas in the Netherlands.

    **Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold – Drents-Friese Wold National Park**

    It consists of forests, heath lands and **drift-sands**. Worth a visit!

    **Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld – Dwingelderveld National Park**
    It is the largest wet heathland of Western-Europe

    **Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden – Weerribben-Wieden National Park**
    Comprising the largest bog of Northwestern Europe. These nature parks are really something else!
    Includes the picturesque villages of Giethoorn and Belt-Schutsloot which are definitely worth a visit if, especially since your off season. Especially since Giethoorn is known as the Venice of the north, and most of the village is car free and has beautiful cycle routes.

    I suggest doing something like this route between Groningen and Zwolle: https://goo.gl/maps/gasYqQi9ctErk5pq9
    It adds a lot of interesting cities (Steenwijk), villages(Giethoorn, Belt-Schutsloot, Blokzijl ) nature parks and places of interest (Dolmen) without making giant detours.
    This also skips the boring parts, like the city of Assen. And makes sure to include a lot of nature in between the endless farming areas between Groningen and Zwolle.

    The Hanseatic city of Zwolle its self is worth a visit. Beyond that both suggestions, following the IJssel bank to the beautiful Hanseatic city of Deventer or crossing the nature parks of the Veluwe are both valid suggestions.

  12. If you wanna visit a nice lake go to “het blauwe meer”. It used to be a sand extraction site but now it is a beautifull lake. We call in our little Spain in Drenthe because is it so nice to swim there. Deff worth a visit. Its very close to your path aswell

  15. I’d cross the IJssel at Zwolle and then go to Deventer on that side of the river, the road on the Westside of the river on top of the dyke is open to cyclists, on the Eastside you are mostly going to have to cycle behind it, so the view will be a lot worse

  16. Great responses! I’ve adjusted the route quite a bit, while adding only about 20 km to the total trip length. [Here’s](https://imgur.com/a/hD6Blmp) the revised route. If I do end up running short on time, I’ll be able to cut the last leg in half, by taking the ferry from Delfzijl, rather than cycling all the way around the Ems estuary.

    Thanks, everyone, I’m sure you’ve improved my trip by a lot!

  17. Say hi to my mom, you pass right by her house.

    Might actually not be a very bad idea, since she manages a [https://www.rustpunt.nu/mobile](rustpunt) (resting area) for cyclists. These places offer some food and drink and can be found all along your route.

  18. Keep west from Arnhem to Apeldoorn to experience the Veluwe. You can skip Apeldoorn and follow the IJssel river from Deventer to Zwolle.

  19. Bonus Question: Is camping on Natuurkampeerterreinen as convenient and nice as it sounds? I don’t want to bike with a firm distance commitment per day, so, ideally, I’d like to just phone a campground sometime in the early afternoon to book a tent spot for the night. Since I’m travelling at the tail end of the camping season, campgrounds are likely to have spare room for one person, right?

  20. I don’t know if you’re looking for museums, OP, but I second the vote to visit the Vrijheidsmuseum. It was one of the most moving museums I’ve ever been to. Also, if you take the route from the museum along the German border and through Berg en Dal, there’s an actual hill you’ll need to bike up! (Also, it’s really pretty, and I thoroughly enjoyed it when I biked from Nijmegen to the museum and back again.) And there are a bunch of camping spots in the area (if that’s how you’re staying).

  23. Instead of going though Zwolle, deviate a little to the left, and take the route though Wezep forest and the town Kampen. Less dense populated and more scenic

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