East Frisian and the Netherlands

Individual arrival in Emden. In the late afternoon you will have your information meeting and the bike handover (if booked). The seaport is the home to several museum ships. If you like fish, you should try Matjes or prawns here.

Enjoy the first ride from Emden to Petkum on beautiful paths. By ferry (not included) you reach the village of Ditzum where you should visit the fish harbour. Along the river Ems you cycle via Jemgum to Leer. Discover the beautiful and old city centre, the picturesque baroque building and the harbour.

Bicycle tour through the Moormer region, the heart of the Fehn culture. Wind and range accompany you on your way to Papenburg. Papenburg is called the "Venice of the Nother". An exceptional attraction of Papenburg is the company "Meyer Werft", which build cruise ships. If you would like to visit the wharf a registration is necessary: telephone: 0049-4961-83960 or www.papenburg-tourismus.de.

Immediately behind Papenburg you enter the Netherlands, province Groningen. After a couple of kilometres visit the old, star-formed border fortress Bourtange from the 16th century. Then you cycle through fertile marshes to Stadskanaal, past huge farms and renovated old locks.

Solitary cycle path through dense forests, heather, moor and peat you cycle through province Drenthe. You cycle through idyllic villages to Ziudlaren with splendid Saxon farmhouses and late-Romanesque church. Only a brief distance along the large continental-lake Paterswoldsemeer and you reach the city Groningen.

Groningen is a lively centre in the North-East of the Netherland and is well worth a visit, before you set off to the North. Here you are soon embraced by quietude and solitariness. Near Uithuizen you find the most beautiful fortress of the region Groningen, Menkemaburg. Along the dyke you cycle to Delfzijl.

Option 1 (possible on all arrival days): Cycle tour from Delfzijl along the Dollard, short ferry crossing from Ditzum to Petkum and cycle tour to Emden.

Option 2 (only possible if you arrive on Sunday): By boat (not included) from Delfzijl across the Dollart to Emden. The ferry from Delfzijl to Emden runs every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the months of May to August, in September Wednesday and Saturday. Departure from Delfzijl at around 10:50 and 16:50, journey time approx. 1h 15 minutes. Cycle distance from Emden harbour to your hotel approx. 4 km (2.5 mi). One overnight stay in Emden.

After breakfast, individual return journey or start of your extension.