DAT has set up two different itineraries which both are around 320 km (200 miles). The length of the total trip will be set to your personal wishes and can be between 120 and 320 km. Both routes give a diverse view of the Dutch landscape and passes through picturesque villages and towns, polder land, forest and along waterways. Start and finish of both routes is Utrecht, centrally located in The Netherlands. Depending on the total length of your trip you can finish in other places and return to Utrecht by train. It is recommended to take your time and spend one day in Utrecht, before or after your tour. Utrecht is unique for its historic centre with wharves aside the canals where many restaurants and terraces are to be found. Also some interesting museums can be visited in Utrecht (Railway museum, Money museum, Music Box museum).

Below you will find more information about the two routes. See the pictures section for a photo impression.

1 RIVER ROUTE

Length:	120-320 km (70 – 200 miles)
Start/finish:	Utrecht
Alternative place of finish:	Dordrecht (75 km/45 miles from Utrecht), Den Bosch (55/35)
Highlights on this route:

· The river “Vecht” with its rural estate buildings

· Kinderdijk mills (UNESCO World heritage list)

· National Park “Biesbosch”

· The triangle Gorinchem-Woudrichem-Loevestein castle

· The river “Linge”

· Historic towns of Bodegraven, Gouda, Dordrecht and Buren

· The Rietveld Schröder house in Utrecht (UNESCO World heritage list)

Rough route description:

As the name of this route indicates, water is the central theme here. You will be surprised to notice the diversity of the Dutch river landscape. The route starts going north in the direction of Amsterdam along the river “Vecht” where you can admire classical real estate. Just before you reach Amsterdam you will bend into the Green Heart of Holland. You will see that it is very well possible to bike in an enjoyable way in the busiest part of the country. You will pass Gouda, world famous for its cheeses and candles, and well worth a visit because of its historical centre. You will cross the Reeuwijk Lake, ride along the Lek river until you reach Kinderdijk with its 27 world famous windmills. From here you continue to Dordrecht and the National Park “de biesbosch” where it is recommended to take a rest day (a boat trip in the park is a nice one day event). Also the town of Dordrecht is worth a visit for a stroll. After Dordrecht and the Biesbosch you will go to the town of Gorinchem where another resting day is recommended giving you plenty of time to visit the river triangle Gorichem-Woudrichem-Loevestein . After Gorinchem you will follow the river “Linge” in the direction of the “betuwe” which is the fruit garden of Holland. This river is very appropriate for a canoe trip. By the towns of “Wijk bij Duurstede” and “Buren” you will return to Utrecht.

2 VELUWE ROUTE

Length:	120-350 km (70 – 210 miles)
Start/finish:	Utrecht
Alternative place of finish:	Arnhem (60 km/40 miles from Utrecht), Zutphen (95/60) or Deventer (75/50)
Highlights on this route:

· Rietveld-Schröder House in Utrecht

· The castles and forests of the National Park “utrechtse heuvelrug”

· The rivers Rijn, Maas, Waal and Ijssel (Rhine, Meuse, Waal, and Isel)

· The Ooijpolder between Nijmegen and the German border

· National Park “Hoge Veluwe” with the famous “Kröller-Müller museum” with work of Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and many others

· The historic towns of Utrecht, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Doesburg and Zutphen

Rough route description

The tour starts in the eastern direction of Utrecht where you will pass the nice Amelisweerd woods. Soon you will enter an area between forest and polder and you will enter the National Park “Utrechtse Heuvelrug” (ridge of hills) where you can see castles and properties. At the town of Rhenen you will leave the province of Utrecht, and when you cross the Neder Rhine river you enter the province of Gelderland. Now you continue in the fruit garden of Holland and through small quiet roads you will go further south to the Meuse River. You will cycle along the Meuse in the direction of Nijmegen and Germany. You will pass Groesbeek which is famous for the “4 days march of Nijmegen” and is very suitable to spend a night or two (good area for walking). After Groesbeek, you will pass the town of Nijmegen and continue to the “ooijpolder” close to the german border. In this polder you have very nice views over the “Waal” river and over a lateral moraine.

You will cross the river by ferry just at the German border and now you will cycle to Arnhem along the “Ijsel” river. Depending on the total length of your tour you will make a detour to the historic town of Zutphen and you will pass the smallest town of Holland (Bronkhorst) and the town of castles Vorden. From here on you continue west to the National Park “de Hoge Veluwe”. If you are lucky you will see deers and wild pigs running through the park. Also in this park you will find the world famous Kröller-Müller museum, which is beautifully located and has a rich collection of paintings and sculptures (Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin and many others). After the national park you will enter a farmland with small roads and cattle along the way. You are now back in the province of Utrecht. Before you return to the town of Utrecht you will pass some nice properties and forests. In Utrecht you will pass at the last attraction during the tour: the Rietveld-Schröder House.