1. Flower Bulb Route
Petal power meets pedal power.
This 30-km route between Haarlem and Sassenheim (near Leiden) passes through the dazzling bulb fields of southern Holland – at least, they will be when the daffodils and tulips are in bloom during April and May. Purchase a route guide at the tourist office in Lisse.
2. North Sea Route
Stretching from Den Helder to Boulogne-sur-Mer, the Dutch part of this coastal epic is still 300 km long – so be sure to do it in a northerly direction to make the most of tailwinds. Apart from beaches, dunes and seaside resorts like Scheveningen, highlights on the ride include the Oosterschelde storm- surge barrier in Zeeland.
3. Windmill Route
A 43-km spin through the Alblasserwaard area in southern Holland. Start near Kinderdijk (which has a row of 19 beautifully preserved windmills), then it’s plain sailing as you follow the signposts through a typical Dutch polder landscape of rivers, reedbeds and lush meadows.
