Dutch coast

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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ciquta
Posts: 4
Joined: 2 Jun 2023, 11:58am

Dutch coast

Post by ciquta »

I'm planning a tour from Hamburg to Bruges along the coast in July with wife

I'm not sure if it's worth to get the tent or rely on b&bs

We'll be able to book accomodations 2days in advance I guess


any suggestions?
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mjr
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Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
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Re: Dutch coast

Post by mjr »

I did Dunkirk - Bruges - Vlissingen - Renesse - Hook of Holland in a group of I think six in late May 2017 and we found it difficult to find available decent cycle-friendly accommodation in Zeeland booking a few months ahead. I'm not sure being only two will save you from needing to camp in July. Campsites are much more numerous than b&bs and hotels there. But do some searches and see what you think.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
lisap
Posts: 305
Joined: 16 Jan 2007, 2:29pm
Location: On the edge of the Cotswolds

Re: Dutch coast

Post by lisap »

I cycled and camped in Holland on my way down to Germany in 2016 and found bicycle campsites using a Natuurkampeerterreien card which came with a booklet of all the available sites. I can’t find the booklet and it would be out of date now but they are online which might help you decide whether to camp or B&B. All the sites I stayed at were safe and clean with varying degrees of facilities but even the most basic places had flush toilets as opposed to the long drops found in US state parks. There are also bike lodgings which are identified by a blue sign with a white bike and the words Fietsers Welkom. Again have a look online to see if there is more info available.
ciquta
Posts: 4
Joined: 2 Jun 2023, 11:58am

Re: Dutch coast

Post by ciquta »

not the answers I hoped for but thanks anyway :(

at least can I assume the campsites will have always space for a tent? or i need to book that as well??
willem jongman
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Joined: 7 Jan 2008, 4:16pm

Re: Dutch coast

Post by willem jongman »

I am Dutch, and I would suggest not to rely on hotels, B&B's etc. This will be peak holiday season, so you have a much better chance to find a place on a campsite - there are many campsites in the Netherlands. See here for the Natuurkampeertreinen website: https://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/?lang=en They are mostly very nice and bicycle friendly, but there are many other campsites. See Archies campsite database for those. Normally making a reservation is not necessary if you arrive by bike, but at this time it may be wise to nevertheless do it.
Please realize that the long dike in the North (the Afsluitdijk) is being renovated and closed for bicycles. But there are busses that take bikes. The scenic alternative would be to take the ferry from Harlingen to the island of Vlieland, and from there the ferry to the island of Texel (https://www.waddenveer.nl/en/) and from there the ferry to Den Helder, the Dutch naval base.
lisap
Posts: 305
Joined: 16 Jan 2007, 2:29pm
Location: On the edge of the Cotswolds

Re: Dutch coast

Post by lisap »

What did you want to know then?
VinceLedge
Posts: 565
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 9:51am

Re: Dutch coast

Post by VinceLedge »

We used Vrienden op de Fiets for B and B years ago and it worked well, looks like it is still going
https://www.vriendenopdefiets.nl/en/
Steve X
Posts: 254
Joined: 14 Apr 2021, 7:47am

Re: Dutch coast

Post by Steve X »

VinceLedge wrote: 16 Jun 2023, 7:53am We used Vrienden op de Fiets for B and B years ago and it worked well, looks like it is still going
https://www.vriendenopdefiets.nl/en/
Yes it is and it is excellent. It always surprises me how many cyclists have never heard of it. Definitely the way to go in the Low Countries, but they are all over the world with several in the UK.
m-gineering
Posts: 254
Joined: 23 May 2015, 12:01pm

Re: Dutch coast

Post by m-gineering »

willem jongman wrote: 15 Jun 2023, 9:51am
Please realize that the long dike in the North (the Afsluitdijk) is being renovated and closed for bicycles. But there are busses that take bikes. The scenic alternative would be to take the ferry from Harlingen to the island of Vlieland, and from there the ferry to the island of Texel (https://www.waddenveer.nl/en/) and from there the ferry to Den Helder, the Dutch naval base.
or there is the ferry Stavoren Enkhuizen
Marten

Touring advice for NL: www.m-gineering.nl/touringg.htm
ChrisF
Posts: 665
Joined: 22 Mar 2014, 7:34pm

Re: Dutch coast

Post by ChrisF »

willem jongman wrote: 15 Jun 2023, 9:51am .......
The scenic alternative would be to take the ferry from Harlingen to the island of Vlieland, and from there the ferry to the island of Texel (https://www.waddenveer.nl/en/) and from there the ferry to Den Helder, the Dutch naval base.
The route across Vlieland looks to be (viewed on Google Satellite view https://goo.gl/maps/tT3t1PgGfjYfvfXv8) about 10km of sand. Not so good for a loaded touring bike! Has anyone here been that way?
Chris F, Cornwall
m-gineering
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Joined: 23 May 2015, 12:01pm

Re: Dutch coast

Post by m-gineering »

ChrisF wrote: 18 Jun 2023, 11:47am
willem jongman wrote: 15 Jun 2023, 9:51am .......
The scenic alternative would be to take the ferry from Harlingen to the island of Vlieland, and from there the ferry to the island of Texel (https://www.waddenveer.nl/en/) and from there the ferry to Den Helder, the Dutch naval base.
The route across Vlieland looks to be (viewed on Google Satellite view https://goo.gl/maps/tT3t1PgGfjYfvfXv8) about 10km of sand. Not so good for a loaded touring bike! Has anyone here been that way?
Which is why you hop on an converted 8x8 munitions carrier to reach the boat, on the days it doesn't depart form the harbour (according to the website)
Marten

Touring advice for NL: www.m-gineering.nl/touringg.htm
Grldtnr
Posts: 233
Joined: 11 Jun 2020, 7:04pm

Re: Dutch coast

Post by Grldtnr »

I don't see that as problem, given the Dutch people are so tall, hence the weird sport of 'Wadenlopen' ,hiking across the mudflats,

Anycase if you have to wait for a ferry, ,it will be fairly rare, I have sailed these waters of the Waddenzee, when I took my boat over, also rented a bike to explore Vlieland for a day.
A laid back, low down, layabout recumbent triker!
ChrisF
Posts: 665
Joined: 22 Mar 2014, 7:34pm

Re: Dutch coast

Post by ChrisF »

m-gineering wrote: 18 Jun 2023, 5:32pm
ChrisF wrote: 18 Jun 2023, 11:47am
willem jongman wrote: 15 Jun 2023, 9:51am .......
The scenic alternative would be to take the ferry from Harlingen to the island of Vlieland, and from there the ferry to the island of Texel (https://www.waddenveer.nl/en/) and from there the ferry to Den Helder, the Dutch naval base.
The route across Vlieland looks to be (viewed on Google Satellite view https://goo.gl/maps/tT3t1PgGfjYfvfXv8) about 10km of sand. Not so good for a loaded touring bike! Has anyone here been that way?
Which is why you hop on an converted 8x8 munitions carrier to reach the boat, on the days it doesn't depart form the harbour (according to the website)
Ah, yes, thanks - sorry I didn't look up the Texel / Vlieland ferry details before.
Bigger ferry now booked to Hook of Holland on Saturday night, so Texel by Monday or Tuesday.

Also - via another forum I've just found your webpage https://www.m-gineering.nl/touringg.htm - great!
Chris F, Cornwall
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