Giethoorn, Marknesse, Blokzijl

During this cycling tour you will become acquainted with the impressive nature of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, a unique area where land and water constantly alternate. This landscape, once full of dykes and ditches, was intended to make it habitable, but it soon became apparent that the peat-rich area was perfectly suited for peat extraction. Drying and burning the peat created turf, an important fuel that was widely used until the 20th century.

Until 1920, peat extraction was an important industry, but with the advent of new fuels, demand disappeared and it became unprofitable. Many farmers saw no future in their land and eventually sold it to nature organisations, which transformed the area into the beautiful nature park it is today. Thanks to this history, the landscape now consists of a mix of open water, reed lands and swamp forests, where countless bird species, otters and rare plants thrive.

In addition to the vast nature of Weerribben-Wieden, this route also takes you through the surrounding polders, where you will encounter endless vistas and characteristic farms. A perfect combination of rugged nature and typical Dutch landscape!