Around the Ijsselmeer

8 days / 7 days riding  / ref. HL6 / Difficulty Easy / Round trip
from 1040 €
per person

Your bike tour

A short distance from Amsterdam, the Ijsselmeer, the largest freshwater lake in the Netherlands, reclaimed from the sea in the 20th century, will be the idyllic backdrop to this holiday. This cyclists’ paradise is a flat region of national parks teeming with rare plants and animals, charming fishing villages and picturesque towns with a glorious commercial past. Amsterdam is a must-see stopover, where you can immerse yourself in the magic of its canals and enjoy a dose of urban effervescence.

Tour highlights

  • The cycling experience in the Netherlands: tranquility, ease and beauty
  • Authentic villages and typical Dutch landscapes
  • The magnificent and teeming city of Amsterdam and its canals

Day 1Arrival at Harderwijk


Discover the medieval Hanseatic town of Harderwijk. Take a stroll through the town to the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk). This is a three-level basilica dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Day 2Harderwijk - Bussum/Naarden (or surroundings) | 50 km


Today, the Arkemheen-Eemland National Park, with its vast, flat landscapes and extraordinary vegetation, awaits you impatiently. You’ll also be able to see many black-tailed godwits, the emblematic bird of the Netherlands. You’ll follow the banks of the Randmeren to Huizen, the twin village on the Eemmeer known for its costumes and fishing museum. Your final destination, Naarden, is one of Europe’s best-preserved fortress towns. It was one of the most important defenses of the Dutch New Waterline, and remains astonishing to this day.

Day 3Bussum / Naarden (or surroundings) - Amsterdam | 30 km


On your tour along the IJsselmeer, you’ll reach the medieval moated castle “Muidenschloss”. Your way leads you to Amsterdam. Enjoy the historic buildings, magnificent museums and warm atmosphere. Take a tour of the canals, stroll through the Vondelpark, visit the floating flower market and shop in the old city center. Amsterdam is truly unique!

The length of the stage has been chosen to give you enough time to explore this beautiful city.

Day 4Amsterdam - Volendam (or surroundings) | 40-45 km


After a few kilometers, you’ll reach the typical old Dutch town of Monnickendam, a true water town. Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Ijsselmeer. Enjoy breaks in traditional fishing villages, which have a history as thriving trading towns. Volendam is famous for its costumes and its culinary specialty: delicious smoked eel.

Day 5Volendam (or surroundings) - Enkhuizen | 30 km


Shortly after your departure, you’ll reach Edam: you’ll soon discover that the town has more to offer than the world-famous cheese. A little further afield, Hoorn is a shopper’s paradise, with numerous terraced cafés and restaurants to relax and unwind. The picturesque town of Enkhuizen attracts thousands of tourists every year. Some appreciate it for its many historic buildings and monuments, others for its harbor and excellent water sports facilities. Take a stroll through town to visit the Zuiderzeemuseum, with its reproduction of the ancient town of Zuiderzee.

Day 6Enkhuizen - Lemmer | 40 km


Take a ferry (not included) across the Ijsselmeer and disembark in Stavoren.

Discover the nostalgic charm of the oldest of the eleven Frisian towns in the Netherlands, before setting off for the eastern shore. You’ll cycle through a variety of landscapes: gentle, wooded slopes, cliffs… You then descend gently to Lemmer. The pleasant town center with its many waterside terraces, cafés and numerous attractions, such as the old lock, bear witness to the town’s joie de vivre.

Ferry information: approx. €25 per person, crossing time: 1 hour

Day 7Lemmer - Kampen | 60 km


On this stage, you’ll cycle through the “De Weerribben” national park: a gigantic marshland area home to a multitude of plants and rare animals, thanks to the variety of canals. Discover one of the region’s jewels: Blokzijl and its historic port.

Further afield, Zwartsluis (the black lock) served as a peat transit port in the 18th century.

Once you arrive in Kampen, you’ll experience a city whose wealth is based on a centuries-old tradition of trade and navigation. This is still evident today in over 500 monuments, including the Sint Nicolaaskerk, the Gothic Huis, the city gates and a replica of the medieval merchant ship “De Kamper Hanze Kogge”.

Day 8Kampen - Harderwijk | 45 km


Following the dam, you’ll reach Elburg. You may have the opportunity to race a “Botte”, one of the traditional sailing boats, once used for fishing and still in regular use. Following the Veluwemeer, you return to your starting point: Harderwijk.

Departure at the end of the day.

Possibility of an extra night in Harderwijk.


Select your category

category Standard
category superior

Your accommodation

Ces hébergements offrent tout le confort pour un repos mérité après une journée à vélo (salle de bain privative) et une situation idéale pour profiter des centres d’intérêts à proximité.
Ces hébergements offrent de belles prestations ainsi qu’une situation idéale.
Pictures for indicative purposes. Depending on the availability.
Including :

• 7 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages
• Equipped cycle rental for 7 days
• 1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (7 nights included)
• City tax

VTC 21 gears

(bike included in package)

Brand : Velo de Ville

Male or female frame

Royal Comfort saddle

Shimano 21-speed derailleur

Brake pads

VTC SPORT - 30 gears

Brand: Velo de Ville

Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes

High-quality saddles

Trapezoidal frame

Suspension fork

e-bike

Brand: Velo de Ville

Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub with coaster brakes
Bosch 36 Volt central motor, minimum 500 Wh

Crossing the Ijsselmeer Arrival at Harderwijk

Crossing the Ijsselmeer

For the ferry crossing of the Ijsselmeer on Day 6: please book your tickets in advance at https://veerboot.info/en/.

Please note: be sure to book a ticket for the bike crossing.

Approx. €25 for one person and one bike

Arrival at Harderwijk

Parking information
Near the hotel, parking spaces are available at a cost of around €15 per day, no reservations possible.

Arrival by plane 
Airport: Amsterdam Shiphol and by train to Harderwijk, approx. 1 hr. 20 min.