Cycling on the Heuvelrug. Anyone looking for a little bit of altimeters in the Netherlands soon ends up on a route across the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. For many people in the Randstad, this is the first opportunity to get a sniff of real climbing. Of course, it is not yet a alpencol Or does it not remotely resemble the longer Ardennes work. Still, you can take in some nice climbs from Bunnik. This is one of my favourite routes!

Rhijnauwen teahouse

For anyone coming from Utrecht or wanting to drive this route, it is Rhijnauwen teahouse a fine and recognisable starting point. Not only is it the perfect spot to catch up with a good pancake after a ride, the avenue to it, coming from Utrecht, gives a very nice and atmospheric view! Alternatively, you can start this route at Early in Bunnik. The coffee there is already simmering on time and they have really delicious cake and lunch. In summer, there is also ice cream, so there is something for everyone in this neighbourhood.

On to the hills

The route itself starts with a nice long, meandering stretch across the Rear dyke. This is a favourite with many Utrecht cyclists because you have four kilometres of space. Yes, there is traffic, but you don't have to constantly squeeze your brakes and there are no traffic lights either. You could almost extend this all the way to Langbroek, but for this time we'll bend towards the ‘castles route‘. This is not an official route per se, but you still pick up some nice old cottages this way.

Beverweert and Ridderhofstad Sterkenburg

Once you have crossed the N229 you turn onto Molenhoeflaan between the yellow ornaments along the road. Pretty soon you see on your right the (dilapidated) Beverweert castle. This is the place for the average handyman. From a distance, it still looks reasonably well maintained, but closer you can see that it could really use more than just a lick of paint.

The road past this castle is very quiet, but relatively narrow. two cars cannot pass just like that, so be careful with oncoming traffic. After the bend, you come to a nice stretch under the trees, where you could sprint full speed. At the end of this stretch, turn right and you'll see Ridderhofstad Sterkenburg in the distance, on your right.

No hill seen yet

So far, everything is pretty flat. Geographically, we also need to head a little further north, as that's where the final Utrecht Hill Ridge lies, where you need to pick up the altimeters. We'll do this by getting to Sterkenburg castle (an insane wedding venue, by the way, tip!) turn left onto Sterkenburgerlaan and at the end turn right on Gooijerdijk. This stretch is lovely. The tarmac is good, you are surrounded by meadows and sometimes you drive through a patch of forest. Here you can pedal undisturbed for kilometres.

The real thing

At the end of the Gooijerdijk, after crossing the N-road, turn left onto Sandenburgerlaan. Here you can see in the distance on the right Sandenburg castle lie. At the end of Sandenburgerlaan, near the restaurant, it goes up false flat for the first time. Make sure you are well warm, because from now on we go uphill.

Indeed, there lies a classic triangle, the combination of Ruiterberg-Hoogstraat-Ruiterberg. One you can't avoid when cycling up the ridge. It's about 2 minutes up this side of the Rider Mountain. It is not hugely steep as you pick up a maximum of 5% but you feel m in the legs. The descent in the Cape forests is good to catch your breath again, as you then turn right again at the end, just before the main road, onto Hoogstraat. This is a long continuous climb that just doesn't seem to stop. If you can earn an imaginary mountain prize on top, wait a long time before turning on. Here you tap a maximum of 7.5%, so this is a calf bite.

After the descent of the Hoogstraat, turn right again before taking the Ruiterberg again. After the second descent of the Ruiterberg, turn left onto the Maarnse Grintweg. This is a popular stretch and you'll meet cyclists here all months of the year. It runs very slightly downhill here, but the bigger descent comes a bit later.

Cycling on the Hillside, even in the city!

Now it's just a bit of ‘crossing’ to Amersfoort. Past the Leusderheide training area (where you can also enjoy MTBing and Graveling), you head north towards the city. Passing under the A28 motorway you briefly drive into a residential area, but at the roundabout it's left and then you see Galgenberg lie, as Mount Amersfoort is officially called. You drive up Hugo de Grootlaan here. Which is pretty tough. Again, this climb is about two minutes for the average amateur. There is a sign with 5% along the road, so it takes some effort. According to Strava, it is 700 metres at 4.4% average. Especially the last bit is very dirty.

Galgenberg, Amersfoort, the Netherlands

- Distance: 753 m, Height difference: 25 m, Average slope: 3.3 %

Amersfoort Mountain on top

Then turn right back onto Vondellaan, downhill and at the bottom at Kapelweg turn right. You now have a nice pace and you can take it all the way to the climb of Surinamelaan. This is an unknown stretch for many, but that doesn't make it any less fun. It is 600 metres in total, with a maximum of almost 6%, which is just not nice. At the top, then again, you have several choices. If you turn left and then immediately left down avenue 1914, you can do the circuit again. You can also turn right on top and then right into Utrechtseweg to ride another variant. If you really want to train altitude metres, the Galgenberg, which is also called ‘Little Switzerland‘ is called ideal. In a short time, short climbs! And at a ‘stone's throw’ is also the climb of the Belgenmonument.

Tank track

We choose the option of driving towards Utrecht again and at the Meijerij left towards the Tank track turn. This wide road, literally intended as a transport lane for tanks runs from the army camp here to Soesterberg airfield. From this side (west), it is a long wide route that peaks steeply at the viaduct at the end. Then you can catch a nice descent and you are back on the road at Den Treek estate.

Then it's left towards the final climb of this route, the Pyramid of Austerlitz! This is another nice little climb, up along the N-road. If you come from the direction of Amersfoort, there is an alternative. You can take the road up by the pancake house (on the right). This one is more through the forest and similar in height. The cycle path is really narrow here, so not recommended in summer.

Back to Bunnik

On top of the Pyramid you can still get to the real pyramid, but that is a bit offroad (right turn). If you want to head back towards Bunnik, you now drive the long descent towards Zeist. You drive past the KNVB headquarters here and eventually turn left, a big stretch past the village. You take a shortcut here and drive behind Slot Zeist through the meadows back towards Theehuis Rhijnauwen.

This route ends up being 78 kilometres long and you pick up 400 altimeters in no time! If you are going to cycle on the Heuvelrug, this is a great option. Want more info or do you have more tips? Then comment below!