We’ve been living in Holland for nearly 10 months now, and there’s no doubt this is a great place for bike touring.
Bike paths are everywhere, the flat landscape means the cycling is rarely strenuous, and there’s always something interesting around the corner to explore, including historic towns, national parks and some of the world’s best museums.
Now, here’s the good news: it can be even better! In addition to the staple activities like cycling along canals and snapping photos of windmills and tulip fields, there are some less obvious things you should know to make your trip even easier and more enjoyable.
1. Get A Map
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Apparently it isn’t. Many cyclists don’t because they assume the extensive bike path network in the Netherlands is be easy to follow.
The bike paths are certainly everywhere and they’re usually well marked, but there are so many options that a map is essential. Just as with roads, on bike paths you have to know if you want the ‘highway’ (a straight bike path that might run between 2 towns, literally tracing the highway for cars) or the scenic route through green areas.
For paper maps, you can either buy something from any bookstore when you get here, or order online. De Zwerver is one internet map store, with an excellent reputation for service. The site is in Dutch but you can either use Google Translate or call them, and they will talk you through it in English.
A good overview map is the Sterkste Fietskaart Van Nederland. It’s made of a laminated paper that holds up in the rain and 2 maps cover the entire country, one for the north of the Netherlands and one for the south of the Netherlands. Countless regional maps are also available, many produced by Falk.
GPS-users can download the OpenFietsMap – a free open-source map showing cycle paths across the country. For pre-trip planning, there are also a number of bike route planners. Type ‘fietsrouteplanner’ into Google and away you go.
2. Join The Clubs
For any trip longer than about a week, there are a few organisations you might want to join.
- Vrienden Op De Fiets – A network of over 3,700 B&Bs that are only open to cyclists and walkers. There’s a small €9 registration fee (€15 if you live outside of Europe). For that, they’ll send you a book all the addresses of the B&Bs. The cost is never more than €18.50 euros for the night (less than a youth hostel).
- Natuur Kampeer Terreinen – These are natural camping spots with small and tranquil tenting sites, often in the woods. Spots are reserved especially for cyclists. You will not be turned away if you arrive before 7pm. One membership costs €14.95 and can be used for up to 4 people.
- Wereldfietsers – There’s no cost to join this friendly group of bike tourists for a day trip or a weekend. They go all over the Netherlands. Come along and make some new bike touring friends. Summer trips can be very busy, with up to 100 people. Winter trips are much quieter.
3. Use The Bike Parking
Want to go see a museum in town or just stop somewhere to stretch your legs and do some shopping? Use the guarded bike parking! Every town of just about any size has bike parking or Fietsenstelling.
Sometimes it is underneath the train station. Other times, it is a fenced area, watched by a security guard in the middle of town. The cost is never very much. It could be as little as €0.50 or at most €2 for the day. Now you can leave your bike and not worry a bit about whether or not it will be there when you return.
4. Be Prepared At Campgrounds
For us, being prepared at Dutch campgrounds means 2 things.
First, pack your own stash of toilet paper for camping. As we found out to our peril, it often isn’t provided. Only the most expensive campgrounds supply toilet paper. You can also expect to pay extra for showers, on top of camping fees, but happily camping costs are fairly reasonable in the Netherlands. There’s usually a small charge for the tent (€3-4) and then an additional cost per person. Altogether, it should never be more than €10-15 for 2 people.
Second, remember to ask for a trekkers site. If you ask for a camping site, they may assume you want one with power, like a caravan would need, and that costs a lot more! Trekkers sites are much simpler, often just a field, but for a night they’re just fine.
Alternatively, there’s always free primitive campsites if formal campgrounds aren’t your thing.
20th July 2010 at 11:48 am #
Pity you do not mention the very good and extensive Knooppunten system.
This is really one of the best systems for biking people. Either to be used for making a roundtour or for biking from A to B.
There are even areas in Holland, where you can send an sms about the place you are and you get a knooppunten rout as reply, given the length of the tour you want to make.
With an overall map of Holland you can find out I suppose, as knooppunten maps are all over the place.
Have a nice ride, Hans
20th July 2010 at 1:08 pm #
Well, I guess you can’t fit everything into one post. That’s a good topic for next time! I quite like Richard Tulloch’s description of Knooppunten in his post, The Brilliant Dutch Cycle Network.
29th August 2010 at 9:10 am #
Delighted that someone noticed my post (and even quite liked it!) and I like the look of your site too. Sounds like you’re enjoying living in Holland, the great biking land. We love it too. Keep up the good work and I’ll look out for more of your posts. Cheers, Richard
22nd December 2010 at 8:54 pm #
you have forgotten the ANWB mushrooms (paddestoelen) as well. they are everywhere!
