Originally posted by Jonathandavid

Another way to plan a route is to use the network of numbered junctions, the knooppunten. As I recall, Flanders has a similar system. It is a web of cycling-friendly roads and paths, overlying the regular roads. The junctions are given numbers and if you're on the network, the two junctions you're in between are signed. This means that a route can be planned simply by writing down a series of numbers. Often you can do this on the fly, because many areas have maps by the side of the road. But there are also apps to help planning. Disadvantage is that you can't ask around for a knooppunt; locals will know where Alblasserdam is, but not where to find junction #2 .