15 day Dutch cycling trip 22, post (?) Covid, post Brexit
Jul 17th, 2022, 03:24 AM
#21
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Depends on the restaurant you choose I guess. Most don't have a menu outside it is true, but then they mostly cater to locals, or have the menu online.
Sadly Heineken and InBev still rule the beer and soft drink selections at most restaurants. Having experienced Coca-Cola owned Finley tonic and ginger beer recently because I was driving, I can safely say they taste the same (fizzy sugar) just the colour is different.
There are loads of small breweries now in the Netherlands (more than in Belgium) but finding places serving their beer can be tough. our local brewery has it's own place and some of the local restaurants/cafe's serve their brews. Our nearest supermarket sells it too.
Heusden and Leerdam are lovely places. I'm glad you stumbled on Heusden and visited Leerdam, both off the average tourist's radar.
Try not to melt in the next few days!
Sadly Heineken and InBev still rule the beer and soft drink selections at most restaurants. Having experienced Coca-Cola owned Finley tonic and ginger beer recently because I was driving, I can safely say they taste the same (fizzy sugar) just the colour is different.
There are loads of small breweries now in the Netherlands (more than in Belgium) but finding places serving their beer can be tough. our local brewery has it's own place and some of the local restaurants/cafe's serve their brews. Our nearest supermarket sells it too.
Heusden and Leerdam are lovely places. I'm glad you stumbled on Heusden and visited Leerdam, both off the average tourist's radar.
Try not to melt in the next few days!
Jul 17th, 2022, 06:47 AM
#22
Day 4 and 5. To Den Bosch
The direct route to Den Bosch needs us to cross a lot of ferries, so we modified the APP's route slightly to take out a couple. This allows us to pass by Kasteel Heukelum and Dam Blok two private castles along the way. Two ferries and lots of 'burbs of Den Bosch. Arriving in a medievel city centre with lots of shops/tourists and cyclists it is a bit scary but following the numbers we end up at the Cathedral and walk to the Cathedral close and phone-shake into our flat.
The flat is up two flights of very steep stairs but has everything we want including a washing machine to get our clothes washed. Tomorrow is a day of heavy rain so we need to develop Plan A and Plan B. Hieronymus Bosch. Was born and worked in town, which also has a museum, a cathedral and some great shopping. Should be easy
Day 5 had me doing a fair bit of ironing, a visit to the all the sites above of which the Bosch museum was most impressive. It holds no original works, but is does show most of the works together, it is in a former 1910's church which is attractive on its own plus it was dry compared to the outside.
The direct route to Den Bosch needs us to cross a lot of ferries, so we modified the APP's route slightly to take out a couple. This allows us to pass by Kasteel Heukelum and Dam Blok two private castles along the way. Two ferries and lots of 'burbs of Den Bosch. Arriving in a medievel city centre with lots of shops/tourists and cyclists it is a bit scary but following the numbers we end up at the Cathedral and walk to the Cathedral close and phone-shake into our flat.
The flat is up two flights of very steep stairs but has everything we want including a washing machine to get our clothes washed. Tomorrow is a day of heavy rain so we need to develop Plan A and Plan B. Hieronymus Bosch. Was born and worked in town, which also has a museum, a cathedral and some great shopping. Should be easy
Day 5 had me doing a fair bit of ironing, a visit to the all the sites above of which the Bosch museum was most impressive. It holds no original works, but is does show most of the works together, it is in a former 1910's church which is attractive on its own plus it was dry compared to the outside.
Jul 17th, 2022, 11:50 AM
#24
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On the other hand Dutch beer is getting better. After years of Heinikin and Jupiter you can now get Belgian beer and yeast or wheat beers and even some immature IPAs.
There are over 600 Dutch breweries. some are going to be hard to find. But a any bar worth it's weight will have a local brew.
My preference is bokbier.
As your are in North Brabant try to look out for https://vanmollcraftbeer.com/
A larger Brewery in the area is Bavaria. They have Oud Bruin which is different, but not to my liking
https://www.ratebeer.com/top-beers?country=Netherlands
Jul 17th, 2022, 12:27 PM
#26
Beer
40 years ago the beer found in most Dutch bars was terrible. Don't worry it wasn't good in the UK either.Now it is much better. And you can get Belgian beers in Dutch Bars. You can also get wheat and yeast beers. You can also get IPAs just not mature ones. Immature IPAs are very fashionable at the moment.
I hope that is clear
40 years ago the beer found in most Dutch bars was terrible. Don't worry it wasn't good in the UK either.Now it is much better. And you can get Belgian beers in Dutch Bars. You can also get wheat and yeast beers. You can also get IPAs just not mature ones. Immature IPAs are very fashionable at the moment.
I hope that is clear
Jul 18th, 2022, 08:15 AM
#31
Day 6, the decision to start to travel in a figure of eight. So we look around and choose Rossum which is next to Saltbommel (what a name) and a gentle ride so after a slow start and we headed gently north. We left Den Bosch by the north and the one remaining fort of the city's defences. The usual wonderful wildlife and quiet cycle path ways took us to our lodging in a few hours. We had found a restaurant with rooms at the Golden Mill. Perched just behind the dyke at the confluence of a fair few waterways it was delightful, there was a small abandoned fort just across the way and three ancient rowing boats plus teams were staying the night in the place before going on in the morning. The food was wonderful but the booked party until 1:30 am was a bit of a pain.