16th July 2012 at 7:55 am #
Do you have a suggestion for an easy 4 or 5 day loop for a family (including a 7 year old) … no day should be more than 30 miles I don’t think …
7th October 2012 at 7:46 pm #
Your blog always makes interesting reading and this is one that we will be following to the letter, as we have never cycled in Holland. Thank you and keep up the good work. Shane
18th April 2013 at 9:16 am #
do you have any recommendation of bike and barge on Ijssel Lake, where to find.
or better and more economical, where to hire bike if we choose to drive and pick up the bike for a day trip near Amsterdam?
21st February 2015 at 3:08 pm #
Hi people of Holland! I have a question regarding the use of bike locks in Holland. A friend of mine said you need very strong iron chains to protect your bike or it will get stolen. We are going on a bike tour (with this organizer) in about 2 months in The Netherlands but we don’t know if we should buy good strong locks since they aren’t provided by the organizer. Is this a good idea? Thanks!
4th March 2015 at 7:47 pm #
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry THAT much about it. Use some common sense (eg. don’t leave your bike on the streets of Amsterdam) and use paid or supervised bike parking (often free) where available – which it almost always is in the Netherlands. Outside of the big cities, a normal lock will do for popping into cafes, supermarkets and the like.
24th June 2022 at 5:40 am #
I precisely desired to thank you very much once more. I do not know the things that I would have done without the type of tactics shown by you concerning such area of interest. It was before a very alarming matter in my circumstances, however , coming across the specialized technique you managed that forced me to jump with delight. I will be thankful for this work as well as wish you realize what an amazing job you have been putting in teaching others through the use of your website. Most probably you haven’t got to know all of us.
29th June 2022 at 2:04 pm #
I really wanted to type a quick note in order to express gratitude to you for the splendid hints you are posting at this site. My extended internet research has at the end of the day been recognized with really good information to talk about with my visitors. I would suppose that most of us visitors are very much fortunate to live in a really good network with very many brilliant individuals with beneficial suggestions. I feel really privileged to have encountered the web pages and look forward to some more entertaining moments reading here. Thanks once again for a lot of things.
1st July 2022 at 3:32 am #
I wanted to post you the bit of word in order to thank you so much once again on your precious pointers you have provided here. It has been quite incredibly generous with you to give freely precisely what many people could possibly have offered for an e-book to make some money for their own end, chiefly seeing that you might well have done it if you ever considered necessary. These points as well served to be a easy way to know that other individuals have the same desire just as mine to realize great deal more around this matter. I think there are lots of more fun moments ahead for people who see your blog.
18th July 2022 at 4:58 pm #
I would like to express my gratitude for your kindness for those people that have the need for assistance with this particular topic. Your special dedication to getting the message across had become exceedingly valuable and have frequently allowed men and women much like me to achieve their desired goals. Your own helpful key points implies a whole lot a person like me and somewhat more to my mates. Many thanks; from all of us.
18th July 2022 at 5:03 pm #
I’m just writing to make you know of the impressive experience my friend’s child had visiting yuor web blog. She realized some pieces, not to mention how it is like to have a very effective giving heart to get men and women completely master chosen grueling issues. You actually surpassed readers’ desires. Thanks for distributing those warm and friendly, healthy, educational and easy guidance on that topic to Gloria.
27th July 2022 at 1:35 am #
I simply desired to say thanks once more. I do not know the things I could possibly have done in the absence of these suggestions documented by you relating to that subject. It had been the horrifying dilemma for me personally, nevertheless encountering the skilled approach you treated that forced me to jump with contentment. Now i’m grateful for the help as well as wish you find out what a great job you are always carrying out training others with the aid of a site. I’m certain you have never encountered all of us.
18th August 2022 at 11:49 pm #
I simply wanted to thank you very much again. I am not sure what I might have handled in the absence of the actual ideas discussed by you relating to such a field. It had become the horrifying problem in my opinion, however , being able to see this skilled way you managed the issue made me to jump over fulfillment. I am just grateful for the support and trust you recognize what a great job you’re carrying out teaching some other people thru a web site. Most probably you have never met all of us.
18th August 2022 at 11:49 pm #
I must point out my gratitude for your generosity supporting those people that have the need for guidance on this important area. Your real commitment to getting the message around had been particularly insightful and have specifically permitted guys and women like me to attain their targets. Your entire informative guidelines implies this much a person like me and extremely more to my colleagues. Regards; from everyone of us.
25th October 2022 at 1:31 am #
https://writecatholic.wordpress.com/2020/11/20/louis-and-zelie-martin/
3rd November 2022 at 3:33 pm #
Major thankies for the blog. Cool.
