The Netherlands by Bike

Why Alphen aan der Rijn? It is Friday today and when I leave tomorrow morning my first stop is Zegerplas parkrun. The UK doesn't have a parkrun beginning with "Z" so it is convenient for me to collect this letter of the alphabet and thereby complete the parkrun alphabet; they kindly omit "X" from their alphabet so this 25th letter completes this particular challenge for me. Fingers crossed nothing gets in my way. Docking at 8am I am refreshed and ready to explore the Netherlands though the impact of brexit hits me as biometrics have been introduced. Luckily the ferry wasn't busy though the process is time consuming and I don't get away until 9.30am. The ferry process is the same for all operators though Stena Line just made it more pleasant. Good advice on how to stay warm in the Duty Free at the terminal, bike storage bays with good tie-up facilities, a ticket you can grab so you know to return to deck 3 via the yellow staircase, plenty of staff to dire...

In the lead up to departure I had a week of general bike cleaning and maintenance and then kit sorting and cleaning. That didn't stop me realising that my tyres were soft, brakes somewhat weak and forgetting my cycle helmet as I roll off the drive. Two of these errors corrected then I cycle to my local station. Despite triple checking for passport, cash, cards, phone, and cycle computer it was hard to shake off the feeling that I'd forgotten something as I board the 09:34 to Euston. This is my plan B as there is a tube strike today so getting to Liverpool Street station on the underground wasn't a reliable journey. The Komoot generated route from Euston to Liverpool Street was great and when I inevitably miss a turning the Wahoo cycle computer redirected route was good. I follow the C6, C27 and another cycle route and enjoy an interesting yet safe ride with that contrast between old and new London architecture ever present.  As I have arrived 30 minutes before m...

This index should help you navigate the daily posts of a spring 2026 tour round the Netherlands.  Image from Magnific Planning the Tour   Day 1 - Harwich Day 2 - Alphen aan der Rijn Day 3 - Utrecht (1st visit)

Planning the Tour: Logistics and First Impressions I’ve never cycled in the Netherlands before, though we all know it is world-famous for its excellent cycling culture and infrastructure. I’m usually cautious about committing to a flat cycling tour, yet my time pedalling through Flanders in the autumn of 2024 taught me that “flat” has its own rewards and challenges. There’s something about those big open skies — and the relentless rhythm of turning the cranks with nothing to interrupt your flow — that gives flat riding its own character. My first big decision was whether to plan my own route or follow the established long-distance (LF) cycle routes. In the end, I opted for a triangular route using three of these national trails. Together, they form a circuit of about 1,000 km around the country — long enough to allow for a few days off, some 400 km of detours, and flexibility to stay put when I find somewhere I like. The LF in "LF-routes" stands for Langeafstand Fietsroutes ...