Gravel routes in the Netherlands can be found almost everywhere. Only the provinces Groningen and South Holland are somewhat less endowed, but even there you can still find some unpaved stretches. Zeeland, with its islands and fields, has a great selection of gravel paths available. I was on the island of North Beveland, the 4th cycling municipality in the Netherlands in 2022. Here I went in search of all the gravel beauty this Zeeland island has to offer. A gravel route on Noord-Beveland. What that looks like, you can read further in this story.
Neeltje Jans
North Beveland is the middle island of Zeeland's islands Schouwen-Duiveland, Walcheren/South Beveland and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. If there is one thing equal to Noord-Beveland, it is the Delta Works at Neeltje Jans. Near the Banjaard and the Banjaard beach, the imposing flood barrier is beaming. After the 1953 flood disaster, it is the Netherlands Waterland's piece de resistance. The dam is an ingenious structure and, as a Dutchman, you must have driven it once, either by bike or by car. Near the Banjaard beach is also the Schotsman MTB route. A beautiful stretch of unpaved road of almost four kilometres in length.
Wind
The battle with wind and water is theme in this region. The fact that the flood barrier is also a glorified wind farm says it all. It also makes sense that here every year the NK headwind cycling is organised. It also means that in this region, you always have to take the wind direction into account when setting off. As I prepare the bike for departure, there is a strong breeze, wind force 5. That's not nothing. To get to the nice gravel strips, I first have to pound hard against the wind. Going under the dyke is still the best option, as the wind is just less strong there. If the wind is at your back, it is better to cycle on the dyke. You'll pick up some more unpaved metres.
Direction Gold Plate
North Beveland and gravel are not a very happy marriage. The best chance of unpaved paths can be found on the south side of the island. Goudplaat, a sort of land spit near Schotsman is a nice stretch of unpaved path. You have an MTB route here, but also a somewhat wider cart path which gives about two to three kilometres of gravel track. You can vary and thus already have some unpaved kilometres under your belt. When I cycle there, I am the only one. That's kind of nice. After gold plate, I head east. South of Geersdijk you find the Willempolderseweg and Willempoldersedijk. Beautiful unpaved lanes, where you really only come across those 4×4 buggies. You also follow the local MTB route here. Easy to do, it's just a pity you end up on the dog dirt track of the Roompot park. But well, that's not a problem.
Straight roads and fields
Unfortunately, Noord-Beveland has little extra to offer. You have to look for bits of dirt. You can often gain some extra metres if you take the up and downs of the fields. These are sometimes 100 but often 300-400 metres long. Nice bycatch. Further north, you find the dyke at Colijnsplaat, where a natural singletrack seems to have formed. Probably other gravel fans have created this elephant trail. As you cross, though, you can enjoy the straight roads along the fields. The fields are in bloom and potatoes are being planted in abundance during my visit. A nice backdrop like this.
In the middle of the island, at Bokkegat, you'll also find a mini MTB strip. Nice anyway. If you start your lap at Neeltje Jans, you will take in a nice bit of dirt at the end at ROompot. After your ride, plop down at the Seafarm or on the Panjaardstrand. The view is priceless.
Gravel route Noord-Beveland
The gravel paths on Noord-Beveland take some searching, but once you've found them, it's enjoyment! See here a beautiful gravel route across the entire island, starting and finishing at Neeltje Jans (or at the barrier. Find more tips on Zeeland and cycling here.
