Holland / Netherlands

Well the most touristic place is off course Amsterdam.

Second up is near Rotterdam called Kinderdijk where they have a lot of windmills.

I think Rotterdam is a nice place to visit. If you go to IJmuiden it might be nice to follow this route:

IJmuiden -> Amsterdam -> The Hague -> through the "Westland" where all the greenhouses are to Hoek van Holland, then to Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, a trip through Zeeland and back over Gouda

That trip is 160KM / 100 miles

This might be nice:

Maps

No idea about hostels, hotels or anything

1. Dependins on your preference for urban or nature. A route similar to the one on the map I drew below would bring you through Alkmaar where the famous cheese market is held, then to Den Helder which is a nice city. Afterwards youll cross the ''afsluitdijk'' which is one of hollands most exclusive pieces of civil engineering, then down south through Flevoland (which is the largest polder here) and it's two major cities Lelystad and Almere, ending in Amsterdam.
   
   
   

However this may be a nice tour, I read that many here enjoy the view of Zeeland, which is in the south-west. You may want to consider taking a ferry to Duinkerke in Belgium to see Zeeland and some Belgian cities like Gent, Brugge and Antwerp.

1. Just go with the flow everything is practically within walking distance here so you won't have much trouble getting around. I may be able to find you some more info if needed though.

2. IMO the best website to plan routes in NL is http://en.routeplanner.fietsersbond.nl/#

^^ Thats also a good one!

1. That time of year I'd try to go from North/South Holland to Friesland, nice scenery and good time of year to go. Things will start to get busy in the coastal areas depending on whether you go early or late June. Another route that's very good is to go towards the Hoge Veluwe, I did this route a few years back when we did Windsor to Berlin via Hook of Holland, highly recommendable. Last but not least you can drop down and take in Ghent, Antwerp, Brugge and Zeeland.
   
2. Campsites are cheap and relatively good outside the major cities, would recommend to book when staying in the cities.
   
3. VVV but really it's not required, it's all signposted and very, very straightforward.
   

That time of year I think it's really worth to take a train to Arnhem from Amsterdam (just 90 minutes) and do the Veluwe, Friesland and North Holland loop (200 miles).
https://maps.google.nl/maps?saddr=De+Hoge+Veluwe+(Nationaal+Park),+Noordoostelijk+van+Schaarsbergen,+Arnhem&daddr=Deventer+to:Zwolle+to:Heerenveen+to:Leeuwarden+to:Alkmaar+to:amsterdam&hl=nl&ll=52.62306,5.427246&spn=2.347717,5.817261&sll=52.621726,5.460064&sspn=2.347717,5.817261&geocode=FV4BGgMdX_xYACmVmzg3xa_HRzF8cerFblT_oQ%3BFVuEHQMd0OtdACkRVl2vyevHRzHjcYXZGA2kwQ%3BFadXIQMdztFcACmx7BKdIN_HRzGMPt2SJFsLzQ%3BFTEdKAMdCldaACnv4VAH7F7IRzFISx6AibU3cg%3BFVHJKwMd6X9YACnvtTqV8v7IRzG2qVbJqLs9VA%3BFT0bIwMd34dIAClbjDbXslfPRzFwdB6NWt4ABA%3BFSgbHwMdwLFKAClVd5qUtT_GRzGNr8C3TP0AZg&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=ls&z=8&lci=bike

^ Good one! Considering to do it as a single ride when the weather gets better :)

then down south through Flevoland (which is the largest polder here) and it's two major cities Lelystad and Almere, ending in Amsterdam.

You have to be careful in Lelystad in the winter, though.

Glad In Lelystad - YouTube

Some great idea there, thanks. Will have to sit down with an atlas and look at these areas.

Also, had the idea of making the journey down to the very south of Holland, to Valkenberg, to ride up Holland's highest hill (about 300m, I believe). Is that reasonable given the time frame?

I don't think it's reasonable but you could take the train? From Rotterdam it's a 2.5 hour trip (one way) and a return ticket is 50 euro's per person (42 pounds). Just put the bike at the entrance where it has the bicycle symbol and your fine.

One tip to save some money: Tipping is optional. Almost no one tips and it's not really expected except when you go to a restaurant. And then you aren't required to leave a big tip (or expected to). Tips at bars etc aren't very common either. At least, I don't see many people do that.

I think there's the making of a plan there. Ride to Valkenburg, 250km in 3 days, then train to Rotterdam and a coastal ride back to Ijmuiden, 100km.

