Island hopping through the Netherlands

The capital of the Dutch province of Friesland is your first overnight stop on the island hopping tour through the Netherlands. After checking in at the hotel, grab your bike and cycle into the pretty old town of Leeuwarden. It is completely surrounded by a canal. Visit the leaning De Oldehove, an unfinished church tower, from the top of which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.

Your first stage takes you to Boalsert. The small pilgrimage town was once built on three terps. Visit the Sonnema Berenburg distillery and taste the famous herbal bitters. Sneek, known for its water gate, is your destination for today. Situated in the middle of the Frisian Lake District, the town and its surroundings are a magnet for water sports enthusiasts. Created in the Middle Ages through peat extraction, the nearby Sneekermeer now offers a wealth of activities for recreational captains and water rats. Take a boat trip!

Today you will be heading to Lake IJssel. Pass countless lakes and experience the tranquillity and timelessness of the Frisian water landscape. Not far from your stage destination of Rijs, the vastness of Lake IJssel opens up to you. Grazing sheep on the dyke, the fresh sea air, a clear view into the distance – enjoy the idyllic atmosphere on a walk not far from Lake IJssel. How about an evening picnic with a view of the sea?

Along the coast of Lake IJssel, you first reach the harbour town of Stavoren, once the home port of Frisian kings and sailors. A few kilometers further north, Hindeloopen is a good place to make a stopover. Many sights, characteristic house gables and wooden bridges bear witness to the former heyday of this pretty trading town. Your overnight stay in Makkum is in no way inferior. Visit the Koninklijke Tichelaar, the oldest earthenware factory in the Netherlands, which has been producing earthenware since 1640.

From Makkum, you cycle along Lake IJssel for a while today. On your left, you will see the 32-kilometre-long Afsluitdijk, which separates Lake IJssel from the Wadden Sea. Your destination, the historic harbour town of Harlingen, is particularly worth seeing due to its more than 600 monuments. With its picturesque old houses, typical canals and lively harbors, it is hardly surprising. You can settle in comfortably for the next few days at the hotel in Harlingen, where you will also spend the next two nights.

What would a cycle tour in Friesland be without a trip to the Wadden Islands? It's off to Vlieland. You can easily reach the car-free island by ferry from Harlingen. There are about 26 kilometers of cycle paths on the island. Many high dunes, long sandy beaches and small wooded areas complete the idyllic picture of the smallest West Frisian island. In the only village on the island – Oost-Vlieland – a visit to Tromp's Huys is well worthwhile. The oldest house on Vlieland now houses a museum about the history of the island. The Vuurboetsduin, a 40-metre-high wooded dune with a lighthouse at the top, is a great place to climb.

Enjoy the idyllic peace and tranquillity of another West Frisian Wadden island. From the ferry, the first thing that catches your eye is the majestic Brandaris lighthouse in the harbour town of West-Terschelling. The 30-kilometre-long and up to 500-metre-wide sandy beach is easy to reach by bike. Sunbathing, the sound of the sea and the best views of the North Sea are guaranteed. For those who like it more active, a mudflat hike is highly recommended. Sturdy footwear is important here! With a bit of luck, you might see a group of sunbathing seals on one of the sandbanks.

Today you say goodbye to the sea. A few kilometers inland you will reach Franecker. The street Eise Eisingastraat, named after the amateur astronomer, is home to the oldest functioning planetarium in the world. Once you reach the village of Hogebeintum, you will find yourself on the highest terp in the Netherlands at just under nine meters above sea level. In your destination, the fortified town of Dokkum, time seems to have stood still. The characteristic stepped gables and canals exude a special atmosphere that makes the pilgrimage town interesting not only for pilgrims.

Today you cycle through typical Frisian landscapes back to Leeuwarden. Thanks to the few stage kilometers, you will have enough time to explore the city once you reach your destination. Visit the largest provincial museum in the Netherlands, the Fries Museum, with thousands of objects from art, culture and history. Alternatively, take a stroll along Kleine Kerkstraat, one of the most charming shopping streets in the Netherlands.

After breakfast, your island hopping tour through the Netherlands unfortunately comes to an end. We are happy to extend your stay with an extra night.