Route overview
From a former inland sea to a freshwater lake
Once open to the North Sea, the Zuiderzee was transformed when the Afsluitdijk was completed in 1932. The resulting IJsselmeer and surrounding polders form the central landscape of this long-distance ride. The route reveals that history gradually: old fishing harbours, engineered shorelines, reclaimed land and wide views across the water.
The circuit visits well-known places such as Volendam and Edam, then connects provincial harbour towns including Makkum, Stavoren and Blokzijl. Kampen and Harderwijk bring Hanseatic history, while Elburg and Naarden preserve the character of fortified towns. Schokland, once an island, now rises above the flat Noordoostpolder.
Further inland, the route reaches the wetlands of De Wieden and De Weerribben. These waterways, reed beds and marsh landscapes provide a marked contrast to the exposed dikes and geometric polders elsewhere on the circuit.
Check the Afsluitdijk crossing before departure
The source page's temporary 2019–2022 closure notice is no longer current. Access arrangements can still change during major works, so verify the latest crossing information and any bicycle transport arrangements shortly before riding. The archived update remains available in the Afsluitdijk article.
You can shorten the full circuit by using a ferry between Enkhuizen and Stavoren or by routing via Urk where suitable services operate. Ferry schedules are seasonal and weather-dependent; always check the operator's current timetable before relying on a crossing.
