Belgium

Netherlands

ACON Autocross Elystar Tour	Erick Barkhuis Monnickendam, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Noord Holland, NL July 20, 2003 Scooter Peugeot Elystar February, 2006 986
Elystar riders are not too willing to make a group ride. Expect to see and hear more than you ever thought at dirt races. In Noord-Holland, you'll have to dodge bicyclists on dike roads in the Summer. Schoorl is a holiday destination with climbing dunes. Also, in Schoorl a new area of dunes with original flora and fauna is being developed. Road signs and traffic rules are sometimes a terrible frustration for scooterists. In Wormer, the ground water level is managed using small windmills. More»

How interesting can a straight road be?	Francois Dumas Hoorn, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Afsluitdijk, NL Feb. 3, 2005 Motorbike BMW R1150RT February, 2006 1844
Frysians appear to work harder than others. The Afsluitdijk (Closure Dike) is not just a motorway connecting two coasts. Till is the material of choice for a dam this size. Giant sluices enable discharging of the IJsselmeer periodically. Cornelis Lely, who must have been a genius, made it all happen. A hasty car driver turns into a easy going RT rider. More»

Around Watergang Route	Uschi Thelen Zuiderwoude, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: North of Amsterdam Oct 2, 2004 Bicycle March, 2006 1508
In Broek in Waterland, most wooden houses are gray. Houseboats have all possible facilities available. In the twentieth century, Amsterdam developed in northern direction quickly. The Windmill District has nothing to do with windmills. The Twiske is both a protected natural park and a leisure park. In Overleek, one passes very old 'stolp' farms, typical for this Dutch area. The Speeltoren in Monnickendam is the only still existing building from 1355. In this town, the visitor can still smell eel being smoked. More»

Short ride around Amsterdam	Erick Barkhuis Monnickendam, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Amsterdam region, NL Dec. 30, 2004 Motorbike BMW R1100RT February, 2006 667
Very calm weather for a change. The countryside is found only 15 minutes from the center of Amsterdam in all directions. Plenty of scenic meandering rivers South of the city. Some windmills are dismantled. Durgerdam is an example of the historic fishermen's villages along the IJsselmeer dike. Expect to get coffee and hot appel pie at day time along the road. Blind corners and rough shoulders: a challenge! More»

Old polder in December	Erick Barkhuis Monnickendam, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: North of Amsterdam, NL Dec. 27, 2004 Motorbike BMW R1100RT February, 2006 757
Weather can be tough in December. Not much margin for error on some dike roads. Grosthuizen has an amusing speed limit policy. Katwoude used to be the smallest municipality in the country. Expect to ride well below sea level in the province of Noord-Holland. More»

The Bulb Tour	Francois Dumas Hoorn, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: North of Amsterdam, NL Apr.10, 2005 Motorbike BMW R1150RT June, 2006 941
April and May is prime time for tulip fields in the Netherlands. The area South of Haarlem is best known for its tulips, but the author rode an area at least as impressive. Botanist Clusius brought the tulip bulb to Holland. Billions of bulbs and bulb flowers are exported each year. The author recovered from the flu one week after the trip. More»

Germany

Niederrhein bicycle tour (I)	Wolfgang Z. Düsseldorf, D
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Kevelaer-Bedburg-Hau June 22, 2002 Touring bicycle March, 2006 1166
Kevelaer is a world famous pilgrimage center. Even the Pope has visited this place. Although Schloss Wissen is a large property and an impressive castle, it's not really good looking. Schloss Kahlbeck looked much nicer, but Schloss Moyland was today's absolute highlight. The barbeque at the hotel at night formed a welcome conclusion to this wonderful day of riding. More»

Niederrhein bicycle tour (II)	Wolfgang Z. Düsseldorf, D
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Bedburg-Hau-Kevelaer June 23, 2002 Touring bicycle March, 2006 1053
Kalkar has a nice market square, where riders meet. Xanten was rebuilt in pre war style after being destroyed in WW II. The archeological museum park of Xanten shows impressive remains of Colonia Ulpia-Trajana, an ancient roman city. This is also the venue for large annual family events. The ascending dirt track onto the Heesberg is not very recommendable, unless you're a mountainbiker. Two days trip successfully completed. More»

The Hase-Ems Tour: Gemütlichkeit in abundance (I)	Pieter Bergsma Arnhem, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Hase: Bramsche-Quakenbrück June 12, 2004 Touring bicycle February, 2006 730
A beginning bicyclist manages to do quite well. Not only Malgarten offers an interesting abbey. The Hase Ems Tour does indeed offer "Gemütlichkeit". Half timbered houses dominate the scenery of the Artland region. On the River Hase, people enjoy boat rides. More»

The Hase-Ems Tour: Gemütlichkeit in abundance (II)	Pieter Bergsma Arnhem, NL
Location: Date(s): Bike type: Published: Visited: Hase: Quakenbrück-Haselünne June 13, 2004 Touring bicycle February, 2006 658
Second part of a beginner's bicycle ride along the Hase River. The Essener Kanal structures the Hase delta. Löningen hosts the church with the largest pillarless hall of Lower Saxony. The church in Herzlake is a mixture of bits and pieces from several eras. The landscape here is not quite flat, but not at all tough to ride, either. Wind turbine parks are spread over the Emsland. Haselünne, the oldest town of the Emsland, is a very interesting travel destination. Trip completed without any incidents. More»