Cycling Around the World in NL: Stage 5: Venice - Willemstad (140km)

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 5: Venice - Willemstad
This stage is about 140km in length and it will take two days of cycling. It will start at Meppel train station. There won't be an official stamp post in this stage. Day 1 will end somewhere in National Park Dwingelderveld. Day 2 will end in a settlement called Willemstad, from which we will cycle to Assen to take the train home.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/c/d/600_454270957.jpeg

SEE ON GOOGLE MAPS: https://goo.gl/Z73ucl
DOWNLOAD GPX: http://bit.do/cBCwb

Where we will sleep
Nature camping Torentjeshoek ( http://www.torentjeshoek.nl/)
Leeuweriksveldweg 1, Dwingeloo

We will be camping, because not enough people wanted to share a chalet or treehut.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/d/a/0/600_454316736.jpeg

Highlights of this stage

• Giethoorn (Venice of the North)

• Taman Indonesia animal park

• Shakespear restaurant

• Museum of Fake Art

• Canada

• 2 National Parks (Dwingelderveld & Drents-Friese Wold)

• Willemstad

Costs
• A train ticket from your home to Meppel

• A bike supplement for the train (€6,10) per day

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

• About €10-15 for dinner in the evening

• About €8 for a camp spot

• A train ticket from Assen to your home

What to bring
A tent, your thickest sleeping bag, thermal clothing, isolating mattress, hat. Don't underestimate how cold 5 degrees Celcius can be at night.

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 Meppel
From Amsterdam CS it is 2h by train to Meppel (leave 8:08 from Amsterdam CS for 2 changes). Costs (40% discount) are €12,50.

From Rotterdam CS it is 2h by train to Meppel (leave 8:05 from Rotterdam CS, 1 change). Costs (40% discount) €13,90.

Plan on 9292ov.nl or the NS Reisplanner.

Back from Assen
To Amsterdam CS is 2h20m by train (1 change). Costs €14,60.
To Rotterdam CS is 2h23m by train (0 changes). Costs €15,40.

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.