The Netherlands is well known as a great destination for cycling. Throughout the country, you will find extensive networks of cycle paths and routes. The landscape is also largely flat, making the Netherlands a popular place for cycling holidays. You can ride past polders, dunes, forests and small villages, stopping easily along the way. Many places are also relatively close together, which means you can see a lot in just one day.
A country made for cyclists
One of the main advantages of cycling in The Netherlands is the infrastructure. There are dedicated cycle paths in many places, and outside the cities you will also find plenty of routes suitable for recreational cyclists. Another useful feature is the cycle junction network.
This allows you to ride from one numbered junction to the next. Before setting off, you can plan your own route and then simply follow the numbers on the signs along the way. Want to cycle a little further or cut your trip short? You can often adjust your route quite easily.
Discovering the Netherlands on a cycling holiday
Planning to spend several days cycling? You will see the Netherlands in a different way than you would on a typical city break. You can cycle past famous sights, through small towns, nature areas and the countryside. Along the way, you will often come across places where you probably would not stop if you were travelling by car.
There are various options for biking holidays Netherlands. You can plan your own route and book accommodation yourself, or choose an organised cycling holiday. In that case, accommodation and routes can be arranged in advance. Luggage transfers are sometimes available as well, so you do not have to carry everything on your bike.
From the Zeeland coast to the hills of Limburg
The Netherlands may be known for being flat, but the landscape is certainly not the same everywhere. In Zeeland, you can cycle along dikes and waterways, while in Limburg you will encounter hills and some steeper climbs. On the Veluwe, routes take you through forests and across heathland.
The North Sea coast is also popular with cyclists. Here, cycle paths run through the dunes and make it easy to combine several coastal towns in one route. Further inland, you will find polders, rivers and wide stretches of farmland. This variety makes it easy to choose a cycling route that suits the kind of scenery you want to explore.
Choose a time of year that suits you
The best time to go cycling depends mainly on what you are looking for. In spring, the flower fields are in bloom in several parts of the country and temperatures are often pleasant for cycling. Summer brings longer days, although popular cycling routes and tourist areas can also be busier. Autumn tends to be quieter and can be particularly beautiful in forested areas.
It is also worth keeping the Dutch weather in mind when planning your trip. Wind can make a route considerably tougher than the number of kilometres might suggest. Try not to fill every day completely. Leaving some room in your schedule gives you the freedom to stop for longer, take a different route or simply explore a village you happen to pass along the way.
