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Enjoy the full beauty of the Dutch water landscape

Cycling holiday Dutch water landscape

Name: Happy Cycling Holidays
Address: Hengelosestraat 300a, Enschede, Nederland, 7521 AN
Telephone: +31 (0)53 430 34 35
Location: Happy Cycling Holidays

This cycling tour takes you through the watery landscapes of the western Netherlands, a lush green area nestled between Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague, now a protected nature reserve. Amidst the chorus of birdsong and croaking frogs, you’ll find a peaceful escape, with the tranquility delightfully broken by visits to charming historic towns and villages along the way. » read more about Cycling holiday Dutch water landscape

Utrecht, Weesp, Nieuwkoop, Gouda, Kinderdijk
Relaxed cycling through the Green Heart
De Haar Castle near Haarzuilens

GPS APP E-bike route Zwaarte zwaarte_1

Cycling holiday
Trekking tour
4 or 7 days
Individual

from 395 p.p.
excl. additional costs

Prices and dates

from 395 p.p.
excl. additional costs

Prices and dates

Delightfully Dutch

Just beyond De Haar Castle, you make a sharp turn. The wind catches you from behind, gently speeding up your ride. Now that’s what you call smooth cycling. Rustling reeds line the canals, herons keep a watchful eye, fresh green meadows stretch out, and sheep bleat softly, all whizzing past in a blur. Before long, the Vecht River appears once more, the romantically winding river where your journey first began.

"Oh" and "Ah"

After passing the Vecht, with its charming country houses, you arrive at Weesp, then cycle along the Kromme Mijdrecht and around the lakes near Nieuwkoop. From there, you visit Leiden, pedal on to Gouda, and gasp in wonder at the windmills of Kinderdijk like a true tourist. You catch your reflection in Schoonhoven’s silver, tuck an extra pack of stroopwafels into your bike bag in Gouda—and later take it out again at De Haar Castle. One last moment to savor the beauty of this delightful Dutch water landscape.

Delightful Dutch water landscape

Tempting Country Houses

Feeling romantic? The Vecht welcomes you with open arms. Its stately country houses beckon every cyclist. Even their names awaken the poet in you: Vreeden Hoff, Queekhoven, Veglust, Rupelmonde... The beautiful river winds its way past ornamental gardens and park forests. Hop off your bike and wander through the quaint curiosity shops in Maarssen. The grand buildings along the water bear a striking resemblance to those in the capital. The names of the riverbanks, Herengracht, Schippersgracht, serve as a reminder that it was the people of Amsterdam who once built their extravagant country estates here.

Enchanting Light

“Air and light are magicians,” the Hague painter Hendrik Johannes Weissenbruch (1824–1903) once said. That’s why he often came here: to paint the beautiful skies. Cycling past the lakes around Noorden, you find yourself glancing up more often, admiring the Dutch clouds. But be careful on the narrow path that cuts straight through the water to the other side of the Zuideinderplas. At the end of the day, the water is smooth as glass, the reeds stand still, the lilies have closed once more. A nearly mystical atmosphere.

Hoogmade

Lovely Little House

Isn’t it wonderful when money is no object? When you can afford a house with two hundred rooms, thirty bathrooms, and two vast parks? Well, for Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nyevelt, married into the incredibly wealthy Rothschild family, spending freely came naturally. In the late 19th century, he commissioned architect Pierre Cuypers to rebuild the castle in a grand, historic style, and it was done to perfection. The baron passed away in 1934, and later his grandson Thierry inherited the estate. Thierry was known for his legendary parties, often attended by famous guests like Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, and Maria Callas. Today, after Thierry’s passing, it is his daughters who carry the responsibility of preserving this beautiful residence.

When are you going to take this trip?

Cycling holiday Dutch water landscape

Prices and dates

Routes

These cycling tours take you through the water-rich western Netherlands, the green area nestled between the major cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague. This beautiful cultural landscape was created after centuries of peat extraction and land reclamation. The nature of this area is now highly valued and is therefore protected. It is, perhaps unexpectedly, still wonderfully peaceful. The calm and quiet are pleasantly interrupted by historic towns and villages.