The distance between Utrecht and Maastricht is a beautiful 3-6 day cycling trip. Below, we suggest two 4-day routes: Utrecht -Wageningen – Afferden – Maastricht and Maastricht – Hamont – Oisterwijk – Utrecht. Accomodations need to be reserved well in advance; some of the hotels are very popular.
It is easy to find accomodations in Utrecht. We can recommend NH Hotel Utrecht Jaarbeursplein. Rental of bicycles can be pre-ordered at Wiel-Rent, Ruijgenhoeklaan 15A, Utrecht. Instead of biking both ways, one may also take the train from Utrecht to Maastricht or back.
Day 1: Utrecht to Wageningen (65 km, map link)
Start: Knooppunt 52 (1 km west of Utrecht Central Station). Bike south along the canal towards Knooppunten 13, 73 and 74. Before reaching 74, cross the canal to the left on Symfonielaan. Go left to Lekkanaaldijk and over the bridge to Knooppunt 6. Follow the right side of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to Houten, where the Knooppunten route turns away from the canal for a few kilometres (6-90-3-14-64-66). Then continue along the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to Wijk bij Duurstede (66-63-58-57-56-55-14-15), where we can recommend De Engel Café for lunch.
Thereafter continue to Amerongen, Veenendaal, Rhenen and Wageningen (15-17-65-42-43-85-38-34-30-33-26-11-12-28-45-25-83). In Wageningen, Hotel de Wereld can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay (just before Knooppunt 83).
Day 2: Wageningen to Afferden (60 km, map link)
From Wageningen, go south to the bicycle ferry crossing river Niederrijn (Knoppunten 83-61-81-95). Continue south-east towards Nijmegen for lunch (95-50-51-52-56-57-24-25-17-43-42-61-74-37-19, taking the bridge over river Waal).
From Nijmegen, continue south along river Maas to Afferden (19-42-18-17-12-11-38-37-36-35-50-16-45-44-28-27-38-39-25-51-29-46-34) where Auberge de Papenberg can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Afferden to Roermond (80 km, map link)
Continue south along river Maas (34-32-89-68-67-66-71-15-74-55-70-25) to Arcen, which is a possible place for lunch. Continue along Maas (25-93-92-28-84-96-7) to Venlo. Then further to Roermond (7-8-5-70-99-2-3-4-91-61-87-83), where Oolderhof can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay (83-64-82-92-36; Oolderhof is just after 92).
Day 4: Roermond to Maastricht (64 km, map link)
Bike to Knoppunt 36 (or take the bicycle ferry from 92 to 93 and continue south to 84 and 36). Continue to Maasbracht (36-37-11-10) and further south to Berg aan de Maas (10-39-1-3-13-19-27).
Take the bicycle ferry across Maas, and bike west to the Zuid-Willemswaartkanaal and Rekem (27-50-56-57-58) where the old town is worth a visit. Then continue south to Neerharen (58-559-54) and turn left to reach Maastricht (54-10-1). Sluises are seen joining four waterway levels (Albertkanaal and Zuid-Willemswaartkanaal at Neerharen and Briegden; nearer Maastricht: Zuid-Willemswaart-kanaal and Julianakanaal, as well as Julianakanaal and river Maas).
Van der Valk Hotel Maastrich can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay (on the east side of Maas and the railway).
Being in the hilly Maastricht area, we advise to use a few days for local cycling trips (to Voeren, Slenaken, Vaals and Drielandenpunt, Terworm and Valkenburg) before leaving the area. Some time should also be used in the beautiful old centre of Maastricht.
Day 5: Maastricht to Hamont (56 km, map link)
Starting at Knooppunt 1, at the Sint Servaasbrug in the centre of Maastricht, go to the north via Markt to Knooppunt 10 on the border to Belgium. Continue on the left side of the Zuid-Willemswaartkanaal to Knoppunt 54 (Neerharen), then go north along the Zuid-Willems-waartkanaal (54-559-58-57-56-55-48-44-47-13-12-11-196-7-263-8-210) to Lozen and further to Hamont (210-542-568). We have positive experience from high quality B&B options in Hamont.
Day 6: Hamont to Oisterwijk (63 km, map link)
From Hamont, go north to Valkenswaard (568-542-223-216-38-36-56-55-96-95) and continue north past Eindhoven Airport towards the Wilhelminakanaal (95-61-62-63-71-29-28-15-16-4-48-12). Then go west along the canal to Oirshot (12-13-62-61) and north towards Oisterwijk (61-60-21-9-90-22-19). Between Knoppunten 22 and 19 is Landgoed de Rosep, which can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Oisterwijk to Tiel (57 km, map link)
From Landgoed de Rosep, go north-east to ‘s-Hertogenbosch (19-17-77-88-89-82-1-2-29-11-13-68-14-63-84-88-52). The old city in Den Bosch is worth seeing, for example by joining a historical boat trip on the old canaals.
From Den Bosch, go north along the river Maas (52-90-91-96-95-10-2-1-34) to the cycle ferry across De Lithse Ham. Then continue to the cycle ferry across river Waal (69-24-80) to Tiel, where Van der Valk Hotel Tiel may be recommended for dinner and overnight stay (82-83-68; you will see the hotel just after Knooppunt 83).
Day 8: Tiel to Utrecht (49 km, map link)
Go north (83-68-1-66-64) to Buren, where Wilhelm von Oranien once lived and a historical round trip can be taken.
Thereafter, continue north to Culemborg (64-65-36-35-19-14-33-42) and Vianen (42-41-40-13-12-11-10). Culemborg and Vianen are old towns with a central square surrounded by nice shops and a big church in one end, like many other dutch towns.
From Vianen, take the bicycle ferry across river Lek (Knoppunten 10-20) or cross the bridge near by. Continue through Nieuwegein to Utrecht (20-25-22-23-24-74-73-13-52).
