perfect trip!
Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 2
Bike Tour: Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 2 - 8 days
The second section of the 'Pieterfietspad', from the heart of Doetinchem in the Achterhoek to the Pietersberg in Limburg near Maastricht, also follows the renowned Pieterpad wherever possible—the most famous long-distance walking route in the Netherlands. This 580-kilometer route takes you through all the highlights of the (Eastern) Dutch landscape. In this segment, you will explore the last castles of the Achterhoek, the scenic Gelderland river landscape, the North Limburg Maasheggen, and the beautiful hills of South Limburg. The Pieterfietspad is the official cycling variant of the popular Pieterpad. While the Pieterpad connects the most beautiful walking paths, the Pieterfietspad links together stunning cycling routes. So hop on your bike and explore the Netherlands on two wheels!
NEW SERVICES
In addition to bike-friendly accommodations, 12/7 availability, luggage transport, etc., we also offer:
- The included map set of the Pieter Cycling Route from our partner Stichting Pieterpad (the guidebook and maps are only available in Dutch but you can use the maps for cycling)
- All routes and necessary travel information are available in English in our handy and user-friendly navigation app Guibo.
- Transfer to the starting point on the last day: see the practical information to find out more
Welcome to Doetinchem, the starting point of the second part of the Pieter Cycling Route. If you arrive early, take the opportunity to relax at a terrace or explore the vibrant city center. In the evening, enjoy a cozy dinner in one of the local restaurants.
Begin your journey cycling through the high Bergherbos, then descend after the charming German village of Elten to the Gelderse Poort, a remarkable location where the Rhine has carved its way through the hills. Navigate through the water-rich Ossenwaard and the newly developed, bird-rich nature reserve of Revensweert, leading you to the broad river. A bicycle ferry will take you across to Millingen aan de Rijn. From here you can already see the German border, but after Leuth you turn off to the river Waal which leads you to today's final destination.
Passing through the beautiful Ooijpolder, you will soon reach the ‘seven hills’ leading to Groesbeek. The Canadian War Cemetery, the Liberation Museum, and the replica of an Allied glider at Klein Amerika remind you of the final bloody days of World War II. Through the beautiful Zevendal, you descend into the Meuse Valley, where, just before the lively town of Gennep, you will find the ruins of the historic Genneperhuis, a former castle and fortified stronghold at the mouth of the Niers in the Meuse. You now enter the Maasheggen area, the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands; a mosaic of meadows, old trees, and hedges, where in spring the hawthorn and blackthorn bloom profusely. It’s not far now to Boxmeer.
Start your journey with a delightful bike ride through the Maasheggen region, the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands. Here, you’ll find a mosaic of meadows, ancient trees, and hedgerows, where the mayflower and blackthorn bloom abundantly in spring. You cycle past pretty farming villages along the Meuse. The many streams and old Meuse beds like the Sohr contribute to a green and varied landscape. The area around Lottum and Grubbenvorst is known for its rose cultivation and the 'Gekke Maondaags' tradition. A ferry takes you to the other bank of the Meuse. Visit the chapel of Notre-Dame de Genooi, the patron saint of the nearby city of Venlo. This ancient Hanseatic city, located at the transition from lowland to hill country, is today's final destination.
Begin todays journey cycling over the Jammerdaalse Heide (“whining heath”), which is said to be named after the lamentations of Caesar's soldiers, who were defeated here by Ambiorix. The ancient clay pits with their steep banks create an eldorado for the rare natterjack toad and the sand martin. The tale of the mad “Moandaagvierder" makes it clear that "you are indeed in Limburg", province of stories. Next, you'll ride along the Prinsendijk, which not only serves as a geological boundary but was also once part of an ancient Roman military road and, in 1944, the German Maas-Roersstellung. After exploring the nature surrounding the meandering Swalm River, you'll reach the impressive Hillenraad Castle. A lovely, winding bike path takes you over the Melickerheide, part of the terrace landscape of National Park de Meinweg, featuring dry dunes and marshy wetlands. The day ends in Roermond, known to many for the Designer Outlet, but it has more to offer than that.
You cycle back from Roermond along the Roer valley to the Pieterpad. At Herkenbosch, you cross the winding Roer River and make your way to Montfort with its impressive medieval castle ruins. The route continues its way through the so-called Green Waist of Limburg (“Smallest piece of the Netherlands”). The varied area east of Susteren consists of deciduous forest, grassland and fields. An important link in the ecological chain is the IJzerenbosch. Among other things, you will find flower carpets of wood anemones, spotted arum and slender primrose. The most special resident is the tree frog. After this forest, you take a trip across the German border, before the stage ends at the old monasteries in Sittard's city center.
