There’s feck all to do in Holland....

Wapping

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.... except to ‘do’ the TT at Assen and to ‘do’ Arnhem.

Well, that’s not quite true, as usual. Here are some ideas lifted straight out of Tourenfahrer which, with a bit of imagination, could be used to create quite a good holiday, particularly for anyone arriving at Calais or the North Sea ports.

https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/tour/auf-landgang-513/detail/

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https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/tour/kreuzfahrt-auf-zwei-raedern-521/detail/

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https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/tour/richtig-lekker-505/detail/

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https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/tour/deichwaerts-voran-503/detail/

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https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/tour/oranje-royale-523/detail/

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https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/tour/geradewegs-ans-meer-539/detail/

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Download each (two euro a pop) or use the maps for free. It really is that easy and it’s all a lot closer than the Alps or Spain.
 
On the first tour, rather than going through the residential bit of Den Helder, I'd go via Fort Kijkduin https://fortkijkduin.nl/en/ worth a visit and then around the dyke past the Lange Jap, a very tall lighthouse, past Fort Erfprins and then pick up the route again at Kannalweg/
 
Thank you:thumb2

The routes are not perfect. No route ever is, as they’ll always miss something out or go ‘the wrong way’. Sometimes the routes take a bod through a town, simply because a recommended (biker friendly, to use the parlance) is situated there. Sometimes, it just has to be a compromise, I guess. Most usually it’s explained in the blurb of the original article but as it’s in ‘foreign’ it passes me by.

Another useful tip is often not to follow a route exactly. Why? Because they are often created from unedited tracks. This means that they may well include excursions where the bod got lost, stopped for a pee (or worse) and went to see his mum. You’ll end up standing in his pee (or worse) and talking to his mum, which might not be totally bad but not worth the risk.
 
Ijmuiden has been my annual port of call till 2020 and I’m sitting on a rescheduled 2021 ticket.

I often stop by Arnhem. Near the museum at Oosterbeek. And have enjoyed some of the border country to and from Germany.

I’d certainly consider Assen, Zandvoort and beyond if the world settles down again.

Steenbergen for Guy Gibson’s grave.

A wee stone marker in a lane near Borken where a Dambuster went down after clipping a pylon.

Plenty countryside in preference to pounding a motorway.

This was worth a short visit. The boss even welcomed me a rustled up a a coffee. It’s a real Aladdin’s Cave.

https://autohaus-voss.de/
 

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Ijmuiden has been my annual port of call till 2020 and I’m sitting on a rescheduled 2021 ticket.

I often stop by Arnhem. Near the museum at Oosterbeek. And have enjoyed some of the border country to and from Germany.

I’d certainly consider Assen, Zandvoort and beyond if the world settles down again.

Steenbergen for Guy Gibson’s grave.

A wee stone marker in a lane near Borken where a Dambuster went down after clipping a pylon.

Plenty countryside in preference to pounding a motorway.

This was worth a short visit. The boss even welcomed me a rustled up a a coffee. It’s a real Aladdin’s Cave.

https://autohaus-voss.de/

When was that picture taken , I wonder if he’s still got the K1 ?

Another great set of routes Richard :thumb
 
Thanks all.

Hopefully it will get folks to look at Holland in a new light, rather than writing it all off as dull. Dull is what you make of things or don’t. Look at it as an opportunity to do and see something different, rather than just repeating the same old, same old.

PS If it is really that shite, hit the motorway in Belgium or Germany.
 
Some countries are easy to pick a route, like through lots of passes or along a twisting coast but Holland isn't so obvious so good to have some outline ideas. The interesting bits will often be the small places off to the sides that you can nip off to.

Good suggestions.
 
Just avoid Antwerp - shithole of a place and awful traffic and roads (in my opinion of course)
 
Which is where things become interesting. Yes, don’t go riding your motorbike around Antwerp (it’s a big, by Belgian standards, city) just for the sake of it. But, if you fancy staying there for a day to see what the city has to offer by way of sites and sounds, there are worse places to walk around in. It all depends on what YOU want from YOUR holiday.

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/destinations/antwerp/
 
Just avoid Antwerp - shithole of a place and awful traffic and roads (in my opinion of course)

Hopefully you will, if touring Holland.....but if you do stumble into Antwerp, I wouldn’t describe it as a shithole.

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Not been for years but it’s got some fabulous pubs and back streets.
 
Arsey, you might be right about that square etc. I just have awful memories of the traffic and some of the town which was absolutely awful. Square looks good and have heard about the pubs!

Also appreciate it isnt in Holland, only mentioned as pretty clear to see on Wapping's maps......
 
Arsey, you might be right about that square etc. I just have awful memories of the traffic and some of the town which was absolutely awful. Square looks good and have heard about the pubs!

Also appreciate it isnt in Holland, only mentioned as pretty clear to see on Wapping's maps......

Yeah but that’s true of many big cities.
Brussels is a dump on the outskirts and has bad traffic but it has some of the best pubs and restaurants I’ve ever been to around the old town.Antwerp is very similar.
 
Totally agree on this. Have been to many cities with some really dodgy areas on the outskirts but real gems in the centre. Guess maybe Antwerp and Brussels need to be on my visit list then. I (when we could travel) go past Antwerp at least once per year on my trips to Germany and Poland so might be a good overnight stop off point
 
Totally agree on this. Have been to many cities with some really dodgy areas on the outskirts but real gems in the centre. Guess maybe Antwerp and Brussels need to be on my visit list then. I (when we could travel) go past Antwerp at least once per year on my trips to Germany and Poland so might be a good overnight stop off point

It’s definitely worth a stop !!

Not been for 15 years and only a few times.
I’ve stopped in Brussels dozens of times, but always flown in for work...apart from a couple of visits in cars and on bikes.Will definitely go back .
 
Antwerp is certainly close enough to Holland to merit inclusion in this thread, though I do get Arsey’s joke.

It’s interesting how people (me included) view places. When coming up the French coast on the D roads, I always hop on the motorway to skip around Boulogne, as it’s a grind to get through and the motorway section around it is free. To my mind, only the most obstinate ”I never use a motorway” merchant would ride through Boulogne by choice. But, if I want a morning off, to do a bit of shopping and have lunch, then Boulogne is OK.
 
Antwerp is certainly close enough to Holland to merit inclusion in this thread, though I do get Arsey’s joke.

It’s interesting how people (me included) view places. When coming up the French coast on the D roads, I always hop on the motorway to skip around Boulogne, as it’s a grind to get through and the motorway section around it is free. To my mind, only the most obstinate ”I never use a motorway” merchant would ride through Boulogne by choice. But, if I want a morning off, to do a bit of shopping and have lunch, then Boulogne is OK.

Boo log knee is epic.

Stayed a few times at The Metropole with #beurreaufrigo #compagnondemotard #parking sécurisé

There are gems to drink/dine at such as Le Chuck Wagon and L’Outback !!!!!

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Cracking restaurants such as Chez Jules just a 2 minute walk.

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When I was driving/riding to Brittany through the tunnel last year I stopped a few times.

Got my 1290R serviced there too !
 
i have a couple of routes in NL if anyone wants them.....
 

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