Day 1 - Haarlem > Velsen-Zuid
Starting off close to Amsterdam, I recommend spending a day in the picturesque city of Haarlem before embarking on your cycling adventure. Haarlem is a lovely city to stroll through, admire art, and get some delicious (vegan) food.
Accommodation and food
After a day in Haarlem and getting some dinner there, a sustainable option for an overnight stay actually lies outside of the city. In terms of food, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. I've highlighted my absolute favourites for lunch and dinner.
Route
To get to the hotel, you need to cycle north for about 30-40 minutes. There are some dunes to cycle up, but no serious hills. It's a relaxed ride that takes you through a landscape that is typical for this coastal region, and of which you'll see more on Day 2. Don't worry, you won't have to cycle over any actual sand; the paths are all paved.
Day 2 - Velsen-Zuid > Leiden
Today's route is best between the end of March and end of May, as you will cycle through the famous flower area in The Netherlands. During this period, the flowers such as bright coloured tulips will be in full bloom. Between May and September (or even October), you will still enjoy the countryside views and a good amount of sunshine - if you're lucky! For museum lovers it's wise to stay in Leiden for an extra full day.
Accommodation and food
It's not the easiest to find a sustainable hotel in Leiden, which is why I suggest having a look at B&B's instead. There are some hotels that claim to be 'green', but they're part of international chains. Finding good (vegan) food is luckily a bit easier. Surprisingly, though, there are no fully vegan restaurants in Leiden at the moment.
Route
The route starts off through the dunes and past the boulevard of Zandvoort. You may know Zandvoort from its Formula 1 track, and you can have a peek at it when you cycle past. As said, the route continues through the 'Bollenstreek', where the unsustainable practice of growing perfect flowers is displayed. It's a lovely sight to see, as long as you don't think too hard about the amounts of harmful pesticides being used. If you're in for a slightly longer ride all the way along the coast, you can cycle to Den Haag instead of Leiden. Check out my full guide for Den Haag under the link below.
Day 3 - Leiden > Utrecht
If you need more recovery time or don't want to cycle every day, you can take a 50 minute train between these cities instead. Another option is to add a stop in Woerden, which is specifically marketing itself as a place for sustainable weekend trips (definitely check out B&B De Groene Gevel, which includes 3 veggie/vegan meals with your stay). If you do cycle straight on to Utrecht, you might want to spend longer than just an afternoon here, as it is a gorgeous city to walk around. There are also a few good museums and many great (vegan) restaurants.
Accommodation and food
Utrecht has a few options for sustainable accommodation, most notably BUNK. There are also plenty of restaurants I would recommend, which made it difficult to choose just one lunch and one dinner option. Although you won't find quite as many fully vegan places in Utrecht as for example Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Den Haag, there are amazingly tasty vegan options at a variety of restaurants.
Route
The day starts off by following a canal to get out of Leiden. After maybe half an hour, you find the river 'Oude Rijn', which you will basically follow all the way to Utrecht. This makes navigating incredibly easy and takes you through several towns where you could stop for lunch. On a sunny day, there will be plenty of opportunities along the route to get ice cream. The route ends in the city centre of Utrecht, where you find the world's busiest cycle lane. If you chose to stay in Den Haag, you will again have a longer route to face on this day. In this case, you get to enjoy an amazing, wide cycle lane (ideal for fast road cyclists) for the first half. However, this cycle lane does run parallel to a motorway.
Day 4 - Utrecht > Lunteren
Get ready for a more rural finish on the fourth day. Make sure to load up on some food, as there won't be many vegan-proof options around in this part of the country. But in return, you get to see more trees! If you fancy a longer ride, you can combine the routes of Day 4 and Day 5. An alternative would be to go via Amersfoort, although this makes for a less scenic route.
Accommodation and food
Not going to lie: you will struggle to find any vegan options along this route. The best idea is to stock up on food in Utrecht and bring it with you on the road. I was very tempted to simply tag a supermarket as the place to get dinner. Finding (sustainable) accommodation, especially when you're not camping, may not be easy either. I would recommend booking a place to stay in advance.
Route
Today's route takes you through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug ('heuvel' means hill). Still, you have nothing to fear from these Dutch hills, as the inclines are moderate at best. In total, you'll climb 3 hills on this day. The highest one is a 50 meter ascend, the lowest only 30. Easy peasy! Near the very end of the route, you'll come across the most central point of The Netherlands. There's a small boulder that marks this point. It's worth looking up the exact location beforehand if you want to see it.
