The Netherlands and gravel? It’s a combination that many people first have to laugh at. Until they once drove through the meadows of the Veluwe, through the forests of the Utrecht Hills, or over the endless sandy paths of the Achterhoek. If you look carefully, you’ll find surprisingly many unpaved routes. Our routedatabase contains more than one hundred gravel routes in the Netherlands, all with GPX. These are the most beautiful areas, with the routes to start with for each area.
1. Achterhoek: the gravel capital of the Netherlands
Cullinan landscape, sandy roads between the meadows and hardly any traffic. Nowhere in our country do you have so many unpaved roads one after another as in the Cullinan area. Achterhoek. Start the round from Ruurlo (86 km) or the shorter round from Haarlo (53 km). Really adventurous? The 340-kilometer bikepacking route is a beautiful multi-day event.
2. Utrecht Hills and the Gooi: gravel for the Randstad
If you live in the Randstad, then the Utrecht's Heuvelrug Your closest gravel paradise: forest paths, meadows and even a few hills. Drive The prologue (75 km) or the long version of 125 kilometers. Just north lies the Gooi, with the meadows around Laren and Hilversum. In our article 7 gravel routes for the autumn holidays Do you also find the route over the old Soesterberg air base and the Gooisch Gravel interesting?
3. Veluwe: the largest sandpit in the Netherlands
Forest, heath and dust sand, as far as you can see. In the Veluwe Gelderland You’ll be riding on old military roads, forest paths, and dirt roads. Please note: in some parts of the nature reserves, you can only cycle on marked trails, and the Crown Estate is closed in part during the year. A great way to start: round trip to Ede (71 km).
4. Drenthe: hunebeds, heather and long stretches of grass
Drenthe It is quiet, green and full of unpaved paths, from the Dwingelderveld to the Drentsche Aa. For a long day there is the Hunebed Gravel Highway (175 km), You can get there more quickly from the Landal parks at Orvelte and Hunerwold.
5. North Brabant: forests, ravines and the Kempen
The Brabant gravel roads are flat but varied: pine forests, ravines and sandy roads through the Kempen. Try the routes from Oisterwijk (85 km) or ride the eastern day of the Liberation Divide. You can find all the Brabant routes on the page. North Brabant.
6. South Limburg: gravel with altimeters
If you want to climb on unpaved terrain, you need to be in South Limburg His. Narrow roads, paths and gravel paths through the hills, and so across the border into Belgium. Start with This is where you want to go back (61 km) of Best of both worlds (80 km).
7. Overijssel: the Salland Hills
A hidden gem: the gravel route over the Sallandse Heuvelrug (65 km) goes through heather and through forests, with the Holterberg as the highlight. More routes on the page Overijssel.
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Would you rather go with others? Ride a gravel event
From October to March, the calendar is packed with gravel rides, from small club rides to big events. In our event calendar Filter by month and region.
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