3rd November 2022 at 9:20 pm #
This is a topic that’s close to my heart… Many thanks! Where can I find the contact details for questions?
28th November 2022 at 9:19 pm #
I appreciate you sharing this blog.
3rd December 2022 at 2:55 am #
I think you opinion is good,and I agree with that.
5th December 2022 at 2:33 pm #
Hi Stacie, Well I’m really glad to hear that you got out of that opportunity pronto, those types of Facebook groups are complete poison as well!
5th December 2022 at 7:31 pm #
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, regards . “What the United States does best is to understand itself. What it does worst is understand others.” by Carlos Fuentes.
21st December 2022 at 10:07 pm #
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I suppose you ave created specific nice points in functions also.
22nd December 2022 at 12:59 pm #
ivermectin fungal infection ivermectin and heart disease
28th December 2022 at 7:49 pm #
is ivermectin safe for pregnant mares ivermectin for sale
29th December 2022 at 12:24 pm #
532600 472686Its difficult to get knowledgeable folks on this topic, but the truth is be understood as what happens youre preaching about! Thanks 43466
30th December 2022 at 3:20 am #
walk, admin, to God, the sacrifice 1450 came to me too ??Loading…
4th January 2023 at 7:32 am #
You deserve the best of every little thing in life. And this product can aid you arrive!
4th January 2023 at 6:09 pm #
Extraordinary is the one stop buy productivity and time administration.
6th January 2023 at 12:15 am #
[email protected]
28th March 2023 at 6:52 pm #
Really enjoyed this blog.
3rd April 2023 at 8:29 pm #
order medications online from india: all generic meds from india online medications from india
4th April 2023 at 11:34 am #
Can anyone in a position to recommend good Sciatica Treatment B2B Database? Thank you 🙂
4th April 2023 at 5:10 pm #
IaаÐа’б‚Т€ТšаЂаŒаÐа’б‚Т€ТžаВТžm having a little issue I cant subscribe your feed, IaаÐа’б‚Т€ТšаЂаŒаÐа’б‚Т€ТžаВТžm using google reader fyi.
5th April 2023 at 4:58 am #
fake rolex milgauss very first created a total timekeeper functions.
5th April 2023 at 4:00 pm #
I really like and appreciate your article. Really Cool.
6th April 2023 at 10:09 am #
Thank you ever so for you post. Cool.
8th April 2023 at 12:53 pm #
cycle says:I quite like reading an article that can make people think. Also, thank you for permitting me to comment.Reply 07/23/2020 at 5:16 pm
8th April 2023 at 7:42 pm #
el castigador Star resina Rose Revah en el comienzo del libro de Génesis Madani
11th April 2023 at 7:59 pm #
best ed pill for diabetics – managing contraceptive pill patients 15th ed ebook little blue pill for ed
15th April 2023 at 5:00 pm #
Tienda Nº 1 en Camiseta BarcelonaEncontrarás cada segunda equipacion barça 2021 y ropa de entrenamiento de los clubsy selecciones nacionales para adultos y niños.
16th April 2023 at 11:00 am #
Card can be found and of obtaining free playstation
17th April 2023 at 4:16 am #
Ja naprawdę skarb twoją dzieło, Świetny post przeciwciała koronawirus test domowy test na koronowirusa.
19th April 2023 at 2:06 pm #
This was an outstanding piece of content. I really liked it. I’ll be back to view some more. Thanks !
20th April 2023 at 8:44 pm #
ivermectin pills for humans ivermectin generic name
21st April 2023 at 3:39 pm #
Siz de gate io güvenilir mi diye merak ediyorsanız hemen tıklayın ve yanıtınızı alın. Gate io güvenilir mi sorusuna yanıt burada yer alıyor.
22nd April 2023 at 12:45 am #
Thẳng Bóng Đá Việt Nam Vs Lebanon. Xem Truc Tiep Bong Da. Futsal Việt Namman utd đấu với watfordNếu cứ nghịch như cách vừa đè bẹp Everton tới 3-1 bên trên Sảnh khách hàng
22nd April 2023 at 2:21 pm #
This was a very good piece of content. Thanks so much for creating it. I’ll be back for more.
23rd April 2023 at 1:59 am #
Hi Gene,You have succeeded in encouraging me. Well, I do want to be known as an author. I suppose I have to work harder towards it. Thank you for finding my post worth your time.With immense gratitude,Mamta
27th April 2023 at 8:55 pm #
ed remedies best ed pills at gnc medications for ed Kcqgnw qshvno
27th April 2023 at 8:56 pm #
Download our Android app from App Store.
