takeaway7

My vacation to the Netherlands starts soon and first stop will be The Hague. I've already located a bike rental shop and it looks like there's a nice cycle path to Rotterdam. So, I plan to bike from The Hague to Rotterdam and back as a day trip. Anybody done it? Are there any interesting places to see along the way or get something to eat? Thanks!

PalenQ

Done it dozens of times - Delft is right in the way and the Delftware factory and museum are just out of town - on a canal that goes right to Rotterdam - follow that canal is a sweet way - bike paths the whole way.

https://www.google.com/search?q=porc...sm=93&ie=UTF-8

An easy way to go to Delft from Rotterdam is to follow the tram tracks and tramway that goes between them - bike paths of course along anuy Dutch main road.

From Delft hit the canal - stop by the really intereting Delftware Factory/showroom/museum and mosey along the canal to Rotterdam.

PalenQ

Generally the Hague-Rotterdam area is one of the densest urban areas in Europe - not much in the way of dream villages or anything there in my experience - so Delft makes about the only really not don't miss site en route IME.

Pepper_von_snoot

Thank you for this information.

We are planning a trip to the Netherlands/Belgium next year.

Amsterdam, the Hague, Rotterdam, and Antwerp.

A bike ride to Delft from Rotterdam would be fun.

Thin

PalenQ

a bike ride from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk and the largest grouping of behemoth Dutch windmills in Holland is also fun - you can actually take your bike on a boat part of the way - cycling thru the windmills is great great fun.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kind...=1600&bih=1075

takeaway7

Thanks, PalenQ for this great and helpful information. Can't wait to do this. I have no problem with urban biking as long as I'm on a separate bike path.

PalenQ

Those urban bike paths at rush hours can be quite dicey and at any time be sure to respect the rules of the bike path or expect to be shouted and horned at - like staying to the right to let faster bikers pass - very very important and tinging on a bell when passing - not yelling "On the Right!"

The bike path along that long canal is kind of a freeway - no intersections, etc due to the canal.

PalenQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=bike...=1600&bih=1075

hetismij2

You may find this site useful : http://en.routeplanner.fietsersbond.nl/ or maybe this site http://www.routeyou.com/en/user/plan...ppuntenplanner which allows you to follow a route you plan yourself using numbered junctions on bike routes.

PalenQ

Man hetismij - I wish I had access to such online sites when I was leading bike tours thru Holland long ago - I had to peruse paper maps that did not show bike routes - would have been so so much easier and with better routes which were developed by trial and error - lots of errors! Thanks for those wonderful links.

Dukey1

I would definitely second the idea of a trip to Kinderdijk. Many mills and the possibility of thorough explanations of the manner in which they work. Our riverboat stopped there for the day on our trip from Basel to Amsterdam and we saw more than a few bicyclists whizzing past the front entrance as we docked.

PalenQ

Well Kinderdijk attracts lots of bikers but one reason is that a main bike path goes right thru the mills - so many of those may just be commuting without even stopping at the mills. But as Dukey says it is a wonderful place to bike through and a wonderful place to walk through!

PalenQ

One of the problems of biking in Holland is the oft even in summer wet weather and windy weather - whatever you do bike from the SW to the NE and never the other way around if you can avoid it - strong headwinds can be worst the the highest Tour de France climbs it seems anyway!

So definitely go Hague to Rotterdam - maybe put your bike on a train to return if doing so the same day (Feits ticket at about $10 though required to let you put your own bike in the Fiets wagon on the train and get it out) - flat fee I believe regardless of distance and per day I believe but not sure.

menachem

There are numerous bikeroutes between The Hague and Rotterdam and they're not all through built up areas.

My favorite is the one that goes through Delftse Hout, Delfgauw and passes Ackerdijkse Plassen before ending up near Rotterdam The Hague Airport (Zestienhoven). From there you can follow Zestienhovensekade into Rotterdam, and the green stuff doesn't end until you're at Gordelweg, right at the edge of the city.
In Delfgauw, Du Midi is a beautiful spot for lunch or tea. Gorgeous cakes

http://www.dumididelfgauw.nl/

Or, cycle through Delfland, ie, leave The Hague at its south-western edge via Wateringen and cycle through Schipluiden and along Vlaardingervaart towards Vlaardingen. From there you can bypass Vlaardingen and cycle on to Kethel and by way of 's Gravelandseweg you'll end up in Schiedam. From Schiedam station you can take the metro into Rotterdam (a 20 minute ride, bikes go free)

Delfland is a beautiful polder area that's been left alone pretty much, despite the encroaching urbanization from Schiedam.

The Hague - Delft - Rotterdam is the most uninteresting route of the many that exist, in my opinion. It's a bicycle highway, and basically straight ahead along a canal. Zweth is sort of nice and so is Overschie, but other than that it's a long dreary slog if the wind is against you.

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/The+H...5093!3e2?hl=en

and

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/The+H...5093!3e2?hl=en

I hope the links work

Kinderdijk:

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/Rotte...7436!3e2?hl=en

menachem

"whatever you do bike from the SW to the NE and never the other way around if you can avoid it - strong headwinds can be worst the the highest Tour de France climbs it seems anyway!

So definitely go Hague to Rotterdam "

Rotterdam is to the south of The Hague and so the wind is almost always against you. Especially along Rotterdamseweg along the Zweth canal.

That's why a slightly (5km) longer route through Delfland or Delfgauw would be much more pleasant: more variety, more turns and a more interesting landscape.

If planning to bike to Kinderdijk, with a south westerly, cycle to Kinderdrijk via Krimpen a/d Lek, or Slikkerveer and take the Waterbus back to Rotterdam. If there's an easterly, start by taking the waterbus to Ridderkerk, change to the ferry to Kinderdijk and have the wind in your back returning to Rotterdam.

menachem

And there is no fiets wagon on trains, look out for the doors that are clearly marked with a bicycle. On weekends you can bring your bike at any hour, but on weekdays you're only permitted to do so outside rush hours (early morning and late afternoon)

menachem

And another route via Pijnacker and Oude Leede (beautiful spot)

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/The+H...5093!3e2?hl=en

menachem

and its alternative that gets you at Du Midi

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/The+H...5093!3e2?hl=en

PalenQ

menachem lives in the area I believe so is a font of current knowledge!

menachem

Wahahaha.

I do cycle there a lot because I'm training for the Dunwich Dynamo.