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Cycling days
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Rivers and Veluwe Tour
Rivers and Veluwe Tour
Type :
Hybrid :
E-Bike :
Duration :
5 days
Cycling days :
 3
Comfort :
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Code:
5-13
Cities
price from € 560
Rivers and Veluwe Tour
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Rivers and Veluwe Tour

Bike Tour: Rivers and Veluwe Tour - 5 days

Start just south of the Veluwe in the Netherlands’ oldest town and set off through an enchanting river landscape, past castles and country estates. We will send you criss-cross through the Veluwe, a Natura 2000 area, marked by farmland, woodland, heathland and drifting sands. Come in August-September to fully appreciate the beauty of flowering heather fields. 

We also offer this trip as a 7-day holiday, with extra roundtours. 

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Route
Day 1: Arrival in Nijmegen
Day 2: Nijmegen (Lent) - Arnhem (Papendal) 61 km
Day 3: Arnhem (Papendal) - Apeldoorn (Ugchelen) 62 km
Day 4: Apeldoorn (Ugchelen) - Nijmegen (Lent) 64 km
Day 5: Return Home

Day 1:    Arrival in Nijmegen

Check in at eco-friendly and comfortable Van der Valk Hotel Nijmegen-Lent, opened in 2016. Lent is a village that lies just across the Waal River from the big historical city of Nijmegen. In five minutes, you can walk to the Spiegelwaal near the old bridge of Nijmegen. Spiegelwaal is a new 4-km-long side channel of the River Waal, intended to prevent flooding. From the Lent quay you have a beautiful view of the city of Nijmegen and of five bridges straddling the River Waal. To your right, you’ll see the Snelbinder Rail/Cycle bridge and beyond that De Oversteek, a new white bridge for motorized traffic. De Oversteek means The Crossing. It refers to an event that took place there on 20 September 1944, when the Allies tried to cross the Waal in small boats to secure a bridge and a railway bridge in Nijmegen. 48 men lost their lives when they were spotted by the Germans. The mission was eventually accomplished although German resistance was fierce. Walk across the old Waal bridge into the welcoming centre of the oldest city in the Netherlands. Its history goes back more than 2000 years. In HunnerPark you will find the remains of old city walls. The centre of Nijmegen boasts several museums, including Museum Het Valkhof, specialized in Roman archaeology, ancient art and crafts, and modern art.

If you travel to the start location by car, we recommend starting in Apeldoorn or Arnhem because of the better parking options for the entire duration of the trip.

If you want to use your rental bike on the day of arrival for a roundtrip aroundf Nijmegen-Lent (or a roundtrip around Apeldoorn or Arnhem if you start your trip there), please state this in the booking form. We will charge 1 day extra of bike rental (and optional bike insurances). 

Day 2:    Nijmegen (Lent) - Arnhem (Papendal) 61 km

Your bike tour starts with a beautiful winding route through lovely Ooijpolder. Feast your eyes on a diverse river landscape with sand excavation lakes, marshes, drifting dunes and floodplains. You will also notice several abandoned brickworks. After passing the village of Ooij, De Thornsche Molen is a good place to stop for coffee:  The outside seating area offers a fine view of the old windmill. Via Germany, cycle to Millingen aan de Rijn. Cross the Rhine by ferry and cycle along the shore of lake De Bijland to Herwen. Stop off to take a look at Huis Aerdt (1657), an attractive house surrounded by a moat and pollard willows. Then cycle through Rijnstrangen nature reserve, atop old river dikes, to the village of Loo. Take the ferry to Huissen and cycle along the Rhine to the John Frost Bridge. It is named after the commander of the British forces who defended the bridge during the Battle of Arnhem. This is the bridge that featured in the film “A Bridge Too Far” (1977). Through the city centre of Arnhem, continue to Oosterbeek. If you are interested in WWII, visit Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein' to learn about the Battle of Arnhem. As the sun sets over Veluwe Forest, put your feet up in Van Der Valk Hotel Arnhem-Papendal. Shortcut (13 km shorter):  From Nijmegen, along the Waal, to Doornenburg Castle with a"Millennial Oak"; then catch the ferry at Pannerden.

