Road Cycling Routes near Haarlem

The Ringvaart loop is a go-to route for many riders heading out from Amsterdam, right up there with the Rondehoep. It’s simple to follow, has very few traffic lights, and keeps you moving. Just be ready for some wind, it’s pretty open out there. The loop follows the Ringvaart canal, which circles the Haarlemmermeer polder. This canal was built to drain water from the polder, and its name literally means “ring canal.”

Head west out of Amsterdam and you’ll start to hit some little hills. It kicks off in Spaarnwoude, then takes you through the dunes before looping back toward the city. You can ride each climb a few times if you’re looking to put in some training, or just stick to the route and enjoy the flow.

For this short ride, head west out of Amsterdam to take on Het Kopje. You can keep it chill and ride it once, or turn it into a solid training session and hit het Kopje a few times.

It’s a bit of a mouthful, but “Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen” simply refers to the dunes that supply Amsterdam with its drinking water. This route blends the stunning dune landscape with the classic polder views that surround the city. It kicks off through the Kennemerland Dunes, a truly beautiful area. There’s a short stretch of gravel in there, but it’s no problem on any road bike. From there, you’ll follow a smooth cycle path to Zandvoort, where the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen begin. Ride the dune path all the way to Noordwijkerhout, then loop back to Amsterdam along the Ringvaart. Check the wind direction before you roll out and tweak your route if needed.

all around Amsterdam you'll notice old foritications. Togehters these fortications made up the 'Stelling van Amsterdam' defence works of the city of Amsterdam. Some can be visited as monumenet, whereas others are converted into Hotels, Spa or use cases. The route leads you along most of the forticiations, some are easy to spot whereas others might be hidden from sight. Zoom in on the map an you can easily spot them.