Cycle route dive into the history of Utrecht
Houten, Wijk bij Duurstede, Bunnik
Cycle through southern Utrecht and discover castles, fortresses and even cities that no longer exist. This route is made for lovers of both history and green landscapes. Houten has a long history of habitation. Archaeological findings show settlements dating back to around 2200 BC. The higher sandy soils offered protection from flooding, making them attractive for people in the Bronze Age. The Romans also left their mark here – remains of a Roman villa have been found, as well as traces of a medieval road. The current Pleinkerk in the town centre dates partly from the 12th century, and its 16th-century tower still defines the skyline. If you're up for a small detour, head west of Houten to see Castle Heemstede – a beautifully preserved example of historic country estate architecture. Wijk bij Duurstede, once known as Dorestad, played an important role in the region’s history. In the 8th and 9th centuries, it grew into one of the most important trading towns in northwestern Europe. Viking raids are often mentioned as the reason for its decline, but historians now point more to the silting of the harbour and shifts in political power. Want to learn more? Visit Museum Dorestad, which is temporarily located in the old town hall at Kompas 2 until September 2025 due to renovations. Not far from the route, you’ll also pass several forts from the New Dutch Waterline, reminders of a time when water was used as a defence system. Bunnik also has a historical character, though it often shows itself more subtly. In early medieval times, the settlement of Bunninchem was located here – a notable place along the Kromme Rijn. Over the centuries, several country estates developed in this area. One of the most well-known today is Landgoed Rhijnauwen – a perfect spot to hop off your bike and experience the landscape as it once was.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Hydeparklaan 2, 3971 KV Driebergen-Rijsenburg | 50.1 KM | |
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From
72
to
34
|
1618 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head northwest on Hoofdstraat | 504 M | ||
| Continue straight | 16 M | ||
| Turn left | 19 M | ||
| Turn left | 20 M | ||
| Continue onto Hoofdstraat | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
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From
34
to
74
|
1945 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head northwest on Hoofdstraat | 1.6 KM | ||
| Make a slight left | 58 M | ||
| Continue onto Hoofdstraat | 14 M | ||
| Turn left | 39 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hoofdstraat | 244 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
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From
74
to
79
|
128 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head west on Hoofdstraat | 128 M | ||
| You are now at section 79 | 0 M | ||
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From
79
to
78
|
1585 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head southwest on Stationsweg | 131 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Stationsweg | 68 M | ||
| Continue left onto Odijkerweg | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 78 | 0 M | ||
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From
78
to
42
|
3523 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head west on Zeisterweg | 258 M | ||
| Continue straight | 4 M | ||
| Turn right | 30 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.3 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Schoudermantel | 801 M | ||
| Continue straight | 138 M | ||
| Continue onto Schoudermantel | 1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 42 | 0 M | ||
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From
42
to
44
|
1875 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head northwest on Koningin Julianalaan | 300 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 107 M | ||
| Turn left | 28 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Tolhuislaan | 318 M | ||
| Turn right onto Grotelaan | 998 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Rijnsoever | 124 M | ||
| You are now at section 44 | 0 M | ||
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From
44
to
41
|
1867 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head northwest on Rijnsoever | 988 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vagantenpad | 253 M | ||
| Turn right onto Strick van Linschotenlaan | 626 M | ||
| You are now at section 41 | 0 M | ||
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From
41
to
40
|
836 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head southeast on Rhijnauwenselaan | 201 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Rhijnauwenselaan | 635 M | ||
| You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
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From
40
to
53
|
559 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head west on Provincialeweg | 505 M | ||
| Turn left onto Koningslaan | 54 M | ||
| You are now at section 53 | 0 M | ||
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From
53
to
39
|
373 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Achterdijk | 115 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Achterdijk | 258 M | ||
| You are now at section 39 | 0 M | ||
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From
39
to
19
|
1164 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Achterdijk | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 19 | 0 M | ||
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From
19
to
2
|
655 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head southeast on Achterdijk | 655 M | ||
| You are now at section 02 | 0 M | ||
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From
