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After six holidays on bicycles through the Netherlands, with our children, Kim, Sil and Doke, they reached an age that they didn't we to travel with us on our bicycle holidays. Because we liked to make a holiday on our bikes, but didn't want to go far away, we decided to make a trip in the Netherlands. After a short route trough Noord-Holland, | we finally cycled almost 700 km in Friesland. Because we enjoyed this very much we decided to make a trip around Holland the next year. We should try to follow the coast line and the borders of the Netherlands. We intended te camp on smaller camping sites and on farmer sites. |
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We started our bicyletour from our home place. First we cycled through
the horticulture area of Heemskerk. After 3 km we arrived a the dune area of North Holland.
We took the 'van Oldenbarneveldweg'. This road originally started in Wijk aan Zee and
runs to Egmond aan Zee.
At Egmond aan Zee it ain't possible to ride through the dunes to Bergen aan Zee. So we
had to ride along the road. At the questhous 'het Woudt' we could take the cycle path
through the dunes.
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NoW and than we reached 40 km an hour.
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The second day we left with a little rain, but the wind was still blowing from the West, so
we cycled rather fast again today.
After Harlingen we cycled along the coast. Sometimes we left the coast to cycle through
the villages. We followed part of our route which we cycled earlier during a
cycle holiday through Friesland.
It was our intention to stay on a farmer camping near Moddergat, but the longer distances of
the first day and the wind in our back this day, made us decide to ride further.
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Also the third day blew the wind in our back.
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we took the cyclepath along the seedike
to Delfzijl. After a cup of coffee and a flat tire we cycled to Fiemel and furtheron to
Nieuwe Statenzijl.
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The first kilometres of this day were nice. We cycled along Selling towards Ter Apel. After this
place we cycled 'over' the border towards Zwartemeer. Along this route we passed German territory.
In Germany we had to pass a very bad path. We came in loose sand and cycling wasn't possible. We
had to go back to find another route through Germany.
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After Coevorden until the camping in Langeveen we cycled along the high road. We weren' able
to buy a roadmap of this area, so we had to follow the direction signs.
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After the sleepless night and breaking the tent, we headed for the 'nose' of Holland. The route was very varying and very beautiful. All kind of everything, woods, meadows, farms, villages and even some hills of the Springendal. After scratching the nose we headed south. The route kept beautiful. Natuurgebied Dinkelland, Beuningen, Aamsveen, het Haaksbergerven, until our sleeping place of |
this day in Rekken. Wonderful pieces of nature.
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This day we would go to Limburg, but first we went from Rekken to Winterswijk. In Winterswijk
we have bought an extra bicyle trouser for Gerda. Not every camping has an laundry machine. So
she can wear more often a clean trouser.
For long bicycle journeys a good saddle and a bicycle trouser is very important. For the ladies:
AGU sales bicycle trousers with an extra wide chamois-leather. These leathers are very suitable
for the wider tour saddles.
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Next we passed Dinxperlo, Megchelen, Netterden and later we
arrived in 's-Heerenberg. In this place stands a wonderful castle. Huis Bergh, it is well worth
visiting it.
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The climb to the camping was rewarded today with a fast descent. After a short period of following the heavy traffic road to Gennep we took a turn to Siebengewald where we passed a recreation area. This area is called Leukerheid. Because of the cold, rainy weather this wasn't a nice trip. We passen the Picmeeuwenwater when we headed to Arcen. With a cup of coffee the temperature came back in our bodies. After the coffee break we didn't cycled along the border but we took the route along the Maas. Following river Maas gave us the advantage of not looking contantly at the roadmap. |
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After a visit to the baker of Postholt, we left with some rain. We wanted to pass Schinveld, so we took took the road of Koningsbosch through Germany to Schinveld. This wasn't a good idea. The road, which is dutch territory, is very busy and the cyclepath needed some repair. We had to drive very carefully, because of the bad weather, rain was increasing, that became more difficult. Reading the map was getting difficult (because of the rain) so we decided to ride straight through Brunssum, heading for Heerlen. In Heerlen we bought two cakes, for a couple of colleageus at the 'Limburgs Dagblad'. |
Finally I could do something back to them, for all those cakes I received from them.
