Zeebrugge - Amsterdam any help appreciated

Joetransport

I have just bought my ferry tickets from Rosyth to Zeebrugge and I plan once there to cycle up to Amsterdam and meet some friends there. I have never done any serious touring before and would appreciate any help for my planning :shock:

Im planning on taking a tent with me but I would like mostly to use hostels along the way. At the moment I'm trying to make a rough itinerary so I know vaguely where I might be stopping off etc and how long it will all take.
Has anyone done this route before? which places are good to stop off at and are there any unmissable detours? and how long should I give myself?


Any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated :!:
Heather

Wooliferkins

Heather,
Have you posted on theCTC websiteor have a look in their routes archive although you need to be a member to access the route sheets.

Weejie54

I've only ever travelled that route by bus (and it was dreadful as a result) but cycling should be fun. You might find this website useful, just working it out from Brugge:

http://www.london2amsterdam.co.uk/

pneumatic

Weejie54 wrote:

I've only ever travelled that route by bus (and it was dreadful as a result) but cycling should be fun. You might find this website useful, just working it out from Brugge:

http://www.london2amsterdam.co.uk/

If you are diverting to Brugge (well worth it, BTW), then the best way in from Zeebrugge is along the Boudewijn canal (turn left out of the ferry port and then take a right back over the swing bridge so that you are on the West bank of the canal). Do NOT use the main road into Brugge on a bike; it is a concrete channel full of fast moving trucks.

Alternatively, google the North Sea Cycle Route. I understand there are good coastal cycle paths all the way along the Belgian and Dutch coasts.

fietslogies

For your first cycling steps on the continent (?), you can use (very) small parts of these two tracks:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bergues-Veurne-Nieuwpoort-Oostende-Brugge-Damme-Maldegem-Eeklo-G and http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ghent-Bruges

The canal between Bruges, Damme and Sluis is a little marvel!