2
to
99
|
1059 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head south on Rijsbruggerweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 99 | 0 M | ||
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From
99
to
45
|
112 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Binnenweg | 112 M | ||
| You are now at section 45 | 0 M | ||
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From
45
to
1
|
1653 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head southwest on Kooikerspad | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Het Rond | 12 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Het Rond | 289 M | ||
| You are now at section 01 | 0 M | ||
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From
1
to
67
|
1698 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head southwest on Imkerseind | 230 M | ||
| Turn left onto Lobbendijk | 723 M | ||
| Turn left onto Plein | 85 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Plein | 14 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Plein | 17 M | ||
| Turn right onto Plein | 82 M | ||
| Turn left onto Prins Bernhardweg | 123 M | ||
| Turn right | 424 M | ||
| You are now at section 67 | 0 M | ||
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From
67
to
91
|
1368 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Houtensewetering | 599 M | ||
| Continue onto Beukenhout | 153 M | ||
| Continue straight | 30 M | ||
| Continue onto Weteringhout | 331 M | ||
| Continue straight | 23 M | ||
| Continue onto Parkhout | 232 M | ||
| You are now at section 91 | 0 M | ||
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From
91
to
66
|
1518 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head southeast on Granietsteen | 802 M | ||
| Turn left onto Schonauwensepad | 235 M | ||
| Turn right onto Schalkwijkseweg | 481 M | ||
| You are now at section 66 | 0 M | ||
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From
66
to
47
|
137 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head east on Poeldijk | 122 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Poeldijk | 15 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
|
From
47
to
63
|
756 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head south on Poeldijk | 12 M | ||
| Turn left onto Schonauwenseweg | 744 M | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
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From
63
to
58
|
4887 M | 4.9 KM | |
| Head east on Wickenburghseweg | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Beusichemseweg | 723 M | ||
| Continue onto Tuurdijk | 2.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 58 | 0 M | ||
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From
58
to
57
|
783 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head northeast on Tuurdijk | 783 M | ||
| You are now at section 57 | 0 M | ||
|
From
57
to
30
|
189 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head east on Tuurdijk | 189 M | ||
| You are now at section 30 | 0 M | ||
|
From
30
to
56
|
1081 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Caspargauw | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 56 | 0 M | ||
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From
56
to
55
|
1100 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Smidsdijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Kapelleweg | 15 M | ||
| You are now at section 55 | 0 M | ||
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From
55
to
14
|
5544 M | 5.5 KM | |
| Head south on Dwarsdijk | 183 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hoeksedijk | 463 M | ||
| Turn left onto Wijkersloot | 3.2 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Trekweg | 106 M | ||
| Continue straight | 156 M | ||
| Turn left | 28 M | ||
| Continue onto Overloop | 636 M | ||
| Turn right | 245 M | ||
| Turn right | 65 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 60 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Steenstraat | 408 M | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
|
From
14
to
13
|
1530 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head east on Zandweg | 373 M | ||
| Turn right | 40 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zandweg | 498 M | ||
| Turn right onto Langbroekseweg | 619 M | ||
| You are now at section 13 | 0 M | ||
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From
13
to
95
|
1655 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head northeast on Langbroekseweg | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 95 | 0 M | ||
|
From
95
to
27
|
1116 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Langbroekerdijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
|
From
27
to
32
|
1513 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head northwest on Langbroekerdijk | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 32 | 0 M | ||
|
From
32
to
25
|
796 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head northwest on Langbroekerdijk | 796 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
|
From
25
to
23
|
2125 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Langbroekerdijk | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
|
From
23
to
59
|
153 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Langbroekerdijk | 135 M | ||
| Turn right onto Langbroekerdijk | 18 M | ||
| You are now at section 59 | 0 M | ||
|
From
59
to
72
|
3213 M | 3.2 KM | |
| Head northeast on Sterkenburgerlaan | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn left to stay on Sterkenburgerlaan | 144 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Sterkenburgerlaan | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Driebergsestraatweg | 31 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Driebergsestraatweg | 640 M | ||
| You are now at section 72 | 0 M |