Plan your bike trip

Distance: 50,3 kilometres
In its old harbour you can still see original ‘botters’, the 19th century flat-bottomed boats that were used to fish on the Zuiderzee. The thirty botters in Spakenburg make up about half of the entire Dutch botter fleet. The Spakenburg people primarily earn their money nowadays by trading fish (that was caught elsewhere), selling bread and cake, and from tourism.

This historic tour along the borders of what once was the Zuiderzee is almost coming to an end. However, you first ride a few more exciting kilometres through vast grasslands with an endless sky above. After passing the city beach of Huizen you ride alongside the Gooimeer (Lake Gooi) towards the fortified town of Naarden. You’re now inside the Defence Line of Amsterdam and the city is noticeably close. It’s getting busier, this Zuiderzee city has grown into the largest of them all. The Gooimeer turns into the IJmeer (Lake IJ), and with a view of the impressive Muiderslot (Muiden Castle) you ride into the fortified city of Muiden. Like Elburg, Naarden was initially situated closer to the Zuiderzee, the advancing water posing an ever greater threat.

This makes the circle complete. On a nice bike path you return to the city and after 440 kilometres of cycling you’re back to where you started. We hope that you’ve enjoyed the ride!