A network made for flexible rides
Regional networks connect bicycle-friendly routes through towns, countryside and waterside landscapes. Together, they make it possible to build anything from a short loop to part of a longer journey.
The routes are designed primarily for recreational cycling and generally favour pleasant, lower-traffic links rather than the shortest possible line. If speed or directness matters most, compare the network with an online cycle route planner or a detailed cycle map.
How do numbered junctions work?
Each regional network is a web of signed cycle links. The points where links meet have numbers known in Dutch as knooppunten, usually translated as junction points. The section between one number and the next is signposted in both directions.
Plan a sequence before leaving, then follow the signs towards the next number. At many junctions, an information board shows the surrounding network and your current position. This makes it easier to change the route while riding, although carrying a map or saved digital overview remains sensible.
A junction sequence in practice
Imagine beginning at junction 56 and choosing this loop:
From junction 56, follow the directional signs for 55. At 55, switch your attention to signs for 52, and continue through the sequence. Because links are generally marked both ways, you can usually ride the same loop in reverse.
Planning your own route
- Choose a starting point. Find a convenient junction near your accommodation, railway station or intended parking point.
- Trace a sequence. Use a cycle map, local information board or planner showing the numbered network. Add the distances between junctions to estimate the full ride.
- Check the shape. Confirm that your sequence forms the loop or point-to-point journey you expect and that the distance suits everyone riding.
- Record the numbers. Keep the sequence somewhere visible and save a wider map as a fallback in case a sign is missed or unavailable.
- Adapt carefully. If you change course, use an information board or map to choose a new sequence before continuing.
What to check while riding
At each junction, confirm both the number you have reached and the number you need next. Signs can be small or positioned where several roads meet, so slow down before the junction. If a sign appears to be missing, return to the last confirmed point rather than guessing along a busy road.
Temporary diversions, maintenance and local changes are possible. A charged phone, offline map or paper overview provides useful backup, especially outside towns.