Markemeer

This is a must-ride if you’ve got the time and legs for it. The classic loop around the Markermeer works both ways, but try to catch a tailwind on the Houtribdijk between Enkhuizen and Lelystad.

We like going clockwise. You start with the traditional landscapes of North Holland, then take on the long, straight stretch of the Houtribdijk and the road from Lelystad to Almere. For a coffee stop, Hoorn or Enkhuizen are great picks, though Lelystad’s harbour has a few options too.