Sounds like a great trip :)

In restaurants it is usual to tip €2-€5 depending on your satisfaction. If you want to visit Valkenburg (and ride part of the Amstel Gold Race which is marked all year round) I recommend you take a different route through more southern parts of the country or take a train which is in my eyes quite expensive. Tickets for bikes are an additional €6 per bike for a whole day of train traveling.

If you decide to make a tour of more southern parts I would start in Belgium, go through Zeeland (or Antwerp) and from there on follow the national cycling route LF13, which takes you through some beautiful nature in the soutern province of Brabant, until the heigth of Eindhoven and then into the province of Limburg where are the so called hills. Could also take on some of the hills in the Belgian province of Limburg which has some nice scenery as well.

https://maps.google.nl/maps?saddr=Dunkerque,+Frankrijk&daddr=Brugge,+Belgi%C3%AB+to:Breskens+to:Vlissingen+to:Roosendaal+to:Valkenswaard+to:Maasmechelen,+Belgi%C3%AB+to:Valkenburg&hl=nl&ie=UTF8&sll=51.042257,5.61676&sspn=0.809051,2.028351&geocode=FcC5CgMdIj4kACm5IP_ZbYvcRzGgbWSBPvEKBA%3BFYRkDQMdfDQxACkNQh7B0FDDRzH3TYPIWvOiGg%3BFd43EAMdJkI2ACnvyKG2KJnERzFW6ketDUZCVQ%3BFeMeEQMd4Hw2ACk9IFrc7ZnERzH7Xobxcy4YiA%3BFelfEgMdqSJEACnR8Tzt3hbERzHLjM2VBQeR8w%3BFWifDwMdDzZTAClZthstitbGRzGwfR6NWt4ABA%3BFazjCQMd1wBXACnTGWbGh8TARzHAXPxMN2QE5w%3BFU8kCAMdc_1YACm7PCONr-rARzEHS6K89GY8JA&oq=Valkenburg&dirflg=b&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

Is there a website showing all the national cycle routes in Holland/Belgium?

Our starting and finishing points are sort of fixed as we live 'oop north and taking the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is by far the best way to get across the channel for us.

Is there a website showing all the national cycle routes in Holland/Belgium?

yes. the long distance routes of NL are here:

http://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/en/long-distance-cycle-routes/gps-tracks

try this for accommodation: www.vriendenopdefiets.nl - you pay a small fee, but all the places they offer are only 19€ a night B&B, and all bike friendly.

to add to peter v, you really can cycle anywhere, try using routeplanner.fietsersbond.nl. If you set the route type to fietsknooppunten then you can 'cycle by numbers', following a numerical sign system which will help keep you from stopping to check a map all the time. the landelijke fietsroutes are the routes peter mentions above, and are also well signposted.

I've always done really well with airbnb in the netherlands.

do any of the dutch contingent on here know a good website for buying bike tools and bits? I moved over here last year and I'm building my first bike, but I'm finding that I'm having to use UK websites and get stuff posted internationally so it's costing me quite a bit. I suspect part of the issue may be I don't speak Dutch, so I'm searching for bits using the english vocab.

Any tips much appreciated. It's not a modern build, it's a late 80's concorde. I'm also based in Den Haag if anyone knows any good shops nearby.

The Dutch can be a problem offcourse. I don't know any shops in Den Haag but in Rotterdam you have http://mohobicycles.com/

Regarding the sites, Wiggle is available in Holland.

^^

I mostly use a German site www.bike-components.de but also www.mantel-bikeparts.nl

Mammoet is an OK bikeshop in The Hague, also Hans Struijk (say hi to my friend Rien if you go there, he's the tallest guy in the shop). Both shops are very near Hollands Spoor train station

But if you want to source '80s parts, best try the Dutch sellers on here, or ask Mario at http://www.defietsenmaker.nl/ (in English too, yay ;-) )

cheers guys, much apprecietd

Oh in the hague there is also http://www.tomschouten.nl/

http://singlespeedparts.nl/ is pretty good - run it through Chrome or Google translate for the Dutch

also http://www.rose.nl/ and in Voorburg, The Hague http://www.vanherwerden.nl/ for more general/roadie stuff

also in The Hague http://www.lolabikesandcoffee.nl/ hipsterish but friendly

Any suggestions for a day in the Hague? It'll be a monday so I know the museums will be closed.

Don't know much there, maybe have a coffee at Lola Bikes & Coffee (Noordeinde 91) and ask around?
http://www.lolabikesandcoffee.nl/

The Mauritshuis next to the parliament buildings is open on Mondays btw, some very nice masterpieces there:
http://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/discover/mauritshuis/masterpieces-from-the-mauritshuis/

And if you get thirsty, they have a nice selection of special brews at http://www.depaas.nl/