Cycle route Charles Dickens along the IJssel
Deventer, Zutphen, Twello
This cycle route takes you through two Hanseatic towns that could easily serve as settings in a Dickens story, thanks to their beautiful historic looks. Charles Dickens, the 19th-century English writer, is famous for novels like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and A Christmas Carol, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge that's been adapted into countless films and musicals. His book A Tale of Two Cities may be set in London and Paris, but Deventer and Zutphen are just as charming with their historic city centres. Discover the Victorian atmosphere of both cities by bike! In Zutphen, you’ll find several monumental courtyards, some dating back to the Middle Ages. These were built to house the city’s poor, especially those who lived devout lives. Many of the hofjes are still inhabited, and their central gardens are lovely to see. Wander through the cosy alleys and past the tiny houses, and imagine life here centuries ago. Zutphen offers many more historical sights. You’ll cycle past the Berkelruin, the Broederenkerk with its adjacent monastery, and the impressive old town hall. From this Gelderland city, the route takes you along the IJssel river, past farmlands, the ruins of De Nijenbeek, and the village of Twello, before reaching the Overijssel town of Deventer. Deventer also has a stunning historic centre. It’s one of the five oldest cities in the Netherlands. You’ll find the oldest brick house (the Proosdij), the oldest public park (Worpplantsoen), and the oldest scientific library (the Athenaeum Library) in the country. You can imagine why the city inspires thoughts of the Victorian era – and each December, it becomes just that. During the Dickens Festijn, the city is transformed into a living storybook for a weekend. Around 950 characters from his novels walk through the streets in full costume. It’s a huge event, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors, and truly something to experience. Even outside of December, you can get your Dickens fix: the Charles Dickens Cabinet is open every Saturday afternoon. Stop by during your cycle route to admire the collection of books, figurines and costumes.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Rijksstraatweg 54, 7231 AH Zutphen | 48 KM | |
|
From
76
to
74
|
2516 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head southwest on Rijksstraatweg | 446 M | ||
| Continue onto Warnsveldseweg | 262 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Warnsveldseweg | 511 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Warnsveldseweg | 52 M | ||
| Continue straight | 14 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Laarstraat | 358 M | ||
| Continue onto Beukerstraat | 45 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oudewand | 44 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Armenhage | 130 M | ||
| Turn left onto Rijkenhage | 242 M | ||
| Turn left onto Rozengracht | 250 M | ||
| Turn left onto Berkelkade | 162 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
10
|
218 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head west on Marspoortstraat | 93 M | ||
| Turn right onto IJsselkade | 125 M | ||
| You are now at section 10 | 0 M | ||
|
From
10
to
1
|
777 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head north on IJsselkade | 63 M | ||
| Turn left onto Stationsplein | 714 M | ||
| You are now at section 01 | 0 M | ||
|
From
1
to
36
|
963 M | 1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Oude Kanonsdijk | 319 M | ||
| Turn right onto Vliegendijk | 644 M | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
|
From
36
to
35
|
2576 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head north on Vliegendijk | 695 M | ||
| Keep right onto Gelders Hoofd | 214 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Sinderensdijk | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 35 | 0 M | ||
|
From
35
to
37
|
3336 M | 3.3 KM | |
| Head north on Sinderensdijk | 979 M | ||
| Continue onto Voorsterklei | 400 M | ||
| Turn left onto Middelbeekspad | 1.2 KM | ||
| Continue onto de Halmen | 408 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on de Halmen | 311 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
|
From
37
to
49
|
2589 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head east on Nijenbeekseweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Houtwalstraat | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M | ||
|
From
49
to
28
|
3355 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head west on Marsstraat | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Rijksstraatweg (N790) | 26 M | ||
| Turn right onto Soerhuislaan | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 28 | 0 M | ||
|
From
28
to
97
|
1937 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head south | 68 M | ||
| Turn right | 378 M | ||
| Turn right | 884 M | ||
| Turn left | 607 M | ||
| You are now at section 97 | 0 M | ||
|
From
97
to
73
|
1361 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head northwest | 278 M | ||
| Continue onto Harleman's pad | 180 M | ||
| Turn right onto Sluinerweg | 903 M | ||
| You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
|
From
73
to
74
|
2947 M | 2.9 KM | |
| Head north on Tienmorgen | 1 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Zonnenbergstraat | 77 M | ||
| Turn right | 414 M | ||
| Turn left | 773 M | ||
| Turn left | 158 M | ||
