Rhine Cycle Route – From Arnhem to Rotterdam

Acquaint yourself with your starting city of Arnhem, famous for the battle of Arnhem in WW2. Today not only can you learn about its war history, but also see several new attractions, such as: The zoo, an incredible open-air museum and beautiful Sonsbeek Park. If you are a nature lover and want to venture out of the city, it is also located very close to Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom, two national parks.

Head into the National Park of Veluwezoom, characterised by woods, beautiful fields and a 52-meter hill called Grebbeberg. An eery reminder of the events that took place here during WW2, there is a military cemetery. The Rhine in the Netherlands divides into numerous rivers, from this point you will follow the Nederrijn (Lower Rhine) to Amerongen Castle, which has beautiful gardens surrounding it. The destination for today is Wijk bij Duurstede, which used to be the most important Northern European centre of trade. This was around 800 AD and its name at the time was Dorestad. Take a stroll around the historical centre and perhaps even sit and enjoy a drink in an outdoor café.

Wijk bij Duurstede finds itself at a tie-up of waterways. The one you’ll be crossing first is the Lower-Rhine, which you’ll experience on the Wijksee Veer ferry. Your destination will be Betuwe, which is the number one district for fruit growing! You’ll pass through the historical town of Buren and reach a new river, the Linge River. You’ll go along this river to the Glass Town Leerdam. This is home to a glass museum; crystal factory and you can get stuck in with a glass-blowing workshop! On this night you’ll have a choice for your over-night stay, either in Leerdam or Asperen which lie on different sides of the Linge.

Today is a jam-packed day! Your hotel is just a stone throw away from Gorinchem, which offers a beautiful historical centre for you to visit. From here it’s time to hop onto a ferry and head once again to Woudrichem, a town known for its fortress. This is a fast-paced day so it’s time for your next stop of Biesbosch National Park, which offers a truly unique experience. In this park you can take the “De Biesbosch” ferry which transports you across the Nieuwe Merwede River and into the town of Dordrecht, here there is a beautiful harbour quarter to be seen. For the final part of the day a waterbus will take you across the Lower Merwede to the town of Papendrecht.

As you set off on your final day of adventures, your first destination will be UNESCO world heritage site Kinderdijk, you will get here via the Alblasserwaard polder. This sight truly captures the essence of a Dutch fairy-tale with its numerous polder windmills! The route will then lead to the final destination of Rotterdam. If you are feeling enthusiastic, you can continue to follow the Rhine for an extra 30km all the way to the North Sea and town of Hoek. Once you arrive here you can easily get back to Rotterdam by train. Enjoy your time in Rotterdam by visiting the Markthal (Market hall), this is one of the newest attractions.

Time to say goodbye to your Dutch adventure! You’ll have a lovely breakfast at the hotel and then part ways with your tour.