The last leg of your journey takes you through the rolling green hills of Limburg, featuring fast-flowing streams, marl caves, limestone houses, and quaint chapels or crosses scattered throughout. The day begins with the challenge of climbing Kollenberg, the northernmost foothill of the Ardennes. A steep ascent with seven “footfalls” leads you to the highest point, where you’ll find the 17th-century Sint Rosakapelle. Pause at Castle Gerlach to admire the sculpture garden and enjoy a coffee at Burgemeester Quicx in the monastery courtyard. Between Rothem and Geulhem, you’ll cycle along the edge of the charming Geuldal. Ride along the brand-new “Groene Loper,” flanked by over two thousand linden trees, into the heart of Maastricht, home to more than 1,650 monuments. The route winds through beautiful old streets, but it’s definitely worth taking some time to explore on foot at the end of this cycling day. Before that, head to Pieterberg, a plateau nestled between the valleys of the Maas and Jeker. Here, a panoramic viewpoint marks the end of your “Pieterfietspad.”
After Breakfast, Your cycling journey comes to an end. We hope you’ve enjoyed every moment of your cycling adventure and created lasting memories along the way.
There are options for a bus transfer back to Doetinchem (limited dates). For more information, see the practical information section.
Starting dates:
Sunday until Friday from April until end of September
| Price pp | € | |
| Double room, breakfast | 975.00 | |
| Single room, breakfast | 1,465.00 | |
| Extra night double room, breakfast only | 110.00 | |
| Rental bike | € | |
| Child bike | 88.00 | |
| Hybrid | 104.00 | |
| E-bike | 224.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| Bike Breakdown pass | € 4.00 x 7 | 28.00 |
| Bike helmet | per piece | 10.00 |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
| transferpersonbus | per piece | 90.00 |
| Giving back to nature | per piece | 5.00 |
The hotels or B&Bs on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the hotels we work with appears below. If a certain accommodation is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a comparable alternative.
When selecting the accomodation, we try to take into account as much as possible a safe and closed bicycle shed. However, we cannot do this with all of them guarantee and this partly depends on the number of bicycles of other guests.
If you don’t bring your own bike, you can rent one from us. Our touring bikes are 27-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
You will find your rental bike waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks.
Why the Dutch don't wear helmets!
Instruction video hybrid bike and e-bike
Our hybrid bikes have 27-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are circa 16,5 KG.
The e-bikes have a small electric engine Bosch 65 Nm and battery 500 Wh, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine. The weight of the e-bike is ca. 27 KG. We recommend a minimum height of 160 cm for the e-bike.
For children who are at least 120 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm).
The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes.
The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
24" child bike:
26" child bike:
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
Brakes
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
Childseat
For children up to 30 months old (max. 15 KG) it is possible to rent a front child seat. This is not possible with e-bikes, due to the display.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22KG) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
Both front- and rear child seats are €5,- per day.
Helmet
Helmets are not mandatory in the Netherlands, but can be rented for €10,- per piece.
Available sizes: Adult: 54-61 cm, Child: 50-55 cm (only available for children over 5 years).
Lights
All our bikes come with both front- and rear lights. You need to push the button on the lamp and it will flash three times. This means that the lights will automatically start working when it gets dark.
When you push again, the lamp will flash one time and the lights will be turned off.
Locks
Our bikes come with a defender lock with plug in chain (cable lock that is attached to the regular lock, see picture).
You need to turn the key a bit, take out the pin from the cable lock and attach it to a pole/other bike/fence etc.
When you push the pin back into the regular lock, you need to lock the regular lock as you always do, and both locks will be secured.
Pannier
1 pannier is included at the 'standard' bikes and the e-bikes.
Height: 42 cm
Depth front to the side: 17 cm
Wide top: 32 cm
Wide down: 23 cm
Volume: 20 liters
It has an easy click-on/click-off system. The panniers are water resistant, so everything will stay dry.
Pedals
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals.
Quickrelease
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
Repairkit
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. In case a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop or call the bike breakdown emergency number which is provided in the travel documents when you book this extra service.
