After having a break in 2023, we returned to the Netherlands in 2024 for our eleventh visit as a family. As has become the custom in recent years, in addition to staying in Duinrell, we’d split the trip with another location in the Netherlands, ideally somewhere we’ve not been to.
The original plan was to stay in Rotterdam, which is somewhere we’ve visited, but not stayed at before. We did have an Airbnb booking arranged, but had to change it due to an increase in numbers, which couldn’t be accommodated.
We were unable to find anywhere suitable in Rotterdam, so we started looking at other locations. This led to finding a fantastic Airbnb home in Amersfoort, which is again somewhere we’ve visited, but only for a day trip, back in 2018, when we stayed in Utrecht.
First week in Amersfoort
So the first week of our Netherlands 24 trip saw us spending a week in the fabulous city of Amersfoort, staying in a lovely home, just round the corner from Amersfoort Centraal Station, with easy reach by bike or on foot and great cycling facilities.
During our week, we got to experience what Amersfoort has to offer, including lots of pleasant spaces to wander, great bars, restaurants, museums and cultural quarters. With some fantastic weather, we also got to check out a local outdoor pool in the forest.
With its proximity to Amersfoort, we also managed a couple of trips to the equally superb city of Utrecht. This gave me opportunity to check out the excellent F28 Fast Cycle Route between the two cities.
Cycling in Amersfoort
In a not too surprising turn of events, we returned to The Netherlands for our main summer holiday in 2024. After taking a break in 2023, we just couldn’t keep away! As had become the custom, we’d split our trip in two, spending one week somewhere we’d not stayed before and the other week at Duinrell.
Riding the F28 fast route to Utrecht
Since we stayed in Utrecht back in 2017, it’s somewhere we’re always keen to go back to, if we get the opportunity. So as we were staying nearby in Amersfoort, it was high on our list for a visit. This was particularly true for me, at it would mean I get to sample the F28 fast cycle route between the two cities!
Bosbad Amersfoort, an outdoor swimming pool in the forest
We were fortunate to have some really fantastic weather during our week in Amersfoort. It was so good that we were keen to find somewhere to go for a swim. Given where we were, there weren’t any beaches nearby, so it’d mean a travelling further afield or finding an alternative.
In Utrecht again, visiting DOMunder and back via the Dafne Schippers Bridge
As I mentioned in Riding the F28 fast route to Utrecht, we ended up returning to Utrecht for the second time during our week in Amersfoort. This gave me opportunity to cycle along the F28 Fast Cycle Route again as well as try a longer route on the way back, taking in a little bit of Utrecht.
A wander along the Eem to Koppelpoort and a visit to the Mondriaanhuis
Before arriving in Amersfoort, we’d spent some time looking for interesting things to see and do in the city. This included some of the more popular spots that Amersfoort is known for, as well as some less less common places.
Riding to the Nationaal Militair Museum
It was another lovely sunny day on our last day in Amersfoort, so we decided to make the most of it, with a wander round the weekly markets, followed by a ride to the Nationaal Militair Museum.
Second week at Duinrell
After a wonderful week in Amersfoort, we made our way to Duinrell, meeting up with family for the second week of our trip. In addition to it being our eleventh visit to the Netherlands, it was also our eleventh visit to Duinrell.
Being old hands, we settled into a familiar routine, making use of the theme park rides and swimming pools on site, plus trips into Wassenaar and to the local beach at Wassenaarse Slag.
We also travelled further afield, with trips on our bikes to the nearby cities of Leiden and Den Haag, plus rides to more beaches at Scheveningen and Katwijk. I also managed to find time to head back to the amazing Burgemeester Waaijerbrug bridge and Voorburg via the Royal Palace ‘Huis ten Bosch’.
Back at Duinrell
After a week in Amersfoort, we made our way west to Wassenaar to Duinrell for the second week of our 2024 trip. For anyone who doesn’t know, Duinrell is an amusement and holiday park, located about 10 km outside Den Haag.
Riding around Wassenaar
On our first full day at Duinrell and while everyone was getting ready, I set out on a quick morning ride around Wassenaar. This is a familiar route that I’ve ridden previously and covered some of it in 2022, when construction of the A44 RijnlandRoute was in progress.
Riding from Duinrell to Leiden
No trip to Duinrell would be complete without a visit to the nearby city of Leiden, I’m pretty sure we’ve been here on every visit. I’ve written previously about our trips to Leiden in 2015, 2017 and 2022, but there’s always something different to see each time we come, so there’s always room for another!
Riding to the beach at Wassenaarse Slag
Being just a short 15 minute ride from Duinrell, the beach at Wassenaarse Slag is a must-visit for anyone staying at the holiday park. Certainly, when we’re there, we make sure we save any sunny days for a trip to the beach.
Riding to the Burgemeester Waaijerbrug bridge
With some time to spare for a ride, I decided to head out to somewhere I’d been before, the Burgemeester Waaijerbrug bridge. This distinctive structure is somewhere I’d ridden to back in 2018, as part of a ride to Zoetermeer, after reading all about it on Bicycle Dutch.
Riding to Den Haag and Scheveningen via Madurodam
Among the regular places we visit while we’re at Duinrell is the fantastic miniature park Madurodam. It’s somewhere we’ve been going since our first stay at Duinrell in 2012, with good reason, as there’s so much to see and do there.
Loop ride from Duinrell to Katwijk
On the sixth day of our week at Duinrell, having a little time to kill in the morning, I headed out onto the dunes for a quick loop ride to Katwijk. This is somewhere we’d been previously, back in 2016 and 2022 and is a pleasant ride with multiple route options.
Loop ride from Duinrell to Voorburg via Huis ten Bosch
With a little free time on the final full day of our Netherlands 24 trip, I headed out on a ride to Voorburg, taking a route through Haagse Bos, stopping briefly at the Royal Palace ‘Huis ten Bosch’.
Dom Cycling 