Cycling routes in North Holland
Cycling routes in North Holland take you through a province of striking contrasts, from dunes and wide sandy beaches to polders, green meadows, and expansive nature reserves with heathland and ancient woodlands. Ride through dramatic dune scenery, past reclaimed lakes, and over quiet dikes with sweeping views of water and open countryside. Along the inner dune belt and around major natural areas, forests and heather add an extra layer of variety. Historic towns and traditional fishing villages bring character to the journey, with the Zaanse Schans and the Beemster standing out as iconic cultural highlights. And if you hop across to Texel, you will cycle through dunes, pine forests, polders, and salt marshes, with the Wadden Sea stretching out as a wild horizon.
Cycling route Gooi and Eemland
Cycle through the Gooi and Eemland and explore a heritage-rich landscape where nature and history meet at every turn. Follow routes past ancient burial mounds and grand country estates, framed by tree-lined avenues and woodland edges that give the area its elegant character. In Eemland, the scenery opens into a renowned meadow-bird region with wide views across grassland and waterways, creating a ride that blends tranquillity, open space, and cultural heritage.
Cycling route Noordkop and Noordduinen
Cycle through the Noordkop and the North Holland Dunes and enjoy a varied coastal landscape filled with open space and salty sea air. Ride past wide sandy beaches and vast dunes, where dune valleys and quiet trails reveal ever-changing views. Beyond the dunes, the polders unfold into a classic North Holland scene of colourful bulb fields and straight polder roads, creating a striking contrast between sea, sand, and farmland.
Cycling route National Landscape Laag Holland and Waterland
Cycle through the National Landscape of Laag Holland and Waterland and experience a water-rich polder region filled with classic Old Dutch scenery. Pedal past narrow ditches and canals, across open peat meadows, and along dikes with wide, sweeping views. Windmills, historic village ribbons, and small wooden bridges add character to the ride, while reed beds and shallow lakes create a tranquil setting that is rich in birdlife.
Cycling route Gooi and Vecht Region
Cycle through the Gooi and the Vecht region and experience a classic peat landscape where waterways and estate heritage come together. Ride past large and small lakes and through wetland areas lined with reed beds and dense swamp forests. Historic buildings, elegant country estates, and long tree-lined lanes shape the atmosphere, making this route a rewarding mix of nature, water, and culture.
Cycling route Noordhollands Duinreservaat and Noord Kennemerland
Cycle through the Noordhollands Duinreservaat and North Kennemerland and explore the Netherlands’ largest and most extensive dune landscape. Ride through rugged dune valleys and along quiet sandy trails with constantly changing views, from open dunes to scrubland and dune lakes. Ancient woodland along the inner dune edge adds shelter and extra variety, making this cycling route a compelling blend of coastal nature, open space, and tranquillity.
Cycling route Wadden Island Texel
Cycle on the Wadden Island of Texel and enjoy a remarkably varied landscape where the North Sea, the Wadden Sea, and open farmland constantly alternate. Ride through dunes and along wide beaches, across forests and heathland, and on quiet polder lanes between meadows and fields. On the Wadden side, salt marshes and tidal flats deliver vast views and a strikingly bird-rich setting, making Texel an ideal cycling destination for nature, wide-open space, and true island atmosphere.
Cycling route Zaanstreek and Zaanse Schans
Cycle through the Zaanstreek and past the Zaanse Schans and discover a classic Dutch peat meadow landscape shaped by water and history. Ride alongside ditches lined with pollard willows and swaying reed beds, with wide grasslands where cows graze in peace. Working windmills and traditional wooden houses create unforgettable highlights, bringing together nature, the true polder feel, and the distinctive heritage of the Zaan region.
Cycling route National Park Zuid-Kennemerland and Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen
Cycle through National Park Zuid Kennemerland and the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen and experience a dynamic dune landscape shaped by relief and tranquillity. Ride over high dune ridges and past deep valleys, with quiet dune pools and flower-rich dune grasslands that keep the scenery changing. Historic estates and old tree-lined lanes along the dune edge add extra character, making this cycling route a rewarding mix of coastal nature, panoramic views, and cultural heritage.
Cycling route Land of Leeghwater and UNESCO World Heritage Beemster
Cycle through the Land of Leeghwater and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Beemster and discover a polder landscape that is precisely planned yet full of variety. Ride past peat meadows and fields, along straight roads and waterways, with canals, dikes, and drainage channels dividing the land into crisp lines. Traditional stolp farmhouses and historic buildings make distinctive landmarks, bringing together water-engineering history, wide-open space, and classic North Holland heritage.
Cycling route Hollands Kroon and Wieringen
Cycle through Hollands Kroon and across Wieringen and experience an open polder landscape shaped by water and dikes. Ride along canals and drainage ditches, through fields and meadows, and past reed beds and small polder woodlands that add variety to the scenery. Wieringen brings a special dimension as a former island, with gentle relief and distinctive villages, making this route a blend of classic North Holland polder views and a surprisingly historic landscape.
