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Cycling in Holland with the help of DFDSg(17700268)a(402356))
Holland is the ideal country for a cycling holiday, with endless bicycle routes throughout the country and swathes of beautiful countryside and long winding rivers and canals. The great thing about Holland is that you can also cycle around the main cities too, with specific bicycle tours mapped out in many of the major cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.
Taking your bike to Holland is easy and affordable; you can sail to Holland with DFDS Seaways from Newcastle from only £85 for two passengers and two bikes. If you prefer to drive but want to take your bikes with you, you can sail from as little as £139 with your car plus two passengers (depending on the size of your car, strapping bikes to the back/top won’t attract any additional charge). One of the great things about travelling with DFDS Seaways is that there are no baggage restrictions either, so if you’re taking the car you can just load up as much as you’re able to carry. There are daily sailings from Newcastle to Amsterdam with DFDS Seaways, and onboard one of their modern cruise-ferries you cruise overnight with time to relax, enjoy the great onboard facilities and entertainment, before you arrive in Holland the next day refreshed and ready to discover Holland on your bike!
There are a number of areas in Holland which are great for discovering on your bicycle. Local Tourist Information Offices (known locally as VVV) provide routes and maps that you can follow or you can plan your own route using the maps. Areas particularly popular with cyclists include Drenthe, Hoge Veluwe National Parkand Oisterwijk Forests. At the Hoge Veluwe National Park you’ll find 42km of cycle paths, and if you haven’t taken a bike with you, you can hire a bike at the park for free and cycle through the forests and heaths and see if you can spot any of the local wildlife! Similarly in Oisterwijk you can cycle through vast forests along signposted cycle routes with a nature reserve along the way where you can look out for animals and plants. Holland is also home to some fine rivers with small villages dotted alongside them – a great way of seeing the less discovered parts of Holland. There is a route around 35km long that sits between the Maas and Waal rivers known as the ‘Big River Route’. In the same area there is a longer route of around 60km and which takes you through some quaint riverside villages. Cycling through the Dutch countryside you will also come across the famous windmills, with some routes dedicated along paths that will take you past windmills. If you’re planning to visit Holland in the Spring, you can experience the stunning bulb fields in full bloom. With fields filled with red, yellow, purple and orange – a truly stunning sight and one you won’t want to miss if you’re in Holland at this time.
In particular you should look to cycle between Haarlem and Sassenheim where the majority of bulb fields lie. There is also a 30km route available from the VVV that will take you through Keukenhof, where you can stop off and visit the Keukenhof gardens, home to over 100 of the top producers and over 7 million bulbs!
Cycling is a popular way of getting around with the locals too, meaning many of the big cities are more bike friendly than in the UK. The Local Tourist Offices in the cities will be able to provide you with local maps and bicycle routes to help you get around. There’s no doubt that cycling around on your bike is a great way to see Amsterdam! Cycle around the many streets and alongside the tree lined canals. There’s no shortage of cafes and restaurants if you want to stop off for some refreshments along the way, or if you simply want to use your bike to get around the city whilst you visit any of the many museums, galleries and attractions.
The Hague is also a great destination when cycling around Holland. Here they have different themed routes, clearly marked by yellow signs with a picture of a stork so you can get a different view of what the city has to offer. Royal Route, Country and Estate Route, Museum Route and Dunes Route each offer a different perspective of The Hague and are all around 20km long each. As with other cities you can choose to cycle alone, or you can opt to take one of the guided tours.
Prices start from £85 for 2 passengers and 2 bicycles with DFDS Seaways. Take a look at DFDS ferries for more information on departures and prices.
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