Amsterdam to Bremen

Planning a cycle from Amsterdam to Bremen in March with the aim of purchasing bikes when we get to Holland and flying home with them from Bremen four days later. Just wondering if anyone has undertaken something similar? And if so, is there any advice we should take into account. I've been looking at the vintage bike equivalent of redtube that is http://www.marktplaats.nl and it looks like high quality steel machines are easy to come by. Any advice, on buying bikes, hostelling/camping, and route would be much appreciated.

I've covered this section before but in reverse. I took the Afsluitdijk which was great fun - I camped on the western end on top of a WW2 fortress. A great camp spot was marred when I was awoken by a giant rat running over my tent.

Bike paths are everywhere in both countries, but they suck in Germany as tree roots spout through them.

I highly recommend warmshowers.com.

Great stuff, thank you. Cycling over the Afsluitdijk was one of the main attractions to this area. It looks amazing.

Proposed Route:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0yh3krn0ltblsph/Screen%20Shot%202015-01-29%20at%2023.00.13.png?dl=0

If you're buying bikes out there might it be easier to fly to Bremen, and catch the ferry from Hoek to Harwich?

The Zuid-Kennemerland National Park was great fun too, really awesome sand dunes to play in. Sandy lunar feel. Couple hours ride from Amsterdam.

I did part of the route a few years ago on the way to Copenhagen, the bit between Groningen and Bremen.

In Groningen we stopped at a hostel near the town centre though we had to chain the bikes up outside (http://www.budgetthostels.nl) the night after We stopped of at a small town called Westerstede and stayed at a place called hotel Busch, which I'd recommend. (http://www.hotelbusch.de) I remember them being pretty bike friendly. Can't remember where we stayed in Bremen but it was pretty close to the old town and I'd recommend looking up a place called restaurant flett for some good hearty German food to help with your carb loading.

Route wise, I seem to remember being on bike paths the whole time. There is pretty comprehensive maps of bike routes in both Germany and holland, though can't seem to find the link now.