Day 5 - Lunteren > Arnhem
If you want more hills, that's what you get on Day 5! The route crosses two of The Netherlands' most iconic national parks. You will come across some gravel roads, but the average road bike should still be able to handle it. For those interested in (military) history, the Battle of Arnhem may ring a bell. Close to Arnhem, in Oosterbeek, you can visit the War Cementry and Airborne Museum Hartenstein. Alternatively, check out the Open Air Museum to learn more about Dutch history in general. In any case, Arnhem is located in a beautiful, green part of the country that nature-lovers will definitely appreciate.
Accommodation and food
As Arnhem is quite a progressive city, there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian eateries to choose from. Accommodation is likely to be good as well, as you can find campsites and hotels surrounded by green on the outskirts of the urban areas. Still, you will be in reasonable distance of the city centre, especially when you have a bike at your disposal.
Route
This day will take you slightly uphill to cross two national parks. These areas are a unique sight of sandy plains with purple bushes. It's no surprise that this region is one of the most popular parts of the country for leisurely cycling. In the middle of the first park, you can stop to visit the modern art museum Kröller-Müller. Some parts of both parks are paved, but you will certainly come across some gravel-like paths as well. I have cycled here on a road bike before and the views are absolutely worth the somewhat less than ideal road surface.
Day 6 - Arnhem > Nijmegen
Nijmegen is another fun city! It is known for its annual walking event, where people walk up to 50 kilometres for 4 days in a row. There are a few fabulous mountainbiking trails nearby that are worth dedicating an extra day to. For those interested in Roman times, a day trip to Xanten will allow you to explore an archeological park, which contains both replicas and real excavations. Otherwise, you can simply spend the afternoon relaxing on the river beach or in one of the Nijmegen parks.
Accommodation and food
Route
Today's route is very chill: it starts off with a descent for the first quarter and is pretty much flat for the remaining part. It's a very Dutch route not only because of the flat terrain, but also due to the vicinity of water. You'll cycle in between two major rivers. I would argue against a more direct route, as it is nice to cycle along the water. You finish by crossing an impressive bridge that brings you right into the centre of Nijmegen. Again, it is possible to add on the distance of Day 7 for a faster trip.
Day 7 - Nijmegen > Vortum-Mullem
It's a relatively short distance to get to Vortum-Mullem, but there are several places along the way where you might want to stop. This region has a lot of history, dating back as far as Roman times. For more recent history, you can visit the Vrijheidmuseum ('freedom museum') and Canadian war cementry near Groesbeek. A bit further south is the Mookerheide, a nature area you will like if you enjoyed the Veluwe. Near the end of the route, you can opt for a small detour to see the ruins of the Bleijenbeek castle.
Accommodation and food
Route
On this day, you're leaving the city behind and ride towards a small village. It will be a scenic day with plenty of woodlands and cute towns to pass through. You will probably come across some forested areas that are not entirely tarmac, especially if you take the longer option through Germany. There should not be too much gravel, though, so road bikes will survive this day as well. For the longer route, you have to work slightly harder, as the first half is designed to incorporate some more hilly bits. For both route options you need to take a small ferry to cross the river at the end. In summer months, it runs until 21:30 in the evening.
Day 8 - Vortum-Mullem > Tegelen
Accommodation and food
Route
Again, there are two options. If you want to stick to tarmac roads and experience a more typical Dutch route, the first option is best. It's the most straightforward way to get to the next destination, and mainly passes crop fields. The second route option takes you past more natural parks. In this case, the day starts off with the ferry again in order to cycle on the opposite side of the Maas river. Whereas you will start off on soft ground amongst the trees, the last bit before Venlo will also be on tarmac and agriculture-themed.
Day 9 - Tegelen > Koningsbosch
Make sure to stock up on food, because there is not much around in Koningsbosch in terms of vegan friendly restaurants or supermarkets. It might actually be nice to go into Germany for a bit, as German supermarkets are known in the Dutch vegan community as having lots of great plant-based products. Other than that, try to enjoy the rural surroundings; perfect for a short digital detox!
Accommodation and food
As said, Koningsbosch is not the most lively place in the country, but the quiet has its own charm. For food, I recommend having a lunch stop in Roermond, where there are at least a few meat-free options. You will likely be staying the night at a small-scale campsite or B&B.
