Pioneering route - Bikepark Bant
This route embodies Flevoland's pioneering spirit. Bas van Baaren and Els Haartsen created a complete mountain bike route around their campsite in Bant within a few years. As if that wasn't enough, they also added a bike café. "We have made the polder here a bit more fun," says Bas.
They would not have succeeded without the help of the volunteers of MTB group Masters of T...
Pioneering route - Bikepark Bant
This route embodies Flevoland's pioneering spirit. Bas van Baaren and Els Haartsen created a complete mountain bike route around their campsite in Bant within a few years. As if that wasn't enough, they also added a bike café. "We have made the polder here a bit more fun," says Bas.
They would not have succeeded without the help of the volunteers of MTB group Masters of Trails, professionals and the government. The idea came about when Bas started training a group of young MTBers. They thought the trip to the Kuinre mountain bike route was a long one. Why not create a mountain bike route in the small stretch of forest around our campsite in Bant," Bas and Els wondered. And so it happened, there is now an MTB route of just under two kilometres on which children and adults can enjoy themselves to their hearts' content. The route winds through a mature deciduous forest and makes good use of holes once dug in the forest for making huts.
But Bas and Els did not stop there. On the site of their former farm, a Bikepark has also been created. The municipality was enthusiastic, and there also appeared to be a subsidy pot available to get 6,000 cubic metres of land to build the park. Renowned route builder Patrick Jansen was flown in and the rest is history. Now there are rockgardens, north shores and a wallride. A seesaw is on the way.
The route through the forest around the campsite is a blue loop and suitable for everyone. There are also a series of red 'bypasses' for those who want slightly more technical features. Want to really get going? Then take a lap around the Bike Park. The route is well rated, ranking fourth out of 12 routes in Flevoland on mtbroutes.nl. "From Groningen to Katwijk, cyclists come here to do a lap. People appreciate that you put so much energy into it," says Bas.
Have you finished your bike ride? Spray off your bike and take a seat on the terrace or at the bar of the bicycle café. Order a cup of coffee for yourself, and lemonade or maybe chips for the kids. Or stay a night, because camping Fiederels is a super cosy place to stay. Let the campfire burn.
More info at www.campingfiederels.nl/bikepark and MTBroute Bant.
