Cycling Around the World in NL: Stage 4: Zurich - Nederland (170km)

Join in an unforgettable bike adventure where you don't need to leave the country for a round-the-world cycling journey!

History of the idea
Inspired by the book "Fietsen rond de wereld in Nederland" by Flip van Doorn, this event is part of a long series of stages to cycle through The Netherlands while visiting America in Drente, Table Mountain in Blaricum, Austerlitz in Utrecht, Brooklyn in Breukelen, Russia in Uithoorn, Bombay in Groningen, etc. Each one coming with a rich history how they got their names. All the while seeing some of the most beautiful parts of the country by bike.

Official certificate
If you participate in all the stages and collect stamps along the way on your personal stamp-card you can get an official certificate at the end of Stage 9. You'll have cycled around 2000km by then!

How do I get the stamp card?
You can download the A4 sized stamp cards here:
http://bit.do/b7bW4

Stage 4: Zurich - Nederland
This stage is about 170km in length and it will take two days of cycling. It will start at Harlingen Haven train station. The official stamp post will be in Zurich, some 8km into the ride. Day 1 will end somewhere between Heeg and Koudum. Day 2 will end in a settlement called Nederland, from which we will cycle to Steenwijk to take the train home.

https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/0/5/f/600_451576479.jpeg

SEE ON GOOGLE MAPS: https://goo.gl/F4yGWG
DOWNLOAD GPX: http://bit.do/cwU5S

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/d/4/3/600_453888451.jpeg

Where we will sleep
In 2 chalets at Camping Venema in Koudum.
Address: Dammenseweg 51, 8723 CM, Koudum.

The final costs per person will depend on the amount of people showing up, but will be between €12,50 and €16 per night if you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow case. If you don't want or don't have that, it's available for €7,50 extra.

Highlights of this stage

• Zurich

• Eise Eisinga Planetarium (Franeker)

• Mummies (Wiuwert)

• Hell

• Glaciers of Friesland

• Woudagemaal (biggest still-functioning steam pumping station in the world)

• New-America

• Nederland

Costs
• A train ticket from your home to Harlingen Haven

• A bike supplement for the train (Arriva-only: €3,60 / NS+Arriva: €6,10) per day

• About €5-10 of food every day while cycling

• About €10-15 for dinner in the evening

• About €12,50 for a bungalow night

• Eise Eisinga Planetarium: €5,25

• Mummies of Wiuwert: €3

• Woudagemaal: €8

• A train ticket from Steenwijk to your home

What to bring
We sleeping in bungalows after day 1, so take a sleeping bag and a pillow case with you or pay €7,50 extra for bed linnen on the spot.

Apart from that, take clothes that allow you to ride in the varied Dutch weather. It can be sunny one moment and pouring down a moment later. So bring long trousers and a (waterproof) jacket. Things like sunscreen, sun glasses and a hat can also be a good idea.

Traveling to Harlingen
From Amsterdam CS it is 3h by train to Harlingen Haven (leave 6:37 from Amsterdam for 1 change or 7:07 for 2 changes). Costs (40% discount) are €15,40.

From Rotterdam CS it is 4h20m by train to Harlingen Haven (leave 5:51 from Rotterdam CS, 2 changes). Costs (40% discount) €15,80.

Plan on 9292ov.nl or the NS Reisplanner.

Back from Steenwijk
To Amsterdam CS is 1h43m by train (0 changes). Costs €13,10.
To Rotterdam CS is 2h25m by train (1 change). Costs €14,50.

Things to consider
• Be sure you are physically fit for this journey and that you know you can handle the distance and pace.

• Consider buying cycling pants and consult a bike shop about the conditions of your bike. Cycling for so long absolutely requires a comfortable bicycle position or otherwise you are not in for much fun. Especially saddle height and pannier bags (https://www.google.nl/search?q=pannier+bags&newwindow=1&espv=2&biw=1536&bih=1297&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiN0NSwnanMAhUKFSwKHaLtAjwQ_AUIBigB) are important.

• Some stages are longer than others. The maximum cycling distance of any event per day will be around 80km.

• This stage will have 94km on the first day and about 80km on the second day.