Around the Ijsselmeer

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.