Just outside the Golden Mill
Just outside the Golden Mill
Jul 18th, 2022, 08:29 AM
#32
Day 7
In the morning, after a filling breakfast we headed off along the dykes past Saltbommel (another fortified town), partially back up a route we had already passed and then along dykes that had been closed only a few days back towards Gorinchem. A very hot day, past storks nesting in electrical pylons, pulling a lamb out of a wire fence where she had stuck her head. A lunch stop at Fort Verun, which seemed to consist of apple pie and icecream and then into the fortified town of Gorinchem. We stayed in an old building recently converted into a B&B, bought on-line from South Africa during Covid as a retirement project. We ended up with a suite looking out onto the old part of town. Just outside the walls of the town there was a hippy-concert going on (according to the owner). We ate in a pancake restaurant again run by the disabled.
In the morning, after a filling breakfast we headed off along the dykes past Saltbommel (another fortified town), partially back up a route we had already passed and then along dykes that had been closed only a few days back towards Gorinchem. A very hot day, past storks nesting in electrical pylons, pulling a lamb out of a wire fence where she had stuck her head. A lunch stop at Fort Verun, which seemed to consist of apple pie and icecream and then into the fortified town of Gorinchem. We stayed in an old building recently converted into a B&B, bought on-line from South Africa during Covid as a retirement project. We ended up with a suite looking out onto the old part of town. Just outside the walls of the town there was a hippy-concert going on (according to the owner). We ate in a pancake restaurant again run by the disabled.
Jul 18th, 2022, 08:41 AM
#33
Day 8 was to be another short trip to a fortress but we decided to fit in a few other visits along the way. Woudrichem (fortified town), Giesen (and another castle), then we skirted an open air religious festival that Mrs Bilbo tried to sneak into. Finally running on empty we turned up at Fort Altena for a late lunch. For once our planning failed us as Fort Altena's restaurant closes at 5pm and we got their at 4:15. “Can we eat”.... “Yes”.... “Great” sitting down “can we see the Menu”....”Yes, but not everything is on”....... What this meant was that since only 45 minutes were left in the service they could do child portions of McNuggets (without the Mc,) McFish bites and chips and that was it as “Chef goes home in 45 minutes”.
Needless to say, 4 McNuggets and chips later we hit the road and head off to our night stop at Fort Bakkerskil which is wonderful.
We stayed in an ammo store. Ukraine so far and yet so near.
Needless to say, 4 McNuggets and chips later we hit the road and head off to our night stop at Fort Bakkerskil which is wonderful.
We stayed in an ammo store. Ukraine so far and yet so near.
Jul 22nd, 2022, 01:54 AM
#38
Day 9, after a good night in the fortress we set off for Dordrecht by crossing the Natural Park of Biesboch which is a flooded area. Lunch was at the park centre. But very very hot and so pretty pleased to be entering Dordrecht and our accommodation was a converted factory on the waterfront and we ate at the old Post office. Just amuse, the hiring policy seemed to be based on muscle bound men in tight Ts.
Jul 22nd, 2022, 01:58 AM
#39
Day 10 & 11, we moved onto Gouda (it seems is not pronounced “Good ah”). Part of the journey needs us to cross water near Krimpen (again) where we pick up picnic material and then head into the open countryside up to Gouda. A head wind is the worst part of the day and Mrs Bilbo is flagging. In Gouda the number system lets us down badly for the first time but we had a backup and found our AirBnB in the centre of town, in a rebuilt high-tech flat for 2 nights including use of a washing machine. Our rest day was only ruined by by loads of police and ambulance outside the place as some poor guy had fallen off some scaffolding. Indonesian and Mexican food was our choice for two evenings and we also got to see the Gouda cheese local auction.
Say "Cheese"
Say "Cheese"
Jul 22nd, 2022, 02:07 AM
#40
Day 13 to Delft (where the pots come from)
This took us down towards Den Hague and buildings get posher with more guarded gates to buildings and more limos. The number system had a couple of errors but even here we found open countryside, with canals and wildlife plus the odd little restaurants (just not as many as one might like). Delft was a delight until we hit yet another diversion on the outskirts of town and then realised we had hit tourist town. Wonderful buildings, in the old fortified centre and lots of Spanish groups wandering the place. The hotel, on the other hand, was an 8 storey international style thing on the edge of the old town. Not impressive but the place was close to an Indian Curry house.
Imagine having this massive square with these two edifices at each end
This took us down towards Den Hague and buildings get posher with more guarded gates to buildings and more limos. The number system had a couple of errors but even here we found open countryside, with canals and wildlife plus the odd little restaurants (just not as many as one might like). Delft was a delight until we hit yet another diversion on the outskirts of town and then realised we had hit tourist town. Wonderful buildings, in the old fortified centre and lots of Spanish groups wandering the place. The hotel, on the other hand, was an 8 storey international style thing on the edge of the old town. Not impressive but the place was close to an Indian Curry house.
Imagine having this massive square with these two edifices at each end
