Bike Tour: Frisian Towns and Lakes - 6 days

Attractive Heerenveen originated as a peat digging site in 1551 on a spot where two canals crossed. It is the Netherlands oldest peat canal village. You might like to visit nearby country estate Museumpark Landgoed Oranjewoud, a woody and elegant country park which is the lovely natural setting for the Belvédère Museum for Frisian 20th century and contemporary art.

The rural landscape and the lakes you will encounter between Heerenveen and Lake IJsselmeer are man-made. This is peat bog, dug up for fuel (turf) many centuries ago, then partly drained and reclaimed for pastures for grazing cattle. The first large village you will reach on the route is bustling Lemmer, a port for pleasure craft on Lake IJsselmeer. The Wouda steam driven pumping station near Lemmer is the largest of its kind in the world. It has been operational since 1920 and is a World Heritage Site. From here, you will cycle through woody, slightly undulating Gaasterland, past the curious cliffs on the coast, to Rijs.

Today you can also choose to cycle a longer route of ca. 66 km. Then you will cycle an extra loop around the peatbog natural reserve Rottige Meente and along the river de Lende (close to small village of Ossenzijl and the National Park Weerribben). 

After the varied landscape in Gaasterland you will reach Stavoren, the oldest town in Friesland. Continue up the coast of Lake IJsselmeer, remembering its amazing history and enjoying the stunning views. Pass through the towns of Hindeloopen (world famous for its painted furniture), Workum and Makkum (known for its pottery) and find out about the history of these pretty towns. End the day in Harlingen, a harbour and trading town directly connected to the sea. 

Tip: if you want to spend a day cycling on the Wadden Island of Vlieland or Terschelling, then we can book an extra night in Harlingen for you and a return ferry ticket.  In the booking form, please add 1 extra night in Harlingen and the Boat tickets service. In the remarks field, add the name of the island you would like to visit. 

In the booking form, please add 1 extra night in Harlingen. In the remarks field, add the name of the island you would like to visit (the return boat tickets cost €55,- per person). 

Today's trip will take you through a landscape of dikes and villages, located on mounds that have been created during the past 600 years by the reclamation of the Wadden Sea. The edges of the shallow Wadden Sea are characterised by mud-flats with specialised vegetation that can cope with the salty tide seeping in twice a day between the mud banks. This landscape has always been shaped primarily by the sea. However, man has built dikes and terps to try to keep the sea out. In the afternoon, follow the River Dokkumer Ee all the way to compact and friendly Leeuwarden, the interesting capital of Friesland Province. This city was the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018.

On your last cycling day, you will leave the monuments and cultural highlights of Leeuwarden to set off towards the city of Sneek and the nearby lake, a popular area for watersports enthusiasts. Your next stop will be the Frisian town of Joure, where you might like to pause at a cafe for a bite of one of the sweet Frisian specialties.