Hilversum, Weesp, Naarden

The route starts at the imposing Muiderslot castle, built around 1280 by Count Floris V as a defensive fortress at the mouth of the river Vecht. The Castle played an important role in controlling the trade routes between Utrecht and Amsterdam. Later, in the 17th century, Muiderslot became the home of P.C. Hooft, who met here with other writers and artists of the Muider Circle. After visiting the Castle, cycle along the Vecht, a historic waterway that has been an important link for centuries, towards Naarden.

Naarden-Vesting is one of the best-preserved fortified towns in the Netherlands and an example of 17th-century star-shaped urban planning. The double moats and bastions were designed to protect the town from attack. Visit the Fortress Museum to learn more about military history and daily life inside the fortress. From the ramparts you have a view of the surrounding countryside, once a strategic advantage for Naarden's defenders.

From Naarden, you cycle through Bussum and the green surroundings of the Gooi to Hilversum, where you pass the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. This colourful building houses the history of Dutch media and offers a glimpse into the development of television, radio and film. Then the route leads you along the Ankeveense Plassen, an area formed by peat extraction for centuries. The water and reeds of these lakes are now a haven for diversity of flora and fauna. Via Weesp, an old town known for its historic canals and gin distilleries, you return to Muiderslot.