South Holland

Part of Netherlands

South Holland is the busiest province in the Netherlands, but anyone who cycles through the city is surprised at how quickly it becomes quiet. Along the coast are the dunes of Meijendel and Berkheide, in the middle the Groene Hart and in the south the islands towards Zeeland. Here you find the Maaslandkering, you drive through the greenhouses of the Westland and further east you of course have the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk and you also cycle along the rivers! Who wouldn’t want that?

Why cycle in South Holland?

• The dunes between Hoek van Holland and Noordwijk, with bike paths right behind the sea. You should avoid this on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
• The Green Heart: the Reeuwijkse Ponds, the Krimpenerwaard and narrow country lanes. This is a beautiful cycling area for a nice trip.
• This is a must do: the mills of Kinderdijk: nineteen mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the secret tip: drive from the back to the inside and you will avoid the tourists.
• The Biesbosch and Goeree-Overflakkee: water, dykes and space. The Biesbosch is always a must-see

Trips from Gouda: the Green Heart

Gouda is a great starting point for a tour through the Green Heart. Within a few minutes you are out of the city and you drive over dykes and narrow polder roads. With the race bike it is flat and quiet here; however, be aware that many dyke roads are narrow and you share them with farmers and hikers.

• Reeuwijkse Plassen: small canals between the lakes, just north of Gouda. Nice as a short ride or as the start of a longer ride.
• Krimpenerwaard: Across the Hollandse IJssel. Long, quiet polder roads along farms, with farm cheese for sale along the way.
• ThemaroutesStrugen and Vorsen has 16 GPS routes around Gouda, ranging from approximately 22 to 284 kilometers. For example, the Koe, Kaas & Vogel route (36 km) and the Gouden Eeuw Triangle (approximately 45 km). The long route of 284 kilometers is interesting as a multi-day trip.

Creating your own route is easy with the network of junctions. Expect 40 to 60 kilometers for a half-day ride on a road bike.

Source: Welcome to Gouda, information about cycling around Gouda (2026).

When are you leaving?

From March to October. In April, the bulb fields around Lisse are in bloom, but it’s also busier with (foreign) tourists. This province has few to no gravel paths, so in the winter months it’s less fun to play outside here.

How do you get there?

By train to Leiden, The Hague, Gouda or Rotterdam, or by car within an hour from the Randstad.