Route
Near the end of the cycling trip, this will be a welcome easy day. The surroundings will be typically Dutch, meaning flat farmlands. The roads should all be tarmac with dedicated bike lanes, although you may have to share the smaller roads with cars. Drivers are used to this (and you will probably be as well at this point), so there is nothing to worry about. Just enjoy the sights on this second to last day of cycling through The Netherlands.
Day 10 - Koningsbosch > Maastricht
The final day ends in the historical city of Maastricht. Make sure to pay a visit to the famous 'Dominicanen' bookshop located in a church. From Maastricht, you can take the train back to wherever you started. I do suggest staying in Maastricht for at least one full day to explore the nearby caves, the city's defensive walls and some museums. It is also a good place for further cycling into Germany or Belgium, for instance to Aachen or Liège. From Maastricht, you can also cycle (parts of) the Amstel Gold Race course and its challenging hills. The longer route option for Day 10 actually incorporates this already.
Accommodation and food
There are plenty of restaurants and ho(s)tels or B&B's to choose from in Maastricht. This southern city is a popular place for city trips amongst Dutch people, and for good reason! There are enough vegan-friendly places to suit all types of appetites, but it's worth having a plan of where to go. 'Normal' restaurants are likely to have few good meatless options. My favourite place for lunch and a suggestion for dinner are shown below (sadly a few vegan places I visited before have closed down).
Route
As you come closer to Maastricht, the terrain starts becoming hillier. The first part of the route is some easy cycling through Germany. At about three quarters in, you ride through the town of Valkenburg, which is a nice place for a stop. It's known for its mines, caves and castle ruins. All in all, this route won't take up a full day, hence why there is also a longer (and much more challenging) option. The difficult route starts out the same but branches off after Valkenburg to reach the highest point in The Netherlands and the place where 3 borders meet (The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium), before turning back towards Maastricht. This route is as hilly as it gets, so it's a good way to finish your Dutch cycling adventure.
Thank you!
I hope you've found this guide to be helpful in planning a cycle trip to The Netherlands. You can find more cycling and sustainable travel tips on my blog
Please let me know what you think of this guide, and share it with your friends and family! I would be especially grateful if you could leave a review. If you have any questions or want more tips on sustainable travelling, do get in touch via my Instagram page @the.sustainable.travel.guide
Day 1 - Haarlem > Velsen-Zuid
Starting off close to Amsterdam, I recommend spending a day in the picturesque city of Haarlem before embarking on your cycling adventure. Haarlem is a lovely city to stroll through, admire art, and get some delicious (vegan) food.
Accommodation and food
After a day in Haarlem and getting some dinner there, a sustainable option for an overnight stay actually lies outside of the city. In terms of food, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. I've highlighted my absolute favourites for lunch and dinner.
Route
To get to the hotel, you need to cycle north for about 30-40 minutes. There are some dunes to cycle up, but no serious hills. It's a relaxed ride that takes you through a landscape that is typical for this coastal region, and of which you'll see more on Day 2. Don't worry, you won't have to cycle over any actual sand; the paths are all paved.
Day 2 - Velsen-Zuid > Leiden
Today's route is best between the end of March and end of May, as you will cycle through the famous flower area in The Netherlands. During this period, the flowers such as bright coloured tulips will be in full bloom. Between May and September (or even October), you will still enjoy the countryside views and a good amount of sunshine - if you're lucky! For museum lovers it's wise to stay in Leiden for an extra full day.
Accommodation and food
It's not the easiest to find a sustainable hotel in Leiden, which is why I suggest having a look at B&B's instead. There are some hotels that claim to be 'green', but they're part of international chains. Finding good (vegan) food is luckily a bit easier. Surprisingly, though, there are no fully vegan restaurants in Leiden at the moment.
Route
The route starts off through the dunes and past the boulevard of Zandvoort. You may know Zandvoort from its Formula 1 track, and you can have a peek at it when you cycle past. As said, the route continues through the 'Bollenstreek', where the unsustainable practice of growing perfect flowers is displayed. It's a lovely sight to see, as long as you don't think too hard about the amounts of harmful pesticides being used. If you're in for a slightly longer ride all the way along the coast, you can cycle to Den Haag instead of Leiden. Check out my full guide for Den Haag under the link below.
