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Cycle through a typical Dutch landscape, hear the story of the ‘murder’, see proud polder mills and experience the vast nature. It's remarkable how quickly you leave the hustle and bustle of the cities behind you when you cycle along relaxed cycle paths with birdsong. » read more about Cycling holiday Southern Dutch highlights
Between futuristic bridges and impressive skyscrapers, you’ll find plenty of reminders of a captivating past. From the Oostpoort in Delft to the windmills in Kinderdijk, your highlights in South Holland begin in Gouda. After a city walk, you’ll cycle on to Leiden and The Hague. At Lange Voorhout 92, the famous Haagse Hopje was created (see box). In front of the palace (now a museum) on this avenue stands the statue of William of Orange.
In Delft, you can see the bullet holes left behind from the assassination of William of Orange at the Prinsenhof. Two bullets pierced his body and lodged in the wall behind him. Well, that visit is certainly a mood-lifter! Afterward, with renewed spirits, you’ll cycle on to Rotterdam, where the symphony of hard work can be heard. The Erasmus Bridge (De Zwaan) stands as a modern counterpart to the Hef, the old railway bridge now a symbol of industrial heritage. After that, you’ll visit more highlights, including the windmills of Kinderdijk, the silver town of Schoonhoven, the famous stroopwafels in cheese town Gouda, and the water-rich nature reserve around Nieuwkoop.
While visiting Rotterdam's Museum Park, take a moment to explore the former home of Albertus Sonneveld, the late director of the Van Nelle coffee and tobacco company, who passed away in 1962. This striking white villa, now a museum, offers a fascinating look at how he and his family lived in what was considered a cutting-edge modern home during the 1930s.
In 1794, Baron Hendrik Hop, an envoy for the Austrian Court, took up residence at Lange Voorhout 92 in The Hague, above confectioner Van Haaren. To ease his gout, he regularly drank coffee with cream and sugar, a remedy believed to work at the time. One morning, he stumbled upon a forgotten cup near the fireplace, where the heat had turned its contents into a sticky, caramel-like substance. Intrigued by the taste, he asked the confectioner to replicate it. And so, the Haagse Hopje was born.
“Rotterdam isn’t romantic, doesn’t have time for nonsense. It’s immune to suggestions and doesn’t listen to idle chatter.” With these four short sentences, Jules Deelder perfectly captured the spirit of “his” Rotterdam: industrious and no-nonsense. It’s a city that rolls up its sleeves. On the “Kop van Zuid,” old warehouses are being transformed into luxurious apartments. Elsewhere, towering residential skyscrapers rise, creating a striking contrast with the Witte Huis at the Oude Haven, once the tallest building in Europe.
Stroopwafels have been enjoyed in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages, though the iconic Gouda version dates back to the 19th century. Bakery Kamphuisen, which has been crafting them since 1810, claims to be the original maker. Located in the heart of Gouda, their factory is open for visits as part of the Syrup Waffle Experience. You can also sample one at their shop on Markt 69. Be sure to grab a few for the road and tuck them into your bag!
Cycling holiday Southern Dutch highlights
From Leiden you cycle through a picturesque Dutch landscape, a beautiful battlefield between land and water, with beautiful polder mills, wide views and lots of nature. It is remarkable how quickly the hustle and bustle and noise of the cities turn into quiet cycle paths where you can hear birds or buzzing insects. During this cycle tour, you will spend the night in historic cities such as Leiden and Delft, where the Golden Age is still very much present.
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Here you can see an overview of the accommodations we use for this tour. They have been carefully selected by us. There may no longer be availability on your preferred date, in which case we will use alternative hotels. The alternative hotels are of similar category and quality. For different prices where a supplement to the travel price applies, we will contact the booker first.
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