Plan your bike trip
For your convenience we have divided the route into eight one-day stages of up to 70 km each, which of course also includes the short stretch from the Belgian border to Maastricht. This will help you with planning your trip. Feel free to make your own choices, though.
-
BorderMaastricht7km
Border - Maastricht
Distance: 7.5 kilometres
The Maas enters the Netherlands south of Maastricht and has already travelled quite a long way by then. La Meuse, or the Maas, rises on the Langres plateau in the east of France and has covered 739 kilometres before it reaches the Netherlands. It ...
Facts
- The Maas has covered a distance of 739 kilometres already
- You’ll only cross the Maas once
-
MaastrichtOhé en Laak46km
Maastricht - Ohé en Laak
Distance: 46.8 kilometres
In this part of the route, man and river are working together harmoniously to create a new river landscape. In this Limburg landscape, the Maas has been the architect for many centuries. It’s the Maas Valley, where river channels are created due ...
Facts
- Train station close to the start and end point
- You’ll cross the Julianakanaal three times
- Photo location: Recentoren Maastricht
-
Ohé en LaakVenlo62km
Ohé en Laak - Venlo
Distance: 62 kilometres
After Ohé en Laak the view changes. You are now entering the largest continuous water sports area in the Netherlands: the Maasplassen. On summer days, the marinas and beaches are characterized by an exuberant, lively atmosphere. The Maasplassen cover an area of around ...
Facts
- 2 ferries
- Many organized boat tours along the route
- Photo location: Hydroelectric power plant Linne
-
VenloBoxmeer58km
Venlo - Boxmeer
Distance: 58 kilometres
The last, but not least, part of Limburg awaits you. On the east side of the Maas you’ll find the largest river dune area in the Netherlands, named the Maasduinen National Park. On the west side you cycle through the only Dutch ...
Facts
- 3 ferries
- Last bit of Limburg
- Photo location: Lock Maasduinen NP
- UNESCO Maasheggen
-
BoxmeerMaasbommel60km
Boxmeer - Maasbommel
Distance: 60.6 kilometres
In North Brabant you cycle in northwestern direction through another unique landscape: it’s the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands. In the Maasheggen area, as it’s called, you cycle through a mosaic of small meadows in the floodplains, enclosed by braided ...
Facts
- 2 ferries
- Cycling through the Rhine delta
- Photo location: Museum Ceucleum
-
MaasbommelAalst53km
Maasbommel - Aalst
Distance: 53.2 kilometres
Near Heusden you say goodbye to the Maas: officially this is where the river ends. You enter an area where considerable work has been done on the river since the Middle Ages. It has been dammed, rerouted, even dug again. The water continues ...
Facts
- 4 ferries
- Many dyke houses
- You follow the Afgedamde Maas
- Photo location: Lithoijense Dijk
-
AalstDordrecht60km
Aalst - Dordrecht
Distance: 60 kilometres
After Woudrichem you truly enter the low countries. You’re cycling below sea level. You’ll definitely notice the proximity to the sea when you ride into the Biesbosch National Park. Thanks to an open connection with the sea, this river delta with ...
Facts
- Only 1 ferry
- You cycle below sea level
- Biesbosch NP
- Photo location: Loevestein Castle
-
DordrechtOostvoorne70km
Dordrecht - Oostvoorne
Distance: 70 kilometres
After Dordrecht we join the Oude Maas, through which the Maas flowed into the sea before people in medieval times decided to have it discharge into the Waal. So, in fact, we’re now cycling along the original Maas again. And on the ...
Facts
- Only 1 ferry
- You cycle along the original Maas again
- You see remarkable migratory and water birds
- Photo location: Brielle
- Note: low season no ferry across the Maasvlakte, see current info under 'services'.
-
OostvoorneRotterdam70km
Oostvoorne - Rotterdam
Distance: 70 kilometres The route still continues for a bit, because you’re not completely finished with the Maas. Between the sea and the Oostvoornse Meer you cycle north towards the Maasvlakte. Beautiful may not be the right word, but it’s certainly impressive to cycle through one ...
Facts
- Last ferry
- Maeslantkering
- Nieuwe Waterweg
- Photo location: Erasmusbrug
- Note: low season no ferry across the Maasvlakte, see current info under 'services'.
GPX Track
With the smart GPX tracks you’ll never get lost again. Download the complete route here and get going using this handy navigation tool.

Order the cycle guide
This compact cycle guide takes you by the hand, so to speak, and describes the route from the border near Maastricht up to the ‘Maas City’ of Rotterdam.