Inspired by the legendary Eleven Cities Ice Skating Tour, Cycling through the Eleven Cities of Friesland takes you on a round tour through the province of Friesland.
The Noord & Zuidhollandsche Reddingsmaatschappij lifeboat station in Hindeloopen. Photo © Holland-Cycling.com
The Eleven Cities Ice Skating Tour that first took place in 1909 has now become legendary. The challenging 200-km tour can only take place in extreem conditions when all the canals, rivers and lakes connecting the eleven Frisian cities are frozen. This does not occur very often. The last time it could take place on ice was in 1997.
Inspired by the legendary tour, there are many alternative Eleven Cities Tours - over water and over land - that can be enjoyed in less extreme weather conditions. Cycling through the Eleven Cities of Friesland is one of them.
From open polders with Friesian cows and windmills, lakes with sailing boats and an ice age cliff, to the UNESCO world heritage listed Wadden Sea - this 250-km route takes you on a scenic round tour through the varied landscapes of the the province of Friesland.
Along the way you'll visit the eleven historic cities of Friesland: Leeuwarden, Sneek, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, IJlst, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum.
Cycling through the Eleven Cities of Friesland is not signposted or marked on cycle maps. The guide book Fietsen langs de Elf Steden van Friesland gives you maps and a list of the numbers of the numbered cycle network for the route that you can follow. There are also downloadable GPS tracks.
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Cycling through the Eleven Cities of Friesland (Fietsen langs de Elf Steden van Friesland) |
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| Route: | Leeuwarden - Leeuwarden (round trip) |
| Distance: | 250 km |
| Guide book: | Fietsen langs de Maas, Uitgeverij Elmar |
| GPS tracks: | Download from Uitgeverij Elmar |