4th May 2023 at 3:03 pm #
I’ve been cut off careprost reviews 2016 If life ever existed on Mars, scientists expect that it would be small simple life forms called microbes
12th May 2023 at 3:29 pm #
how to fix leverage browser caching wordpress
13th May 2023 at 8:04 am #
Major thankies for the blog post. Keep writing.
15th May 2023 at 1:15 pm #
ivermectin humans ivermectin tablets for humans – ivermectin 500ml
17th May 2023 at 9:58 am #
may be the next destination for 22-year-old England Premier League national team star Mount has frequently praised Liverpool under manager Jurgen Klopp and admits to watching the Reds lift the Premier League trophy in 2020.
24th May 2023 at 11:38 pm #
I would like to convey my affection for your kind-heartedness in support of people that have the need for guidance on your area of interest. Your special dedication to getting the solution all over became rather insightful and have all the time made guys like me to arrive at their pursuits. Your own warm and friendly key points signifies a whole lot to me and a whole lot more to my mates. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.
26th May 2023 at 1:12 am #
My wife and i got so thrilled when Michael could conclude his reports because of the ideas he acquired while using the web pages. It’s not at all simplistic to simply be offering methods which some other people could have been selling. And we consider we’ve got the writer to give thanks to for this. The specific illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships your site make it easier to create – it’s most awesome, and it is aiding our son and our family understand that topic is enjoyable, which is certainly pretty serious. Thank you for all!
27th May 2023 at 7:44 am #
Major thanks for the article. Really Cool.
29th May 2023 at 4:40 pm #
your writing really helped me I know what steps to take.
9th June 2023 at 1:19 pm #
Xoilac Tv Trực Tiếp Bóng Đá letouĐội tuyển chọn Việt Nam chỉ muốn một kết quả hòa có bàn thắng nhằm lần loại hai góp mặt tại World Cup futsal. Nhưng, nhằm làm được như vậy
12th June 2023 at 6:51 pm #
I would like to express my affection for your generosity supporting men who must have assistance with the subject. Your very own commitment to passing the solution all-around was surprisingly significant and has consistently empowered some individuals like me to reach their desired goals. Your helpful help and advice can mean this much to me and further more to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.
14th June 2023 at 8:23 pm #
My spouse and i got quite contented when Albert managed to conclude his researching via the precious recommendations he received out of the weblog. It is now and again perplexing to simply possibly be giving out guides which often other people may have been trying to sell. We really take into account we need you to give thanks to for that. These explanations you’ve made, the straightforward website menu, the friendships you help promote – it’s got mostly terrific, and it’s assisting our son and our family reckon that this idea is awesome, which is certainly pretty vital. Thank you for all!
15th June 2023 at 11:44 pm #
My husband and i ended up being really more than happy Chris managed to do his reports through the entire precious recommendations he gained when using the weblog. It is now and again perplexing to simply happen to be releasing guidelines which often some others have been selling. Therefore we figure out we’ve got the writer to thank for that. The entire explanations you made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships you help to foster – it’s mostly sensational, and it’s really facilitating our son in addition to the family know that the situation is excellent, and that is unbelievably indispensable. Thanks for all the pieces!
18th June 2023 at 2:49 pm #
I value the blog. Really Cool.
19th June 2023 at 3:16 pm #
Subscribe now and also get started on your trip today!
21st June 2023 at 7:48 am #
Thanks a lot for the post. Want more.
21st June 2023 at 2:54 pm #
apartments for rent waukesha 30m$ tokensale investment fraud doubletree apartments
22nd June 2023 at 2:41 am #
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anybody get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such info.
4th July 2023 at 9:58 am #
Your new useful important points imply much a person like me and very a lot more to my Workplace employees. With many thanks; from Every person of us.
7th July 2023 at 4:15 pm #
The Future Sound Of London — Expander (Vinyl) Im Going Home (To Live With God) Charlie’s Wig — Miles Davis — Complete Savoy &
10th July 2023 at 11:50 pm #
en uygun fiyatlı pazar yeri ucuz beğeni instagram göndericisi budur
11th July 2023 at 8:00 am #
bruja book club Musique Forum Ddl Gratuitement 72 mail ek pravas book pdf
11th July 2023 at 12:05 pm #
ivermectin dosage for humans scabies ivermectin poisoning
13th July 2023 at 1:26 pm #
The most flexible word in the dictionary!
21st July 2023 at 3:19 am #
ivermectin for budgies ivermectin for rabbits tractor supply
22nd July 2023 at 10:41 pm #
Thank a person so much for enabling me personally know what My partner and i didn’t know. I anticipate working with you.
6th September 2023 at 12:27 pm #
Major thanks for the blog. Will read on…