Whereas the Flevopolder is surrounded by water like a castle with a moat, the Noordoostpolder der is attached to the old land. Cycling along and across the border, that's what this 90-kilometre route is all about.
Via nature strip the Burchttocht, you cross the border and lave 35 kilometres on the border between the new and the old country, passing old places with wheels (puddles) behind the dike that recall dike breaches in the past. At Pavilion the Trial Lab, squeeze the brakes for a coffee stop before continuing your tour to the Zwarte Meer, former peninsula Oud-Kraggenburg and Waterloopbos... Click the Description tab below for more information on this route.
Download the GPX route in south and west winds.
Download the GPX route in north and east winds.
Cycling along and across the border is what this 90-kilometre route is all about. Start at the starting point 'Bij Ons in de Wellerwaard' (open from 10:00) with coffee or something else on the spacious waterside terrace. Your ride starts winding through the Burchttocht, a natural strip created to collect excess water during extreme rainfall. Meanwhile, you can admire the lavish country houses on the estates being developed in this area.
Via the Kuinderbos you cross the border to the picturesque town of Lemmer in the south-western tip of Friesland. The next 35 kilometres you lave on the border between the new and the old country. You speed along the Grietenijdijk on the dividing line between Friesland and the Noordoostpolder. Via a loop through the Kuinderbos, the largest and oldest forest in the Noordoostpolder, you return to Flevoland.
At Kuinre, you turn back onto the old sea dyke. Where you now cycle on the border between Flevoland and Overijssel, the coastline of the Zuiderzee used to run. You pass old towns like Blankenham, Baarlo and Blokzijl, while wheels (puddles) behind the dike recall past dike breaches. The old country with its traditional farms tucked behind the dike contrasts with the Noordoostpolder with its vast farmlands.
Back in Flevoland, you can squeeze the brakes at Pavilion the Trial Lab for a coffee stop
in the Waterloopbos. This forest was once a testing ground for water works from all over the world. You'll find scale models of the Delta Works and Bangkok harbour, among others. At the Black Lake, you pass the 135-metre-long artwork Pier + Horizon. Back in the polder, an elevation in the landscape with a beacon looms up: the former peninsula Oud-Kraggenburg. After a loop through the Voorsterbos, you cross through Marknesse to the end of your route: Bij Ons in de Wellerwaard. Finish off there on a summer's day with a drink on the lovely terrace.
Character
Distance: 90 km
★★★★☆ Bold
★★★★☆ Green
★☆☆☆☆ Water
★★★★★☆☆ Open Flevoland
★★★★☆☆ Wind
Coffee stop
Restaurant Het ProefLab
Voorsterweg 34
8316 PT Marknesse
www.hetproeflab.nl
Please pay attention!
A number of comments and warnings apply to this route:
Fun for partner/family
The route starts at Wellerwaard recreation area. With a swimming lake, beach and catering facilities, it is a great place to be when the weather is good. Next door is a golf course. The route goes through the Waterloopbos, where there are lovely walking routes for all ages.
