A nice wood fire brings much-needed warmth on a cool Saturday morning. Little plumes of warm breath slowly rise. Happy greetings and admiring glances at beautiful bikes. As an outsider, you wouldn't quite know what is about to happen on this morning in December. A group of cycling ladies greet each other and have just completed registration at the counter. Smiling broadly and in good spirits, they set off for this edition of Where The Streets Have No Name (WTSHNN) of True Grit. Routemaster Gijs watches everything with a broad smile. We too cannot wait to ride perhaps the most beautiful gravel route in the Gooi region. Digging like a king (in) is certainly possible here! In any case, the coffee at Buiten in de Kuil tastes good. Warmly wrapped and very eager, we jump on our bikes. Here we go!
Where the streets have no name
When Gijs Bruinsma started organising gravel events a few years ago, he might not have imagined that his concept of WTSHNN would become such a success. Tickets sold out long in advance and there are even stories of cyclists doing their best to participate in all editions. For WTSHNN the winter edition, Buiten in de Kuil is the starting point. For the 80-kilometre route we ride today, we split time between the provinces of Utrecht and North Holland. We are actually in the middle of the Gooi. Princess Beatrix will probably be watching the enthusiastic gravelers from her bedroom. After all, Drakenstein is a stone's throw away.
Through the woods and across the moors
This stretch of the Netherlands has a beautiful combination of forest and heathland. As we start the route, we dive straight into the wooded area around Lage Vuursche. In this forestry area you can indulge your gravel heart. Today, a number of paths have been specially opened for us. That not everyone knows this becomes apparent after only ten kilometres or so. An elderly lady parks her dog pontifically in front of our wheels. 'You are not allowed to cycle here!' You can't blame her. However, the wide path we are currently racing along offers plenty of room for dog, woman and bike. The first loop turns and reverses on the south side of Lage Vuursche. We almost touch the village of Bilthoven and then take a variety of loops across the Pijnenburg estate towards the Soesterberg Air Base for stop number one.
Historic land
Soesterberg Air Base served as an air base for the Dutch Air Force until the early 00s. In the immediate surroundings, you can still see many things that remind you of this. Many racing cyclists will know both the runway as a nice photo spot, but the so-called 'tank track' leading to the nearby Zeist military camp is also a reminder of the many military activities in this area. Nearby Amersfoort is traditionally a 'garrison town' and still has a barracks. Closer by is the Dumoulink barracks, no connection to former giro winner Tom. The air base itself is freely accessible and still has many hangars, bunkers, towers and foxholes. A nice insight into military history, made even more powerful by the National Military Museum. Tip from us: should you plan a tour, it is Restaurant Café Soesterdal A perfect place for a coffee stop!
Bakkie, waffle, pancake!
At the first stop, we are well looked after. Il Magistrale makes tasty bakkies, there is a wide choice of clif bars, waffles and other cakes. Speaking of cake, at the Endura stand there is quite a queue for the fresh pancakes. The hangar where this post is rigged makes for a beautiful atmosphere on the beautiful morning. So far, the weather gods are kind to us and even a little sunshine seems to be breaking through. The paths are well trodden, with a puddle of water here and there, but anything but a mud bath. This side of the Lage Vuursche is genuinely a gravel playground
Taking off in three-two-one
After shaking hands with many acquaintances again, we get ready for part two. We head towards the Pijnenburg estate again, but before that we first have to cross the runway. Although I have driven it many times before, it is still something special. At the end of the runway, we turn back into the forest. We are faced with another stretch of asphalt but then the wide forest paths are ours again. Pedalling along, we cross the estate and follow the service road along Wieksloterweg, normally a paradise for road cyclists (and at weekends a torment because of the many 'sports club traffic'. We now cross over to the 'real Gooi', as we pass behind Castle Groeneveld, near Baarn. Here we are also presented with the first stretches of MTB trail. Swinging over tree roots and other protrusions, we merrily continue.
Chocostop and Hilversum Heath
At the entrance to the Hilversum moors, steaming chocolate milk from route sponsor Komoot is waiting for us. We answer the request for a dash of rum only with 'no', but we do not skip the chocomel itself (and the dollop of whipped cream). Not for nothing is this brown goodness recommended as an alternative recovery drink. The atmosphere is good and we 'smell the barn'. That for us the first drops also fall hardly seems to bother. From now on, we do not leave the province of North Holland and head back home across the heathland. We pass Theehuis 't Bluk several times. How this name came about remains a mystery. One thing is certain. This part of the route is definitely the most beautiful gravel route in the Gooi.
Finish with a burger and a bakkie
The last five kilometres are no longer going heartily. Bastiaan, as a resident of Hilversum, deflected prematurely. Moped Frank drives me home. With a puff and a prop we turn up the last 100 metres and roll down the hill, under the starting arch. We eagerly grab the non-alcoholic refreshment from De Kromme Haring. The drizzle has turned to rain. We park the bike and dive into the warm tent. There, a well-deserved burger, with a good portion of fries awaits us. For the last 15 kilometres home. Still, we are in complete agreement: this is a cool event and perhaps the most beautiful gravel route in the Gooi (and surrounding area).
