From Munster to Amsterdam

Individual arrival by late afternoon. Information meeting and bike handover (if booked). Perhaps enjoy some time in the evening on Münster's lively historic Prinzipalmarkt, which includes the famous historic town hall. Also worth seeing are St Paul's Cathedral and the Lamberti Church. You will spend the night in the city today.

On today's tour, you will first reach Havixbeck in the heart of Münsterland. The moated castles of Stapel, Havixbeck and Hülshoff, where the famous Annette von Droste-Hülshoff was born, are particularly impressive buildings. Your route takes you through the Baumberge region, a well-known elevation in the otherwise largely flat Münsterland. You come to Billerbeck with the St Ludgerus Cathedral, known as St Ludger's Cathedral, and many other historic buildings and continue to Coesfeld with the Powder Tower and its charming castle park.

You first cycle to Stadtlohn in a quaint and charming landscape, which is characterised by the often unregulated River Berkel. This charming little town is close to the Dutch border, which you cross on the rest of your tour. You reach the Dutch town of Winterswijk in the National Landscape Park. The region is characterised by many small hamlets, mills, streams and forests. The Dutch painter Piet Mondrian spent part of his youth in the town. A museum in Winterswijk is dedicated to him. 

In Vreden, North Rhine-Westphalia, you may have the opportunity to see the pink flamingos in the Zwillbrocker Venn today. The nature reserve consists of raised bogs and moorland, heathland and meadows. The route continues to Zutphen via Borculo with its crystal museum. The medieval town centre with its romantic little alleyways and streets, lined with numerous towers and historic merchants' and packing houses, is very attractive.

You cycle through the landscapes of various Dutch national parks. Along the way, you will pass the historic Radio Kootwijk transmitter, which looks like a cathedral, and Apeldoorn with Het Loo Castle. The interior of the former royal summer residence looks as if it is still used by the royal family. The baroque gardens are just as beautiful as the buildings. At your destination for the day, Arnhem, enjoy the marvellous view of the surrounding countryside from the tower of the Eusebius Church or visit monuments and memorials that commemorate the Battle of Arnhem.

Today, the Rhine with its estuary Waal leads the way for a while. You reach places such as Veenendaal on the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug nature reserve and Wageningen with its lively student life. Your destination for the day is Amersfoort. Many historic buildings give the old town centre here a medieval charm. The city's sights include the approximately 98 metre high Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren tower and the Mondriaanhuis. The birthplace of the famous painter now houses a museum. 

You first reach Gooise Meren with sights such as Muiden Castle and Fort Pampus. It was built in the 19th century to defend the port of Amsterdam. If you fancy a trip to the beach, you might like to visit Muiderberg beach. It is located on a bay called IJmeer. It is part of the Markermeer, an inland lake separated from the IJsselmeer by a dyke. At the end of today's tour, you will arrive in Amsterdam. Here you can visit the Jordaan artists' quarter, museums such as the Van Gogh Museum or treat yourself to a lovely canal cruise.

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