Originally Posted by
Metzinger
Raybo's link is a good one. Some stuff I hadn't seen before. I've been here a year now, and the most fun so far has been in Limburg. The hills and valleys dotted with castles and tiny towns. I didn't tour there, but set up in Maastricht and did day rides around the countryside and into Germany and Belgium. The bike route network 'Knoopuntnetwerk' is well designed and flows seamlessly between the countries.
If you're touring in the spring, try to ride in the area around Lisse, among the tulips and intoxicatingly aromatic hyacinths. Beautiful coastal riding near there.
In 2010, the Tour de France starts in Rotterdam at the beginning of July, so you could swing by there if interested.
I've heard the riding on the North Sea islands is also great.
Limburg province in April:
I moved from the Netherlands to Chicago 12 years ago. I hardly ever 'miss' the Netherlands. That is until I see pictures like this. It brings memories of low traffic roads, rolling hills, cattle grazing on the hillside, one small town after another.......makes me want to move back.....
Ok, enough with the melancholy. I think most of has been said already. Holland offers a good mix between cities and small towns. A clockwise tour would be a good startingpoint. Just some highlights on a possible tour (as said before, most it may have been mentioned):
Amsterdam - No explanation needed
Alkmaar - Cheesemarket
Volendam - old fishermen town
Afsluitdijk
Friesland (province) - endless canals interuppted by even more small towns
Groningen (province) - Similar to Friesland, but with better vistas
Groningen (city) - student town, very walkable. Climb the Martini toren for great views
Drente (province) - small towns and wide open spaces
Deventer - Old, well preserved town. Largest 2ndhand book market in the country (early August?)
Veluwe - Largest national park
Nijmegen - old town, all the way back to roman times
Limburg (Province) flat in the north, hilly in the south
Maastricht - Old town, very walkable, least 'Dutch' town in that it has a Belgian-French history and atmosphere
Zeeland (province) - mussels and 'Deltawerken'
Gouda - Another cheese market
Den haag - Capitol, Mauritshuis, Panorama Mesdag
Leiden - Old University town
Services (food, lodging, bike shops) are never far away in the Netherlands, highways typically have separated bikepaths running next to them, numerous well-marked routes. All that makes Holland a great country to bike around.
Duppie