The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Not Just a Flat Netherlands - 3 Country Tour

September 4th to September 16th

Ride Director: Margaret Slack
Ride Co-Director: Elie Bowles
Report by: Deborah Huntington

This trip took us to three countries: Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Our stay in the university city of Maastricht bookended our arrival and departure; we biked from this old city to a variety of destinations: an ancient limestone cave under the town of Valkenburg, where we took an hour-long 5K bicycle ride 150’ below ground; an award-winning museum in the oldest town in Belgium, Tongeren, to view artifacts of human civilization reaching back 15,000 years; and a different limestone cave network of 200 kilometers, which was modified during World War II by town authorities to hold 20,000 evacuated Dutch people. We also enjoyed exploring the picturesque cobblestone streets and historic churches of medieval Maastricht as well.

We were in awe of the cycling culture in Holland and slowly adjusted to having the right-of-way over cars. Our heads had to be on pivots as we navigated busy bike path intersections and car round-a-bouts. In additional to thousands of bike commuters, parents delivering children to school, grandparents ferrying grandchildren, and parent-child tandem bikes, we saw cyclists doing garbage pickup and mail distribution; cargo bikes carrying groceries, children, animals, and Amazon deliveries (not all at once); and bicycle lane sweeper/vacuum machines. Much of life takes place on two wheels here!

When we left Maastricht for a week we set off on the extensive cycling infrastructure which spans centuries-old farm lanes, rail trails, and cobblestone town streets. That left hand turn we couldn’t find? Just open the farm gate and proceed on a goat path…and ignore the three (sleepy) bulls up ahead! Can’t cross the river? Take the free bicycle ferry! Busy road ahead? There is surely a sign telling cyclists to use the sidewalk. On our routes we passed large “billboards” with maps illustrating the cycling highway network, including the Eurovelo routes, Maas River cycle route, Archeo-route Limburg, German Rur Radweg, and others.

Our daily rides were varied in distance, terrain, cycling surface and weather.  Much of the time we were in quiet pastoral valleys or deep in the woods, often on short stretches of gravel. We rode through the Eifel National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. We cycled past 13th Century abbeys and churches, numerous old farmsteads, and tiny towns whose half-timbered houses abut the road. Our lodging included a former cloister for nuns and a former palace.  Some days were in the low 80 degrees; others, cold and windy, with some rain and even a report of hail. The rides were 30 – 50 miles, with elevation gains as great as 2600’, but generally the ascents were very gradual.

About half of our group was on e-bikes, with the others on heavy upright 21-speed touring bikes. These were appropriate for the cobblestones and farm paths we’ve traversed, but they were slow!

At our final dinner, ride participants provided enthusiastic feedback for the planning of this ride. It has been a terrific trip, and we are very grateful for the thoughtful planning and execution by our leader, Margaret Slack; her cheerful, capable sidekick Elie Bowles; and the women’s patient, enthusiastic spouses David Pacey and Peter Boshard. Thank you, all!