Saddle
Saddles can be adjusted in height without using any tools, see ‘Quick Release’.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover.
Waterbottles
Dutch Biketours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
We have limited family tandem bikes available on request.
The family tandems have 7-gears and can be used for one adult and one child with a minimum body height of 125 cm.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and on their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
We mostly use the XLC Duo 2 child trailer.
Child trailers are not possible in combination with e-bikes.
Mile after wonderful mile of untroubled cycling is what we would wish our clients. However there is a minimal chance of breakdown along the way. If this thought is a nagging worry to you, a Bicycle Breakdown Assistance insurance policy may ease your mind. If you buy this insurance from our partner ANWB pechhulp in advance, their service is as follows. The costs are €4,- per bicycle per day. If your bike breaks down by the roadside an ANWB bicycle repair man will drive to you in his repair van and fix your bike so you can continue your tour. You won’t have to pay him repair costs. If you are cycling on your own bicycle you will be charged for any new spare parts your bike may require. If you are renting a bicycle through Dutch Bike Tours any new parts are at our expense. If it turns out the bicycle cannot be repaired on the spot, or if you can't continue cycling, the repairman can drop you off somewhere in his van. One companion plus bikes may join you in the van.
Do you wish to insure your bike against theft? The cost is € 3,- per day per standard hybrid bicycle.
For an electric bicycle, premium bike or racing bike: € 6,00 per day per bicycle.
Please see the General Terms and Conditions for Bicycle Hire and Insurance.
If a rental bike gets stolen or damaged, we will hold the client responsible.
If your insurance does not cover this event, you will have to pay the costs yourself.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the Dutch Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, Dutch Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (the departure day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. Dutch Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Theft Insurance
It is possible to purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance. Covered are: damages arising out of the theft of the bicycle; and damages to the bicycle as a consequence of the theft. Not covered are: theft of bicycle parts; and damages arising out of attempted theft.
Article 7 Theft Insurance Premium
a. The premium for Bicycle Theft Insurance is € 3,00 per day per standard hybrid bicycle. For an electric bicycle € 6,00 per day as well for a Premium bike and racing bike.
The number of insurance days is the same as the number of cycling days as stated in our booking confirmation.
Article 8 Liability in the Event of Theft
a. If you did not purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us before the start of the holiday, you will be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
b. If you did purchase Bicycle Theft Insurance from us, but you failed to lock the wheel lock and failed to produce the original wheel lock key and failed to produce an official theft report drawn up by the police, you will still be held fully accountable for the sum determined by us according to standard prices.
Article 9 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
7 nights included
3/4 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included
Set of Pieterfietspad maps (in Dutch only) and the use of the Guibo App for navigation and information (in English)
Possibility of renting bikes
7-days a week service-hotline
Luggage transport to your next hotel
Doetinchem. For more informtion: ns.nl/reisplannen
From Maastricht you can get back to Doetinchem in 3,5 hours by public transport. You need to change trains in 's Hertogenbosch and Arnhem.
From Maastricht to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport by train takes about 3 hours, you need to change once in Eindhoven.
Free parking options Doetinchem
For this trip, route information is only available through our navigation app. You will not receive any travel information or route information on paper, with the exception of the official (Dutch) map of the Pieterpad.
Ferry crossings are not included
TRANSFER BY MINIBUS: On some Tuesdays, our special Pieterpad bus returns from Maastricht, via Doetinchem back to Pieterburen. For €90 per person, you, your luggage, and your bike will be transported back to Doetinchem. The bus will run on the following days in 2026:
May 5 & 19, 2026
June 2, 16 & 30, 2026
July 14 & 28, 2026
August 11 & 25, 2026
September 8 & 22, 2026
If you start your trip on a Tuesday in an even week (from end of April), the bus will connect with your trip. If you start on another day, you will need to add extra night(s) on the route or at the end.
Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
The train from Schiphol to Doetinchem departs twice per hour. The travel time is approximately 2 hours. A one-way trip costs approximately € 25,- per person excluding a bike. You need to change trains once in Arnhem. (besides this connection there are 2 other connections per hour with changing trains in Utrecht and Arnhem)
For timetables and tickets, visit www.ns.nl. For bus details and how to reach the hotel, click here: www.9292.nl.
Maybe you also like these cycling holidays:
Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 2
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Celsiusweg 12/12A
6662 PX Elst
Nederland
info@dutch-biketours.com
+31(0)24 324 47 12
