Your cycling holiday begins in Amsterdam, with its gorgeous 400-year-old canal district; a myriad of museums such as the new Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Anne Frank; street artists and performers on Dam, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein; and the renowned red-light district. The city brims with things to see and do and you couldn’t hope for a more dynamic way to start your trip. Arrange for an early arrival to allow time for the elegant tree-lined canals, tall narrow townhouses and 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From bustling Amsterdam, plunge into the peace and quiet of the Groene Hartâ or Green Heart, a pleasant rural area of low-lying polders, peat meadows and grazing cattle. A flat, open landscape where church spires and windmills touch the horizon and clouds are reflected in lakes and canals. For centuries, people have flocked to markets in Gouda, coming from far and wide to buy horses, cows, meat, turf, seed, cheese, etc. Take an evening stroll around the Old Town, soak up the yesteryear atmosphere and marvel at the attractive market square, 15th-century town hall and Weighing House or Waag.
From Gouda, cycle via the 'Green Heart of Holland' to Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills have majestically stood the test of time since 1740. These mills were formerly used to drain excess water out of the low-lying polder and pump it up to the River Lek, and one of them is open to the public. Your destination Papendrecht is just a ferry crossing away from Dordrecht, one of Holland’s oldest towns, surrounded entirely by rivers. Beautiful bridges take you across into the heart of town, where monumental buildings line the harbour.
A short 3km stretch leads to your hotel in Papendrecht, situated on the north bank of the river just outside Dordrecht town centre.
The result of a major 1421 flood, Biesbosch is one of Europe’s few wetland habitats where the ecosystem has adapted to both salt water, coming in from the sea through tidal creeks, and fresh water, flowing down through the rivers. This ever-changing labyrinth of creeks and rivulets encompasses countless little islands of willows and reeds, a paradise for birds. Ride along at the edge of the National Park, then round off your day in Willemstad, a fortified town in the shape of a seven-pointed star.
Please note: Biesbosch Park can only be cycled on days the ferry runs. There is an alternate route for days with no ferry departure.
Today you enter Zeeland, a province marked by light, wind, water and lots of space. Criss-cross this region made up of islands, taking bridges and ferries as you drift down toward Belgium. Storybook towns with ancient houses and cobbled streets await in the coming days, as you traverse a patchwork landscape of vast polders, idyllic countryside, rolling dunes and golden sand flats.
Delight in a wander down the narrow lanes of Zierikzee. Quaint little houses take you back in time, recalling the glory days when ships set sail with salt, wool, fish, grain and red dye, as far afield as the Baltic and Mediterranean. Your route continues in charming Veere, a distributor of Scottish wool way back in 1541. For 300 years, such commerce brought prosperity to the town, along with a lively expat community. Walk in their footsteps, as you tour the local sights. Cruising further south you discover the nostalgic splendour of Middelburg, capital of Zeeland and one of the Netherlands’ most important trading centres in the 16th and 17th centuries.
After a hearty breakfast, cycle onward to Vlissingen then hop on a ferry to Zeelandic Flanders with its winding country roads, pollard willows, moist meadows and scattered villages. Cutting across the border into Belgium, you will reach charming little Damme, on the banks of the romantic Damse Vaart. From here, it’s only a short stretch to Bruges, known as the pearl of Flanders! This truly enchanting destination has been welcoming tourists for some 150 years. With most of its medieval architecture intact, the exceptionally well-preserved town centre exudes a sense of times gone by when it was at the heart of the European wool and fabric trade.
After breakfast your cycling holiday has come to an end.