Race Around the Netherlands

The journey begins and ends in the village of Amerongen, at the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, where the start line is set at the well-known cycling café De Proloog. From there, the route first follows the rivers Neder-Rijn and Waal, leading riders to the historic cities of Nijmegen and Arnhem—famous from the film “A Bridge Too Far” about Operation Market Garden. Leaving the river landscapes and old towns behind, the path enters Veluwezoom National Park, renowned for its vast heath fields, grand country estates, and one of the Netherlands’ most iconic climbs: the Posbank.

The ride continues through the heart of Enschede before heading north into the province of Drenthe, where cyclists pass the ancient Dolmens, prehistoric burial chambers scattered across the landscape, before arriving in the city of Groningen. From here, the route pushes towards the coast, where strong winds begin to play their part. Instead of crossing the Afsluitdijk, one of the symbols of Dutch flood defense, the course takes riders around the IJsselmeer, passing the picturesque harbors of Enkhuizen and Hoorn.

From the IJsselmeer, the route heads south along the Dutch coastline, weaving past wide sandy beaches and quiet dunes before entering Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port. Riders cross the iconic Erasmus Bridge and continue towards the Maasvlakte, before moving further south over the Delta Works at Neeltje Jans, another feat of Dutch water engineering, en route to the historic city of Vlissingen. Due to its strategic position, Vlissingen played a pivotal role in the Eighty Years’ War, falling under Spanish control for a time.

The course then traces the Belgian border and leads into the hills of Limburg, where riders face the legendary Keutenberg, one of the toughest climbs in the country with gradients reaching 16%. After conquering the hills, the route turns back north, following the Maas river through its sweeping landscapes. Riding over the southern dikes along the rivers, participants return to Amerongen, where the finish awaits at Café De Proloog—a fitting end to a demanding and scenic Dutch adventure.