Day 3 - Leiden > Utrecht
If you need more recovery time or don't want to cycle every day, you can take a 50 minute train between these cities instead. Another option is to add a stop in Woerden, which is specifically marketing itself as a place for sustainable weekend trips (definitely check out B&B De Groene Gevel, which includes 3 veggie/vegan meals with your stay). If you do cycle straight on to Utrecht, you might want to spend longer than just an afternoon here, as it is a gorgeous city to walk around. There are also a few good museums and many great (vegan) restaurants.
Accommodation and food
Utrecht has a few options for sustainable accommodation, most notably BUNK. There are also plenty of restaurants I would recommend, which made it difficult to choose just one lunch and one dinner option. Although you won't find quite as many fully vegan places in Utrecht as for example Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Den Haag, there are amazingly tasty vegan options at a variety of restaurants.
Route
The day starts off by following a canal to get out of Leiden. After maybe half an hour, you find the river 'Oude Rijn', which you will basically follow all the way to Utrecht. This makes navigating incredibly easy and takes you through several towns where you could stop for lunch. On a sunny day, there will be plenty of opportunities along the route to get ice cream. The route ends in the city centre of Utrecht, where you find the world's busiest cycle lane. If you chose to stay in Den Haag, you will again have a longer route to face on this day. In this case, you get to enjoy an amazing, wide cycle lane (ideal for fast road cyclists) for the first half. However, this cycle lane does run parallel to a motorway.
Day 4 - Utrecht > Lunteren
Get ready for a more rural finish on the fourth day. Make sure to load up on some food, as there won't be many vegan-proof options around in this part of the country. But in return, you get to see more trees! If you fancy a longer ride, you can combine the routes of Day 4 and Day 5. An alternative would be to go via Amersfoort, although this makes for a less scenic route.
Accommodation and food
Not going to lie: you will struggle to find any vegan options along this route. The best idea is to stock up on food in Utrecht and bring it with you on the road. I was very tempted to simply tag a supermarket as the place to get dinner. Finding (sustainable) accommodation, especially when you're not camping, may not be easy either. I would recommend booking a place to stay in advance.
Route
Today's route takes you through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug ('heuvel' means hill). Still, you have nothing to fear from these Dutch hills, as the inclines are moderate at best. In total, you'll climb 3 hills on this day. The highest one is a 50 meter ascend, the lowest only 30. Easy peasy! Near the very end of the route, you'll come across the most central point of The Netherlands. There's a small boulder that marks this point. It's worth looking up the exact location beforehand if you want to see it.
Day 5 - Lunteren > Arnhem
If you want more hills, that's what you get on Day 5! The route crosses two of The Netherlands' most iconic national parks. You will come across some gravel roads, but the average road bike should still be able to handle it. For those interested in (military) history, the Battle of Arnhem may ring a bell. Close to Arnhem, in Oosterbeek, you can visit the War Cementry and Airborne Museum Hartenstein. Alternatively, check out the Open Air Museum to learn more about Dutch history in general. In any case, Arnhem is located in a beautiful, green part of the country that nature-lovers will definitely appreciate.
Accommodation and food
As Arnhem is quite a progressive city, there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian eateries to choose from. Accommodation is likely to be good as well, as you can find campsites and hotels surrounded by green on the outskirts of the urban areas. Still, you will be in reasonable distance of the city centre, especially when you have a bike at your disposal.
Route
This day will take you slightly uphill to cross two national parks. These areas are a unique sight of sandy plains with purple bushes. It's no surprise that this region is one of the most popular parts of the country for leisurely cycling. In the middle of the first park, you can stop to visit the modern art museum Kröller-Müller. Some parts of both parks are paved, but you will certainly come across some gravel-like paths as well. I have cycled here on a road bike before and the views are absolutely worth the somewhat less than ideal road surface.
Day 6 - Arnhem > Nijmegen
Nijmegen is another fun city! It is known for its annual walking event, where people walk up to 50 kilometres for 4 days in a row. There are a few fabulous mountainbiking trails nearby that are worth dedicating an extra day to. For those interested in Roman times, a day trip to Xanten will allow you to explore an archeological park, which contains both replicas and real excavations. Otherwise, you can simply spend the afternoon relaxing on the river beach or in one of the Nijmegen parks.
Accommodation and food
Route
Today's route is very chill: it starts off with a descent for the first quarter and is pretty much flat for the remaining part. It's a very Dutch route not only because of the flat terrain, but also due to the vicinity of water. You'll cycle in between two major rivers. I would argue against a more direct route, as it is nice to cycle along the water. You finish by crossing an impressive bridge that brings you right into the centre of Nijmegen. Again, it is possible to add on the distance of Day 7 for a faster trip.
