The Netherlands is traditionally the land of the bicycle and there is no better way to discover the country. The bicycle is used extensively by people of all ages for commuting, shopping, walking the dog, transporting young children, towing windsurf boards amongst others. It is also a common sight for cyclists to have a passenger sitting behind. Bicycles can be rented cheaply for a day or longer from most railway stations and they provide secure lock-ups.

There is a vast network of bicycle paths and signposted cycling routes and a myriad of tiny roads that lead into the heart of the polders, farming country, forests and heathland. Cycling in the Netherlands is a sociable business, not least because so many people do it. Don’t underestimate the older riders, who are willing and able to keep going in all weathers, often long after the young ones have given up for the day.

If you’ve resisted the temptation to join the legions of cyclicts in towns and cities for fear of swirling traffic, head out into the countryside. Hire a bike in town then take a train to almost anywhere you fancy, or hire a bike from the railway station at your destination.- most main stations and many small ones have hire factilities. Boarding a train at the end of the day is also a good way to get you, your bike and your weary legs back to base.

Once aboard your trusty stead, watch for blustery winds threatening to separate you from the saddle. Wind is a fact of life on the spirit-level-flat polders near the coast and anyone not up to the challenge is advised to seek a more sheltered experience on inland forest trails. Take heart though, even if you set off into the teeth of a strong wind, you may find that oin the way back it is now behind you, allowing you to fly with the wind in your sails.

In places where inhabitants and tourists are thin on the ground, and the pace of life slackens off a gear or two, you may be the only thing moving in the landscape – apart from the whirling windmill blades. There is an exhilarating sense of freedom and mobility on a bike. From the saddle, the countryside drifts past at a pace you can absorb. You feel like part of the process, instead of a four-wheel interloper.

For an easy, 4-hour round-trip avoiding most of the city traffic, cycle southwards along the banks of the River Amstel. After a half-hour or so, you emerge suddenly into the countryside on the way to the pretty village of Oudekerk aan de Amstel.

A tougher proposition is cycling round the IJsselmeer. Until the 1930s, this big lake on Amsterdam’s doorstep was not a lake but a sea, the Zuiderzee, which the Dutch penchant for reshaping their country has transformed. Who can resists cycling round a sea? For a cyclist, it is the perfect Dutch experience, immersed in wind, sun or rain, following a narrow track between the polders and the lake.

Experienced racing cyclists can do the 320-km (200 mile) round trip in a day. If you’re not getting as many miles to the gallon as you used to, set yourself a more modest target of four to six days. The IJsselmeer is one the most beautiful areas of the country, and there is more to cycling it than counting kilometres per hour.

The following list contains cycle tour companies including the ANWB (AA) and the VVV tourist information guide. These are just an example of the various tours available, please check with the local VVV offices for each region.

Ena’s Bike Tours: Tel: 020-962 3584, fax: 020-694 4691. Bike tours can be organised from Amsterdam in small groups with a guide and a bike for the day. You visit a windmill and cheese farm, take a boat ride and organise a picnic lunch (weather permitting), tour departs daily at 10am, June -Oct, from the Amstel station (Amsterdam); lasts about 7 hours.

The Postiljon Hotel Group organises 5 and 8 day fully catered biking holidays including luggage transport. Daily stages of 50-60kms from hotel to hotel. Tel: 05700-94140.

Cycling Tours

Signposted cycling tours, Amstelland and surroundings.

* Amstel tour, 20 miles.
* Bijlmermeer tour, 16 miles.
* Fortress tour, 83 miles.
* Gein tour, 12 miles.
* Schellingwoude tour, 13 miles.
* Schiphol tour, 15 miles.

Signposted cycling tours, Gooi and Vecht area

* Boerenland tour, 25 miles.
* Eemland tour, 25 miles.
* Erfgooiers tour, 16/24 miles.
* Fortress tour, 82 miles.
* Gooilust tour, 24 miles.
* Muiden tour, 19 miles.

Signposted cycling tours, Vechtplassen area

* Country Seats tour, 24 miles.
* Lakes tour, 25 miles.
* Ronde Venen tour, 24 miles.
* Vecht Valley tour, 25 miles.

Call VVV Hollands Midden for more information: 035-6944114.

Cycling events, Gooi and Vecht area
For more information call: 035-6477253.

Fietsgilde Cycling Tours in Gooi and Vecht area

The cycling association Fietsgilde ’t Gooi and Vechtstreek offers six cycling tours with interesting local information. One of the guides, locals with a thorough knowledge of the area, takes you through the landscape, providing you with historical details and local anecdotes. The area, its landscape and natural beauty will be extensively discussed during these cycling tours of approximately 22 miles. The tours area available every Wednesday and Saturday at 10 am between the end of April and the end of October. If there are more than eight in your party, you can also arrange for a different day and/or time.

