Your cycling holiday starts in Amsterdam, one of the crown-jewels of Europe. With so much to see and do, you couldn’t wish for a more vibrant way to kick off your holiday. If you arrive early, make sure to go for a walk to marvel at the townhouses in the 17th-century canal district (listed as World Heritage). Have you got time and energy left? Opt to saunter down the infamous red-light district which attracts millions of curious tourists every year; or enjoy the street performers on friendly Rembrandtplein.

The first leg of the route takes you through the Green Heart of Holland, abounding in water. It is a true cycling paradise, with characteristic peat and polder landscapes, small farming communities and picturesque historical towns such as Oudewater. It was to this place that women who had been accused of witchcraft fled from all over Europe to try to have their innocence proven by weighing. End the day in medieval Gouda. Amble through the beautifully preserved town centre and visit the old town hall and St. John’s church. Stop off at a bakery to buy fresh syrup waffles (Gouda is the hometown of syrup waffles) and Gouda cheese - perhaps the world’s most famous type of cheese. For availability reasons it's possible you will stay in Oudewater or Bodegraven instead of Gouda. 

For availability reasons it's possible you will stay in Oudewater instead of Gouda. 

From Gouda you'll cycle via the "Green heart of Holland" to the village of Kinderdijk, explore the site where 19 windmills have been standing majestically in rows since 1740. They were used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder up into the River Lek. One of the mills is open to the public. Your destination, Papendrecht, is just a ferry crossing away from of one of Holland’s oldest towns; Dordrecht. Dordrecht is completely surrounded by rivers. Beautiful bridges take you across the water into the heart of town. Around the harbour you will see many monumental buildings.

If you haven’t had time yesterday to visit the city of Dordrecht, take some time to do it in the morning. Dordrecht is officially the oldest city in Holland, and his medieval centre is full of old merchant houses, narrow streets and picturesque canals. Worth a visit!

Today you can choose between 2 routes: the standard route is 69 km and you will cross the Moerdijk Bridge. Alternatively, if you don't mind the extra kilometers, you can cycle through De Biesbosch National Park, one of Europe’s last freshwater tidal areas. The route through the Biesbosch National Park route is 79 km. (Please be aware the ferry at the Biesbosch National Park does not go daily).

Continue cycling and stop in a village for coffee and a generous slice of fruit cake before heading to Bergen op Zoom, a city with over 800 years of history. Wander its charming lanes and squares, see the Markiezenhof, a late-Gothic city palace from 1485, now a museum. Sample some local flavors along the way: Krabbelèr liqueur coffee at Slijterij de Zeeland, Bergse anchovies from Van Dort, or a beer at ’t Locomotiefke.

Note: Cycling through De Biesbosch depends on the ferry schedule, so check in advance and take the standard route if needed.

Today’s route leads through peaceful, wooded landscapes. Near the Dutch–Belgian border, take a break at Kalmthoutse Heide, a stunning cross-border nature reserve. At the end of the day, you will reach Antwerp, a vibrant city full of history and energy. Visit the Cathedral of Our Lady to see Rubens’ masterpieces, then explore the Central Station and Grote Markt, where history comes alive. For art and culture, wander the neighborhoods of Borgerhout, Het Zuid, het Eilandje, and Zurenborg. Treat yourself to some Belgian chocolates and fries, and if you’re here during summer, you can enjoy the ‘Zomer van Antwerpen’, the summer festival with open-air performances. For a classic Belgian beer experience, visit the De Koninck Brewery and sample their local favorite, the “Bolleke.”

Via the countryside south of Antwerpen you will arrive at Rumst at the three river point where the rivers Nete and Dijle together form the rivier Rupel, the shortest river in the country at just 10 km long. Cycling along the River Dijle, you enter the age-old town of Mechelen right up to the church tower of St. Rombold’s cathedral. This looks like a good place to stop for lunch. Belgian French fries, by the way, are the best in the world. Continue along the River Dijle to crown your day in the university town of Louvain. It’s a pleasant town where the oldest houses date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Don’t miss the Grand Béguinage: Counting 100 houses, it was set up in 1234 as a community for spinsters; and now it’s part of the university campus. You also might like to see the early-Gothic church of St. John the Baptist (1304). Round off your explorations on the Oude Markt (Old Market Square), nicknamed ‘the longest bar counter in the world’ due to the enormous number of bars and cafes on the square.

You can also choose a shorter (but perhaps less scenic) route of 63 km along the Leuven-Dijle canal.  

The hills of Belgian Brabant and the extensive Sonian Forest set the scene for our cyclists today. If you don’t feel like cycling into the big city of Brussels, you can opt to catch a train at one of the stations along the route. Brussel’s main attraction is the fantastic Grote Markt (Great Market Square). Nearby, the little statue of Manneken Pis still draws crowds. Your visit to Brussels can also involve scrumptious hot waffles, chocolate, beer, culinary treats, fun shopping or soaking up a bit of culture. One thing’s for sure: Brussels can’t be explored in one day.

After breakfast, your cycling holiday has come to an end. You can take a flight from Brussels or take the train back to Amsterdam.