september 2-8, 2025
Netherlands to Bruges Ride
About the Ride
Traverse Stunning landscapes in the Netherlands and Flanders. Best part? All of this takes place on bike paths – a unique and nearly car-free adventure.
september 2-8, 2025
Haarlem to Bruges, Belgium
Embark on an unforgettable cycling adventure from Holland to Belgium, winding through charming towns, quaint villages, and scenic canals on top-notch cycling routes. As you pedal, you’ll discover firsthand what Dutch and Belgian children learn early on: that the ultimate way to explore is on two wheels.
Starting our journey in Haarlem (a short train ride from Amsterdam) we’ll head south, traversing some of the most picturesque landscapes in the Netherlands and Flanders, where time seems to stand still in beautifully preserved towns that whisper tales of centuries gone by. Best part? All of this takes place on bike paths – a unique and nearly car-free adventure.
Can’t join us for this one?
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
We designed this ride because biking the Netherlands to Bruges, Belgium isn’t just a ride—it’s a whirlwind of fun, flavor, and adventure that’ll leave you craving more.
A Kaleidoscope of Scenery: Picture yourself pedaling through a postcard-perfect panorama. Windmills, tulip fields, and meandering canals paint the Dutch countryside, while Belgium’s lush landscapes and medieval villages beckon. It’s like cycling through a living painting!
Culture on Two Wheels: Swap the tourist trail for a more intimate journey. Roam through sleepy hamlets, haggle at local markets, and stumble upon hidden treasures. It’s like embarking on a cultural scavenger hunt, with surprises waiting around every bend.
Pedal Paradise: In the land of bikes, every path leads to adventure! Glide along well-paved trails, cruise down bike-friendly lanes, and refuel at cyclist-friendly pit stops. It’s a pedal-powered paradise, where the journey is as smooth as freshly-paved asphalt.
Feast for the Senses: Prepare your taste buds for a culinary joyride! From tangy Dutch cheeses to melt-in-your-mouth Belgian chocolates, every pit stop is a gastronomic delight. It’s a flavorsome journey, where every calorie burned is rewarded with a delicious treat!
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Your Ride Guide will include full details, Itinerary subject to change
This is an easy to moderate level bike tour (The Netherlands are rather flat – whew!). But we know that some of you love an extra challenge. Each day will have the option for bonus miles for those who want more cycling! We’ll offer a morning or afternoon loop each day so you can spin extra kilometers in this cycling paradise.
Pre-Trip ARRIVAL
Haarlem
Our ride begins tomorrow in Haarlem. You can either meet us early in the morning (Haarlem is just a short train ride from Amsterdam) or plan on arriving the night before.
Haarlem, once a North Sea trading port, dates back to the 10th century and it still retains a medieval character. It’s the center of a major flower-bulb growing district and famous for its ‘hofjes’ (almshouses built around leafy courtyards).
Your Ride Guide will have hotel suggestions for Haarlem, points of interest, and museums to visit before our group gathers the next morning.
Pre-Ride Hotel: Your choice (please book on your own)
Day 1
Haarlem to Leiden
Bike 49km (30 Miles)
From Haarlem, we cycle along the North Sea Coast right along the sand dunes and smooth bike paths of the North Sea cycling route. Enjoy the windswept sea views and keep an eye out for the small wildlife and birds that inhabit this peaceful region. We’ll continue to the historic town of Leiden, home to over 2400 monuments. Ringed by canals and known for its centuries-old architecture, Leiden is often called ‘small Amsterdam’. It is the birthplace of Rembrandt van Rijn.
Day 2
Leiden to Gouda
Bike 38 km (24 Miles)
Today we continue our journey in the ‘green heart’ of Holland. This is the classic Dutch landscape of green pastures, narrow waterways, and well-maintained front gardens belonging to many proud farmhouses. We’ll bike by the beautiful Reeuwijk lakes where you can experience the old older land with its wood quays, reeds, dikes, and farm roads. It can’t get more Dutch than this! Then we’ll pedal into Gouda.
Day 3
Gouda to Dordrecht
Bike 48 km (30 Miles)
Today we cycle southwards toward the River Lek. After crossing the river by ferry, you’ll pass the windmills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 19 windmills in a row, best viewed from the bicycle path. You won’t find a windmill complex like this anywhere in the world. This ingenious system of windmills and pumping stations has kept the soil dry here for nearly one thousand years.
Then we’ll bike through the polders of the Rhine River delta before reaching the historic town center of Dordrecht.
Day 4
Dordrecht to Willenstad
Bike 51 km (23 Miles)
From Dordrecht, we’ll cycle along the Biesbosch nature reserve. The silence in this labyrinth of creeks and rivers is only disturbed by birds and whispering wetland reeds. This is cycling at its best! We’ll pass fortified cities (Moerdijk, Zevenbergen, Klundert) before arriving in historic Willemstad, a fortified star-shaped town that is now a protected cityscape.
