Forum

[Durham Tim]

Next month i've arranged to visit my company who are based just south of Bruges, in Belgium.
I was thinking of doing it this time on the Bullet via the Newcastle/Amsterdam ferry.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experiences or recommendations regarding good motorcycling routes in Holland, which I could tackle in two days. I was hoping to end up with a brief visit to Antwerp on the way, so am planning on working my way south from Amsterdam.

Any ideas gratefully received, please!

[Robin]

Hi Durham Tim. The area between the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht is called the 'Randstad' - one of the most highly populated areas on the planet. Masses of towns and cities and villages here - a near constant stream of them, and thus perhaps not the best biking country imaginable. Moreover, the most scenic routes are always reserved for bicycles and pedestrians only. You will therefore unfortunately have to take your motorbike on the more utilitarian and more often than not dead straight roads alongside the Dutchies in their cars. If you really want to go south from Amsterdam, you can try and hug the coast as much as possible. Skip going to bloody Amsterdam entirely (oops!) and head from Ijmuiden to Heemstede to Noordwijk, Katwijk, Wassenaarse slag and further south. You may find some nice roads for your bike, but you have to stick to the coastal dunes as much as possible! Another option is to travel down south at a distance of about 30 kilometres from the coast. This route to Belgium may not be very direct, but it is more sparsely populated as you go through what they call the 'green hart' (groene hart) of the Randstad. There are however some nice towns to pass through (Woerden, Gouda) and the countryside isn't too bad at all, although dead straight roads and pancake flat landscape. The Dutch will by the way love your Bullet!

[Peter]

It must be nice to own a company, especially when you base it abroad for tax reasons! Watch the film 'In Bruges' before you go.

Ray: What are they doing over there? They're filming something. They're filming midgets!

Ken: Ray...

[Ray runs off and watches Jimmy being instructed by the director, who Jimmy flicks off as soon as he leaves]

Ken: Ray, come on. Let's go.

Ray: My arse let's go. They're filming midgets.

[Durham Tim]

Thanks for the replies so far Chaps. Especially your detailed summary, Robin!
I'll take your advice on board!
Peter, for clarification purposes, when I said i was "visiting my company", I meant I was visiting my employers head office!!
"Own a company" ?? I wish! If and when that particular pleasure comes my way, I'll trade-in the Bullet for a Brough Superior!!