In this blog, I take you on an unforgettable adventure through the beautiful South-West of Friesland. A province with breathtaking landscapes, picturesque villages, and friendly people. Whether you are an avid cyclist or just a nature lover, you will surely be charmed by what Friesland has to offer. Follow our bike tour and hopefully it will inspire you to experience your own cycling adventure in Friesland. This time we are riding the Elfdorpentocht in two stages and will explore South-West Friesland by bike.
Text and photos: Mark Heij
A special place: It Bûterhus
We stay at It Bûterhus in Balk, In the ‘Sun’ room. This room, with a lovely terrace, kitchen and an antique double bed, is a real eye-catcher. During my conversations with Engelien, I realized that It Bûterhus is not only a lunchroom and B&B, but also plays a significant role in Balk.
It Bûterhus is a place where people with disabilities have the opportunity to develop themselves and get a job. This makes staying overnight there extra special.
Cycling adventure in South-West Friesland
Our Friesian cycling adventure began in Woudsend near Elfstegentocht (not to be confused with the Elfstedentocht). The Elfstegentocht is a journey through 11 hills that hold a special place in the history of Woudsend.
After Woudsend I continue my journey to Heeg where I stop at the local bakery to try a delicious orange cake and a typical Frysk fingerbread. I notice that from every Frysk bakery come amazing smells, which you don’t want to miss. After Heeg the sun starts to break through and the weather becomes very pleasant. When driving in Friesland nature doesn’t always cooperate with you. During the journey I have a lot of wind, but now that the wind is in my back and the sun is starting to shine it’s just pure pleasure.
From Woudsend you cycle past the villages of Oudega, Makkum (from the pottery) And Koudum and the Friese Elfstedenstad Hindeloopen. Each of these is a beautiful old village with its own history. The photos speak for themselves.
After Hindeloopen I drive towards Oudemirdum as the surroundings slowly change. The polder area becomes a forest and the flat polder becomes hilly. I drive slowly up a hill without noticing it. I am extremely surprised by this new environment that in my opinion looks very much like the Veluwe. There is actually a hill (terp) in Friesland where you also have to exert more force than in the polder. A pleasant surprise!
In Oudemirdum, I eat another delicious piece of cake and head towards Balk, after which I will go to the beach. Master of baths Keimpe The dinner awaits me. A beautiful restaurant on the Slotermeer where you can truly relax after a long day on horseback.
Friesland and the water
When visiting Friesland, a tour of the Ing. D.F. Woudagemaal It is not to be missed. This mill is the only working steam mill in the world and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Henk I received a beautiful and interactive tour where we looked at the challenges that Friesland faces in the field of water. In the mill you can see how this wonderful piece of technology is still in use around 8 times a year today. The Woudagemaal helps in emergencies to overcome the water shortage in Friesland, along with the 1000 other mills.
Cycling and coffee in Joure
After the tour of the Woudagemaal, I continue my journey towards Joure to have a delicious cup of coffee at VanMark, the only cycling café in Friesland (as I’ve been told). They make their own coffee in the roastery, so be sure to bring some fresh beans if you’re there! The café is full of shirts from well-known pro riders like Ramon Sinkeldam and Mathieu van der Poel. So if you’re in the Joure area by bike, definitely visit VanMark to try the cycling culture of Friesland with a good cup of coffee.
Not enough for a coffee? Then head to the Oranjerie in Joure for a delicious lunch by the harbor. In a beautiful monumental building, it’s also ideal for taking some photos of your bike.
Our journey continues then towards Terherne, the camel village. This is the village where the famous books of the Chameleon take place. After Terherne, take the ferry from Langweer to end your journey in Balk.
Conclusion: South-West Friesland on your bucket list?
Personally, I’ve never been to Friesland and had few expectations. Friesland has turned out to be a beautiful part of the Netherlands with a rich history, beautiful nature and friendly people. No wonder it also ranked 3rd in the Lonely Planet Best of Europe 2018.
What has really stuck with me is the friendliness of the people I met. It’s a beautiful part of the Netherlands for cyclists, where you can cycle through various villages. Of course, the big event for amateur cyclists is the Elfstedentocht by bike, but I would definitely recommend exploring Friesland on a bike as well.
Want to know more about South-West Friesland or other parts of this beautiful province? Go to Visit Friesland website or follow them on @visit.friesland on instagram! We’d love to hear about your trips in Friesland and tag us @cyclingdestination.cc/ for a mention.
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.