Day 5
Willenstad to Zierikzee
Bike 48 km (30 Miles)
Today our route continues to Zeeland. This most southwestern region of the Netherlands is characterized by open spaces, salt water bays, and the impressive Deltaworks (Deltawerken) waterworks and cycle paths running along the tops of the dikes. Highlights include the beautiful villages of Oude Tonge and Dreischor. Tonight we stay in Zierikzee, once a small settlement in the 10th century that blossomed into an important city in 1248. The city still has 569 monumental buildings.
Day 6
Zierikzee to Middelburg
Bike 48 km (30 Miles)
The first part of the route passes the Oosterscheldekering, which is Holland’s longest sea barrier with the most fantastic sluice system. We’ll bike through the beautiful harbor town of Veere, an important trading town during medieval times. Continuing outward, you’ll reach Middelburg, the historic capital of Zeeland.
Day 7
Middelburg to Bruges
Bike 46 km (29 Miles)
The last day of cycling brings you to Bruges, the pearl of Flanders. But before you reward yourself with a delicious Belgian beer, you will cross the wide salt water Westerschelde channel by ferry. The last part of the route involves a tranquil ride along the banks of a canal. This runs from the Netherland-Belgium border village of Sluis to Bruges. Bruges is distinguished by its canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. We’ll finish our tour in the afternoon!
We recommend that you stay a night in Bruges to celebrate with our group. Or you can take the train back to the Netherlands or Brussels. Your ride guide will include a recommended hotel in Bruges.
Ready to get started?
FAQs and More Info
What is included?
Included:
- Dutch guide and Climate Ride guide
- 8 speed touring hybrid bicycle (perfect for the bike paths)
- Luggage transfer
- 6-night hotel accommodation
- All breakfasts & 5 dinners (For this cultural tour, you’ll have a chance to get lunch or snacks on your own along the way. We want you to have the flexibility to visit museums and towns at your pace. Please see your Ride Guide.)
Not Included:
- Flights & transportation to the ride start and from the end
- Pre and post-ride accommodations (we’ll have recommendations for a hotel in Bruges if you wish to extend your stay)
- Lunches and one dinner (please see your Ride Guide)
- E-bike or Road bike rental
- Additional drinks or alcoholic beverages during meals
- Tips
- Single supplement (695 Euro)
- Travel/medical Insurance to cover your travel to/from the event, your pre or post-ride hotels, medical incidents not covered by your domestic medical insurance, and other incidentals.
Arriving and Departing Information
Please arrive in Haalem, Netherlands on Day 1 by 8am (we recommend arriving the night before).
The event ends in Bruges, Belgium in the afternoon of Day 7. You can extend your stay in Bruges, or take the train back to the Netherlands or to Brussels.
More specific information will be included in your Ride Guide which you’ll receive after you register.
Accommodations & Single Supplements
This is an all-hotel, double occupancy trip. A single supplement is available for 695 Euro if you prefer your own room and there is availability at the hotels (please inquire after you register). If you sign up as a solo traveler, we will do our best to pair you with a roommate of the same gender. If we cannot find a roommate, then you will be charged a single supplement fee of 695 Euros.
What will the days be like?
If you’ve done Climate Rides, this ride has a more relaxed format owing to the Netherlands exceptional cycle paths, flat topography, and cyclist-friendly towns along the way. After a hearty breakfast, we’ll meet for route talk, grab a snack, and then everyone will set off on the day’s ride. With the GPS routes on your phone, you are a free to ride at your own pace and have lunch at a time that suits you (we’ll provide recommendations). We recommend stopping along the way to grab a coffee and a snack, or visit a museum, so that you feel more immersed in Dutch culture. In the evening, we’ll gather as a group for evening talks, social gatherings, and then dinner.
Is my U.S. medical insurance valid while traveling outside the U.S.? Should I get travel insurance?
Travel/supplemental medical insurance on international Climate Ride trips is required. Many domestic health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside of the United States, and before leaving for the event, travelers should speak with their healthcare providers to determine if they will be covered. Several private insurance companies offer short-term travel/medical insurance. Check out Allianz Travel Insurance, World Nomads, or other comparable companies.
Remember, travel insurance can only cover expenses you have paid for (flights, additional hotels, etc.). It cannot cover your fundraising. Be sure to read the fine print on the travel insurance that you buy.
Fundraising Beneficiaries – Climate Ride
This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip and the proceeds directly support Climate Ride’s work. Your fundraising on this event will benefit the programs and efforts of Climate Ride including our community scholarships for young climate leaders. You are helping us grow the organization to become an advocacy powerhouse that engages people in the world of active environmental philanthropy and sustainable solutions. Because of this, you cannot select a beneficiary for this event. All donations are tax-deductible.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 to be raised by: | 4/30/2025 |
| $1,950 to be raised by: | 5/21/2025 |
| Transfer Deadline: | 5/21/2025 |
| $3,900 to be raise by | 7/8/2025 |
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!
