Holland

[davidknibb]

2 of us are going to Holland for 5 days in April .

Arriving Hook early Monday morning (April) returning Friday afternoon.

We want to do about 50-60 miles each day. (Probably catch a train to Hook last day - so we don't have to finish there)

Any suggestions as to what might be a good route would be gratefully received.

Thanks a lot

Dave & George

[MLJ]

Follow the North Sea Route (LF1b) signed through South Holland and North Holland as far as Den Helder, returning southwards along the canal towards Amsterdam before turning for Hoek again.

[Domestique]

Head inland towards Arnhem.
The Hoek is an ideal place to end your tour as there's a good selection of shops to stock up on some food for the trip back. The ferry is expensive.

[davidknibb]

Thanks to yu both

David

[Hill Lover]

As you are going when the bulbfields are beginning to look good you may want to take the opportunity to see them, it's worth it. The best way is to head for Lieden, onto Lisse onto Keukenhof and Hillegom then heading for the North Sea Route and onto Den Helder as recommended previously. I've done this route and it's enjoyable. If Den Helder is too far you can turn right at Alkmaar and go to Hoorn (really good youth hostel) before heading back skirting Amsterdam. The trains from Amsterdam to either Rotterdam or Den Haag are fast and frequent if you need to get one.

[syklist]

2 of us are going to Holland for 5 days in April .

Arriving Hook early Monday morning (April) returning Friday afternoon.

We want to do about 50-60 miles each day. (Probably catch a train to Hook last day - so we don't have to finish there)

Any suggestions as to what might be a good route would be gratefully received.

As mentioned the NSCR is a good one. We did this in four days from the Hook to Delfzijl, with one of the group going all the way to Nieuweschans. From either Delfzijl or Nieuweschans you can take trains back to Hoek van Holland. Change at Groningen, Gouda and Rotterdam Central. If you have time over you could cycle to Groningen instead of taking the train.

Regards
Stan

[frank9755]

Last May I did this circuit:
Hoek - Leiden - Haarlem - Amsterdam - Weesp Zeist - Utrecht - Gouda - Kinderdijk (windmills) - Delft - Hoek
We loosely followed a mixture of the North Sea route, a route from a book called 'Cycle Touring Holland' or similar, the excellent signposts, and our own imagination!
Was about 250 miles in total. An excellent ride through pleasant countryside and beautiful towns and cities. Highly recommended.

[davidknibb]

Thanks to all who havereplied - most useful

David

[cherryfitzs]

Hi there,

I too plan on cycling through Holland soon. I am getting the ferry to Hoek van Holland on 1st March and hope to cycle to Berlin. I have ordered a map online for the section from Arnhem (East Holland) to Berlin but still need some guidance on the journey from Hoek to Arnhem. Does anyone know of any cycle routes and maps I could organise for this section? Many thanks, Cherry

[davidknibb]

Thanks to all who helped - our short trip is now planned.

Just one question - our last day goes from Woerden back to The Hook. There are several 'obvous' routes on the Dutch Cycle Map. Since we have to catch the early afternoon ferry - does anyone know what might be the 'best' of these routes.

Thanks

David

[syklist]

Thanks to all who helped - our short trip is now planned.

Just one question - our last day goes from Woerden back to The Hook. There are several 'obvous' routes on the Dutch Cycle Map. Since we have to catch the early afternoon ferry - does anyone know what might be the 'best' of these routes.

Whatever route you choose I'd recommend taking in this section from Linschoten to Oudewater if you can. This run along the sqiggly Lange Lingschoten to Oudewater is one of the loveliest bits of 'de Groene Hart' that I know of. There is also a Natuurkampeerterrein called 'de Oude Boomgard' along here, a basic site in an old orchard. Worth staying at. Oudewater itself has an nice old centre with places to eat and sit outside watching the world go by.

I tend to play safe on last days, getting round Rotterdam is not that much fun, but going through the centre and then heading along the river to Maassluis gives you a number of opportunities to take the train to the Hoek if the wind or other factors are against you.

HTH
Stan

[davidknibb]

Thanks Stan

Sounds good

David

[davidknibb]

Thanks to all who helped.

Had an excellent - if short trip - with very friendly weather. The sea crossings were both so smooth it was difficult to believe we were even on a boat.

Took the advice and cycled the Green Heart area and in particular from Woerden to Gouda via Oudewater. Very pretty and fine cycling.

David

[syklist]

Thanks to all who helped.

Had an excellent - if short trip - with very friendly weather. The sea crossings were both so smooth it was difficult to believe we were even on a boat.

Took the advice and cycled the Green Heart area and in particular from Woerden to Gouda via Oudewater. Very pretty and fine cycling.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. There has been some atrocious weather in the last couple of weeks, I think you were lucky We were at 'de Oude Boomgaard' last weekend for a night and missed most of the rain. We sat out a torrential shower in an outdoor shop on the way home
Cheers
Stan