This ride is a fixed-base or semi-fixed-base ride, please read the ride description for more details.
† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.
OVERVIEW
Discover Muensterland Germany and Hanseatic Towns of the Netherlands with this semi-roaming tour of six nights in each of two lovely hotels. This tour will take you to the undiscovered (by Americans) cycling paradise of Muensterland in northwestern Germany with its beautiful park landscape and rolling hills of the Baumberge and then into the eastern countryside of the Netherlands. Our trip begins in Coesfeld, in Muensterland Germany and then we travel to Doesburg, Netherlands, a historic, Hanseatic city. Enjoy rides through the countryside on well-marked routes and paths through typical Dutch and German landscapes. Loop rides from Coesfeld will take us through the Baumberge to Rheine via the Radbahn, the former singletrack railway line, to Muenster, a cosmopolitan city with history spanning more than 1,200 years, to Ludinghausen the city of water castles and Nordkirchen, home of the “Versailles of Westphalia,” and to Hatten on See via the western section of the 100 Castles route.
Loop rides from Doesburg will take us to De Hoge Veluwe national park and the Kröller-Müller Museum, to Arnhem for a visit to the Netherlands Open Air Museum, to Zutphen, a centuries-old Hanseatic town by the banks of the river Ijssel, and east into the countryside known as Achterhoek (the rear corner) of the Netherlands, and to the Gazelle Bicycle Factory in Dieren.
RIDE RATING
This ride is rated a 1B and the elevation gain averages 20-30 feet/mile. The Netherlands and Muensterland are very flat and there is minimal climbing but the wind can be an issue. We have 10 optional riding days with the average ride length of 46 miles; the longest ride is 55 miles. Shorter alternate routes of 25-35 miles will be available every day, but they may or may not travel to the listed attractions/sites. Most days offer the possibility of visiting an attraction or city so the days out could be long but there will be about 15 hours of daylight. On many days there is an option to return or shorten the route via train—both hotels are in cities with or near train stations. Some, but not all of the routes, will pass through towns with train stations. A map of trains in the Netherlands is available at: https://nieuws.ns.nl/spoorkaart-2020-hier-te-downloaden/
As we will be based in two fixed locations, riders have the option of a daily long or short ride, doing an alternate ride they discover/create, or they can take a day of leisure. All routes are loop rides and are self-supported which means there will be no support vehicle. A day off is planned in the middle of the trip when we will transfer from Doesburg to Coesfeld, but you may cycle that day from Doesburg to Coesfeld and have your luggage transferred by the bus as the two cities are approximately 60 miles apart.
We have scouted the Doesburg rides and plan to scout and finalize the Coesfeld rides in the summer of 2024.
ITINERARY AND HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1 Weds., 5/14 2 PM arrive in Amsterdam, 2 PM meet at airport for bus to hotel in Coesfeld, Germany, 150 miles, 2.5 hours; get rental bikes, and at 6 PM, we will have our first social hour. Dinner at hotel at 7 PM.
Day 2, Thurs., 5/15 Ride 1 Southward to Glass Museum in Lette; wild horses in Dulmen, and Melchenberg Lookout Tower near Reiken 35 Miles
Day 3: Fri., 5/16; Ride 2 to Rheine via the Radbahn, the former single-track railway line that leads through the cycling regions of Baumberge and Steinfurter Land 55 miles
Day 4: Sat., 5/17, Ride 3 to Muenster, a 1,200-year-old city with a Castle, Market, and beautiful arcades of Prinzipalmarkt 50 miles
Day 5: Sun., 5/18, Ride 4 to Ludinghausen, the city of water castles, and Nordkirchen, home of the “Versailles of Westphalia” 50 miles
Day 6, Mon., 5/19, Ride 5 to Hatten on See via Western Route of 100 Castles route 50 Miles
Day 7, Tues., 5/20: TRANSFER TO DOESBURG BY BUS; 60 miles; 1.25 hours. OPTIONAL: Cycle to Doesburg 55 miles. This distance is further than a 1B ride rating but this ride is totally optional.
Day 8, Weds., 5/21: Ride 6 to Arnhem, NL Open Air Museum 20 EUR 35 miles
Day 9, Thurs., 5/22: Ride 7 to Zutphen and Castle Kepple, 42 miles (Market Day in Zutphen)
Day 10, Fri., 5/23: Ride 8 to De Hoge Veluwe national park, Kroller-Muller Museum 11 EUR, 45 miles
Days 11, Sat., 5/24: Ride 9 Doesburg and East, 45 miles
Day 12, Sun., 5/25: Ride 10 south to Huis Berg Castle and Carpe Diem Restaurant, 38 miles
Day 13, Mon., 5/26: 8 AM depart for Amsterdam by bus
CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES
GPS files for all routes will be provided and the use of a navigation device is not just highly recommended but required. It would be difficult if not impossible to follow many of the routes with printed route sheets due to the numerous turns. It is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS device/GPS App on their phone before the trip begins. Routes will be posted on a Ride with GPS event where GPS tracks can be downloaded and maps can be printed for those who would like to print them in advance, but it is up to the rider to know how to use the Ride with GPS app on his/her phone or to transfer the files to his/her own GPS unit.
