Amsterdam to france

sham22 · Post by **sham22** » 27 Nov 2007, 7:25pm

if you get stuck for time you can jump the tram from north of Dunkirk , I think it's De Panne ,travel the whole length of the belgian coast to Knokke / Heist and then cycle to Breskens , take the passenger ferry across the estuary to Vlissingen . You will be in holland in the day with an early 9/10 a.m. start easy and jump off the tram in ostend for sea food . Good run frank .

1)the tram may allow only two bicycles at the rear of the carriage and only when few pasenger but you should be o.k.
2) the last ferry across the estuary to Vlissingen is 4.30 or 5 p.m. just a little foot passenger ferry .

Cyclefrance · Post by **Cyclefrance** » 29 Nov 2007, 12:08pm

jake wrote:I'm finding this a very interesting thread. Three of us have a rough plan to cycle from Calais to Bruge and back via Ypres and the WW1 sites etc. over a long weekend next May. After reading this, the possibility of getting the train from Calais to Dunkirk and then extending the ride into Southern Holland seems like a good idea. Any suggestions/comments would be welcome as we've not been to Belgium or Holland before.

Hi Jake - we did something similar in 2000 - before digital photography came my way, so not something I've recorded on my website. Started off with a short ride from Calais to Bourbourg and then went over to Boeschepe before cycling on to Poperinge and Ypres - I took in Mount Kemmel for a bit of lung and leg exercise as well - drop me a PM or email if you want any B&B or other details (B&B for the battlefields we stayed at then was the one at Varlet Farm (http://www.varletfarm.com/en/page1.htm) - handy for Tyne Cot (but some distance from Ypres), plus situated on the old German front line so plenty of artefacts being discovered each year.

JC4LAB · Post by **JC4LAB** » 30 Nov 2007, 1:41pm

Maybe consider Youth hostels as one of your accomodation options ..You can book them ahead on line..Some allow Camping in their grounds too

Tony · Post by **Tony** » 4 Dec 2007, 4:43am

Belgian IGN do a strip map of the coast, 1:50,000.
Will this help?
http://www.anothercyclingforum.com/inde ... ic=32930.0

frank · Post by **frank** » 8 Jan 2008, 12:43pm

Thanks for the good advice on this route . Has anyone got the best route from newcastle central train station to the ferryport

willem jongman · Post by **willem jongman** » 14 Jan 2008, 7:24pm

Here is another Dutchman chipping in. For route maps of international tours into/out of Holland see the site of the Fietskaartinformatiestichting: http://www.fietskaartinformatiestichtin ... /index.htm and particularly the map of Europe: http://www.fietskaartinformatiestichtin ... eb2007.jpg.
Enjoy your ride
Willem

willem jongman · Post by **willem jongman** » 14 Jan 2008, 7:32pm

As for Newcastle: there is a Sustrans route if I remember. It took longer than we thought, so be warned. On arrival in IJmuiden it should be really easy. Nice woods and nature reserves after little more than ten minutes or so (I grew up south of IJmuiden). Sanddunes, forests (and beaches) for almost the entire route to Belgium.
We were a group of seasoned touring cyclists from Holland who had cycled from Hull to the Lake District and back to Newcastle. Last summer, the new ferry did not really have decent facilities to secure the hundred or so bikes on board. They just had to be piled against each other (grrr....).
Willem

frank · Post by **frank** » 22 Mar 2008, 8:32am

Do i need to get any ferrys across the the water when i am in holland or is the route all by road.

Also is there plenty of campsites along this route

wallyone · Post by **wallyone** » 22 Mar 2008, 2:08pm

If you're planning on following the coast/LF1 route there are ferries at Breskens/Vlissingen and Maasluis. I don't think you'll cross the Noordezeekanaal for the ferry at Ijmuiden. For camping you should get the Green Book if you can. It details small campsites, many of them traffic free, all quiet and most in rural areas. For the LF 1 the book gives a site near Groede, Oost Vlaanderen and Veerse Gat, near Veere and 6km from Middleburg and I'd recommend either of these.
Have fun.
Wally

pal · Post by **pal** » 22 Mar 2008, 3:41pm

There are some details on the sustrans route to Newcastle docks (an offshoot from the Hadrian's Cycleway) here:
http://www.cycle-routes.org/HADRIANSCYCLEWAY/section_05/nsea-link.html

fietslogies · Post by **fietslogies** » 23 Mar 2008, 10:20pm

As you will have to cross the river Scheldt between Vlissingen and Breskens, this will be a usefull link for the ferry.

http://www.bresjes.nl/veerdiensten/bv.html

The page is in Dutch, but reading timetables isn't that difficult, not ?

Fietslogies
Belgium

DavyTee · Post by **DavyTee** » 24 Mar 2008, 7:56pm

How easy is it to find LF1 route to Den Helder from Ijmuiden Ferry Terminal. I understand i will have to take a small ferry across the Noordzeekaanl is this correct are the roads safe enough up to the small ferry.
Thanks in advance

willem jongman · Post by **willem jongman** » 25 Mar 2008, 7:19am

No problem.
Willem

orbiter · Post by **orbiter** » 25 Mar 2008, 10:40am

DavyTee wrote:How easy is it to find LF1 route to Den Helder from Ijmuiden Ferry Terminal. I understand i will have to take a small ferry across the Noordzeekaanl is this correct are the roads safe enough up to the small ferry.
Thanks in advance

Take a look at this which might help.

DavyTee · Post by **DavyTee** » 25 Mar 2008, 8:06pm

Thanks Orbiter, i take it if im going north i take the ferry shown on the map

Cycling UK Forum

Amsterdam to france

Crossing the Western Scheldt