Holland / Netherlands

Fixed? He definitely scored some badass points there!

It was badass. High tempo as well. Was around 28KM / 17.3M on average if I remember correctly. Too bad I can't find a way to search Strava. It's on there somewhere.

Rondje IJsselmeer? Really don't know why people want to do that.
There are so many other and better routes...

Well I dont live anywhere near it so it makes a good reason to ride the afsluitdijk.

The Schelde-Rheinroute is very nice btw!

I'd really like to go back to Nederland on a holiday, I had a lovely time there a few years back, around Deventer.

what are you dutch guys all blathering english to each other?!

sans toi skully.. at least, to my knowledge..

Ik begrijp er ook niets van.

Says the Dutch guy in English.

Journey from Assen to Groningen with David Hembrow on Vimeo

I'd really like to go back to Nederland on a holiday, I had a lovely time there a few years back, around Deventer.

Off to Utrecht in late December for a few days, any advice on where to go/what to see that things like trip advisor won't tell me?

you should definitely visit Kafé België (Oude Gracht) for a huge selection beers and good, cheap food.

lots of museums (Centraal Museum, Catharijneconvent, Railway Museum, Van Speelklok tot Pierement) and plenty other cultural stuff too, what would you be interested in?

Off to Utrecht in late December for a few days, any advice on where to go/what to see that things like trip advisor won't tell me?

Ask peter v!

Kafe belgie is very good and very small, apparently they have a not so secret list too which has rare and odd stuff (we didn't realise this when we were in at the end of September). The other really good bar we found was de drie dorstige herten on Lange nieuwstraat, they had a lot of local beers and the barmaid was ridiculously knowledgeable/helpful.

The de Stijl house is pretty amazing too, not cheap for the tour but it's worth it.

Also, the ride to/from there from Hoek is great, the tailwind leg takes about 2 hours less...

I'm planning to do

London - Antwerp on the Eurostar and then Antwerp - Amsterdam - Antwerp on my Brompton.

Since I last posted this I had quite an eventful trip.

It all started when I realised, at St Pancras Station with 5mins to board, that I'd left my wallet at home. After a sprint up Pentonville Rd and a frantic call to Natwest I had some emergency cash, but not enough to be comfortable.

Then there were the navigational issues. The route I had planned was blighted with closed roads and paths (road works mostly). So I spent a good 11 hours in the saddle in an unseasonal heatwave.

Which also meant that I had no time whatsoever to spend in Antwerp and still ended up missing my Eurostar by less than 5mins.

So, I'm headed back again with the Brompton and intend to make it work this time by:
a) Remembering my wallet.
b) Having better navigational back-up (iPad)
c) Having two days to see Antwerp and Brussels.
d) It's january, so any unseasonal heat would be welcomed.

I'm varying the route slightly, picking up some of the highlights of the last ride (riding between rows of wind turbines and surrounded by water on the Oesterdam) and seeing more of Zeeland.

I'll also take a few photos this time and post them here.

Sounds like a pain, but may have been a good experience anyway. Did you enjoy any of it?

Next time passing through Zeeland (Vlissingen) drop me a PM for a night sleep, cup of tea or anything. Only available on working days tho.

Sounds like a pain, but may have been a good experience anyway. Did you enjoy any of it?

Next time passing through Zeeland (Vlissingen) drop me a PM for a night sleep, cup of tea or anything. Only available on working days tho.

Given I'll be racing the sunset, I doubt I'll have much time for a stop off, but thanks for the offer.

Despite all of the errors I had a great time. Though was sad to miss out on Antwerp. As I approached the city to a view of it across the water, my heart sank knowing that I'd have to rush through it without even stopping for a drink. Hence the return visit. But there were many highlights to the trip.

So I did promise to post some photos of my trip. There are lots of reasons why they're terrible photos, but they do capture the feel of the trip, which was awesome and lit by bright January sunshine :-)

Bike packed

Arrival at Rilland Bath train station (I cut out more than 100km of the route as I'd had too much fun the night before)

My micro-touring set up:

This bleak field appealed to me:

Then I took some photos of the beautiful cycle paths in amongst the grassy dunes, and with wind turbines towering above. Or at least I thought I took photos, seems they didn't take. So you'll have to imagine that bit.

This scene really needs a half decent photographer to do it some justice. The Belgian border in sight, fronted by heavy petrochemical industry:

I enjoy riding through industrial areas, they're rich to look at, but a brief gap in the hedges on the water front was welcome:

Antwerp's skyline at first sight:

Looking down the old harbour to the other side of Antwerp:

Packed and ready to go (with 12 cheap bottles of Chimay too).

I only see a packed bike.. Or is that supposed to be? Respect btw that ur traveling with a folding bike!

Ha now I see more pics. Fuck me dude, youre sick riding suck a bike for such a distance! Tell me did you enjoy? I travel through that Rilland trainstation twice a week, hope you enjoyed it more than I usually do!

The brompton's great for distance. Not fast, but comfy. Not so great on the pave sections in the older parts of the harbour either, but they were brief.

Yeah, I loved it. So lucky with the weather.

I'm glad at least someone can enjoy the view of this side of the water. But please tell me why you cycle that distance with Chimay in your bag! I'd be more than happy to ship it over to you! Could even set up a business, if it's so rare there :D

The chimay was bought in Antwerp,before boarding the train home. Not rare here just twice the price.

I'm planning a week's tour of Holland in June. I'm taking my wife who is a novice to cycle touring. The plan is to take the Newcastle-Ijmuiden ferry and do a 5 day tour returning to the ferry, covering about 50 miles per day. I've been to Holland before but never cycle touring. Some good advice on this thread already but I'd welcome any advice on:

1. Where to go. Where are the 'must see' places in Holland?
   
2. Is it best to pre-book or just wing it? Are there any good websites for cycle-friendly accommodation?
   
3. Where to get information on long distance cycle routes in Holland.
   
   

Many thanks.