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Cycling days
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Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 1
Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 1
Hybrid :
E-Bike :
Duration :
8 days
Cycling days :
 6
Comfort :
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Code:
NL08008
History Culture Nature Cities
price from € 985
Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 1
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Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 1

Bike Tour: Cycling The Pieterpad - Part 1 - 8 days

NEW TOUR 2025

The first section of the 'Pieterfietspad', stretching from the picturesque Pieterburen in Groningen to the heart of Doetinchem in the Achterhoek, closely follows the renowned Pieterpad, the most famous long-distance walking route in the Netherlands. Spanning a total of 580 kilometers, this route showcases the highlights of the (Eastern) Dutch landscape. The first half takes you from the Groninger Wierden, through the forests of Drenthe and the rolling hills of Salland, to the stunning castles of the Achterhoek region.The Pieterfietspad is the official cycling variant of the beloved Pieterpad. While the Pieterpad connects the most beautiful walking paths, the Pieterfietspad links together scenic cycling routes. So hop on your bike and discover the beauty of 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. 
read more >>
Pieterpad Part 1
Route
Day 1: Arrival Pieterburen / Westernieland
Day 2: Pieterburen / Westernieland - Groningen (58 / 56 km)
Day 3: Groningen - Assen / Schoonloo (47 km)
Day 4: Assen / Schoonloo - Coevorden (66 km)
Day 5: Coevorden - Hellendoorn (66 km)
Day 6: Hellendoorn - Vorden/Almen (51 km)
Day 7: Vorden/Almen - Doetinchem (34 km)
Day 8: Depart from Doetinchem

Day 1:    Arrival Pieterburen / Westernieland

Welcome to Pieterburen – Starting Point of the Pieterfietspad!Have you arrived on time? Perfect! Take the opportunity to relax at the village terrace or hop on your bike to explore the sea dyke. Enjoy breathtaking views of the ever-changing Wadden Sea. In the evening have dinner in the village. Savor local cuisine and unwind in a cozy atmosphere.

Day 2:    Pieterburen / Westernieland - Groningen (58 / 56 km)

Your journey starts with a ride to the sea dyke. As you gaze over the Wadden Sea, you’ll spot various islands in the distance. From there, head south through the charming areas of Kleine Huisjes and Broek. You’ll find yourself in the Groninger Wierdenland, crisscrossed by numerous maren. Surrounding you is a vast, flat landscape dotted with beautiful villages like Eenrum and Winsum, perched on small hills (called wierden). The route leads you along the river beds of the Reitdiep, the oldest cultural landscape in Western Europe, bringing you to the historic city center of Groningen. Here, you can admire stunning monuments and enjoy the vibrant urban atmosphere. Take plenty of time to soak in the lively spirit of this student city before settling down by the Hoornsemeer for the night.

Day 3:    Groningen - Assen / Schoonloo (47 km)

Starting in the city, you’ll follow the banks of the Drentsche Aa, which will reappear throughout your journey, serving as your winding, watery guide. Enjoy the beautiful landscape around the Paterswoldsemeer and on the Hondsrug, a 20-meter-high "megaflute" that offers stunning views over the valley. After Noordlaren, you’ll truly be in Drenthe. The well-known and tourist-friendly Zuidlaren invites you to relax at one of its charming terraces. Be sure to grab a ‘Zuidlaarder Bol’ along the way! The picturesque es village of Zeegse is part of the National Beek and Esdorp Landscape of the Drentsche Aa. The route continues through the “velden,” including the peaceful and expansive Ballooërveld. These rugged lands feature small ponds, heathlands, and forests, providing a unique natural experience. After Balloo, we’ll take a short detour from the route for an overnight stay in the capital of Drenthe, Assen.

Day 4:    Assen / Schoonloo - Coevorden (66 km)

After passing through Rolde, the former main village of Drenthe, you’ll encounter two impressive hunebedden. The Rolderrug, standing over 20 meters tall, takes you through the so-called "Heart of Drenthe," a stunning 5000-hectare wilderness filled with forests. Following “De Kielse Keien,” you can take a detour to the Schoonoord Open-Air Museum of Ellert and Brammert. Here, you can immerse yourself in the region's history and culture. The journey continues through Sleenerzand, where you’ll search for “De Papeloze Kerk” and “De Galgenberg.” After the characteristic village of Den Hool, make a quick stop at the “Driftplein” near Dalen, home to the northernmost artwork of the “Kunstwegen” route. It’s now just a short distance to the goose city of Coevorden.

