Amsterdam to Dammit If We Know
Amsterdam to Dammit if We Know – A Rolling Adventure Through the Low Countries and Beyond
What started as a cycling trip from Amsterdam has already evolved into something a little more spontaneous, a little more chaotic, and a lot more fun. With no firm end point and only a rough idea of direction—south-ish, maybe east—we’re following the bike paths, the weather, and whatever calls to us from the map. Armed with good bikes, better rain gear, and an appetite for frites and adventure, we’re pedaling through the Netherlands, Belgium, and wherever else the road (or canal-side path) takes us. This blog is a daily-ish account of our journey—moments big and small, flat tires and perfect meals, great people and strange detours—as we ride from Amsterdam to… dammit if we know.
Planned Route
Actual Route
Zwolle to Giethoorn to Zwolle
A spring ride through the Dutch countryside: lambs and storks, geese, ducks, cranes, and more waterfowl than we could name. We saw the last surviving hand-pulled ferry. Thatched roofs were going up, and we stopped for a fantastic lunch in Giethoorn. We adjusted the route a few times and rolled with whatever the day gave us. All in all, a good day.
Zwolle to Deventer to Apeldorn
A clear spring day took us from Zwolle to Apeldoorn, winding through farmlands, forests, and wetlands under blue skies and warm sun. Along the way: stork nests high in the trees, quiet polder paths, a surprise ferry closure, and a lively Saturday market in Deventer complete with fresh gingerbread and calliope music. A full and beautiful ride—ending with a warm meal and well-earned rest.
Apeldorn to Arnhem
A peaceful ride through forested paths, a surprise breakfast stop in the woods, and an unforgettable visit to the Kröller-Müller Museum filled with Van Gogh and pointillist brilliance. The landscape shifted from trees to dunes as we pedaled into Arnhem, where the day ended with Indonesian food, rainy laundry, and warm conversations with fellow travelers. A full and memorable day on the road.
Arnhem to Openlucht Museum
We biked to the Netherlands Open Air Museum and stepped back in time—watching linseed oil drip from wind-powered presses, chatting with a shipwright using centuries-old tools, and riding a vintage train with a joyful Syrian family. History came alive through windmills, waterwheels, and warm human moments.
Arnhem to Nijmegen
We began our day high above Arnhem in the glass skyboxes of Eusebius Church, took a scenic ride through wetlands and orchards, and arrived in Nijmegen—home to Charlemagne’s chapel and one of the quirkiest bike museums we’ve ever seen. A day filled with sweeping views, medieval echoes, and human-powered wonders—including three-wheeled contraptions, side-by-side tandems, and even a bicycle built for three.
Nijmegen to ’s-Hertogenbosch
A wet but beautiful ride from Nijmegen to Den Bosch. We passed alpacas, goats, and one very soggy miniature donkey, rolled through quiet farmland and tree-lined paths, and ducked into a village church decked out for Easter. A kind couple offered us warm drinks and a place to stay, and we navigated a few detours. Despite the steady rain, we stayed warm and dry under our gear and ended the day in a lovely hotel with savory pasties from a town square vendor and a hot shower.
Den Bosch
A day in Den Bosch exploring Gothic cathedrals, underground canals, surreal art, and chocolate-covered cream puffs. For a town that gave us Hieronymus Bosch, it still hums with a touch of the uncanny—a place where spires stretch skyward, tunnels whisper beneath the streets, strange figures linger in shadows, and good eats are never far away.
Den Bosch to Woerden
A day in Den Bosch exploring Gothic cathedrals, underground canals, surreal art, and chocolate-covered cream puffs. For a town that gave us Hieronymus Bosch, it still hums with a touch of the uncanny—a place where spires stretch skyward, tunnels whisper beneath the streets, strange figures linger in shadows, and good eats are never far away.
Woerden to Amsterdam
A day in Den Bosch exploring Gothic cathedrals, underground canals, surreal art, and chocolate-covered cream puffs. For a town that gave us Hieronymus Bosch, it still hums with a touch of the uncanny—a place where spires stretch skyward, tunnels whisper beneath the streets, strange figures linger in shadows, and good eats are never far away.
