Quoted message said:Im new to using news groups and i haven't well ever used one. I've just
decided to use this as i want some information, i live in the UK and am
planning a cycling holiday in Holland, are there any tips you can give me,
A somewhat belated reaction, but I've just returned from Eire.
First some links, unfortunatedly all are in Dutch, but that'll give
you some practice with the language :-)
www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl small, "green" campings, you'll need a
card to use them.
Other campings tend to be full of chalets and semi-permanent caravans,
but some have a seperate "trekkersveld" for proper campers.
http://www.fietsplatform.nl/ for the Dutch equivalent of Sustrans
routes: just as winding, but generally better surfaced.
As for where to go: I'd avoid the south (anything south of the big
rivers) since the (compulsory!) cycle lanes are rather substandard
there, and the west, since it's too urbanized.
My own favorite is the left (south) bank of the Waal river: little
opportunity to take a wrong turn, good roads, fairly quit (esp. the
eastern stretch wich is mostly banned for cars) and typical Dutch!
Going round the Ijsselmeer (the former Zuiderzee) is another classic:
there's a signposted route of about 400 km.
Gelderland, Achterhoek and Twenthe, all in the east and deep east are
good cycling territories too (or I'm just shamelessy plugging my own
neck of the woods...)
Bear in mind that all of the Netherlands is heavily urbanized (if not
as heavily suburbanized as Blighty), mostly very flat, and either wet
or hot in summer.
If any of your group has a Garmin GPS I could mail you some routes and
tracks.
Mark van Gorkom.