From Nijmegen to Hardewijk 7 Day Self-Guided Cycling Tour

Arrival in Nijmegen

Check in at eco-friendly and comfortable Van der Valk Hotel Nijmegen-Lent. Lent is a village that lies just across the Waal River from the big historical city of Nijmegen. In five minutes, you can walk to the Spiegelwaal near the old bridge of Nijmegen. From the Lent quay you have a beautiful view of the city of Nijmegen and of five bridges straddling the River Waal. Walk across the old Waal bridge into the welcoming centre of the oldest city in the Netherlands. Its history goes back more than 2000 years. In Hunnerpark you will find the remains of old city walls. The centre of Nijmegen boasts several museums, including Museum Het Valkhof, specialized in Roman archaeology, ancient art and crafts, and modern art.

Nijmegen - Doesburg 50 km

After a final stretch over the dike along the Waal River, you cycle through the new Lingezegen Landscape Park. 2000 years ago, the Limes, the northernmost border of the Roman Empire, was located here. The information boards along the way provide information about this. After Elst follows Driel, where you cross the slow-flowing Lower Rhine by ferry. Once in Arnhem, you can visit the Airborne at the Bridge museum on the Rijnkade overlooking the famous John Frost Bridge, which deals with the Battle of Arnhem during the Second World War. It's a great place to take a break in the spacious, green Sonsbeek Park on the outskirts of the city. After Arnhem, you swap the Nederrijn for the IJssel and cycle over dikes with views of the floodplains. Soon the church tower of Doesburg comes into view. You cross your fourth river, the Oude IJssel, via the locks and finally end up in the monumental city of Doesburg with its many shops, galleries and museums. Visit the Mustard Museum or the Lalique Glass Museum, but first settle down at the 'Stadsbierhuys de Waag', the oldest inn in the Netherlands, in the heart of the city and try the famous mustard soup, or opt for the trendy 'Arsenaal' with its green walled terrace, housed in a beautiful medieval building that served as an armoury for about two hundred years.

Doesburg – Deventer 59 km

Today, you mainly follow the high dykes along the IJssel and enjoy the geese in the floodplains, the egrets in the meadow and the swallows above your head. Ships cut through the fast-flowing, glistening IJssel water. On this delightful day trip, you first reach the small, photogenic Bronkhorst, which with its cobbled streets and farmhouses proves to be an excellent coffee stop. Once again once on the road, you can already see the outline of Hanseatic city Zutphen in the distance. Stroll through the historic centre here and treat yourself to lunch, for example in the beautiful 'Oude Bornhof'. You continue cycling past slightly higher farms, past meadows with grazing cows, stately rows of trees and dense hedges. It becomes more wooded and you pass some estates. High above the landscape is the tower of 13th-century Slot Nijenbeek. Lovers of modern art naturally take a ferry to the magnificent Museum 'More' in Gorssel. The silhouette of the imposing Lebuïnus church signals your approach to the Hanseatic city of Deventer. You can choose between a longer (59 km) and shorter (44 km) route. The shorter version crosses the IJssel at Gorssel by ferry and then heads to the hotel in the south of Deventer. You will then not pass through the centre of Deventer (but you will the next day). The longer route continues to follow the west bank of the IJssel and crosses the IJssel along the railway bridge in Deventer. If the ferry at Gorssel does not sail (in case of too high or too low water or for other reasons), follow the longer route anyway.

Deventer - Zwolle 48 km

Today, you will continue north along the IJssel River. If you did not do so yesterday, take time to explore Deventer. Apart from its historic centre with its many bookshops and art galleries, this Hanseatic city is also famous for its famous Deventer cake, a local delicacy dating back to 1595. To taste it for yourself, visit the Deventer Koekwinkel (Bussink) on the beautiful Brinkplein. After Deventer, the tour takes you through the spectacular floodplains where you will see plenty of signs of modern Dutch water management. After visiting the small Hanseatic town of Hattem, you cross the river to Zwolle. Surrounded by four rivers, Zwolle has always been a busy traffic hub attracting many traders and travellers. You will find remnants of the medieval ramparts and numerous other monuments from the time Zwolle was a member of the Hanseatic League in this beautiful city.

Note: If all ferries are out of service due to high tide, follow the alternative routes. Both versions are about the same length (48 km) and both have their charm, you would actually want to cycle both.

Zwolle - Kampen 50 km

You leave the hustle and bustle of Zwolle behind and follow the river Zwartewater. Cycling along the river's winding dykes is wonderful. The beautiful views over the marshy floodplains are a real treat. You are likely to see a variety of birds such as lapwings, common terns and marsh harriers along the way. Via the charming ferry 'Haersterveer' - ring the bell and the skipper will manually cross the Overijsselse Vecht, which you will follow to the Hanseatic town of Hasselt. Be sure to take time to visit this charming town with its seventy national monuments. The beautiful buildings testify to the wealth brought by the Hanseatic League. Hasselt was a transit point for goods that were shipped down the rivers and loaded onto seafaring ships that crossed the Zuiderzee to friendly Hanseatic ports on the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Subsequently, different goods made the same journey back again. The next pearl in this route is the pretty town of Genemuiden. Over centuries, Genemuiden has risen to become the carpet and artificial turf (football pitch) town of the Netherlands. To conclude this tour of the IJssel delta, you meander through empty Zwartewaterland between the Ganzendiep and Zwartemeer, hopefully the wind works in your favour here. You will enter Kampen over the city bridge with its characteristic lift towers. Because of its ideal location on the IJssel and the Zuiderzee, Kampen was one of the richest and most powerful Hanseatic cities between the 13th and 16th centuries. Much of Kampen's thriving history can still be found in the centre of this city.

Kampen - Harderwijk 53 km

In the former tobacco town of Kampen, admire the remains of the 14th-century city wall before cycling towards the water. Along the Dronten and Veluwe lakes, the route leads to the centuries-old, picturesque fortified town of Elburg. After Elburg, you swap coast and polder for inland. From Nunspeet, you can enjoy the coulisse landscape at the edge of the Veluwe. If you have enough time, follow the 6 km longer route through the Harderwijker Woods and the desert-like dune area Het Beekhuizerzand. Sometimes up a little hill then leisurely down again. You might see deer or boars along the way. How beautiful the Veluwe is! Today's end station is the lovely, cosy town of Harderwijk. It was once a bustling Hanseatic city and a thriving fishing port by the sea - but now it lies on a lake overlooking a polder!

Return home

After breakfast your cycling holiday has come to an end.