| Turn right onto Wethouder van der Liedelaan | 62 M | ||
| Continue onto Kerklaan | 7 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Kerklaan | 385 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit | 44 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
12
|
1212 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head south | 45 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Duistervoordseweg | 822 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Dorpsstraat | 345 M | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M | ||
|
From
12
to
14
|
2762 M | 2.8 KM | |
| Head north on H.W. Iordensweg | 18 M | ||
| Turn right onto Binnenweg | 15 M | ||
| Keep right onto Binnenweg | 485 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Burgemeester van der Feltzweg | 862 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Burgemeester van der Feltzweg | 596 M | ||
| Turn left | 273 M | ||
| Continue onto Hovenpad | 513 M | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
|
From
14
to
64
|
1057 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Hovenpad | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 64 | 0 M | ||
|
From
64
to
62
|
1008 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Singel | 787 M | ||
| Turn left onto Singelstraat | 19 M | ||
| Turn right onto Singel | 202 M | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
|
From
62
to
63
|
749 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head south on Verzetslaan | 208 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Verzetslaan | 82 M | ||
| Turn left onto Houtmarkt | 20 M | ||
| Turn right onto Waltorenpad | 61 M | ||
| Turn left onto Walstraat | 82 M | ||
| Turn right onto Bergkerkplein | 15 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Bergkerkplein | 61 M | ||
| Turn right onto Bergstraat | 56 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Bergstraat | 67 M | ||
| Continue onto Brink | 13 M | ||
| Make a sharp left to stay on Brink | 84 M | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
|
From
63
to
47
|
4139 M | 4.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Brink | 209 M | ||
| Turn left onto Bokkingshang | 83 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Emmastraat | 90 M | ||
| Turn right onto Sluisstraat | 168 M | ||
| Turn right onto Raambrug | 92 M | ||
| Turn left onto Pothoofd | 168 M | ||
| Continue onto Zutphenselaan | 246 M | ||
| Continue onto Pothoofd | 23 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Zutphenseweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| Continue onto Deventerweg | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Braamweg | 119 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Braamweg | 13 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Kletterstraat | 295 M | ||
| Turn right onto Deventerweg | 193 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
|
From
47
to
27
|
2055 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Deventerweg | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
|
From
27
to
54
|
704 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head west on Dommerholtsweg | 30 M | ||
| Keep straight onto Veerweg | 354 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Veerweg | 320 M | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
|
From
54
to
57
|
845 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head east on Ravensweerdsweg | 36 M | ||
| Turn right onto Molenweg | 14 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Molenweg | 198 M | ||
| Turn right onto Esdoornlaan | 259 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hoofdstraat | 338 M | ||
| You are now at section 57 | 0 M | ||
|
From
57
to
34
|
1459 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head south on Hoofdstraat | 426 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Zutphenseweg | 67 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Zutphenseweg | 45 M | ||
| Turn left onto Gorsselse Enkweg | 921 M | ||
| You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
|
From
34
to
96
|
4666 M | 4.7 KM | |
| Head southeast on Eefdese Enkweg | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Quatre Brasweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Valkeweg | 671 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 96 | 0 M | ||
|
From
96
to
40
|
1130 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head southeast | 741 M | ||
| Turn right onto Mettrayweg | 241 M | ||
| Turn right | 20 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rustoordlaan | 128 M | ||
| You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
|
From
40
to
43
|
1587 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head east on Deventerweg | 455 M | ||
| Turn right | 58 M | ||
| Continue onto Damlaan | 116 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Damlaan | 402 M | ||
| Keep left at the fork | 26 M | ||
| Turn left onto Damlaan | 530 M | ||
| You are now at section 43 | 0 M | ||
|
From
43
to
70
|
341 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head west on Damlaan | 4 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kapperallee | 337 M | ||
| You are now at section 70 | 0 M | ||
|
From
70
to
76
|
1736 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head south on Kapperallee | 91 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Voorsterallee | 777 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kerkpad | 868 M | ||
| You are now at section 76 | 0 M |