Free parking at the hotel, no reservation required. The hotel is in the old harbour and is situated directly at the Ijsselmeer. The centre of Huizen is not very far and a visit to this old fishing town is highly recommended. Huizen is close to the border of the “Goois Nature Park" a beautiful forest and heathland.

On your first day of cycling you will follow the southern shore of the IJsselmeer until you reach Muiden, where you will find the medieval castle of Muiderslot. From here, it is a short ride to Amsterdam, where you will cycle through the city centre. A pleasant cycle along the former estuary brings you to Waterland, with its bird-rich peat meadows, ancient canals and watercourses. 

Today you’ll cycle through the lovely, historical town of Hoorn. It has a history in whaling, shipbuilding, fishery and - most importantly – shipping and trade. This town housed branches (“chambers”) of the Dutch East India Company. On the second stretch of today’s lake-side route, you’ll see more crop fields, orchards and windmills before you reach Medemblik. It’s an old town, with a marina, a bakery museum and a steam engine museum.

Today is the day you cross the Afsluitdijk! Cycle through Wieringermeer Polder (created 1927 -1934) to the starting point of the dam at Den Oever. The closure dam is 34 km long and was completed in 1932. It cut off the Zuiderzee from the North Sea. This was necessary to stop the sea from flooding towns on the Zuiderzee. Once the dike was in place, the sea had become a lake. By 1940 the saltwater had been replaced by fresh water from the River Ijssel. On the other side of the closure dam, you will find yourself in Friesland province in the town of Makkum.

From April 2019 until April 2022, the cycle path on the Afsluitdijk will be closed for construction works. During the closure cyclists can make use of a free bus shuttle which will transport you to the other side of the dike. Bikes can also be transported on this bus. The bus goes once every hour. 

Drift south along a string of interesting old villages of which Hindeloopen is a favourite. It is famous for its colourful traditional costumes and painted furniture. At the village of Workum, stop to consider for a minute that for 250 years, up until the Second World War, fishermen from this town caught eel only to sell it... in England. They even had their own mooring places on the Thames. Today, like Makkum, the place is better known for its pottery.

After a well-deserved night’s rest, you will pass the Lemmer steam pumping station before crossing the Weerribben. This National Park is a unique peat land area with an exceptional wealth of characteristic flora and fauna. Via Blokzijl, Zwartsluis and Genemuid you will reach Kampen. 

From the Hanseatic city of Kampen, situated on the IJssel river you will cycle towards the water. Via the attractive fortress city of Elburg, and passing many small lakes, you will reach your goal of Harderwijk.

Set those wheels in motion and pedal along the shores of Randmeren lakes.  Arkemheen-Eemland is a National Heritage Landscape. The area was surrounded by dikes in the year 1360 to stop crop fields from being flooded. Arkemheen polder is so special because the original lots are still intact. The lots are divided by creeks, remainders of Zuiderzee tidal streams. Some plant species still recall the influence of salt water. Part of the polder is being preserved as a bird habitat for “Natura 2000”. The visitors’ centre has more information. Should you have an abiding interest in the Age of Steam, you may like to visit steam-driven pumping station Hertog Reijnout. It controlled water levels in the low-lying polder from 1883 till 1983.

After breakfast in your hotel, you will return home.