Elfstedentocht Cycling Route
Of course, the tour of tours is the Eleven Cities (Elfsteden)! Not only for skaters, but also for cyclists. Enjoy the vast Frisian countryside over a distance of 255 km. You start and finish in Leeuwarden and cycle on a clockwise basis, but the other way round is also fine. You can always start the tour in a different location or cycle a part of it. Each city has its own charm. The sizes also differ: Sloten has 900 inhabitants while Leeuwarden has over 90,000. Visit all eleven cities to really experience Friesland. And you’ll be continuously amazed by Friesland’s changing landscape with all the water, beautiful views, space and fresh air when travelling between the cities.
Sights on this route
Starting point
Verlaatsbrug
8913 HB Leeuwarden
Navigate to starting point
Sneek (Snits)
Sneek, or Snits as we say in Friesland, is the water sports city of the Netherlands. But Sneek is more than water sports and the Sneekweek. The city is bustling with events, culture, unique hotspots, and nice shops.
IJlst (Drylts)
IJlst (or Drylts in Frisian) is not only one of the famous 11 cities, but also a 'wood city'. For many years, tree trunks were processed here by the legendary wood trading companies Oppedijk and S.O. de Vries.
11Fountains Ijlst
Culture, like nature, consists of layer upon layer. New generations continue to build on a foundation which does not disappear.
11Fountains Sneek
A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.
Veerpont Langweerdervaart (De Brekken)
-De pont vaart op feestdagen volgens de zondagsdienstregeling.
Sloten (Sleat)
Sloten (or Sleat as we say in Friesland) is the smallest Elfsteden town in Friesland. This walled mini-city is also called sipelstêd (Frisian for onion city) thanks to the unique shape of an onion.
11Fountains Sloten
The ‘Peewit’ shows a girl standing on the shoulders of a man. She holds a bird in her hand. Under the man’s feet a disheveled pile of buckets, jerry cans and barrels form the base of the fountain.
Stavoren (Starum)
Stavoren (or Starum as we say in Friesland) is very much the main city of the IJsselmeer, being enclosed by the lake on three sides. It is also the oldest city of Friesland, founded around 300 BC at a waterway, and gaining city rights in the 11th century.
11Fountains Stavoren
The sea gives, the sea takes. Stavoren, once a rich Hanseatic city, has much to say on this subject. Floods, maritime trade wars, a port that silted up: the city fell into poverty several times.
Hindeloopen (Hylpen)
Hindeloopen, or Hylpen as we say in Friesland, is known for its painting and stylish costumes from the past.
11Fountains Hindeloopen
The city coat of arms, with its tree of life, with the deer and the doe surrounding it, is the source of inspiration for the fountain in Hindeloopen.
Workum (Warkum)
Workum (or Warkum as we say in Friesland), is one of the famous Frisian cities that has enjoyed city rights since 1399. Located on the shores of the former Zuiderzee and bordering the Frisian lakes.
11Fountains Workum
For centuries Workum’s city arms on ‘De Waag’ have been supported by two lions. They are naive and their theatrical pose prompts laughter.
Bolsward (Boalsert)
Bolsward, or Boalsert as we say in Friesland, is the city where history and architecture play a leading role. Let yourself be carried away by the rich history of this eleven cities city.
11Fountains Bolsward
Bats are intriguing, useful animals, crucial to the ecological system for their insect hunting. In Asian culture, the bat symbolises wealth, happiness and the blessings of old age.
Harlingen (Harns)
Harlingen is de Elfstedenstad aan het Wad. Een prachtige stad met een nautisch heden en verleden, gebouwd op de bodem van de oude zee...
11Fountains Harlingen
Harlingen used to be all about whaling. Nowadays we no longer kill these big and grandiose animals, but prefer to conserve them.
Franeker (Frjentsjer)
The Elfsteden city Franeker is a captivating town with its rich university history. For many years, this city was home to numerous students, including well-known names such as Descartes.
11Fountains Franeker
The fountain is an ode to the world-famous astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, who was born in Franeker. His assumption that a ‘cloud’ of billions of comet-like objects is moving around our solar system was a breakthrough in astronomy
Dokkum (Dokkum)
Dokkum is de meest noordelijk gelegen Elfstedenstad, ze ontstond nadat deze plek een bedevaartsoord werd na de moord op Bonifatius in 754.
11Fountains Dokkum
The Ice Fountain is a toy for the elements and no two days are the same. The ice draws patterns on the copper surface layer of the sculpture.
Elfstedentocht Turning Point
Sit on a bench shaped like a traditional Frisian ice skate next to the famous turning point on the Elfstedentocht route. This is one of Dokkum’s most popular Instagram hotspots!
Bartlehiem Bridge - Elfstedentocht
The famous little wooden bridge on the Elfstedentocht route!
Bartlehiem Bridge - Elfstedentocht
Bartlehiem Bridge - Elfstedentocht
Einde van de Zuidermiedweg
Bartlehiem 61
9178 GH Wânswert
Elfstedenmonument Tegeltjesbrug Gytsjerk
Over het riviertje De Murk bij Gytsjerk vind je de bekende Tegeltjesbrug, hét Elfstedenmonument van Friesland.
Elfstedenmonument Tegeltjesbrug Gytsjerk
Elfstedenmonument Tegeltjesbrug Gytsjerk
Weg tussen Gytsjerk en Miedum
Canterlandswei
Gytsjerk
Bonkevaart - Elfstedentocht Finish Line
Whether you experience it standing on the ice, on the bank, or from the water, this historic stretch of water is a must-visit!
Bonkevaart - Elfstedentocht Finish Line
Bonkevaart - Elfstedentocht Finish Line
Groningerstraatweg
8926 XC Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden (Ljouwert)
Leeuwarden, or Ljouwert as we say in Friesland, is buzzing. From tourists and students to locals. From unforgettable adventures to wandering through cozy little streets.
11Fountains Leeuwarden
Love’ consists of two 7 meter high, white sculptures of a boy and a girl. They seem to be looking at each other, but their eyes are closed.
Directions
Startpunt
Deze fietsroute begint bij fietsknooppunt 17. Op de Verlaatsbrug in Leeuwarden. Dit is vlak bij de officiële startlocatie van de Elfstedentocht (schaats) in de Swettehaven.
Bebording:
Onderweg volg je de Elfstedenroute bordjes. De groene bordjes zijn voor de route met de klok mee (zoals de route op deze website is aangegeven). De blauwe bordjes zijn voor de route tegen de klok in. Je kunt ook het fietsknooppuntennetwerk volgen. De bordjes van de Elfstedenroute lopen synchroon met dit netwerk.
Openbaar vervoer:
Kom je met het OV naar Friesland? Op start- en finishpunt Leeuwarden stopt de Arriva en NS trein. Je fiets mag buiten de spits mee in de trein (koop wel een speciaal ticket hiervoor). Fietsknooppunt 17 (startlocatie van deze route) is vlak bij station Leeuwarden.
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South Loop of the De 8 van Grou Cycle and Ferry Route
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(34.7 km)Grou -
Van stad naar stad: IJlst - Workum - Bolsward - Sneek | Fietsrondje
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Melkroute rond het Tsjûkemar | Fietsroute
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(38.0 km)Delfstrahuizen -
Fietsroute langs de historie van de palinghandel
Fietsroute langs de historie van de palinghandel
(35.0 km)Heeg