Day 7 - Nijmegen > Vortum-Mullem
It's a relatively short distance to get to Vortum-Mullem, but there are several places along the way where you might want to stop. This region has a lot of history, dating back as far as Roman times. For more recent history, you can visit the Vrijheidmuseum ('freedom museum') and Canadian war cementry near Groesbeek. A bit further south is the Mookerheide, a nature area you will like if you enjoyed the Veluwe. Near the end of the route, you can opt for a small detour to see the ruins of the Bleijenbeek castle.
Accommodation and food
Route
On this day, you're leaving the city behind and ride towards a small village. It will be a scenic day with plenty of woodlands and cute towns to pass through. You will probably come across some forested areas that are not entirely tarmac, especially if you take the longer option through Germany. There should not be too much gravel, though, so road bikes will survive this day as well. For the longer route, you have to work slightly harder, as the first half is designed to incorporate some more hilly bits. For both route options you need to take a small ferry to cross the river at the end. In summer months, it runs until 21:30 in the evening.
Day 8 - Vortum-Mullem > Tegelen
Accommodation and food
Route
Again, there are two options. If you want to stick to tarmac roads and experience a more typical Dutch route, the first option is best. It's the most straightforward way to get to the next destination, and mainly passes crop fields. The second route option takes you past more natural parks. In this case, the day starts off with the ferry again in order to cycle on the opposite side of the Maas river. Whereas you will start off on soft ground amongst the trees, the last bit before Venlo will also be on tarmac and agriculture-themed.
Day 9 - Tegelen > Koningsbosch
Make sure to stock up on food, because there is not much around in Koningsbosch in terms of vegan friendly restaurants or supermarkets. It might actually be nice to go into Germany for a bit, as German supermarkets are known in the Dutch vegan community as having lots of great plant-based products. Other than that, try to enjoy the rural surroundings; perfect for a short digital detox!
Accommodation and food
As said, Koningsbosch is not the most lively place in the country, but the quiet has its own charm. For food, I recommend having a lunch stop in Roermond, where there are at least a few meat-free options. You will likely be staying the night at a small-scale campsite or B&B.
Route
Near the end of the cycling trip, this will be a welcome easy day. The surroundings will be typically Dutch, meaning flat farmlands. The roads should all be tarmac with dedicated bike lanes, although you may have to share the smaller roads with cars. Drivers are used to this (and you will probably be as well at this point), so there is nothing to worry about. Just enjoy the sights on this second to last day of cycling through The Netherlands.
Day 10 - Koningsbosch > Maastricht
The final day ends in the historical city of Maastricht. Make sure to pay a visit to the famous 'Dominicanen' bookshop located in a church. From Maastricht, you can take the train back to wherever you started. I do suggest staying in Maastricht for at least one full day to explore the nearby caves, the city's defensive walls and some museums. It is also a good place for further cycling into Germany or Belgium, for instance to Aachen or Liège. From Maastricht, you can also cycle (parts of) the Amstel Gold Race course and its challenging hills. The longer route option for Day 10 actually incorporates this already.
Accommodation and food
There are plenty of restaurants and ho(s)tels or B&B's to choose from in Maastricht. This southern city is a popular place for city trips amongst Dutch people, and for good reason! There are enough vegan-friendly places to suit all types of appetites, but it's worth having a plan of where to go. 'Normal' restaurants are likely to have few good meatless options. My favourite place for lunch and a suggestion for dinner are shown below (sadly a few vegan places I visited before have closed down).
Route
As you come closer to Maastricht, the terrain starts becoming hillier. The first part of the route is some easy cycling through Germany. At about three quarters in, you ride through the town of Valkenburg, which is a nice place for a stop. It's known for its mines, caves and castle ruins. All in all, this route won't take up a full day, hence why there is also a longer (and much more challenging) option. The difficult route starts out the same but branches off after Valkenburg to reach the highest point in The Netherlands and the place where 3 borders meet (The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium), before turning back towards Maastricht. This route is as hilly as it gets, so it's a good way to finish your Dutch cycling adventure.
Thank you!
I hope you've found this guide to be helpful in planning a cycle trip to The Netherlands. You can find more cycling and sustainable travel tips on my blog
Please let me know what you think of this guide, and share it with your friends and family! I would be especially grateful if you could leave a review. If you have any questions or want more tips on sustainable travelling, do get in touch via my Instagram page @the.sustainable.travel.guide