When we left the 'Limburgs Dagblad' we drove onder the A79 heading for Ransdaal. It was
raining cats and dogs and inspite of our sun/rain caps, we couldn't enjoy the wonderful
Limburgs landscape and we decided to stop at the very first camping we would pass. It took
an hour before a pitch came free. Very wet of the rain we finally we could put up our tent.
After a hot shower we spend the rest of the day in the restaurant of the camping.
In the evening the weather improved. We went out for a walk.
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After the many rain of yesterday, today we started with a nice sun heading for the border of Belgium. Along the nice route we enjoyed the beautiful prospects. Towards the border and later along the border heading for Noordbeek we had to take some heavy hills. Our efforts were rewarded with a road going to from Mheer to Mesh. After we passed the A2 we arrived in Eijsden. From this place we followed the Maas again, but now downstream. In Maastricht we of course sat on the terrace of the Vrijthof. |
After Maastricht we crossed the Juliana canal to cycle to Borgharen. We could follow the
maas for a long time. In Berg we took the ferry and crossed the Maas to Belgium. In Belgium
we could follow bicylcle paths along the Maas to Maaseik. I would like to drink a 'Trappist',
some local Belgium beer. We enjoyed sitting on the terrace on the marketplace of Maaseik.
In Thorn I had te take an half an hour rest before we could visit the 'White Village'. The
combination of the sun and heavy beer, ain't right.
After Thorn we cycled to the west. This night we put up our tent in Altweerterheid.
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From Alterweerterheide we cycling, passing the IJzeren Man area, to the Willemsvaart, from there we cycle to Budel-Dorplein. After a number of kilometres we passed the moorlands of 'Grote Heide' and somewhat further we came to the 'Achelse Kluis'. Cycling along the border we drove via Luyksgestel to Postel gereden, because we were not there before. Postel is lying with the beautiful the 'Broqueuille' in a wooded area. The abbey of Postel is a very impressive building. After enjoying the queietness of the 'Postel' woods we ride along Reusel, Hooge Mierde and Landgoed de Utrecht to Poppel. |
After passing the border we soon were in Baarle-Nassau. There we camped on the nicest camping
of this holiday. The farmer and his five are very hospitable. Our bike could stand in the barn and
the washing room was really magnificient, clean and beautiful.
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In a earlier bicycle holiday with our children we already had cycled of Baarle-Nassau along the border, therefore we headed for Minderhout to cycle along Belgium to Zeeland. On this route we 4times met a number of boys who cycled from Eindhoven to Zeeland. From Baarle-Nassau to Woensdrechts was a nice trip. The country side has a some nice villages and beautiful farms. Along this route we drove the 10th 'Grensweg' (borderroad) since Delfzijl. |
After Woensdrecht it became a bit dull, because we had to
follow the main road. We went to Yerseke to leave the main road. After Wemeldingen we went for
Monnikendijk were we put up our tent.
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From Monnikendijk we took the cyclepath to Kloetinge. In this village are some beautiful farms and
houses. A couple of kilometres further, after passing some nice villages, we have been looking at
little airplaines taking off and landing and airport 'Midden Zeeland'. Towards Veere we cycled along
a cycle path made of shells. A nice track to ride.
Veere is a nice village with an old villagecentre and it is worthwhile visiting it.
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We were very glad when we
reached the houses of Burgh-Haamstede. There we drank a cup of tea on one of the terraces.
Via Renesse, we crosses the Brouwersdam. We had te work very hard again on this dam, our speed dropped.
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Because we wanted to drive to our home place Beverwijk, we went strait to Brielle instead of cycling
along the coast. In Brielle we wanted to take the ferry to Krabbeplaat, but it took a while before the
ferry would go, so we took
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After a cup of coffee, in a nicely rebuild building in Hoek van
Holland we cycled along the coast towards Beverwijk.
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bicycle holiday shop
Camping at a farm
Stichting Vrije Recreatie
Vakantie en camperen bij de boer op het platteland
ferries in Holland
Trekkershutten
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