Nice cycling paths are found everywhere in the Netherlands. They are often marked with ‘fietsknooppunten’. At each ‘fietsknooppunt’ there is a map showing where you are and the path to the next ‘knooppunt.’
Cycling maps are found on Internet or at tourist offices. Rivers and canals are crossed on inexpensive bicycle ferries. It is mainly flat in the Netherlands; the southern area near Maastricht is more hilly with extremely nice cycling and walking paths.
You will see a lot of bikes, and more different types of bikes than in any other country. Many bikes are decorated with flowers.
Good lunch cafés, restaurants and hotels are easy to find. Hotel brands like Van der Valk and NH can be generally recommended.
There are a lot of train lines in the Netherlands. To have a train option near a cycling route is always an advantage, if anything unexpected should happen or the weather becomes really bad.
Cycling routes suggested:
The routes below examplify how nice bike paths and nice places can be combined into a vacation trip. The routes are defined both with an electronical map (Strava) and as a series of fietsknooppunten.
The routes can be modified suiting your own needs and interests; most vacations are improved by longer stays (2-3 days) in some places.
The routes are not recommended in winter, due to the risk of ice on cycling paths. Please remember travel insurance, lock your bicycles, and keep your luggage safe.
Utrecht to Maastricht (map link)
Utrecht – Wageningen – Afferden – Roermond – Maastricht – Hamont – Oijsterwijk – Tiel – Utrecht
Round trip west of Utrecht (map link)
Utrecht – Ridderkerk – Made – Bergen op Zoom – Antwerpen – Turnhout – Breda – Zwijndrecht – Den Haag – Leiden – Utrecht
Round trip north of Utrecht (map link)
Utrecht – Almere – Enkhuizen – Akersloot – Marken – Utrecht
Round trip east of Utrecht (map link)
Utrecht – Veenendaal – Apeldoorn – Arnhem – Deventer – Zwolle – Nunspeet – Amersfoort – Utrecht
Round trip 1 from Heerlen (map link)
Heerlen – Maastricht – Slenaken – Vaals – Heerlen