Please register latest two hours prior to departure at the Fietsgilde coordinators via 035-6210272 or 036-5315519. This tour costs € 2.50 per person.

Cycling pop-up Amstelland

The Fietsklapper (cycling pop-up) consists of a pop-up map and a guide with route descriptions and information. Three tours take you through the landscape and its history. Groengebied Amstelland sets out the tours. The Fietsklapper is available from the VVV/ANWB in Aalsmeer, Hoofddorp and Uithoorn and the ANWB/VVV in Amstelveen at € 4.52.
* Around River Amstel, 10 miles.
* Around Gaasp and Gein, 15 miles.
* Around Hoep, 10 miles.

Cycling tour Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest)

This tour of about 9 miles (can be expanded) starts at the main entrance of Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest) at the Van Nijenrodeweg, and will take you past a goat farm, the riding stables of Amsterdam and various catering facilities. It also introduces you to some of Amsterdam’s well-kept secrets, such as Bird Island, the Amstelveen Pond and the Scottish Highland cattle. The cycling tour is available from the bicycle rental in the Amsterdamse Bos and the "Bosmuseum". The Amsterdamse Bos has over 30 miles of cycling paths, so it is easy to expand your 9-mile tour. For more information you can contact 020-6431414.

Schiphol tour, 11 miles.

For more information call 0900-72447465.

Cycling tours Gooi and Vecht area
Cycling tours Gooi and Vecht areaANWB Cycling map of Amsterdam and surroundings

* Ankeveen tour, 30 miles.
* Gooimeer tour, 30 miles.
* Gooi tour, 30 miles.
* Pampushout tour, 23 miles.
* Rondehoep tour, 25 miles.
* Vecht tour, 48 miles.

VVV cycling tours in the Gooi and Vecht area

This series contains twelve tours that mainly lead you through the beautiful landscape of the Gooi and Vecht area. However, enthusiastic cyclists can follow trails through to Loenen, Amersfoort and Woudenberg. The distances of the cycling tours ranges between 22 and 42 miles. The tours are available from € 0.90 at VVV offices, a large number of local bookstores and cycling shops, Bezoekerscentrum ’s-Graveland and Groeneveld Castle in Baarn. The series includes the following cycling tours:

The Last Days of Floris V, 45miles.
* Gooise Heide heath land, 23 miles.
* To Het Sticht, 22 miles.
* Around Hilversum, 25 miles.
* From Media Town to Boulder Town and back, 35 miles.
* River Vecht and Lakes, North, 23 miles.
* River Vecht and Lakes, South, 23/25 miles.
* Vuursche, De Treek and Amersfoort, 28 and 48 miles.
* Vuursche and Eempolder, 23 miles.

Nature monuments cycling tours

Available at € 1.60 each from VVV offices in the Gooi area, the VVV office in Loosdrecht and Bezoekerscentrum ’s-Graveland.

* Cycling tour Lakes of Gooi & Vecht, 20 miles.
* Country estates ’s-Graveland, 10 miles.
* Around Lake Naarden, 11 miles.

Cycling tours Vechtplassen area
Cycling tours Vechtplassen area ANWB cycling map of Amsterdam and surroundings

* Ankeveen tour, 30 miles.
* Rondehoep tour, 25 miles.
* Vecht tour, 48 miles.

VVV Cycling Tours in and around Loosdrecht

VVV Loosdrecht offers three cycling tours to help you discover Loosdrecht and its surroundings. These all start at the VVV office of Loosdrecht.

* Villages on River Vecht, 20 miles.
* River Vecht and Lakes, 23 miles.
* 7 villages tour, 24 miles.

Natural Monuments cycling tours

Available at € 1.60 each from VVV offices in the Gooi area, VVV Loosdrecht and Bezoekerscentrum ’s-Graveland.

* Cycling tour Lakes of Gooi & Vecht, 20 miles.
* Country seats ’s-Graveland, 10 miles.
* Around Lake Naarden, 11 miles.
* Angstel/Vecht
* Botshol/Baambrugge/Bosdijk
* De Haar
* De Hoef
* De Ronde Venen
* Kromme Mijdrecht

Natural Monuments cycling tours

* Cycling tour Lakes of Gooi & Vecht, 20 miles.
* Country seats ’s-Graveland, 10 miles.
* Around Lake Naarden, 11 miles.