Amsterdam to Dammit If We Know

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We cycled from Den Bosch to Woerden, passing through historic towns, crossing the Lek by ferry, and enjoying some of the best cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands. A quiet day through classic Dutch landscapes—polders, canals, and just enough detours to keep us on our toes.

A smooth ride from Woerden to Amsterdam through classic Dutch scenery—canals, quiet roads, and sunny skies. We navigated winding bike paths, shared space with cars at times, and even crossed into the city through the unexpected calm of the Amsterdam Science Park.

We cycled out to Schiphol to meet friends starting their first bike adventure, helped assemble their bikes, and rolled back into the city. A few days in Amsterdam gave us time for museums, a boat ride with Those Dam Boat Guys, and a visit to Zaanse Schans—where nostalgia met souvenir regrets. Quiet rides, good views, and a few rain surprises.

Old friends, new bikes, and a soft launch into cycle touring through the Dutch wetlands and into Haarlem. We dealt with missing helmets, shifting cockpits, and the quiet beauty of raised wooden paths. Highlights included birds in the reeds, bridges that reminded us of Euler, and a surprise soloist singing under the vaulted ceiling of Haarlem’s Grote Kerk.

Cycling from Haarlem to Leiden, we hit tulip season at its absolute peak—fields in full bloom, stretching in every direction. We rode quiet farm roads between bursts of color, stumbled into storybook scenes, and wrapped it all up with fried fish from the Leiden market. A perfect ride, start to finish.

A short and scenic ride from Leiden to Gouda timed for the town’s lively cheese market day. Along the way: swans, windmills, narrow polder roads, and a smartly rerouted bike lane. In Gouda, we feasted on kibbeling and stroopwafels, explored the historic Stadhuis, and were blown away by the stained glass at Sint-Janskerk.

The ride was lengthened by adding Kinderdijk, but shortened by hopping on the Waterbus—a fine tradeoff to pack more into the day. Canals, farmland, polders, engineering feats, windmills, historical pottery, and centuries of trade history—all while taking time to enjoy the ride.

King’s Day magic, Dutch engineering, and personal milestones. From the orange-clad crowds of Delft to the quiet harbor of Zierikzee, we rode 48 miles through festive villages, over epic dams, and into the heart of the Netherlands’ water mastery. Along the way: music, kindness, wind, a monkey, and a first-ever long ride for our friends Dave and Lori. A day full of stories—and more fried fish than strictly necessary.