Cycling routes in Alkmaar and its surroundings

Get on your bike and discover the gems of Alkmaar, Bergen, Egmond and Heiloo. It’s a journey of 43 km through both small and large discoveries, from past and present. From the historic city centre of Alkmaar to a beautiful artists' village on the coast. From a monastery to a castle ruin and a beautiful museum.

You’ll experience the beauty and grandeur of De Schermer and the World Heritage De Beemster. On this 47-kilometre journey, you’ll pass by the World Heritage Site “De Stelling van Amsterdam”, visit the birth village of Jan Leeghwater (De Rijp), the windmills and many traditional farmhouses.

The 24-kilometre-long Haring and Hemp cycling route takes you past all the historic sights of the former Schermer Island. It tells about the “fight against the water”, the rich maritime history and the draining of the surrounding inland seas, Beemster and Schermer.

This 40-kilometre cycling route goes through bulb country and the natural dune area between Egmond and Castricum. Here, in the bulb season (April / May), you’ll cycle along a colourful patchwork of bulb fields, but even in the other months this route is more than worth it. Along the way, you will pass Castricum past the archaeological centre Huis van Hilde, the Adelbertusakker van Egmond Binnen and the ruins of the counts of Egmont -- worth getting off your bike for!

This 35-kilometre cycling route goes through the beautiful dune and forest area of the Schoorlse Duinen to the Hondsbossche Zeewering and through the green pasture area between Bergen and Alkmaar. An area to clear your head and enjoy all the beautiful things. Inhale the salty sea air. Along the way you’ll pass beautiful architecture, art and wonderful nature.

You’ll cycle 41 kilometres along the whipping waters of the only large lake that was not drained during the Golden Age. Along the way, you’ll pass five ferries, and with two of the ferries you go across yourself by turning a winch. In the wetter peat land, the many meadow birds make themselves heard, loudly, and from the rink dykes you can look down onto the low-lying polder. There are small museums and restaurants in the picturesque villages.

Cycling 44 kilometres below sea level along the bottom ground, over the dykes and along the canals and mills of the most unique reclamation sites of the Golden Age: De Schermer and De Beemster. An island lay between these lakes. It is now known as De Eilandspolder nature reserve, with beautiful villages such as De Rijp, Driehuizen and Schermerhorn. The route is named after Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, who was born here.

The northern route (28 km) goes to the villages of Langedijk and “het Rijk der Duizend Eilanden” (the Kingdom of a Thousand Islands). Originally there were around 15,000 islands where vegetables were grown. The southern route (21 km) goes through the wooded areas and Landgoed Nijenburg to Heiloo. You’ll cycle to the pilgrimage site “Onze Lieve Vrouwe ter Nood” (our Lady in Need), and from there you’ll have a beautiful view of the beach plain and the dunes.

The “pyramid of the polder”, as the “stolp”, or this type of traditional farmhouse, is also called, is a unique icon in the North Holland landscape. There are still 174 in Heerhugowaard. On this 22-kilometre bicycle tour, you’ll pass many traditional farmhouses that are either completely or at least partially authentic, rebuilt or newly built. Along the way, we’ll explain how they came about and why they fit so well into the landscape.