Section 3: Harlingen - Dokkum | Eleven Cities Bicycle Route
This section of the Eleven Cities bicycle route takes you through three of Friesland’s eleven cities: Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum. These northern cities
are all quite large by Frisian standards: you will find plenty of shops, small terraces, museums and much more.
Yet they are different in nature. Harlingen is a real port city, Franeker was once a university city and Dokkum is actually a place of pilgrimage.
You cycle from cycling junction to cycling junction, past charming little towns and villages separated by vast stretches of countryside. You also cycle along part of the Wadden Sea dike.
Along the way you will see the new signs for the Elfstedentocht bicycle route. If you are cycling the route in the clockwise direction, follow the green signs. If you are cycling the route in the anticlockwise direction, follow the blue signs.
T…
This section of the Eleven Cities bicycle route takes you through three of Friesland’s eleven cities: Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum. These northern cities
are all quite large by Frisian standards: you will find plenty of shops, small terraces, museums and much more.
Yet they are different in nature. Harlingen is a real port city, Franeker was once a university city and Dokkum is actually a place of pilgrimage.
You cycle from cycling junction to cycling junction, past charming little towns and villages separated by vast stretches of countryside. You also cycle along part of the Wadden Sea dike.
Along the way you will see the new signs for the Elfstedentocht bicycle route. If you are cycling the route in the clockwise direction, follow the green signs. If you are cycling the route in the anticlockwise direction, follow the blue signs.
This section of the route also takes you through Het Bildt, where the fertile clay soil of the reclaimed land in this part of Friesland produces an abundant variety of potatoes. The long dikes wind their way past monumental farmhouses and simple workers’ cottages.
Sights on this route
8861 BG Harlingen
Harlingen (Harns)
Harlingen is de Elfstedenstad aan het Wad. Een prachtige stad met een nautisch heden en verleden, gebouwd op de bodem van de oude zee...

Franeker (Frjentsjer)
Elfstedenstad Franeker is een boeiende stad met haar rijke universiteitsverleden. Jarenlang werd deze stad bewoond door vele studenten daaronder waren bekende namen als Descartes.

Elfstedentocht Turning Point
Sit on a bench shaped like a traditional Frisian ice skate next to the famous turning point on the Elfstedentocht route. This is one of Dokkum’s most popular Instagram hotspots!

Dokkum (Dokkum)
Dokkum is de meest noordelijk gelegen Elfstedenstad, ze ontstond nadat deze plek een bedevaartsoord werd na de moord op Bonifatius in 754.

9101 Dokkum
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