WEATHER
May is one of the best months to visit the Netherlands and Germany. Daily highs average in the mid 60s and lows average 50 degrees with rainfall averaging 2.2 inches. NL is green and lush for a reason and cool cloudy weather and rain showers can occur—don't forget to bring breathable waterproof rain gear and be prepared for all types of weather to ensure that your trip is enjoyable. It can also be very windy. Weather forecasts which include wind intensity will be discussed at each happy hour.
LODGING & MEALS
For the first six nights of the trip, Stephanus-Brauerei in Coesfeld in Muensterland will be our home and for the second six nights the Stadshotel in Doesburg, NL will be our home. Breakfast is included every morning and dinner at the hotel restaurant is included the six nights that we are in Coesfeld and on three of our evenings in Doesburg for a total of 12 breakfasts and 9 dinners. Two drinks (beer/wine/soda) and light snacks from the hotel bars are also included for our daily happy hour. Three to four special events/tours are also included. Lunches will be on your own when you’re out riding. We will discuss options for the next day at each happy hour. We will also provide restaurant options for dinners on the nights we’re not eating at the hotel—there are many great choices!
LOGISTICS
Ride participants who plan to spend time in Amsterdam and/or the Netherlands/Europe before the trip may take the train to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Wednesday, May 14, where we will meet you (at 2pm) at the well-marked “Meeting Point” in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (you are responsible for your own travel to Amsterdam) with a charter bus to take you to the hotel in Coesfeld, about 150 miles east of Amsterdam. On Tuesday, May 20, we’ll transfer by bus about 1.25 hours west to Doesburg and on Monday, May 26, a bus will leave Doesburg at 8 a.m. to take ride participants back to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (with possibility to make a flight that day back to the U.S.)
Transportation of bike boxes for those desiring to bring their own bikes will be provided. Tandems and e-bikes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Talk with the leaders about this.
Rental bikes will be available through Holland Bike Tours (hollandbiketours.com). Each rider will pay Holland Bike Tours directly with a credit card. Rental bikes will be delivered to our hotel, transferred to our second location, and picked up at the completion of the tour. The bikes are high quality recreational touring bikes selected for touring in the Netherlands and Germany (they are 7-speed and heavier than you may be used to) and e-bikes are also available. If you choose to bring your own bike, it should have at least 32 mm tires. Although we will be riding mostly on paved trails, we may also be riding for short periods of time on dirt or crushed rock packed paths, roads, and cobblestones. Road bikes are not suitable for this tour. Participants are responsible for and must pay separately for their bike rentals.
COST & ADMINISTRATION
Cost estimate is $3,300 per person double occupancy for 12 hotel nights, 12 breakfasts, two happy hour drinks (beer/wine/soda) and light snacks every afternoon, 9 group dinners, bus transportation from Amsterdam Schiphol to the first hotel, transfer between hotels, and from the second hotel back to Amsterdam Schiphol; daily route review, luggage transfer, scouted routes with GPS tracks and sightseeing information as well as at least 3 special tours/events. Other optional activities and sightseeing, as well as transportation to the start location at Amsterdam Schiphol are paid by the participant as is the non-refundable $100 BAC ride registration fee. The initial deposit is $1,650 with the final payment of $1,650 due January 1, 2025. With the current economic uncertainties in mind, the cost was estimated at an exchange rate of $1 EUR equal to $1.10 USD. Depending on future currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment (i.e., up or down).
SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
We welcome single participants, whether you share a room with another single or choose to pay a solo supplement, although we are limiting the number of solos on this tour to two. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until December 1, 2024, to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $850 solo supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the solo supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leaders will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.
Solo supplement payments of $850 need to be sent to the BAC office by Dec. 1, 2024 via check or Zelle. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name, “The Other Netherlands” included on the check. They should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193. Note: ONLY solo supplement payments may be paid via Zelle. All other payments must be paid by credit card through the BAC website so that they can be applied to your account and your ride.
CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. For individual cancellations, refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up and whether costs can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost because of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.
Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. (e.g., COVID, annual influenza, tetanus, etc.). If travelling outside your home country, you may wish to consult with a travel physician or nurse to ensure that the appropriate vaccinations are up to date.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Vaccinations for Covid are recommended, but not required.
Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised, and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.
SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee and Tour Deposit by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org