Cycling route Groene Ster and Friese Wouden
Cycling through a varied landscape of lakes, reed beds, swamp forests, and a small-scale woodland area shaped by traditional hedgerows and tree-lined banks.
The Landscape
To the east of Leeuwarden, the route begins in and around the Groene Ster recreational area, where water and greenery come together close to the city. You cycle past broad lakes, reed beds, and quiet patches of swamp forest, with ever-changing views across open shores and wide skies. Shaped by centuries of water management and peat extraction, the landscape feels both natural and carefully crafted.
Further east, the scenery shifts to the Friese Wouden, a characteristic bocage landscape of alder hedgerows, wooded banks, and small fields. Narrow roads follow the slightly higher sandy ridges, passing farms, hamlets, and sheltered country lanes. It is this transition from open waters to enclosed woodland that makes this cycling route remarkably rich and varied.
What You’ll Discover Along the Way
In the Friese Wouden, belts of woodland, hedgerows, and wooded banks give the route a sheltered character, with constantly changing light and views. On the drier sandy stretches, patches of heathland and nutrient-poor verges appear, adding a slightly wilder, more natural feel to the landscape.
Between the greener sections lie more open stretches of grassland and arable fields, neatly divided by ditches and long, narrow plots. Here you briefly experience a sense of space and wide views, before the route returns to the intimate, small-scale rhythm of the woodlands.
At several points, you cycle past wet fringes with reed beds and swamp forest, where water lingers close to the road. Small depressions and pools enhance the peat-like character, adding extra interest for those who appreciate fine natural details.
The Groene Ster, also known as the Kleine Wielen, creates a distinct lake-like atmosphere with broad stretches of water and ever-changing shorelines. Further along, De Leien and the Burgumer Mar blend seamlessly into the watery mosaic of open water, reed beds, and distant horizons.
Ride along with us on this virtual bike tour
Virtual cycling through the Groene Ster and the Frisese Wouden lets you experience the water-rich landscape near Leeuwarden from home, with lakes, reed fringes, and swamp forest around the Kleine Wielen. In the video, open views and green shorelines alternate quickly, making it ideal for a relaxed indoor cycling session.
Further along, you ride into the Friese Wouden, where wooded banks, alder hedgerows, and belts of woodland create a small-scale, sheltered landscape. The transition from open water to intimate, tree-lined lanes gives this virtual route plenty of variety and a truly outdoor feel.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near cycling junction 49 at the Simmerkrite in Leeuwarden. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
Distance: 51 km
Estimated riding time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Elevation gain: 10 m
Paved roads: 91%
Unpaved / semi-paved: 9%
Ideal for: e-bikes and city bikes
Along the way: several options for a coffee break or lunch.