Day 5:    Coevorden - Hellendoorn (66 km)

Once you're on your way, you'll pass by several installations from the "Kunstwegen" route, the longest avenue of contemporary visual art in Western Europe. Cycling along narrow paths, you’ll journey through the valley of the winding Overijsselse Vecht, the smallest of our major rivers. Enjoy the swaying reeds, majestic beech avenues, and the gently rolling meadows surrounded by hedgerows, where red farmhouse roofs peek out. You’ll travel through the charming es village of Rheeze, known for its authentic brink. It’s time for a coffee break and a farewell glance over the Vecht as you reach the cozy town of Ommen. Beyond the lovely Huize Het Laer, the landscape changes dramatically. Now, prepare for the "climb of the week" over the Archemer and Lemelerberg, which together rise 78 meters in the otherwise flat terrain. Enjoy the views and the diverse scenery of sandy plains, heath, juniper bushes, and forests. Just a flat stretch left, and then you’ll head over the Hellendoornse Berg to your destination, the "Ice Village" Hellendoorn.

Day 6:    Hellendoorn - Vorden/Almen (51 km)

Start with a gentle climb and descent into the vibrant textile town of Nijverdal. Then, cycle through Europe’s largest dry heathland: the Sallandse Heuvelrug, home to unique birds such as the redstart, nightjar, and the iconic black grouse. Enjoy cycling along the rolling, winding paths that offer beautiful views. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the nature museum on the Holterberg, featuring its unique dioramas. After Holten, you’ll enter the feudal Graafschap: a historic, wooded landscape shaped by nobility in past centuries. Near the charming 18th-century Huis Verwolde, complete with a delightful tea garden, you can seek out the "thick tree," a 450-year-old oak. As you pass the Twentekanaal and the Berkel River, take a moment to admire Huize Enzerinck before cycling into the picturesque 8-castle village of Vorden.

Day 7:    Vorden/Almen - Doetinchem (34 km)

The day begins with a beautiful cycling path leading to Vorden Castle, an impressive medieval structure with a charming tea garden. Continue through the characteristic landscape of the area, featuring hedgerows, tree-lined avenues, small fields, and meadows, all separated by rustic woodbanks. Admire the 18th-century Huis de Kiefskamp, designed in Louis XVI style, as well as Huis 't Zelle, known for its unique 18th-century avenue system. After passing through Zelhem, home to the archaeological museum Smedekinck, the hilly Montferland will soon rise in the distance. Just before reaching it, you’ll divert to the cozy "Center of the Achterhoek," Doetinchem.

Day 8:    Depart from Doetinchem

After breakfast, your bike tour comes to an end. We wish you safe travels and look forward to welcoming you again for Part 2! 
There are options for a bus transfer back to Pieterburen (limited dates). For more information, see the practical information section.  

Prices

Starting dates:
Tuesday until Sunday from April until end of September.

*If travelling by train, check practical info!


Price pp
Double room, breakfast 975.00
Single room, breakfast 1,465.00
Extra night double room, breakfast only 110.00
Surcharge per person
Stay in Pieterburen on 10.00
Surcharge per person
Stay in Pieterburen on Saturday 10.00
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
Accommodation

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.

Pieterburen - Gastenverblijf Waddenhoes

www.waddenhoes.nl

Alt hotels: Waddengenot & Dorpslogement-Pieterburen / De Oude Smidse-Westernieland

Groningen - Flonk Hotel Groningen Zuid****
Assen - City Hotel de Jonge****
Coevorden - Hotel Talens***
Hellendoorn - Landgoed de Uitkijk****
Vorden - Hotel Bakker***
Doetinchem - Villa Ruimzicht****
Bikes

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.

Rental bike

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:
Child bike 26 inch

Bell

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.

 

Practical info

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

CS Groningen / Station Winsum / Bus Pieterburen. For more information: ns.nl/reisplannen

Free parking options Pieterburen

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 to Pieterburen. You will be taken back to the starting point with your luggage and bike (either your own or a rented bike).
The price is €90,- per person. 
The bus runs the following dates in 2026: 

5th & 19th May 2026
2nd, 16th & 30th June 2026
14th & 28nd July 2026
11th & 25th August 2026
8th & 22nd September 2026  

If you start your trip on a Tuesday in an even week, 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.

Arrival info

Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

The train from Schiphol to Groningen departs twice per hour. The travel time is approximately 2 hours. After that, you take the train to Winsum, with a travel time of 15 minutes. From there, you take the bus to Pieterburen, with a travel time of 25 minutes. The total travel time is around 3 hours. A one-way trip costs approximately € 35,- per person excluding a bike.

For timetables and tickets, visit www.ns.nl. For bus details and how to reach the hotel, click here: www.9292.nl.

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