Ronde van Nederland(ish)

[CopperBrompton]

Last year, we cycled Hook of Holland to Esbjerg, so this year we're picking up at the closest sensible train station to where we left the country, and then very vaguely following the Ronde van Nederland route back to Hook of Holland.

I'm updating the blog daily:
http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/ronde/

 

[Kins]

Looking to go to Holland in August/Sept. Looking at a ferry from Harwich will cost approx £160 with bike (night crossing with cabin) and probably another £160 in train fares to get to Harwich. That about right? Also roughly cost of B & Bs. I will probably do half camping half B & B.

 

[rich p]

I did the Netherlands once....

 

[Shaunthesheep]

Looking to go to Holland in August/Sept. Looking at a ferry from Harwich will cost approx £160 with bike (night crossing with cabin) and probably another £160 in train fares to get to Harwich. That about right? Also roughly cost of B & Bs. I will probably do half camping half B & B.

.
Have you looked at sailing overnight from Hull to Rotterdam my be a bit cheaper than from Harwich

 

[psmiffy]

I did the Netherlands once....

I assume once was enough?

 

[Kins]

.
Have you looked at sailing overnight from Hull to Rotterdam my be a bit cheaper than from Harwich

Costs much more for same dates.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Looking to go to Holland in August/Sept. Looking at a ferry from Harwich will cost approx £160 with bike (night crossing with cabin) and probably another £160 in train fares to get to Harwich. That about right?

Return overnight crossing with bike was £150-something this time (June), and from memory about £110-ish in May. I'd imagine September will be cheaper than August.

Also roughly cost of B & Bs. I will probably do half camping half B & B.

A single en-suite room with breakfast can be anything from €40-65, less if you are ok with shared bathrooms. We mostly used bedandbreakfast.nl and hotels.com.

We're now in Brielle, so just a short ride and ferry hop back to Hook of Holland this evening.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Well, that was fun :-)

http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/ronde/

 

[User169]

Well, that was fun :-)

http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/ronde/

Nice blog. Next time you'll have to do Zeeland and the Limburg. Some proper hills down south!

 

[CopperBrompton]

I'm not allowed to do hills for moral, ethical, religious and medical reasons.

 

[User169]

I'm not allowed to do hills for moral, ethical, religious and medical reasons.

So putting those minor issues aside, what's stopping you?!

Edit: more seriously, if you haven't already been to Zeeland, a trip south from Hoek along the coast to Belgium would make a nice (flat) change from tree-lined cycle paths.

 

[CopperBrompton]

What's Belgium like to cycle in? I'm rather hooked on the Netherlands for the amazing cycling infrastructure and drivers that give way to cyclists at every opportunity.

 

[User169]

What's Belgium like to cycle in? I'm rather hooked on the Netherlands for the amazing cycling infrastructure and drivers that give way to cyclists at every opportunity.

Better food and beer!

Not quite the same infrastructure, but remember that bike racing is pretty much the national sport, so very hospitable for bikes.

 

[stumpy66]

Well, that was fun :-)

http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/ronde/

Good read and some nice pics. Ive always fancied doing a tour of holland, maybe next year

 

[CopperBrompton]

Better food and beer!

I'm a wine man myself, so beer doesn't sell it. :-) Food may ...