Description

Grand Tour IJsselmeer

Cycling Tour IJsselmeer – Self-Guided Cycling Grand Tour IJsselmeer
Start dates: Daily from April 1 to September 20
10 Days – 9 Nights
Total distance – 435km – 270 miles

Ready for a real cycling adventure? Take on the challenge of riding 435km all the way around Lake IJsselmeer. Along the route, you’ll enjoy stunning scenery while gaining a fascinating insight into Dutch history. The tour follows some of the most beautiful and peaceful roads and cycle paths imaginable, winding through the historic landscape of the former Zuiderzee and past charming old fishing and trading towns, each with its own story. A wide variety of beautiful scenery defines this journey. As with all our carefree cycling tours, luggage transfer and excellent accommodation are included.

Do you only need a bike for Amsterdam? BOOK HERE

Discover the charm of the Lake IJssel bike tour, where history and nature meet. Cycle along winding dikes through a richly layered historical landscape, passing beautiful old fishing and trading towns. Enjoy a wide variety of beautiful scenery along the water, with the journey crowned by an overnight stay in vibrant Amsterdam.

A Complete Cycle Tour Around Lake IJsselmeer

The tour begins in Huizen, cycling along the shores of Lake IJsselmeer to lively Amsterdam, famous for its canals and historic atmosphere. From Amsterdam, the route heads north to Hoorn, a former trading town with a rich maritime past. You continue from Hoorn to Medemblik, riding along quiet dikes with wide views over the water. The next stage takes you from Medemblik to Makkum, crossing into Friesland on peaceful cycle paths through open landscapes.

From Makkum, the route leads to Rijs, where the scenery becomes greener and more wooded. Cycling on to Zwartsluis or Vollenhove, you pass through a landscape shaped by lakes, canals, and wetlands. The journey continues from Zwartsluis or Vollenhove to Harderwijk, following the historic coastline of the former Zuiderzee. The final stage returns from Harderwijk to Huizen, completing a varied and memorable circuit around Lake IJsselmeer.

Happy Cycling!

Team Cycle Classic Tours

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Day 1

Arrival in Huizen

Day 2

Huizen - Amsterdam - 37km

Get an early start so you will have plenty of time to visit Amsterdam. Your first stop today is at the fortified medieval town of Naarden, built in a star shape fort to enable better use of cannons; the moat and walls have been very well preserved. Further down the route, you will arrive at the town of Muiden, situated at the mouth of the River Vecht. Home to the most visited castle in the Netherlands, Muiden Castle was built on a moat in 1280 by Count Floris V of Holland to collect a toll from passing ships on the River Vecht. With the interior restored to how it looked in the 17th century it is certainly worth a visit. Then Amsterdam awaits you.

Day 3

Amsterdam - Hoorn - 61km

There’s so much to see and do in Amsterdam! Make sure you have an early start. Have you been to see the Gallery of Honour at the Rijksmuseum since the makeover? Why not pop in for a quick visit before you hop back on your bike and plunge into the peaceful countryside? Waterland awaits, with wet meadows, wooden bridges and windswept reeds and rushes. Waterlandsmuseum “De Speelklok” in the pretty village of Monnickendam explains the history of this extraordinary cultural landscape. Then cycle up the shore of Lake Markermeer to friendly Volendam. The quaint stone houses in the distinctive heart of the catholic fishing village seem to have been drawn up without an organized street plan. "De Dijk”, overlooking the harbour, is lined with souvenir shops, pavement cafes and restaurants. Just around the corner is the pretty village of Edam. For centuries, small, round, salty cheeses produced by dairy farmers in neighbouring polders were shipped out of Edam and exported all over Europe. For six weeks in summer, a traditional Wednesday-morning cheese market is held as a tourist attraction by local volunteers (10.30 -12.30 hrs). At the end of the day, you’ll reach the lovely, historical town of Hoorn. Like Enkhuizen (see day 4), it has a history in whaling, shipbuilding, fishery and - most importantly – shipping and trade. Both towns housed branches (“chambers”) of the Dutch East India Company.

Day 4

Hoorn - Medemblik - 49km

Continue up the shore of Lake IJsselmeer, atop the old sea dike, along the beautiful town of Enkhuizen. Don’t miss Zuiderzee Museum, which tells the story of the days when ships from the Zuiderzee sailed the seven seas trading in bulbs and spices; the days when Holland dominated world trade, and the Dutch East India Company was the first-ever multinational. This period is known as the Golden Age and roughly spans the 17th century. The museum has also combined a collection of historical architecture with demonstrations of traditional trades. On the second stretch of today’s lakeside route, you’ll see more cropfields, orchards, and windmills before you reach Medemblik. It’s an old town, with a marina, a bakery museum ,and a steam engine museum.

Day 5

Medemblik - Makkum - 59km

Today is the day you cross the Afsluitdijk! Cycle through Wieringermeer Polder (created 1927 -1934) to the starting point of the dam at Den Oever. The closure dam is 34 km long and was completed in 1932. It cut off the Zuiderzee from the North Sea. This was necessary to stop the sea from flooding towns on the Zuiderzee. Once the dike was in place, the sea became a lake. By 1940, the saltwater had been replaced by fresh water from the River IJssel. Except for the eel, none of the Zuiderzee fish survived. A new freshwater fish population replaced them. On the other side of the closure dam, you will find yourself in Friesland province in the town of Makkum. The cycle path on the Afsluitdijk is currently closed for construction works. During the closure, cyclists can make use of a free bus which will transport them to the other side. Bikes can also be transported on this bus. The bus goes once every hour. If you have a tandem, wheelchair, or other type of bicycle, it cannot come with the bus as standard

Day 6

Makkum - Rijs - 47km

The people of Friesland have their own language (a proper language, not a dialect) closely related to English. When they say butter, bread, and green cheese in Frisian, it sounds like English and not like Dutch "boter, brood en groene kaas”. You will find bilingual road signs and local Frisian specialties such as “Fryske Dumkes” (hazelnut biscuits). Drift south along a string of interesting old villages, of which Hindeloopen is a favourite. It is famous for its colourful traditional costumes and painted furniture. At the village of Workum, stop to consider for a minute that for 250 years, up until the Second World War, fishermen from this town caught eel only to sell it... in England. They even had their own mooring places on the Thames. Today, like Makkum, the place is better known for its pottery.

