Holland / Netherlands

The hard thing about cycling in holland, should you need something to whinge about, would be the wind is no fun. Rode about on Texel when I went, it was bloody nuts.

Trips through the dunes on sunny, warm days are wonderful. It's beautiful between Zandvoort (maybe watch a race at the Zandvoort track if you're into it) and Scheveningen, a lot of small ups and downs though in contrast to the flat terrains you'll find everywhere else, with plenty of good places to stop on the way for drinks and food, larger stops such as boulevards, and smaller stops in the dune regions. It does tend to get a bit crowded, but people keep a nice pace and it doesn't distract me. Its a favourite of mine, definitely.

Edit: about the SS, if you run a reasonable gear, the dunes shouldn't be a problem. SEeing you're trying to extend the trip over three days, you could cycle to The Hague (Scheveningen) from Rotterdam, and do only a part of the ride up to around Katwijk, and ride the rest on some more inland routes to keep things diverse.

Amazed no one has yet mentioned- best of.luck getting.used to drivers giving way to you at junctions.
The path network is pretty comprehensive, I got disapproving looks riding.on roads around Heerlen, not actually sure what rules are.
But yeah, go for it

It's unlawful to ride in the carriageway in the Netherlands where a cycle path is nearby. Some friends of mine had this enforced even when there wasn't a cycle path nearby.

I got honked at the other day when I ran out of path because of road works so shimmied onto the road for a couple of hundred yards to re-join the path after. Was the first time it had happened to me in ages-totally outraged I was too, I pursed my lips in dismay for a good 10 mins afterwards.

Maybe you need one of these

It's unlawful to ride in the carriageway in the Netherlands where a cycle path is nearby. Some friends of mine had this enforced even when there wasn't a cycle path nearby.

ah so thats why i was abused by so many dutchies while cycling there
i had the impression they like the cut of my jib / my posterior

It's unlawful to ride in the carriageway in the Netherlands where a cycle path is nearby. Some friends of mine had this enforced even when there wasn't a cycle path nearby.

Unless you have your own, designated following car with suitable signage?

Unless you have your own, designated following car with suitable signage?

Are you thinking of racing?

I'm not aware of a rule about following cars.

I loved the National Park de Hoge Velowe when I was in mid east Nederland a couple if years back - an absolute gem of a place. Woods, heath and it even has a sort of desert bit, with amazing ossified trees. Be sure to check out the sculpture gardens as well as the interior of the Krolle Muller museum...

Quite near near Arnhem as I recall.

Hoge Veluwe is indeed stunning and in season there's a bounty of fruits to be had from the orchards. Recommended.

From Arnhhem to Leeuwarden is a lovely route as well.

It is fucking windy though ;(

Wake up a lot of days and really, without being a total pussy about it, even if the sun is out the wind is a total no-no unless you enjoy slowly creeping along and getting buffeted in every direction. The Dykes and paths can funnel the wind to amplify it as well... I'm writing this as I'd planned to go for a ride today and the wind is stupidly strong : /

#HTFU

I did the Hook of Holland (ferry from Harwich) to Amsterdam taking the coastal route north on singlespeed - easy.
The customs lady at Harwich gave me directions to the ferry -" you go over the raised road just there - its the only hill you'll come across for the next few days" :)
The centre of Amsterdam was er ... messy.

yeah they should warn people about that ramp at Harwich-i've seen some old boys with fully loaded panniers' hearts sink before struggling up and down it with a long line of cars watching and waiting. A bit of kick in the nads if you think you're on for a pancake flat bit of cycle touring!

Are you thinking of racing?

I'm not aware of a rule about following cars.

Might be Belgium! I was cycling either side of the border that day and can't remember where I was...would like to know myself.

I just got back from a week cycling in the Netherlands, and it was amazing, for all of the reasons mentioned above. Overnight crossing to Hoek van Holland on Friday night, back overnight the following Saturday. Took my regular commuting fixed after a touring build didn't quite come together in time, and can confirm it is totally possible, with enough trips to Robert Dyas, to bodge a Tubus Fly into fitting horizontal dropouts. Might post the picture later, but in the meantime thought it would be only fair to share routes etc.

We started round the inland waterways, which are very scenic, and which I already knew well from sailing round there. Vlissingen-Middelburg the long way:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/221608202

Then to the picture-postcard Willemstad. Not much by way of accommodation, but some cracking Kibbeling at the local pub. Next day got the train to Delft, whence up the coast to Bloemendaal (bit of a Garmin fail here):

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/221608186

Bloemendaal-Breukelen, sort of via Amsterdam (only stopping for cake and to get a bit lost). Didn't quite make it as far north as Zanse Schaans, which is supposed to be lovely.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/221608160

The to Rhenen, over the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the closest thing we found to hills

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/221608136

Next day we were straight to Nijmegen in the morning, getting the train to visit some friends further south.

Would thoroughly recommend, and was totally suitable for my better half, who isn't totally into riding a long way for no particular reason. Most of the week we spent planning day by day, using the long distance Knooppunt network. Which was brilliant, except in cities where it mysteriously disappeared. On the Garmin, I had the Openfietsmap free public map loaded, with cycle routes overlayed, which we mainly used for settling navigational discussions, rather than any actual planning.

So we also have the ANBW/Falk cycling maps for Zeeland, Zuid Holland, south of North Holland, and the other bits I just mentioned. They're brilliant, and more than happy to lend them to anyone who might be contemplating the same.

Would ride again!

Looks like a great ride, Dumps... I am thinking of going for a long weekend next month (November, am I mad?) and would love to borrow those cycling maps if I may!

You'd be more than welcome! I'm away just at the mo but could hand over at a drinks? Souths is closest to me generally - not sure where it's happening next week. Sound OK?

That’d be brilliant, thank you! Souths is perfect, I’ll keep an eye out for where it’s happening.

I’m really looking forward to going to Holland. I plan to visit Edam, Gouda and as many other cheese manufacturing cities as possible.

An LLFGSS on tour type jaunt to Holland is in the pipeline for Spring btw - must pull finger out and put some deets up.

^^ Good stuff, will bring maps and lots of Dutch enthusiasm on Monday!

Is it any cheaper to buy a road or touring bicycle over there? Planning to go to Amsterdam during last week of November before heading to a festival in Utrecht (http://www.leguesswho.com). Given it's only 43km between the two cities could probably manage cycling it as right now am averaging 40km per day in London.

Sounds like excellent recovery progress, Mat. Good to hear!

Is it any cheaper to buy a road or touring bicycle over there? Planning to go to Amsterdam during last week of November before heading to a festival in Utrecht (http://www.leguesswho.com). Given it's only 43km between the two cities could probably manage cycling it as right now am averaging 40km per day in London.

Generally it's more expensive to buy bikes and bike bits out there. You might get a good second hand deal though. You may need to haggle.

Amsterdam - Utrecht is a nice ride, enjoy.

Is it going to be too cold to attempt that ride in late November?

Generally it's more expensive to buy bikes and bike bits out there. You might get a good second hand deal though. You may need to haggle.

Amsterdam - Utrecht is a nice ride, enjoy.

Hopefully it won't be too cold, as that's when I'm going! I reckon it'll be about the same temperature as here, though maybe a bit more windy.