The route:
The IJsselmeer route via the Afsluitdijk (Afsluitdijk) is 304 kilometres. If you have the time and inclination, you can take the scenic alternative route via the islands of Texel and Vlieland (an additional 76 kilometres). The route is very well and uniformly signposted throughout ("Zuiderzeeroute"), the quality of the cycle paths - almost exclusively asphalt - is above average. The cities, especially Amsterdam, also have a perfect network of cycle paths and are easy to explore by bike. The IJsselmeer route offers a great programme of contrasts: big city hustle and bustle, historic harbour towns, idyllic villages and lots of nature. The route has hardly any gradients - pleasure cyclists will be delighted.
Journey:
Travelling to Amsterdam by car from Frankfurt, Cologne and Duisburg via the A 3, A 12 and A 2 (Arnhem, Utrecht). Travelling by train is much less stressful: international connections to Amsterdam several times a day from Frankfurt/Main, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg and Oberhausen. There are also connections from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Leipzig. Info at http://www.db.de
Information:
Dutch Office for Tourism, P.O. Box 270580, 50511 Cologne, Tel. 01805/343322, http://www.holland.com . Further information under http://www.noord-holland.com . Amsterdam-Infos under http://www.amsterdamtourist.nl and http://www.museum.nl
Accommodation:
"VRIENDEN OP DE FIETS" is the name of an association of around 3200 hosts in the Netherlands and neighbouring regions in Germany and Belgium that offers affordable accommodation for bicycle travellers. Membership costs 9 euros per person per year, an overnight stay with breakfast 16 euros. Tel. 0031-30/2679070, mailto:administratie@vriendenopdefiets.nl , http://www.vriendenopdefiets.nl .
Examples of accommodation for cyclists: Ankie Fraterman, Enhuizen, tel. 0031- 228/322762, where you spend the night in a guest room in a picturesque brick house and get a great dinner for 8 euros. Theo Doeleman, Bakhuizen, tel. 0031-514/581524, where you can spend the night in the shaving museum. Guests receive an interesting guided tour free of charge (http://www.scheermuseum.nl). Henk and Ineke Schaafsma, Kampen, tel. 0031-38/3332448. Accommodation is in a beautiful flat separate from the house.
Literature/Maps:
"Around the IJsselmeer", published by Esterbauer, with precise route descriptions and detailed maps at a scale of 1:75,000, 12.90 euros. Travel guide "The Netherlands", Michael Müller Verlag, 668 pages, 22.90 euros: Everything you need to know about the country, with lots of practical travel information. http://www.esterbauer.com
The full-length article from issue 5/2007 is available as a free PDF download.