Day 7

Rijs - Zwartsluis/Vollenhove - 69km

In the morning, you will cycle through Gaasterland, undulating and woody, to your first port of call, the picturesque town of Lemmer, a favourite with boaters in summer. Next, it’s full steam ahead to a World Heritage Site: Wouda steam-driven pumping station has been operational since 1920 and was used to drain a lake. For centuries, windmills took care of water management in the Netherlands before steam engines took over. Nowadays, most of our 1600 pumping stations are electrically powered. In the afternoon, nature lovers will bask in the beauty of Weerribben-Wieden National Park, where water, reeds, and rushes dominate the landscape. It is said to be the most valuable marshland of north-western Europe. In case our hotel in Zwartsluis is not available, you will spend this night in the lovely Hanseatic city of Vollenhove. You will have the chance to visit Zwartsluis the upcoming morning.

Day 8

Zwartsluis/Vollenhove - Harderwijk - 62km

After exploring Zwartsluis, popular with boaters and other water sports enthusiasts, you will set off atop the old Kamperzeedijken (Kampen sea dikes) to the marvellous town of Kampen. It has one of the best-preserved town centres in the country. Check out the town gates on the River IJssel side of town. Kampen was a member of the Hanseatic League, a northern European alliance of trading guilds in the 13th-17th centuries. Their main aim was to ensure safe passage for travelling merchants. They also helped each other with information, knowledge, contacts and privileges. This network generated income, allowing merchants to invest in culture and architecture. Perhaps this explains why Hansa towns, centuries on, are so attractive to tourists. The River IJssel, which emptied into the Zuiderzee sea, counted several Hansa communities on its banks. In the afternoon, pick up the route again and follow the fringes of Veluwe Forest down to Harderwijk. Just think, this was once a bustling fishing town on the Zuiderzee, and now it stands on a lake overlooking a polder…

Day 9

Harderwijk - Huizen - 49km

Set those wheels in motion and pedal along the shores of Randmeren lakes. Arkemheen-Eemland is wide open, empty and a National Heritage Landscape. The area was surrounded by dikes in the year 1360 to stop cropfields from being flooded by the sea. Arkemheen polder is special because the original lots are still intact. The lots are divided by curvy creeks, remnants of Zuiderzee tidal streams. Some plant species still recall the influence of salt water. Part of the polder is being preserved as a bird habitat for “Natura 2000”. The visitors’ centre has more information. Should you have an abiding interest in the Age of Steam, you may like to visit the steam-driven pumping station Hertog Reijnout. It controlled water levels in the low-lying polder from 1883, taking over from a windmill with the same name.

Day 10

Return Home

After breakfast, it’s time to go home.

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Booking Information

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For inquiries, send an email to info@cycleclassictours.com

Hotels:

Fletcher Hotel Nautisch Kwartier 3* (Huizen)
Westcord Art Hotel 3*/4* (Amsterdam)
Hotel de Keizerskroon 3* (Hoorn)
Hotel Medemblik 3* (Medemblik)
Beach Hotel de Vigilante 4* (Makkum)
Hotel Jans 3* (Rijs)
Hotel Zwartewater 4* (Zwartsluis)
Best Western Hotel Baars 4* (Harderwijk)

Nearest Airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
The train from Schiphol to Naarden-Bussum departees 4 times per hour. Travel time is about 40 minutes. A single ticket costs approx €7,- per person excl. bicycle.
For timetables and tickets, go to www.ns.nl/en. From Naarden-Bussum you should take the bus to Huizen. This is about 20 minutes and wll costs about €2,50 per person.
For timetables and tickets: www.9292.nl/en.

Extra Information

Please do not make travel plans until you receive our confirmation.
Please be advised that we make every effort to ensure that all the information given on this site is accurate. All statements and information have been researched and supplied by third parties.
The information given is accurate and reliable, to the best of our knowledge. Should errors be found, we will rectify them as quickly as possible. However, we accept no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies.

Included

3*/4* star hotels
9 Nights
Tourist tax
Breakfast
Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information
7-days a week service-hotline
Luggage transfer (Max. 1 piece 20kg p.p.)
Route information available in the app

Not Included

Road Bike Rental Carbon Ultegra Disc €400
Gravel Bike Rental €375
Child Bike €99
Hybrid €117
E-Bike €252
Child seat €45
Child trailer €162
Helmet €10
Extra piece of luggage €45
Ferry crossings
Extra night double room €85 p.p.
Stay in Amsterdam on Saturday €25 p.p.
Upgrade Hotel Heavens, Hoorn €35 p.p.
Upgrade Westcord Art Hotel, Amsterdam €10 p.p.
Upgrade van der Valk hotel Hoorn, Hoorn €15 p.p.

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Grand Tour IJsselmeer

Discover the charm of the Lake IJssel bike tour, where history and nature meet.

Moderate

Apr 1 - Sep 20

3/4 Hotels

(On request)

+ €495

Included

Included

+ €85

Included

Available

7 days a week

Description

Grand Tour IJsselmeer