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White sailboats with tall masts moored at a wooden dock on the IJsselmeer. A river flows past green trees under a cloudy sky.

Around lake IJsselmeer | short trip

The essentials at a glance

This self-guided cycling tour circles the IJsselmeer through historic Dutch towns. Starting in Harderwijk, the route passes through Amsterdam, Volendam, Enkhuizen, and traditional fishing villages. Daily distances range from 25-60 km on excellent paved bike paths. Highlights include medieval Naarden fortress, Amsterdam's canals, the Zuiderzee Museum, and the 32 km dyke to Lelystad. Easy difficulty with flat terrain and superior cycling infrastructure.

Trading towns, dreamlike harbors and the peaceful sea

This trip at the Ijsselmeer will be as beautiful as days at the sea, even if the dikes bay is today filled with fresh water. But it still promises the vastness of the sea and has never lost its maritime charm. Beautiful beaches as well as picturesque fishing villages prove this. The round trip takes you to an old fortified town and a former hanseatic metropolis, to smoked eel and cheese specialties, to water sports paradises and to harbor facilities. It also becomes an experience through fascinating nature with partly extraordinary vegetation and wildlife. Experience the Ijsselmeer as the perfect backdrop for a wonderful holiday.

Easy
Bike tours
6 Days / 5 Nights
Self-guided tour

Itinerary

Individual arrival in Harderwijk. The rental bikes (if booked) are in the hotel garage. Discover the medieval Hanseatic city. A walk through the city leads you almost always past the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk). It is a basilica with a three-part elevation from the 14th and 15th century. You stay one night in Harderwijk.

Look forward to the Arkemheen-Eemland National Park and the wide, flat landscape with its extraordinary vegetation. Black-tailed godwits strut across the moor. You cycle alongside the banks of the Randmeren to Huizen, the twin village on the Eemmeer with costumes and fishing museum. Naarden is a beautiful city in the green Gooi region and one of the best-preserved fortress cities in Europe. It was one of the most important defenses of the New Dutch Waterline, which still amazes people today.

During your tour alongside the IJsselmeer, you reach the medieval moated castle "Muidenschloss". Your way leads you to Amsterdam. Enjoy the historic buildings, the magnificent museums and the cozy atmosphere. Take a tour on the canals, walk through the Vondelpark, visit the floating flower market and shop in the old city center. Amsterdam is really unique! Due to the short stage you have enough time to explore the beautiful city. You stay overnight in Amsterdam.

After a few kilometers you reach the typical old Dutch town of Monnickendam, a real water city. Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the IJsselmeer to Volendam/Katwoude or Hoorn. Enjoy your breaks in traditional fishing villages, which have a past as thriving commercial cities. Volendam is famous for its costumes and is said to be home of a delicious smoked eel. You stay overnight in Volendam/proximity.

In Edam, you will soon discover that the town has more to give than the world-famous cheese. Hoorn is a small shopper's paradise with numerous terrace cafes and restaurants to enjoy and rest. The picturesque town of Enkhuizen attracts thousands of tourists every year. Some love it because of its many historic buildings and monuments, others because of its harbor and the optimal water sports facilities. Take a city walk to visit the Zuiderzeemuseum with its replicated old Zuiderzee town. You have an overnight stay in Enkhuizen.

You cycle over the 32 km long dyke to Lelystad. You cycle on this dyle over the IJselmeer. On this dam you have the impression that the world only consist of water. You reach Lelystad, the city offers typical city life, museum and shopping possibilities. Your tour ends in Harderwijk. No more accommodation in Harderwijk, optional you can book additional nights.

Tour character

Easy

Easy - The path quality is above average. In Holland, there is a two-lane and paved bike path along almost every street.

 
Map showing cycling route around IJsselmeer with red dots marking cities like Amsterdam, Volendam, Enkhuizen, Stavoren, and Harderwijk.

Prices & Dates

Printed route book – sustainability with Rückenwind

Your travel package includes a digital route book as standard. If you would like a printed version, please let us know when you book. The surcharge is € 20 per route book and you will receive your copy on site. Join us in contributing to even greater sustainability!
 

Prices per person in EUR

Our bikes

Blue touring bicycle with black rear rack and red Rückenwind handlebar bag featuring Vaude branding, parked on grass with trees in background.
7-gear touring bike
Gear hub with coaster brake

Exclusive production by Velo de Ville for Rückenwind.

Excellent bicycle with a Shimano 7-gear Nexus hub with coaster brake.

45 cm
50 cm
55 cm
Dark blue Rückenwind touring bike with 24 gears, equipped with red Vaude panniers and handlebar bag, parked on cobblestones.
24-gear touring bike
Derailleur gears with freewheel

Exclusive production by Velo de Ville for Rückenwind.

Excellent bike with Shimano 24-speed Acera derailleur gears with freewheel.

45 cm
50 cm
55 cm
Dark gray hybrid bicycle with front suspension, rear rack, and disc brakes parked on paved surface beside lush garden plants.
30-gear bike premium
Derailleur gears with freewheel

Exclusive production by Velo de Ville for Rückenwind.

Excellent bike with Shimano 30-gear Deore/XT derailleur with freewheel, RST 60 mm suspension fork and hydraulic disc brakes. Equipped with an aluminium hybrid type.

45 cm
50 cm
55 cm
60 cm
Blue Rückenwind electric bike with red Vaude panniers and handlebar bag, parked on concrete surface with green coniferous trees in background.
Unisex-Elbectric bike 8-gear
Hub gear with pedal brake

Exclusive production by Velo de Ville for Rückenwind.

High-quality electric bike with a Shimano 8-gear Nexus hub with coaster brake, Bosch activeline plus motor 500 Wh battery. 

42 cm (26 "")
45 cm
50 cm
55 cm

Services & Extras

Leistungen

Included:

  • 5 nights in hotels as described
  • Breakfast
  • Digital welcome briefing (German, English)
  • At best elaborated route
  • Digital travel documents
  • Navigations-App and GPS-data
  • Luggage transport
  • Insurance for the rental bike
  • 7-day service hotline

Not included:

  • Arrival and departure
  • All ferries, also the ferry Enkhuizen-Stavoren
  • Spa and local taxes
  • Parking fees
  • Optional visits
  • Expenses of personal needs
Extras

Arrival/Parking

  • Cat. A: There are parking spaces free of charge, no reservation possible.
  • Cat. B: Near the hotel is a parking space approx. € 12,- to 15,- per day, no reservation possible, payable on site.
Hotels

Accommodation is in well-kept 3- and 4-star hotels, mostly in a central location. All rooms have shower / WC or bath / WC.

Further information

Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

Portrait of Yasmine Rohlfs with long brown hair wearing a gray and white knitted sweater, smiling at the camera with hills in background.

"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"

Yasmine Rohlfs

4.3 out of 5 stars

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Cyclist in blue helmet and green shirt reading Dutch cycling route signs including LF 22a Zuiderzeeroute and Elfstedenroute near Ijsselmeer.

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50% discount on rental bikes
Book this trip in March ans save your rental special bike price
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/en/biketours/offer

You will find the already reduced bike prices in our price section. Applies to all new bookings and subject to availability.

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Gray bicycle with red Rückenwind panniers on handlebar and rear rack, parked on wooden boardwalk near beach with changing cabins in background.
You now receive special conditions when you book a trip.