Amsterdam - Brussels long-distance cycle route
The first stage leads from the Amsterdam canal belt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through the green heart of Holland, a cycling paradise with characteristic peat and polder landscapes, small agricultural communities and picturesque historic towns such as Oudewater. Other towns worth visiting include Gouda, famous not only for its cheese but also for its syrup waffles. Dordrecht with its picturesque harbour district and Bergen op Zoom with its countless monuments are among the historical highlights in Holland. Even in Belgium, extended stops are worthwhile, especially in the "diamond city" of Antwerp and in the old university town of Leuven (Leuven). The Stedenroute is very well signposted with restrictions in the Brussels area. It is mostly flat, with little traffic and in parts even completely car-free. It only becomes slightly hilly towards the end in Belgium. The towns along the route are perfect for exploring by bike.
Journey:
Amsterdam and Brussels are easy to reach by train from Germany. There are good flight connections from Brussels back to Amsterdam, and several direct IC long-distance trains run daily (three-hour journey time). www.bahn.de
Tour combinations:
Rhine cycle path, ZuiderzeerouteNetherlands Cycle Route, Maasfietsroute, Riverside Route, Flanders Cycle Route
Accommodation tips:
Hotel de Brabantse Biesbosch in Werkendam, www.brabantsebiesbosch.nl
Hotel Old Dutch in Bergen op Zoom, www.hotel-olddutch.nl
Theatre Hotel in Antwerp, www.theater-hotel.be
Hotel Binnenhof in Leuven, www.hotelbinnenhof.be
Aloft Hotel Brussels Schuman in Brussels, www.aloftbrussels.com
Worth seeing:
- Old town of Gouda
- Kinderdijk windmill ensemble
- Dordrecht - Holland's oldest city
- Historic centre of Antwerp
- Great Beguinage in Leuven (Leuven) - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Organised trip:
An 8-day individual cycle tour from Amsterdam to Brussels with luggage transport with Dutch Bike Tours (every Monday from May to September), www.dutch-biketours.de/radtour-amsterdam-brussels
Maps and literature:
Cycling atlas "Basiskaart Netwerk LF-Routes" scale 1:100,000, ISBN 978-90-72930-56-9, 22 pages, 24.95 euros.
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 3/2017. You can download the issue in the Trekkingbike app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.
