Arrive in Weesp on the river Vecht. 
This town is known as the fortified city of flavours, walk around the town, find the cosiest squares, old facades and taste a nostalgic Weespermop biscout with a cup of coffee. Check in at the hotel, which is situated on the Small Weesp canal. 

The highlight of the morning is Muiderslot, a small medieval castle, well-worth a visit and guided tour (if you don’t mind crowds). It is picture-perfect, complete with moat, drawbridge, crenellated parapets, wall-walk, grand hall, living quarters etc,. Find out what life was like here in the olden days. The fortified town of Naarden was built in the 17th century. It is full of interesting buildings, antiques shops, art galleries, eateries and museums. To find out about the star-shaped fortifications with double ramparts and moats, check out the Dutch Fortress Museum. At the end of the day, cycle a beautiful route along the River Vecht and then the Loosdrechtse Plassen, the lake district where you will find your hotel. The fortified town of Naarden was built in the 17th century. It is full of interesting buildings, antiques shops, art galleries, eateries and museums. To find out about the star-shaped fortifications with double ramparts and moats, check out the Dutch Fortress Museum. At the end of the day, cycle a beautiful route along the River Vecht and then the Loosdrechtse Plassen, the lake district where you will find your hotel.

Continue through the lake district to Loenen aan de Vecht, one of the Netherlands’ most charming villages. It harbours 144 national monuments. Next, follow the River Vecht further up-stream to Breukelen, well-known for the lovely country houses that adorn the riverbanks. Did you know that Brooklyn in New York was named after Breukelen?

The meandering Vecht takes you to Maarssen and the outskirts of Utrecht. There you will find Fort Aan de Klop, where you can relax on the terrace at the bombproof Guard House with local products. After the fort you cycle over the dike along the Klopvaart, an inundation canal for the New Dutch Waterline to Fort de Gagel and Fort Ruigenhoek. These forts are located in a beautiful Dutch polder landscape, part of the Vechtplassen area.

Your final destination for today is Utrecht, the fourth largest city in the country. The city center comes highly recommended with its historical ambiance; and canals and wharves with a difference. 

In the morning, you can visit the Waterlinie Museum at Fort Vechten in Bunnik. Here you can study the art of inundation warfare. Moreover, using a virtual reality headset, you can experience a parachute jump out of a plane into Water Line territory.Your next stop is a part of the defence line that was never actually used. The “plofsluis” looks like a bridge spanning a canal. In the case of controlled inundation, to stop water streaming out of the inundated zone into the canal, the bridge had to be blown up with explosives. It would then collapse into the water, serving as an instant dam to block off the canal. The journey continues past three locks and numerous forts including Fort Werk aan de Korte Uitweg, boasting a fantastic tea garden. At an Infantry position known as Werk aan de Groeneweg you will see many casemates and bunkers, as well as double trenches with earthen walls. End the day in Wijk bij Duurstede, a small town with a big history. It stands on the vestiges of a trading settlement that was one of the most important in Northern Europe in the 7th - 9th centuries. Dorestad, as it was called, developed at the intersection of two main waterways that connected the hinterlands to sea, one going north (for trade with Scandinavia) and one west (for trade with England). More recently, in the New Water Line strategies, the River Kromme Rijn and the large lock in Wijk bij Duurstede played an important part in enabling the inundundation of the area around Utrecht.

Cycle through a river landscape, formed by the River Lek. Your first stop is at the historical town of Culemborg. Then head for Werk aan het Spoel, a fort in the Waterlinie that defends one of the five special sluice gates known as fan gates, used for inundation. Nowadays the fort boasts an attractive restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The route contintues to Fort Everdingen, home to Duits&Lauret, a beer brewery with tasting room. In the afternoon, visit Fort Asperen on the River Linge. This fort has been transformed into a cultural center with summer art and design exhibitions. Subsequently, the route welcomes you into the Betuwe region known for its fruit orchards. Following the meandering River Linge, you will pass pretty villages such as Acquoy which boasts its own leaning towner of Pisa; and Beesd where you can look at a windmill called Vrijheid; and a country estate called Marienwaerdt where good coffee and apple pie are served. You could stop off at De Paay owl and animal park; or at Geofort interactive science center with an earth and navigation theme. In the course of the afternoon, it is possible to cross the river in several places, thus shortening the route to 43 or 33 km. 

Crown your day in Leerdam. Glass artefacts and decorative objects have been produced here since 1765. If you’re into glass, don’t miss the Nationaal Glasmuseum. Or go to see glass blowers at work at the Glasblazerij. Finally, have you ever tried Leerdammer cheese? It tastes very different from other Dutch cheeses such as Gouda or Edam. You spend the night in nearby Asperen. 

Explore the river landscape of the Waal river. Twice you will cross the river by ferry. The Bommelerwaard near Brakel and Poerderoijen between the Waal and Afgedamde Maas forms the southeastern final part of the New Dutch Waterline. The brasserie in the rebuilt guard house of Battery Poederoijen is perfect for a stopover.

One of the highlights of the day is a castle called Slot Loevesteijn. It stands in lovely natural surroundings on the riverbank. In the Middle Ages, the lord of this defensive castle had the right to collect toll from people using the river. The castle also served as a prison. In the afternoon, discover the fortified town of Woudrichem and later Fort Altena, that also has several new uses, including a bistro. Your cycling day ends in Gorinchem, one of the best-preserved fortified towns in the country. Cannons and windmills stand atop the town walls that enclose approx. 300 houses. The local museum is dedicated to river fishing. In the friendly town center explore the market square with its many pavement cafes.

Either you return home by train; or you cycle back to the starting point of this holiday, in two days. For this 9-days tour, please see 9-04.