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Belgium touring

(10 posts)
  • Started 4 years ago by amir
  • Latest reply from amir
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. amir
    Member

    We are planning a continental excursion this spring. We plant to get the ferry from Newcastle then proceed ovr two days to Delft. Then train the Middleburg. Then we'd like to cross north Belgium (possibly from Bergen Op Zoom) to Maastricht, hopefully taking in some of the Limburg countryside in both Belgium and the Netherlands.

    But the big unknown for us is the area between Bergen and Maastricht. Anyone know the area well enough to make recommendations? Generally we prefer countryside and old towns. But we might pop into Antwerp.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  2. paddyirish
    Member

    DaveC can tell you all about the Border...

    Posted 4 years ago #

  3. amir
    Member

    I think he wants to do it again. But we'll be going at a much more relaxed pace

    Posted 4 years ago #

  4. gowgowuk
    Member

    Hello,
    Although I am Belgian, I cannot say I cycled a lot over there. But I've heard from friends cycling in Belgium that in Flanders they have a very well organised network which is very easy and useful. Basically, each cycle path intersection is numbered and you "cycle by numbers". You can find information here:
    https://www.fietsroute.org/Cycle-Networks.php

    Have fun!

    Posted 4 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    Thanks gowgowuk
    I've encountered this system on tours in the Netherlands. It's fantastic. I gather that this was first introduced in Belgium. Maybe when the cycle network is more substantial in the UK, we could have it here.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  6. Edinburgh Cycle Training
    Member

    The cycle down from the ferry port towards Delft is lovely. Last time there I took that scenic route but
    headed inland just north of Den Haag towards Leiden, and followed the old Rhein to Gouda and then on to Rhenen.

    The ferry port to Gouda was easily done in a day - probably a similar distance to Delft?

    I have previously cycled from Scheveningen (Den Haag's Portobello)to Delft, again an easy and very nice ride.

    They have well signed routes similar to those described by gowgowuk.

    Never cycled across into Belgium from there, but have driven from Bergen Op Zoom to Gent. Gent I'd highly recommend if you like beer. Its has a great old city centre. Lots of squares, lots of canals, a nice castle, lots of bars (bars with 400+ beers!) - as pretty as brugge only way less touristy. It offers nothing for kids though (as observation by the local Tourist Board btw, not me)

    Posted 4 years ago #

  7. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Yeah, big up for car-and-child-free multi-beered Ghent. Great town.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  8. AKen
    Member

    From the ferry port at Ijmuiden to Delft isn't too far. Doing it over two days would be very leisurely.

    You could take a route right through the middle of Haarlem (which is nice), then Leiden (which is lovely) and then on to Delft (also lovely).

    Posted 4 years ago #

  9. amir
    Member

    Last year we did a tour around the Green heart taking in Haarlem, Leiden, Schoonhoven, Utrecht, and Volendam. It was my OH's first tour and she really took to it. So we did another tour in Holland later in the same year.

    30 to 40 mile days work for us. First day I think we'll aim for the area between Haarlem and Delft that is famous for tulip fields. Last year we missed most of that, so this is unfinished business. And we passed via Gouda rather than Delft last time so more gap filling.

    Top tip from our first tour, take cash. For cultural reasons not all shops take credit cards, including quite large supermarkets.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  10. amir
    Member

    BTW has anyone heart owt about the ferry to Groningen? Last news was in September ish saying the launch was delayed until March

    Posted 4 years ago #

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