The present round trip goes through a green rural landscape to the river IJssel and north to the previous Zuiderzee (now IJsselmeer and Markermeer). The cities Arnhem, Doesburg, Zutphen, Deventer, Hattem, Zwolle, Hasselt, Kampen, Elburg and Harderwijk were important trade centers and members of the Hanseatic League 500 years ago. Also Apeldoorn and Amersfoort are visited.

Accomodations should be reserved well in advance. In Utrecht, NH Hotel Utrecht Jaarbeursplein can be recommended. Rental of bicycles can be pre-ordered through Wiel-Rent.

Day 1. Utrecht to Veenendaal (56 km, map link)

Start: Fietsknooppunt 52 (1 km west of Utrecht Central Station). Bike south along the canal towards Knooppunten 13, 73 and 74. Before reaching 74, cross the canal to the left on Symfonielaan. Go left to Lekkanaaldijk and over the bridge to Knooppunt 6. Follow the right side of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to Houten, where the Knooppunten route turns away from the canal for a few kilometres (_6-90-3-14-64-66). Then continue along the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to Wijk bij Duurstede (66-63-58-57-56-55-14-15), where we can recommend De Engel Café for lunch.

Thereafter the suggested route goes east to Amerongen, and continues towards Veenendaal on a nice narrow bike path through the forest (_15-17-65-42-43-85). Many accomodations and restaurants are found in Veenendaal. Hotel Van der Valk Veenendaal may be a good choice for dinner and overnight stay (_85-45-81-68).

Day 2. Veenendaal to Apeldoorn (54 km, map link)

From Veenendaal, bike northeast to Harskamp (68-23-40-56-33-77-75-1-76-17-93-25-73) where a lunch stop may be made at De Vergulde Leeuw.

The suggested route continues into the forest on Hoog Buurloseweg, crossing road A1 before entering Apeldoorn (73-70-71-19-40-41-42-98-39) where a detour should be made to get a glimpse of the country seat of the royal family, Het Loo (_39-22-18-84).

Many good accomodations and restaurants are found in Apeldoorn. Hotel Van der Valk Cantharel south of Apeldoorn may be recommended for dinner and overnight stay (_84-29-59-50-43).

Day 3. Apeldoorn to Arnhem (39 km, map link)

The suggested route goes south from Apeldoorn along road N304 (Otterloseweg) to Fietsknooppunt 43, making a detour through Lierer and Beekbergen to Hoenderloo, where a lunch café can be found, for example Herberg de Boer’nkinkel (_43-93-92-69-12-2-13). Alternatively, Otterloseweg can be followed to Hoenderloo, reaching Arnhem before lunch.

From Hoenderloo, go south along Het Nationale Park Hoge Veluwe towards Arnhem (13-23-3-55-47-84-42-69-54), where many good accomodations and restaurants are found. NH Rijnhotel Arnhem may be recommended for dinner and overnight stay (54-41-94-52).

Day 4. Arnhem to Deventer (62 km, map link)

The suggested route goes along the western side of the winding river IJssel past Doesburg to Dieren, where a lunch stop may be made at Petit Café de Oranjerie (52-35-81-82-8-88-78-80-85-83-60-99-10-2-23-90).

Continue through Brummen to De Hoven (90-93-34-42-43-53-4-2-1), where a detour to Zutphen on the east side of IJssel may be an option. Zuthpen received town rights as one of the first in the Netherlands before 1200, after Deventer and Utrecht.

The suggested route continues along the west side of IJssel to Deventer, where many hotels and restaurants are found (_1-36-35-37-49-17-16-61). Pillows Boutique Hotel aan der IJssel can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5. Deventer to Zwolle (62 km, map link)

The suggested route goes on a nice bike path on the western dike of IJssel to Welsum, where Eet Tapperij Bisterbosch is conveniently placed for lunch (_61-14-48-87-89-70). Or a detour may be made, taking a bicycle ferry to the east side of IJssel to find a lunch café.

The route continues along the western dike of IJssel through Hattem and across the river to Zwolle (70-8-97-58-51-31-27-74-36-59-58-94-77-16), where many hotels and restaurants are found. One option for dinner and overnight stay is an old water tower north of Zwolle, De Kopteren Hoogte (16-92-17-65-66-48-49-47-69-68-60-18-19). Water towers are seen all over the Netherlands, providing a suitable pressure for local water pipes.

To stay more than one night in Zwolle may be a good idea, to see more of the city and surroundings (for example Staphorst, where old religious traditions are more visible than almost anywhere else, even affecting clothing and the colour of houses).

Day 6. Zwolle to Nunspeet (52 km, map link)

The suggested route goes west through Hasselt to Kampen, where De Stadsherberg may be visited for lunch (19-33-31-38-37-36-29-46-45-41). Kampen has one of the best preserved old town centres of the Netherlands, including remains of the old city wall and numerous churches.

From Kampen, continue along the Veluwerandmeeren through Elburg Vesting (41-68-69-26-24-81-3-30-2-1-32), and turn left (south) to Nunspeet (32-61-31) where Hotel NH Veluwe Sparrenhorst can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7. Nunspeet to Amersfoort (56 km, map link)

From Nunspeet, the suggested route goes northeast to the Veluwe-randmeeren coast (_40-83-82-81) and southeast along the coast to Harderwijk where Brasserie de Bank may be visited for lunch (_81-80-18-43-10-11-82).

Then continue southwest along the beautiful coast to Spakenburg, which is a popular tourist village with a lot of private boats (82-9-7-32-38-67-52-51-50-3). From Spakenburg, turn south towards Amersfoort (3-5-4-73-10-82-83-99), where many hotels and restaurants are found. NH Hotel Amersfoort can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay. The inner city has been preserved well since the middle ages, and is worth a visit.

Day 8. Amersfoort to Utrecht (48 km, map link)

Go through Amersfoort and nortwest to Soest, which also was a member of the Hanesatic League (_99-83-84-70-71-67). The suggested route continues to Baarn and southwest through the forest to Lage Vuursche (_67-65-64-63-90-98), where Restaurant de Lage Vuursche can be recommended for lunch.

From Lage Vuursche, bike west through the forest and a beautiful water landscape to the river Vecht (98-82-99-20-29-49-27-23-85-87). Continue southeast along Vecht to Oud Zuilen, and south through Utrecht back to the starting point of the round trip (_87-46-45-53-15-52).