Imagine: a cycling trip from the North Cape to Malta. 7700 kilometers on foot through nine countries. From the high north to the sunny south, across the Alps, through world cities and along UNESCO World Heritage sites. Sounds fantastic, right? And it is possible, without you having to spend weeks planning a route yourself! In this article we tell you more about EuroVelo, a road network of thousands of kilometers across Europe.
What is Eurovelo?
EuroVelo is a network of 17 long-distance cycling routes spread across Europe. The routes cross several countries and together are 90,000 kilometers long. The shortest route is only 2050 kilometers long and the longest is more than 11,000 kilometers. You then cycle along almost the entire west coast of Europe; from the North Cape via England and Ireland to Portugal. Wow!
The routes have been created and approved by the European Cyclists’ Federation. EuroVelo aims to ensure that there are more good cycling paths across the entire continent and to encourage European citizens to take up cycling, both for commuting and for holidays.
The size of the cycling network is also the disadvantage of EuroVelo. As you can probably imagine, this is not a project that was arranged in a snap. Some stages of the routes have already been completed and even marked with signs. But other parts of the routes are currently being built or are even still on the planning to be built.
Where can I find EuroVelo routes in the Netherlands?
For Dutch people, there is quite a bit to choose from right near home. A whopping four routes crisscross our country:
- North Sea route: Hundreds of kilometers of fun along the coast. From Retranchement in Zeeland-West Flanders to Bad-Nieuweschans in Groningen.
- MaasrouteStrolling along one of the most important rivers in Europe. Start in the heart of Rotterdam and discover the Maasvlakte by bike. You will also visit cities like Dordrecht, Den Bosch, Venlo and Maastricht. In the south, you can make good use of your gears, as you will also pass through the Limburg hills.
- Rijnroute: From Hoek van Holland via Rotterdam, Wageningen, Arnhem, and Millingen aan de Rijn.
- Main cities routeThis route connects Dublin, London, Berlin, Warsaw, Minsk and Moscow. And for that we skip our own capital. Also with this route you start – how could it be otherwise – in Hoek van Holland. The place that connects the Netherlands and England. Via The Hague and Utrecht you cycle towards Arnhem. In the Achterhoek near Groenlo you cross the border.
Dream with us
We are already dreaming of the Mediterranean route: 7350 kilometers through 10 countries and past 23 UNESCO sites. Emerald seas, kilometers of golden sand, delicious food and centuries-old cities. We already see ourselves cycling along the canals of Venice, visiting the Alhambra in Granada and sitting on a terrace in the old city of Dubrovnik. Which route do you choose? Let us know in the comments below.
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.