Cycle Route Along the Eleven Cities Monument
Dokkum, Bartlehiem, Giekerk
"It sil heve" is the name of the monument by artists Maree Blok and Bas Lugthart. The phrase, in Frisian, means "It will happen," and was famously uttered by Jan Sipkema, the former chairman of the Association of the Frisian Eleven Cities, when he announced the Tour of Tours in 1985 -the first time it was held after 22 years, following the legendary 1963 edition. The bridge at Gytsjerk (Giekerk) is a mosaic made of thousands of tiles crafted from Makkum pottery. Over 7,000 Eleven Cities Tour participants are depicted on these tiles, with their names and years. Together, the tiles form an image of a group of skaters when viewed from a distance. A platform under the bridge allows visitors to view the photos up close. Collecting the photos of thousands of skaters was quite a task, but they were sent in from all over the country. You can find portraits of skaters from the first tour in 1909 to the most recent edition in 1997, which included King Willem-Alexander. The back of the bridge remains available for future Eleven Cities Tour participants. This cycle route lets you explore the section skated twice during the Eleven Cities Tour: the stretch between Leeuwarden and Dokkum. Along the way, you’ll not only see the Eleven Cities Monument but also the famous bridge at Bartlehiem. Cycle along the waters of the Dokkumer Ee, the Eeltjesmeer, and cross De Moark. The charming Frisian villages and towns along the way offer perfect spots for a delightful break. Note: Between junctions 35 and 36, there is a ferry, De Wynser Oerset, operating on weekends from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM between Easter weekend and September 30. From May 15 to September 15, the ferry runs daily from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM. If the ferry is not in service, follow the alternative route via junctions 35-31-32-12 to continue (or vice versa starting from junction 12).
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: De Zijl , 9101 ML Dokkum | 40 KM | |
|
From
1
to
63
|
2860 M | 2.9 KM | |
| Head south on De Zijl | 85 M | ||
| Turn left onto Keppelstraat | 70 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Keppelstraat | 305 M | ||
| Turn left onto Bronlaan | 61 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Bronlaan | 52 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Bronlaan | 94 M | ||
| Turn left onto Liudgerleane | 253 M | ||
| Continue straight | 28 M | ||
| Turn right | 224 M | ||
| Turn right | 23 M | ||
| Turn left onto Bonifatiuspolder | 61 M | ||
| Turn right onto Damwâldsterreedsje | 444 M | ||
| Turn right | 3 M | ||
| Turn left onto Damwâldsterreedsje | 15 M | ||
| Turn right | 4 M | ||
| Turn left onto Damwâldsterreedsje | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
|
From
63
to
65
|
1633 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head south on Trekwei | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 65 | 0 M | ||
|
From
65
to
53
|
4438 M | 4.4 KM | |
| Head west on Doniawei | 2.2 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Hearewei | 392 M | ||
| Turn left onto Singel | 7 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hearewei | 1.2 KM | ||
| Continue onto Van Aylvawei | 280 M | ||
| Turn right onto Tuskenmarren | 24 M | ||
| Turn left onto Van Aylvawei | 289 M | ||
| You are now at section 53 | 0 M | ||
|
From
53
to
52
|
1552 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head southwest on Rjochthússtrjitte | 20 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Rjochthússtrjitte | 900 M | ||
| Turn left onto Tuskenlytsen | 623 M | ||
| Turn right onto Tuskenmarren | 9 M | ||
| You are now at section 52 | 0 M | ||
|
From
52
to
51
|
2126 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Tuskenmarren | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 51 | 0 M | ||
|
From
51
to
38
|
1445 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Wearbuorren | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 38 | 0 M | ||
|
From
38
to
37
|
424 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Klaas Douwesweg | 424 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
|
From
37
to
39
|
1127 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head south on Van Sminiaweg | 859 M | ||
| Continue straight | 98 M | ||
| Turn left onto Rengersweg (N361) | 170 M | ||
| You are now at section 39 | 0 M | ||
|
From
39
to
40
|
441 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head south on Rengersweg (N361) | 252 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rengersweg (N361) | 21 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Rengersweg (N361) | 130 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit | 38 M | ||
| You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
|
From
40
to
47
|
991 M | 1 KM | |
| Head northwest | 45 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Rengersweg (N361) | 512 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rinia van Nautaweg | 434 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
|
From
47
to
28
|
3174 M | 3.2 KM | |
| Head west on Canterlandseweg | 720 M | ||
| Turn right | 723 M | ||
| Continue onto Canterlandseweg | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 28 | 0 M | ||
|
From
28
to
29
|
1143 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head north on Eggedyk; Wyns | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 29 | 0 M | ||
|
From
29
to
30
|
895 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head west on Wyns | 895 M | ||
| You are now at section 30 | 0 M | ||
|
From
30
to
35
|
141 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head north on Wyns | 141 M | ||
| You are now at section 35 | 0 M | ||
|
From
35
to
36
|
145 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head west on Wyns | 85 M | ||
| Turn right | 23 M | ||
| Take the ferry Wijns - Britsum | 31 M | ||
| Continue straight | 6 M | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
|
From
36
to
12
|
957 M | 1 KM | |
| Head north | 957 M | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M | ||
|
From
12
to
9
|
1148 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Tichelwurk | 1.1 KM | ||
| Continue straight | 6 M | ||
| You are now at section 09 | 0 M | ||
|
From
9
to
11
|
1305 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head northeast on Wurgedyk | 633 M | ||
| Continue straight onto Zuidermiedweg | 58 M | ||
| Continue straight onto Zuidermiedweg | 316 M | ||
| Turn right onto Iedyk | 298 M | ||
| You are now at section 11 | 0 M | ||
|
From
11
to
10
|
1107 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Iedyk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 10 | 0 M | ||
|
From
10
to
12
|
2530 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head northeast on Iedyk | 185 M | ||
| Turn right onto Tergrêft | 55 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.9 KM | ||
| Continue onto Dominee R. H. Kuipersstraat; Ds.R.H.Kuipersstraat | 380 M | ||
| Turn right onto Brugweg | 4 M | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M | ||
|
From
12
to
23
|
3727 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head northwest on Brugweg | 4 M | ||
| Turn right onto Mounewei | 167 M | ||
| Continue straight | 45 M | ||
| Turn left | 155 M | ||
| Turn right | 3.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
|
From
23
to
80
|
127 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head east on Iedyk | 127 M | ||
| You are now at section 80 | 0 M | ||
|
From
80
to
24
|
901 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head east on Iedyk | 593 M | ||
| Turn right onto Iewâl | 308 M | ||
| You are now at section 24 | 0 M | ||
|
From
24
to
25
|
479 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head east on Bannerhûs | 479 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
|
From
25
to
30
|
4176 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head southeast | 3.2 KM | ||
| Continue onto Hendoweg | 114 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Hendoweg | 513 M | ||
| Turn right onto Betterwird | 165 M | ||
| Turn right onto Voorstreek | 140 M | ||
| Continue onto Rondweg-West | 13 M | ||
| You are now at section 30 | 0 M | ||
|
From
30
to
1
|
991 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Rondweg-West | 70 M | ||
| Turn right onto Voorstreek | 301 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Peerdepadsje | 46 M | ||
| Turn right onto Altenastreek | 231 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hogepol | 53 M | ||
| Turn right onto Legeweg | 146 M | ||
| Turn left onto Nauwstraat | 144 M | ||
| You are now at section 01 | 0 M |