Beginner cycling holiday through the Netherlands

Den Haag > Utrecht (74 km / 46 miles)

The first day of cycling brings you to another one of my favourite cities: Utrecht. What's more, you can have a lunch break in Gouda, which lies on the route. This is one of the longest day of the trip, so you could also choose to split it and stay in Gouda overnight.

The distance may seem like quite a lot, but it's very doable, even if you don't regularly go for long bike rides. The first part of the route to is not the most exciting, though. Until you reach Bodegraven, you’re cycling parallel to a motorway (A12). However, the cycle path here is great and goes to show why cycling in the Netherlands is so easy. If you really want to avoid the motorway, you can follow the Eurovelo 2 route. But be aware that this requires a lot more navigation. The second part of this leg, between Bodegraven and Utrecht, is more rural. Make sure to enjoy it before entering the city that is home to the busiest cycle lane in the world!

View the Day 2 route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3553139995181516488

A day in Utrecht

There is lots to see and do in and around the cozy centre of Utrecht. In my opinion, the canals here are a lot prettier than the ones in Amsterdam, and you can have lunch or drinks right next to them.

Utrecht > Ede (43 km / 27 miles)

The route to Ede is pretty straightforward. Dutch people might say you’ll come across a hilly area, but the total elevation level on this day is just a bit over 50 meters (170 feet). You also cycle through what is, by Dutch standards, a forest.

It's quite an easy ride as you’re nearing the more beautiful and less populated side of the Netherlands. Ede, however, does not have much to offer, so I’d recommended spending the morning in Utrecht and arriving in Ede around dinner time. Seeing a less picturesque city does give you an insight into what living in the Netherlands is actually like beyond the tourist hotspots.

For accommodation in or near Ede, it's worth cycling a few kilometres further to Bennekom. Through the website 'Natuurhuisje', you can find lots of beautiful places to stay.

View the Day 4 route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3553155447293205192

Ede > Epe (80 km / 50 miles)

Don’t be confused by the names! The route between Ede and Epe can be done in a fairly straight line, but it’s worth lengthening the ride to take a detour through the National Park ‘Hoge Veluwe’ and avoid cycling along the edges of Apeldoorn. If you take my advice, you can admire the heath and cycle amongst trees for a good part of the day. The town of Hoog Soeren is a popular lunch stop in summer, where you are likely to find lots of bike parking racks.

If the distance seems like to much, you can plan an overnight stop in Apeldoorn. Alternatively, you can cut the route short by cycling north rather than southeast along the boundary of the 'Hoge Veluwe'. I would advise against this option, though, as it means skipping the most scenic part of today's ride.

View the Day 5 route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3553147602713630500

Epe > Ommen (59 km / 37 miles)

Next up, you follow the IJssel river to Zwolle, and after that the Overijsselsche Vecht to Ommen. Zwolle is a nice city where you can have an extended lunch break. I really enjoyed cycling along the water for most of this day. Especially with some tailwind, it’s an easy ride. Ommen, with over 50 campsites in the area, becomes quite the bustling town when the sun is out. On weekend days in summer, you might want to book a table in advance if you’d like to eat out.

View the Day 6 route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3553131938637175496

Ommen > Wijster (56 km / 35 miles)

Again, cycling in a straight line is not the way to go when heading up north to Wijster. You’ll want to stay on the west side of Hoogeveen and pass through the National Park ‘Dwingelderveld’. If you're up for a challenge, try cycling up to the top of the 'Col du Vam'. It's a bit of a joke, but this is where Dutch cyclists go to practice their hill sprints.

As Wijster is a tiny village, there aren’t many options for accommodation. I was able to stay at a friend’s place. There are some also B&B’s, but chances are you will end up in another village nearby, such as Spier. In any case, the surroundings you’ll pass to get there are great.

View the Day 7 route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3553155447291378376

Wijster > Groningen (57 km / 35 miles)

The last day is a good one! Keep an eye out for ‘Hunebedden’, which are neolithic burial mounds. ‘Hunebedden’ are made of large boulders left behind by retreating ice during the glacial period. They are only found in this region of the Netherlands and parts of Germany. You can spot a few of them, especially if you look up the locations in advance and plan your route accordingly.

Cycling through the ‘Drentsche Aa’ is also unmissable. Again, there are some nice paths through heaths and groups of trees. To end the day, you reach Groningen. It’s worth staying an extra night to explore the city.

View the Day 8 route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3553133196214133308

A day in Groningen

As a lively student city, Groningen has plenty to offer to fill a day of sightseeing. A great way to end your trip! From here, you can take the train back to Den Haag to end up where you started a week ago.