Hi everyone, for while I have been planning to visit a friend of mine in Amsterdam and take the bike back home to Hamburg and I'm unsure how much focus I should put on staying close to the ocean. Mainly I'm looking for route recommendations from people that have done similar routes or done the Eurovelo 12 along this section, how are the bike paths close to the water along the dyke? I would like stay close to the water but am debating if it's worth the extra distance. The bike paths along the dyke around Hamburg have a lot of gates to contain the sheep which can disrupt the riding flow quite a bit, are they in this section as well? How is the section from Emden to Wilhelmshaven along the coast? Worth it to ride around the Dollard bay or take a ferry from Delfzijl to Emden?
I'll be riding on a Fairlight Secan 3.0 on 30mm GP5000S TR so some rougher section or "Plattenweg" should be fine but mainly looking for smooth quiet roads so the wind can hopefully push me home
I'm also doing this to test the waters a bit on how long I can ride in one go, my current longest ride has been Vätternrundan in Sweden at 315km. The first route in purple is around 530km which could be doable in one go if everything goes well, but the red route along the coast is 850km which I doubt I can or want to do in one sitting.Generally would be nice to do the full route in one go but if I feel it's too much there are plenty of larger cities on the way to catch the train or rest in a hostel.
Thanks for your input!
by flyboipitt
11 Comments
ive not done this but i think you will enjoy a good tailwind 🙂
I have ridden from Hamburg to Cuxhaven to Bremerhaven twice two years ago and I really enjoyed going close to the coast (both on 30 mm road and 47 gravel tires).
Behind Hamburg there is a very nice section through the Altes Land on quiet backroads and I remember Cuxhaven to Bremerhaven being a very nice section. Can only recommend.
I dont quite remember how many sheep gates there were, but I dont remember it being annoying. And behind the dyke there is usually also a bigger paved road that does not have these gates at all.
I would go for the coast. Its touristy in the summer, but if the weather is good, the north sea coast has its very own great vibes. And headwinds form the character.
The northern coast of Netherlands is not that accessible. The western coast is very pretty.
Don’t miss the tiny ferry from Dizum to Emden: [https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=53.31672&mlon=7.28087#map=16/53.31672/7.28087](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=53.31672&mlon=7.28087#map=16/53.31672/7.28087)
Then ride via Aurich and Wilhelmshaven. Take the next ferry there (3x per day).
I don’t know much about the bikepaths as soon as you’ve crossed the Afsluitdijk (most probably have paths below the dikes not on), but I will say that the Waddenzee is both absolutely stunning and important, but also it isn’t an “ocean” in the traditional sense so keep that in mind. I think you’ll have a pretty good sense of whether you think its worth it to keep hugging it from the Dutch part of the trip.
I think the second version going straight for the dunes is worth it, as its a beautiful ride and very different from the Waddenzee. I’m not sure if going through Den Helder is worth the trouble if you’re not taking the ferry to Texel (sorry Den Helder). You’ll also cross Wieringen before you get to the Afsluitdijk, a former island now on the border of a large polder of reclaimed land.
If you do the first version, for the section from Hoorn to the Afsluitdijk I strongly recommend you take a route through the villages and meadow bikepaths instead of this route, as you’ll just be following a paralel road of the A7 highway. You’ll inevitably cross through the afformentioned Wieringenmeerpolder, which was centrally planned and is still pretty ‘young’, not the most exciting and you’ll see enough polders regardless (sorry Wieringenmeerpolder).
I’ll be sure to wave if I see bikepackers 😉
being from bremen, living in amsterdam… f the coast. go this way and have some cool nature
https://preview.redd.it/jn9zertnmv0h1.png?width=2390&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd8c12643202e022c7a749345e766ca278d4d1f8
Cycling the afsluitdijk is cool and all, and the Wadden sea is a wonderful and important area. But to be honest, much of this route will be boring flat farmland. I would personally lean towards taking a more inland route (heading east from Amsterdam).
1. There’s plans to make great bike paths on the outside of the dykes in the Netherlands. All along Friesland and Groningen there are also normal asphalt roads on the inside of the dykes, most of them without fences but with cattle grids. The inside option doesn’t offer very great views though, mostly fields and pastures, but to each their own.
2. Check if the afsluitdijk is open for bikes when you go. You might have to take the free bike bus. [https://theafsluitdijk.com/](https://theafsluitdijk.com/)
3. I don’t know how far along the coastside bike path in Friesland is. ‘Op paad lâns it Waad’ is supposed to be finished somewhere in 2028. [https://fryslan.fietsersbond.nl/op-paad-lans-it-waad/](https://fryslan.fietsersbond.nl/op-paad-lans-it-waad/)
4. The coastside bike path in Groningen is supposed to be done, so that may be smooth riding. [https://routesingroningen.nl/fietsroutes/kiek-over-diek/](https://routesingroningen.nl/fietsroutes/kiek-over-diek/)
5. There’s some beautiful tiny towns in the north of the Netherlands with medieval churches. Especially in Groningen. If you choose to ride inland, my suggestion would be to go through Zoutkamp, Niehove, Ezinge, Aduarderzijl, Garnwerd, Winsum, Onderendam, Middelstum, Westeremden, Wirdum and Appingedam. Explore all these tiny towns for a bit, some of them are only 3 streets and won’t cost you a lot of time.
6. The tip of Noord-Holland and the (partially) closed afsluitdijk may be a bit boring. If you do cut through the rest of the Netherlands, do not go through Flevoland but go through the Veluwe.
7. Can’t speak for the German part of your route.
I did Amsterdam to Cuxhaven and tbh the coast line in Netherlands is pretty boring but still beautiful. Just don’t expect a changing nature. Had some sheeps that didn’t want to leave the path and had to wait there haha
I’m currently doing it via EV12, so the coast but i’m coming from Skagen and I go to France, so the other way.
The headwind is killing me xD Enjoy the tailwind, the scenery is beautiful.