• Unique, natural history and cultural bike tour in Friesland, Overijssel and Flevoland
• With luggage service
• Distance: approx. 35 - 70 km per day
• 6 days cycling through the historic and modern Netherlands
Three Provinces & Peat Tour
The 7-day Three Provinces & Peat Tour is one of the most fascinating cycling tours in The Netherlands. You will not only encounter typical Dutch landscapes and cultures of modern times, but also starkly contrasting ones from yesteryear.
The central feature is water. Water used as a defence against enemies; water that must be held back to stop you from going under; water that must be forced out in favour of polder land in order to feed the Dutch and offer them living space; water for transport, agriculture, horticulture, as well as recreation. And last but not least, water to drink. The Netherlands depend on water more than any other European country.
With leaps and bounds you travel through the history of the North-Netherlands’ wetlands: from the last ice age to the turbulent Middle Ages, from the Golden Age (17th century) to the 20th and 21st centuries. You’ll cycle through marshy nature areas as well as peatlands, over dykes and fertile former seabeds, past old windmills and ultramodern wind turbines. You visit old fishing villages and islands which are no longer islands due to the surrounding areas which have been reclaimed from the sea. One by one, they are treasured remnants from a time that the sea was largely in charge.
Cultural landscapes
During the bike tour you will encounter the following landscapes and historical places: 1) The indigenous brook valley of De Lende, on which peat extraction left its mark; 2) The medieval coastline of the former Zuiderzee (the sconce of Slijkenburg, the fortress and fishing culture of Kuinre); 3) The reclaimed Noordoostpolder (1942) with the former islands of Schokland and Urk (in terms of natural history and culture exceptionally fascinating); 4) The old port and fishing village of Lemmer (the entry point of Friesland with sluices, and the large pumping station as highlights), and the hinterland, the large Tjeukemeer and the widespread valley of the ancient stream De Tsjonger.
Services
The start and finish of the tour is a hotel in Wolvega in the heart of the south Frisian park and waterland. Wolvega is easily accessible by car (A32), train and bus. You could take on this route with your own bicycle or rent a fine-looking touring bike with all the bells and whistles from Friesland Holland. Renting an electric bicycle with pedal assistance is also an option.
From the moment you embark on your bike tour in Wolvega, you won’t have a worry in the world. Not only does Friesland Holland take care of all your luggage transport from hotel to hotel, but in the case of bike trouble Friesland Holland also provides a breakdown service! On an interesting note, Friesland Holland’s Top Bikes are equipped with puncture-resistant tires!
Starting day
High season: As you wish.
For more information about luggage service please read 'Service'.
Number of cycling days
Six days
Starting place
Wolvega
