If you choose to start from Utrecht If you cycle towards the (north-)west, you will reach the Groene Hart quite quickly. This area is quite extensive and has a lot of straight polder roads. However, the area is very large. It stretches from Amsterdam to Utrecht to Rotterdam and The Hague. That means you can find a lot of variety. Cycling in the Groene Hart Green Heart After all, cycling along beautiful streams, winding paths with rowan trees and through all kinds of ditches, streams and small villages means cycling. Villages where the trinity of church, café and Rabobank can still be seen clearly. We set off on an early, grey Sunday to discover the area around the hamlets of Noorden, De Hoef and Kamerik. That could certainly be worse.
Starting point Utrecht
Compared to Utrecht, this part of the Green Heart is where we’re going to drive today towards the northwest. To get from the city to there, you actually have to go through a few residential neighborhoods. That’s not a problem, because a beautiful bike path has been built along the railway. It starts on Cremerstraat and goes all the way through the Douwe Egberts factory, over the water and out of the city on the highway. When we drive this morning on that road, the DE factory is running at full speed. The smell of freshly roasted coffee is intoxicating. ‘Bakkie?’ asks my cycling buddy? Right nearby you have a number of delicious places to have coffee, like Mr. Black and the White ox of SOIA. We’ll skip that for now.
Maximapark – Haarzuilens
As we head towards the recognizable yellow Hogeweide Bridge, we’re navigating through the city. If you want to head north-west from there, you really have to go through the spacious Maximapark. This newly created park is quite popular among runners, cyclists, hikers, and other local residents. If you drive through it early in the morning, it’s advisable to do so. That said, there’s plenty of space so you’ll be able to get by. After crossing the park, we head towards Haarzuilens. The hamlet or village is known mainly for the magnificent castle that lies next to it. As you wander through the village, you’ll see the lovely houses with the red-and-white shutters. It’s actually quite idyllic.
Cycling in the Green Heart: turning and turning
After our arrival in Haarzuilens, we head to our farthest point on the route: De Hoef. The route I created in Komoot is a bit messy. Guest blogger Rik de Voogd would definitely have some comments, because it’s not a round trip. We set off towards Kockengen, along a beautiful straight polder road with a narrow bike path. This is familiar terrain. The roads are fairly quiet and the only thing we really have to worry about is the train.
Woerdense Verlaat
The villages in this region sometimes have beautiful names. That includes Woerdense Verlaat. Interesting to think about, but also the connection to the Kromme Mijdrecht. This is typical of such a beautiful river in the green heart of the region. It winds its way towards Mijdrecht and offers beautiful views of the nature and the fields. You also pass by a beautiful windmill and, if you follow the river in a northern direction, it joins with the Amstel. This is truly a beautiful path, but not without reason there are various signs of encouragement along the way. It is quite busy here in the summer. Apparently more people want to cycle in the Groene Hart. So tip for the planning: don’t cycle this route on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Newkoop ponds
At some point we turn left to head back towards Utrecht. Here the view becomes a bit wider and the roads a little straighter. We take a detour through the Nieuwkoopse polders, but in the end we see very little water there. The cycling paths and roads here are, however, very good, spacious, and there is little traffic. It might have something to do with the weather and the time of day.
Back home
We drive past the Nieuwkoopse polders and drive over beautiful, wide roads. Meanwhile, we pass Noordeinde and Noordse Dorp. I have to grin, because it almost seems like Noorden is a world city, with a village attached to it. Oh well. We return to Woerdense Verlaat, but from there we take the exit towards Kanis and Kamerik. We literally have the wind at our backs in Kanis, but anyway, it’s really enjoyable on this winter day.
Last piece
Once past Kamerik, we are treated to a beautiful street with rowan trees along the side. Typical of this area and it completes the route. We drive north of Harmelen again towards Vleuten. The bike paths here are kind of a lane. They really invite you to ride on them. That is different in other parts of the province or the country. In other places, the last stretch through the built-up area follows the railway line back to Central via Utrecht Terwijde and the Leiden Rhine. This stretch is the least inspiring, but in the end you have little alternative. When we arrive back at the DE factory, the coffee appeal is even stronger. This time we take it. At home, a nice cup of coffee and a satisfied feeling
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.