Although I have been on the planet for almost 40 years and have been riding a race bike for almost 20 years, I still have quite a few gaps in my cycling repertoire. Even in the Netherlands, the place I have come to appreciate more and more, I really still miss a few beautiful routes. The VAM mountain For example, the highlights of Drenthe. But also the Kamerig, or the tripoint right in the south of the Netherlands. Those places that many have already visited, but where I only have TV memories left. The Posbank It was also such a place. In 2022 I climbed it for the first time, in the pouring rain. In 2023 I did it again, now in the bright sun. It immediately made for a bold statement: The Posbank is more beautiful than Limburg and I’ll tell you why!
Posbank or Veluwezoom?
I did some preliminary research on the Posbank and I just searched for ‘national park’ or ‘Posbank, nature reserve’. There was no result in this search. Only when I stood in the sunshine on top of the climb did I realize that the Posbank actually refers to a ‘bench’. A bench, therefore, of stone, named after Mr. G.A. Pos. The dates ‘1893 – 7 May 1918’ mentioned in the bench are a reminder of the silver jubilee of the 2nd president of the ANWB and head consul. Indeed, Mr. Pos. The climb of the Posbank is therefore literally a climb to the bench of Mr. Pos. As simple as it may seem, I really had to shake myself awake. Apparently, for years I had thought that this was the name for the nature reserve. But that is not true, because the Posbank is listed in the National Park Veluwezoom.
Posbank is more beautiful than Limburg
Well, to keep everyone from getting too stressed out, I’m referring to the larger area that is popularly associated with the Posbank. For example, the ascent of the Emma Pyramid, where you can still test your real hairpin bends. It’s often used for climbing and descent clinics. Further east you have the Holleweg and the Diepesteeg, which are also part of this area. So on just a few square kilometers you have a climbing paradise where you can let your imagination run wild.
More names
So the Posbank is more than just Mr. Pos's bank. But the climb to that bank can be accessed from multiple directions. If I go that way in June 2023, I have booked a stay at Lodges on the Posbank. It could hardly be more applicable. These accommodations are ideal for race and mountain bikers. Perfect in nature, quiet, with a nearby restaurant and the most beautiful routes literally at your feet. From here you can easily head up the Schietbergseweg to the top, where, of course, the Posbank is located. The other option is to take the Heuvenseweg and then head towards the Beekhuizen estate. You will then reach the bottom in Rozendaal at the Emmapyramide, which then leads to the Zijpenberg. Then you can return via the Beekhuizenweg…to the Posbank! Are you still following it?
Early bird
Why is the Posbank more beautiful than Limburg? Because you can still spot wild animals in the early morning. When I jump on my bike on a rising sun on a Thursday morning, I make my descent towards Rozendaal. I hear nothing, only my own bike, my chain, my hub. That’s what the young deer further down also hears. Suddenly I see it moving. He (or she) runs away, disturbed by the morning routine. I still manage to take a photo, although the rear of the deer is not photogenic. If I encounter the same quadruped further down, it’s a repetition of the action. The sound of my bike disrupts the animal in its search for food. With a few swift leaps, it disappears between the trees, leaving me in a mixture of disbelief and gratitude.
Up – down and up
Once at the bottom of the Emmapyramid, I turn right, up, onto the Beekhuizenseweg. Temporarily, the Beekhuizense road changes into the ‘upper avenue’, to give the whole thing a bit more momentum. Here lies the most beautiful hairpin bend in all of Gelderland. The view here is just okay, but you also have to be very careful with oncoming traffic. You’re really going down fast. So am I, although I have little trouble with the rest of the world at this early hour. One of the important advantages of the Posbank: because everyone seems to forget about it, it’s never ’too crowded’.
Furthermore through the heath and the forest
When you are almost at the top (with the Posbank stones now on the right hand side) you can turn left over the meadow, towards the fire tower. This is absolutely stunning. You go from a wider street into a narrower bike path. You can get there by car, but the bike has almost free reign here. I ride over the meadow and at the edge of the forest I see one of the many grazers on this stretch of the Veluwezoom. A large Scottish highland sheep looks at me glaucely. What is this cyclist doing in my habitat? I roll over long undulating paths through the forest. Towards Eerbeek, then downhill past the Elsberg (up again). Once near Dieren I turn towards Hoog-Soeren and here the landscape is more open again. The sun gets some more space on this June day.
Back along the railway line
At Brummen I’m heading back. On this day the wind is in my favor so it’s nice and easy going. To get ’home’ I actually follow the railway line. A railway line that I still remember from my childhood. When I spent hours in the halls in this region, in the youth selection of the Royal Dutch Dambond. The line that stops in Brummen, Dieren and Rheden. It’s nice and easy going and only when you get to De Steeg do you have to pay a little attention again. At the pancake house in Rheden I turn up again and this time I complete the climb to the Posbank. When I get to the top I know for sure. The Posbank is more beautiful than Limburg.
Exploring the Posbank route
In this route you have the option to add the Holleweg as well.
Questions & tips
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