Touring in The Netherlands - Guide books, tips etc?

[midliferider]

I did a 5 day tour couple of years ago. I went in the first week of Eater holiday to see Tulips. Scenery is beautiful. When do you intend to go? This is what we did.
Flew to Amsterdam airport and took train to the city. Hired a bike, pre arranged on the internet.
Bought a road map from the shop for about £10
We had planned our route on Google maps and just cycled. Got lost few times, people were very helpful and pointed us in the correct direction.
We stayed in hotels.

 

[Sara_H]

I did a 5 day tour couple of years ago. I went in the first week of Eater holiday to see Tulips. Scenery is beautiful. When do you intend to go? This is what we did.
Flew to Amsterdam airport and took train to the city. Hired a bike, pre arranged on the internet.
Bought a road map from the shop for about £10
We had planned our route on Google maps and just cycled. Got lost few times, people were very helpful and pointed us in the correct direction.
We stayed in hotels.

I haven't really decided yet. I'm hoping I can persuade my friend to come and if so we'' only do around 30 miles a day. I was originally thinking we'd ride to Amsterdam and back, but am happy to do something different.

 

[midliferider]

P and O seem to do a passenger service to Rotterdam Europoort.
http://www.poferries.com/tourist/co...ull_-_rotterdam_routes_-_hull_-_rotterdam.htm

I used that few years ago for a short, 3 day, ride in Amsterdam.
I got buy one get one free offer and paid additional for delayed departure.
I went with my then 14 year old son. Night crossing is bit fun, you can drink and dance if you want to or just relax. In the morning, they take you by coach to Amsterdam. We rented bikes and toured Amsterdam and where we can reach in few hours for 2 days.
Then got the coach back to ferry.
My son enjoyed it so much that he willingly participated in 5 day Tulip tour.
Now he is too old to go cycling with dad.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I'd echo the recommendation to go Harwich to Hook of Holland - done this three times, really good service and puts you straight onto the North Sea Cycle Route.

You can see a couple of trips here:
http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/northsea/
and here:
http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/amsterdam/

It's cycling heaven there, wherever you go.

 

[Amanda P]

Next summer I'm planning a short trip to The Netherlands. I'll be getting a ferry to and from Rotterdam Europort and am probably going to do a mon - fri trip, it may be that I just ride to Amsterdam and back.

Has anyone got any top tips, recommend any good maps or guide books. I'll probably camp to keep costs down, are campsites plentiful? Is wild camping frowned upon?

Thanks in advance, Sara

We've used the ferry from Hull to Europoort many times - a really useful overnight service and easy to get to if you're in Yorks or Lincs. Europoort isn't the easiest area to get out of, and if you're heading north from there it is rather a long way round, even if you can get a ferry across to the north side of the estuary. If you're heading east, you could do much worse than to find your way onto a long spit of land that splits the Brielsemeer and, if you follow it, leads you through quiet parkland into Spijkenisse and Hoogvliet.

Wild camping would be difficult in most areas, as the Netherlands are generally rather flat and featureless and it's hard to find anywhere out of the way and out of sight. There are some woodland areas, and if you're heading north up the coast from Rotterdam, there are some wild duney areas where one could tuck onself away out of sight for a night. There's also a network of 'Natur Kampings' - small campsites on farms usually, limited to four or five tents or caravans. Once you've found one of these, you can find out where the others are. I've never found any info online about them, but then I don't have any Dutch, which doesn't help.

You can read about some of our trips to and through the Netherlands here, here and here.

 

[Amanda P]

Oh yes, kaffee en gebak mid-morning is compulsory in the Netherlands. At least for cyclists.

 

[vernon]

Vondelpark Hostel on Amsterdam is good cheap accomodation. It also has secure bike storage in locked sheds.

 

[Will1962]

There's also a network of 'Natur Kampings' - small campsites on farms usually, limited to four or five tents or caravans. Once you've found one of these, you can find out where the others are. I've never found any info online about them, but then I don't have any Dutch, which doesn't help.

I think this is what you are looking for: http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/en/

Will

 

[JC4LAB]

Highly recommend the dutch Bulbfileds but thats April of course//and you have to weather watch.at that time cos it can be wet some years When its sunny its a colourfest...I myselfr use Hostelworld and Hostelbookers for accomodation as an alternative to wild camp ..If its the flexiblity you worry about you can usually just book a day or so in advance .Did my Tour of the bulb fields but using a fixed base guesthouse at Katwijk(near Nordwijk) a few miles away from Keufenhof gardens area which has the densest concentration of tulips..Best maps I found locally when there..Then headed for Amsterdam after for the Queens Day..celebrations.(recommend)..It just happened that a carnival tulip parade was heading From Norwijk there through all the tulip ,producing villages so a I followed it on the bike..to get there and took about 8hours...Kinderdiyk is the place if you like windmills...The Zuidersee Dkye ride (about 28 km)with the wind was another great expereinece.

 

[Sara_H]

Thank you so much for all the information everyone.
I spoke to my friend yesterday, her answer was no, but I've more or less persuaded her but camping and hostels are off the agenda!

 

[Amanda P]

I think this is what you are looking for: http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/en/

Will

Ah! The site look familiar, but I've got a feeling that it didn't work, and there was less English, when I last looked at it. Thanks for the link.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Thank you so much for all the information everyone.
I spoke to my friend yesterday, her answer was no, but I've more or less persuaded her but camping and hostels are off the agenda!

Take me then....?

 

[steveindenmark]

Dont camp. Use airbnb.com and select "Breakfast" in the filter.

It will work out as cheap as camping and your lady will go with you.

Steve

 

[midliferider]

Dont camp. Use airbnb.com and select "Breakfast" in the filter.

It will work out as cheap as camping and your lady will go with you.

Steve

Thanks for that info Steve. I have already booked hotels for my Alentejo, Portugal tour through Booking.com. Now I may cancel those bookings and use this website. It is not just the price but it sounds more authentic to stay with local people during touring.

 

[steveindenmark]

You have a choice with Airbnb. You can select Shared room or Entire apartment. We have done both all over Europe and always have a good time.

Steve