Once the sea raged here
“Don’t complain about the coffee, we’re all getting old and weak.” For some wise life lessons, pop into the tiny Enkhuizen Almanac Museum, where the lessons are displayed on cards in the entrance hall. Just a little further, at the Ship in a Bottle Museum, you can discover how ships are carefully guided through bottle necks. At the Zuiderzee Museum, the old days when the sea still raged come alive. You’ll experience this rich water heritage throughout your cycling trip along the former Zuiderzee, now known as the IJsselmeer.
Enjoy the fresh breeze
You’ll cycle through charming historic towns like Hoorn, Enkhuizen (home to the Zuiderzee Museum), and Medemblik. Along the route, the old stepped gables, canals, and merchant houses alternate with stretches of both classic and new natural landscapes. After crossing the long, straight Afsluitdijk, with refreshing water on both sides, you’ll arrive in the lively town of Makkum, followed by Lemmer. Then it’s on to the Flevopolders, stopping in Urk and visiting the Batavia Shipyard in Lelystad. From there, you’ll pass the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve, Muiden, Amsterdam, Marken (or Monnickendam), Volendam, and Edam before making your way back to Hoorn.
