As it Should Be
Netherlands (Friesland): Stage 01 – Hook to Leiden via Delft 45 Km (Tue 11 July 2023)
Weather: 14⁰C min – 24⁰C max, partly cloudy
“Don’t count the days, make the days count” ~ Muhammad Ali
Riding off the Stena Hollandica Superferry with 24 other cyclists this morning, I needed little reminding how good it is to be back touring in The Netherlands. What a buzz it is to be greeted by such a vast network of perfect bicycle paths, with cyclists darting every which way. This is how it should be! The perfect sunny day was a bonus.
I can’t tell you much about the overnight journey from Harwich UK to the Hook of Holland because I was sound asleep in my cosy cabin before the ferry departed at 11 pm, hardly stirring until arrival at 8 am. What I do remember though is lining up to board the ferry last night with so many other excited touring cyclists, all keen to share their adventures. Chatting to an interesting couple (Kirsty and Neil) from Devon, the time passed quickly and we were soon invited to ride up the ramp onto the waiting ferry.
You may well ask why I have returned to do another solo bicycle tour in the Netherlands, after having already completed a tour of Netherlands and Belgium in 2022.
Perhaps this picture of the country’s bicycle paths might help you to understand …
Netherlands Bicycle Routes
It’s amazing how the Netherlands’ infrastructure has been adapted to accommodate bicycles. Did you know that there are dedicated bike lanes spanning a total of 32,000 kilometers throughout the country? The only challenge is navigating the maze of paths, but cycle.travel has all the answers … just tell it where you want to ride from and where you want to ride to. I don’t know how it works but it never fails to come up with the safest and most scenic route.
Today was no exception. My route led me to Leiden via the charming town of Delft, where I enjoyed breakfast overlooking one of the town’s many picturesque canals. It was so pleasant sitting in the sunshine watching cyclists and pedestrians passing by that I just had to order a second double cappuccino!
All charged up with caffeine, I continued on in a northerly direction towards Leiden. Along the way I was blown away by Netherland’s amazing scenery … lush farmlands, delightful villages, colourful gardens, and picturesque canals.
Leiden has definitely lived up to my expectations. As the capital city of the province of South Holland, it has a population of approximately 125,000 people. It is known for its historic city centre, with numerous canals, bridges, and old buildings dating back to the 17th century. It is also home to Leiden University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, founded in 1575. It is a popular tourist destination and is a vibrant city with a lively student population, and excellent restaurants.
Tomorrow I am spending an extra day in Leiden, with the intention of cycling around Leiden lakes. But if the predicted rain eventuates I will be quite happy to just hang around soaking up Leiden’s vibe (and of course lots of coffee).
Wonderful to see your adventure is off to an auspicious start. The Netherlands certainly does seem ‘as it should be’ for cycling – and fascinating to learn that it was not always so (https://www.distilled.earth/p/how-the-netherlands-built-a-biking). Gorgeous, verdant scenery, lovely canals – and cows, and some of the biggest cheese wheels I’ve seen – enjoy!
Thanks Soph. A very interesting article which Australia could learn from.