Day 3:    Arnhem (Papendal) - Apeldoorn (Ugchelen) 62 km

On your second cycling day, you will explore the Veluwe region with Veluwezoom National Park as the highlight. Firstly, traverse Warnsborn country estate, boasting gardens and heather fields with juniper trees. Next you will pass the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (an open-air museum of cultural history where you can easily spend a day, so book an extra night at Papendal if you are interested).  Proceed to lovely Roosendael Castle and landscape park. Subsequently, in Heuven, opt to visit a sheepfold: During the day, the flock grazes the heathland; at night they are closed into the deep litter fold. The manure, mixed with heathland turf, is still used to fertilize fields on the barren sandy soil, the traditional way. Soon afterwards you will reach the Posbank, a monument for Mr. Pos, who was an early promotor of tourism in natural surroundings. The monument is a stone bench for everybody to sit and enjoy the view of the heather fields all around. Calluna vulgaris blooms a lovely mauve colour in August to September. Nearby is Pavilion de Posbank which serves delicious and healthy lunches, inside and out. Afterwards cycle through the beautiful natural surroundings of Veluwezoom National Park to Laag-Soeren, Eerbeek and along the Apeldoorn Canal to Loenen. On the way to Beekbergen you will encounter the Loenense Waterfalls, created in 1869. At the end of the day, cycle through the woods of Ugchelen to Van der Valk Hotel Apeldoorn - De Cantharel. Shortcut: after the Elsberg cycle directly to Loenen - 9 km shorter; and natural surroundings all the way.

Day 4:    Apeldoorn (Ugchelen) - Nijmegen (Lent) 64 km

Through the woods and heathlands, cycle to the hamlet of Hoog Buurlo and Hoenderloo. Then enter the green treasure chest of the Netherlands, De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The building with the tower is Sint Hubertus Hunting Lodge, designed in 1914 by H. Berlage. Also in the park: Kröller-Müller modern art museum where you will find the second largest Van Gogh collection in the world! The enormous sculpture garden is impressive too. Admission tickets for the park is included (not the museum entrance). After taking your time to study the works of art in their wonderful setting, get back on your bikes and continue through diverse natural scenery to Schaarsbergen, past Hotel Warnsborn and the impressive Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. Your next stop is Doorwerth Castle, where you could go for a short walk on the grounds and sample delicious chocolate cake at the foot of a fat acacia from 1678 in the courtyard. Afterwards, follow the Fonteinallee and you will soon reach the bicycle ferryboat at Driel. You will cross the Rhine where the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade paddled to the other side in boats. They showed great courage in their role in Operation Market Garden, in which the Allies attempted to secure nine bridges, in 1944. As evening falls, you will find yourself back at welcoming Van der Valk Hotel Nijmegen-Lent. Short-cut: Go from Ugchelen directly to Hoenderloo for a route that is 6 km shorter. 

Day 5:    Return Home

After a comfortable night, enjoy a fantastic buffet breakfast in comfortable Van der Valk Hotel Nijmegen-Lent. After breakfast, your cycling holiday comes to an end.  

Prices

Starting dates: 
Daily from April 1 till September 26.


Price pp
Double room, breakfast 555.00
Single room, breakfast 835.00
Extra night double room, breakfast only 80.00
Rental bike
Child bike 44.00
Hybrid 52.00
E-bike 112.00
Extra services
Bike Breakdown pass € 4.00 x 4 16.00
Child seat € 5.00 x 4 20.00
Bike theft insurance € 3.00 x 4 12.00
E-bike theft insurance € 6.00 x 4 24.00
Extra luggage € 5.00 x 4 20.00
Tag-along bike € 10.00 x 4 40.00
Child trailer € 18.00 x 4 72.00
Bike helmet per piece 10.00
SGR per piece 5.00

Starting point:
Nijmegen Lent (by train) or Apeldoorn or Arnhem (with own car)

Accommodation

The hotels and the B&B on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. A list of the accomodation we work with appears below. If a certain accomodation is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will try to request a comparable alternative if possible. 

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.

Van der Valk Hotel Apeldoorn-De Cantharel **** (Apeldoorn)
Van der Valk Hotel Nijmegen-Lent **** (Lent)
Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem **** (Arnhem)
Bikes

If you don’t bring your own bike, you can rent one from us. Our touring bikes are 24-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 24-gears with hand brakes. 
The hybrid bikes are circa 16,5 KG.

Rental bike

The e-bikes have a small electric engine and battery, 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. 25 KG. We recommend a minimum height of 160 cm for the e-bike.

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 a limited amount of tandem bikes available on request.
Tandem bikes are suitable for two adults only.
The tandem bikes have a frame size of 48 cm.
We mostly use the Victoria Spezial 8.7.
This tandem bike comes with 24-derailleur gears or nuvinci gears.
The height of the handle bars on a tandem bike cannot be adjusted.

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

4 Nights included

4 Star Hotels

Tourist tax included

Breakfast included

Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information

The possibility of renting our bikes

7-days week service hotline

Luggage transport to your next hotel

Nijmegen-Lent

Parking possibilities at the hotel

GPS-tracks available

Any ferry crossings are not included

Reviews

12-05-2021

The first two days were good, but the third day was a bit harder than expected. The bike was super nice, but maybe not that suitable for dealing with slopes at Veluwezoom. I consider my self quite sporty and I was really tired after this day :) so someone older or in a not great physical condition I think would have struggled.

Overall I really enjoyed the trip and would love to repeat, it's a very nice experience. 

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