Experience Utrecht and the countryside
Utrecht Cycling Holiday
Cycle through Utrecht’s scenic canals and charming countryside, where every ride offers something new to discover. #Lovevelo #LoveCycling #Ridefurther
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Enjoy the Green Heart from Utrecht
What to Expect on This Trip
Utrecht is a gem for cyclists looking to explore the Netherlands on two wheels. Whether you're an avid cyclist or just love the idea of getting lost in a scenic city that truly caters to bike lovers, Utrecht has it all. The city itself is a cycling hub, where you will find more bikes than cars, and the surrounding countryside offers perfect opportunities to ride through quintessential Dutch landscapes.
This is a single based trip
Your accommodation will be in a great hotel in Utrecht, perfect for exploring the city and the surrounding countryside.
We have a variety of bikes for you to explore the area including flat bar hybrid bikes, e-bikes and children's bikes.
As part of your cycling adventure, we will provide you with our curated set of digital routes. Just download to a GPS device or navigate from your phone. We will also provide hard copy maps if you'd like to use those.
We can organise your transfers from the station or the airport on request.
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Whether you're a keen road cyclist, enjoy riding an e-bike or hybrid bike, or want to get your family more active, we have the perfect cycling holiday for you.
Arrive & Depart At Any Time
Your Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Utrecht
Arrive in just 30 minutes from Amsterdam into Utrecht. The city is often called one of Europe's most beautiful canal cities, and it’s easy to see why. The city's centre is low-traffic, making it ideal for a relaxing stroll. As you wander around, you'll be treated to charming cafés, national monuments, and even UNESCO World Heritage sites, all in the shadow of the iconic Dom tower.
Day 2 - New Dutch Waterline
67km total distance
After a hearty breakfast, it's time to start your first cycling adventure! Ride along rivers and canals through beautiful landscapes as you make your way to the historic town of Culemborg before returning to Utrecht.
Today’s route takes you along the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, an 85 km military defence line once used to flood land and stop invaders. Now, this green corridor is a haven for wildlife and a cyclist’s paradise. Along the way, stop at Fort Vechten, the unique plofsluis dam, the fortified town of Vianen, and the charming old town of Vreeswijk with its boatyard and museum. A perfect mix of history, nature, and exploration.
If you wish, you can shorten the route by 5 km by taking a ferry at Fort Everdingen, the very cool home of brewery Duits & Lauret.
Day 3 - Rivers & Small Towns along the Old Dutch Waterline
66km total distance
Follow the scenic River Vecht as you leave the city behind and head to De Haar Castle, the largest in the Netherlands. Restored in 1892, this stunning neo-Gothic masterpiece invites you to explore its grand rooms, fully equipped kitchens, and the beautiful surrounding gardens.
Afterwards, hop back on your bike and follow the River Old Rhine to Woerden, a fortified town with centuries of history. Visit the local museum to uncover Roman artefacts before continuing to Oudewater. Here, you can step onto the scales at the famous Weighing Hall to see if you would have been accused of witchcraft!
Your ride continues along the picturesque River Hollandsche IJssel, leading you to the charming fortified town of Montfoort, full of historical gems. To finish the day, follow the River Leidse Rijn back into Utrecht's city centre, rounding off a day of history, nature, and adventure.
You can shorten your route by 9 km by skipping Oudewater and the small rivers Lange Linschoten and Hollandsche IJssel.
Day 4 - Oostelijke Vechtplassen
69km total distance
The Oostelijke Vechtplassen nature reserve, covering 7,000 hectares, offers a peaceful ride through a low-lying fen and lake district shaped by centuries of peat extraction. This wetland area, east of the River Utrechtse Vecht, is a birdwatcher's paradise and home to the renowned Loosdrechtse Plassen water sports hub.
Begin your journey along the southern edge of the reserve, passing several forts of the New Dutch Waterline. As you cycle along the River Vecht, you'll be treated to views of elegant country houses. If you're in the mood for some exploration, stop by picturesque villages like Maarssen, Breukelen, Loenen aan de Vecht, and Vreeland.
Continue weaving between the lakes, spotting wildlife as you go, before reaching Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. Here, the scenery shifts to fields of heather (breathtaking in August) and panoramic views. The wetlands at Tienhoven and Molenpolder showcase a rare floating bog habitat, a unique sight in this peaceful area. As you finish, the tranquil peat meadows around Westbroek and Groenekan provide a serene backdrop.
For a shorter route, skip Vreeland and the Tienhoven wetlands, cycling directly to Groenekan to save 8 km.
Day 5 - Castles, Orchards, Woods
68km total distance
Today’s ride takes you through some of the most picturesque landscapes east of Utrecht. Follow the Kromme Rijn and Langbroekerwetering canal as you cycle towards Wijk bij Duurstede. Along the way, you’ll pass a delightful mix of meadows, orchards, castles, and grand country houses. You’ll also experience the peaceful woodlands that line the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park.
Wijk bij Duurstede, once the bustling trade centre of Dorestad in the 7th to 9th centuries, is rich in history. Take time to explore the ruins of Duurstede Castle and wander around the serene Castle Park. St. John the Baptist Church, a Gothic national monument with an unfinished tower, is also worth a visit.
On your return to Utrecht, soak in the natural beauty of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug as you cycle towards the town of Doorn. Before finishing, don’t miss the impressive Slot Zeist, a grand castle surrounded by an elegant English landscape park.
For those looking for a longer ride, extend your route by 8 km to follow the ancient Roman frontier along the Lower Rhine. The picturesque village of Amerongen and the stunning Amerongen Castle are worth the extra effort!
Day 6 - Departure
After one final, satisfying buffet breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to bid farewell to your cycling adventure. As your holiday comes to an end, you’ll head home with wonderful memories of the scenic routes, historical towns, and unforgettable experiences you've had along the way.
What Our Cyclists Say
Wonderful tour of Holland beginning at Amsterdam - Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, Gouda and back to A. Six great days of using the many cycle paths through countryside and town, meeting helpful people (who all seemed to speak English) and seeing a variety of wild life and fields of flowers. Smooth transition from hotel to hotel: no problem with logistics. The canals were amazing. There were two couples, one of whom had an electrically assisted bike and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. Highly recommended.
Read full reviewGarry
Just recently got back from a fantastic cycle trip around Holland and wanted to say a big thank you to Macauley and Love Velo. Everything was perfect and went like clockwork. The bikes, route maps and information packs were all first class and made navigating from place to place extremely easy. All the hotels were great and in great locations and hotel staff extremely friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend this trip to others,
Read full reviewPeter
Our cycling holiday to Holland was organised superbly by Love Velo: the hotels were good: good food, nice & clean, nice rooms, excellent staff; the bikes were very good - easy to operate, looked quite new; the selected routes were really good - just far enough each day especially with kids. Undoubtedly the highlight was a day at Keukenhof Gardens which were absolutely stunning. Overall a wonderful trip and the weather was even kind to us.
Read full reviewIan
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