LF Frisian Zuiderzee weekend route
Fancy an active weekend break? Why not set off with your touring bike or e-bike and spend the weekend cycling 150 kilometres along Friesland’s Zuiderzee coast.
A beautiful route along the former Zuiderzee coast, now the shore of Lake IJsselmeer. The return journey brings you back through the wetland landscape in the southwest of the province.
Along the way, you get to see some of the beautiful cities on the historic Elfstedentocht route as well as vibrant water sports villages. Water features prominently in the stories all along the route.
You can start cycling the route at any junction. Click here to see where you can park your car, charge your e-bike and find somewhere to stay along the way.
This route is one of the long-distance weekend routes mapped by Landelijk Fietsplatform, a national organisation that promotes recreational cycling. Part of it runs along the LF Zuiderzee Route.
Locations on this route
-
Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre
Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre
On the Afsluitdijk causeway, at Kornwerderzand, you will find a remarkable building resembling a foaming wave, breaking on the causeway wall: this is the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre.
-
45
-
74
-
52
-
70
-
Makkum
Makkum
Makkum is a seaside resort on the IJsselmeer coast in Southwest Friesland, just south of the Afsluitdijk.
-
56
-
-
01
-
02
-
Aeltsjemeerpolder
Aeltsjemeerpolder
The Aeltsjemeerpolder is an area of peatland near the town of Workum that was reclaimed from a lake in 1877.
-
04
-
Workum (Warkum)
Workum (Warkum)
Workum (or Warkum as we say in Friesland), is one of the famous Frisian cities that has enjoyed city rights since 1399. Located on the shores of the former Zuiderzee and bordering the Frisian lakes.
-
17
-
22
-
20
-
Workum Lighthouse
Workum Lighthouse
You'll find Workum lighthouse on the Hylperdyk at the entrance to the harbour. It's known as the Toarntsje (little tower), which is very apt for the square white brick tower.
-
21
-
19
-
96
-
Hindeloopen (Hylpen)
Hindeloopen (Hylpen)
Hindeloopen, or Hylpen as we say in Friesland, is known for its painting and stylish costumes from the past.
-
-
97
-
84
-
60
-
98
-
64
-
Stavoren (Starum)
Stavoren (Starum)
Stavoren (or Starum as we say in Friesland) is very much the main city of the IJsselmeer, being enclosed by the lake on three sides. It is also the oldest city of Friesland, founded around 300 BC at a waterway, and gaining city rights in the 11th century.
-
The Lady of Stavoren
The Lady of Stavoren
From the 15th century on, the flourishing Hanseatic city of Stavoren began to fall upon bad times. It is this period in history that is related in the saga of the Lady of Stavoren. In the saga, all aspects of Stavoren as a trading city are covered.
-
04
-
Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer
Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer
At the edge of Lake IJsselmeer there is a red cliff that is 10 metres high. It was formed during the last ice age but one when the land was pushed up by glaciers that advanced from Scandinavia. The forces exerted by the ice created hills in the landscape.
-
05
-
Harbor of Laaksum
Harbor of Laaksum
The harbor of Laaksum is an idyllic spot in Southwest Friesland. We often refer to it as the smallest fishing harbor in Europe.
-
-
06
-
Mirnserklif
Mirnserklif
If you set off from the Rijsterbos forest and walk in the direction of Lake IJsselmeer you will come to the cliff at Mirns. It is a place that attracts kite surfers, kite flyers and beach lovers. The cliff was formed during the last ice age but one.
-
15
-
16
-
22
-
Oudemirdum
Oudemirdum
Oudemirdum is a charming village located amidst the forests of Southwest Friesland in the Gaasterland region.
-
23
-
Oudemirdumer Klif (cliff at Oudemirdum)
Oudemirdumer Klif (cliff at Oudemirdum)
The cliff at Oudemirdum is 6 metres high. It was formed during the last ice age but one when the land was pushed up by enormous glaciers that advanced from Scandinavia and deposited large boulders in Gaasterland.
-
24
-
25
-
Sondeler Leien Nature Reserve
Sondeler Leien Nature Reserve
The Sondeler Leien nature reserve is in Gaasterland. The small inland lake here probably formed when the waters of the former Zuiderzee broke through the dikes.
-
45
-
Woudagemaal: largest steam pumping station in the world
Woudagemaal: largest steam pumping station in the world
Visit the largest steam pumping station in the world!
-
46
-
51
-
47
-
Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)
Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)
The Tjeukemeer is the largest inland lake in Friesland.
-
52
-
53
-
14
-
Langweer
Langweer
Langweer is a true watersports destination. From this centrally located village in the Frisian lake area, you can sail in all directions.
-
93
-
-
59
-
50
-
Sneek (Snits)
Sneek (Snits)
Sneek, or Snits as we say in Friesland, is the water sports city of the Netherlands. But Sneek is more than water sports and the Sneekweek. The city is bustling with events, culture, unique hotspots, and nice shops.
-
05
-
Water Gate Sneek
Water Gate Sneek
The Water Gate in Sneek is perhaps the city’s most recognisable landmark. This stone structure is characterised by its two octagonal towers.
-
53
-
IJlst (Drylts)
IJlst (Drylts)
IJlst (or Drylts in Frisian) is not only one of the famous 11 cities, but also a 'wood city'. For many years, tree trunks were processed here by the legendary wood trading companies Oppedijk and S.O. de Vries.
-
Houtzaagmolen de Rat
Houtzaagmolen de Rat
Visit wind powered sawmill ‘De Rat’ and step back in time three hundred years!
-
40
-
39
-
29
-
30
-
Hemdijk
Hemdijk
A hemdijk is an inner dike that was constructed in the twelfth century to protect important agricultural areas in the Low Middle of Friesland from surging water.
-
12
-
14
-
10
-
09
-
-
07
-
03
-
-
87
-
49
-
24
-
55
-
95
-
Pingjumer Gulden Halsband inner dike
Pingjumer Gulden Halsband inner dike
The Pingjumer Gulden Halsband is an inner dike that once protected the village of Pingjum from the waters of the Marne, an inlet of the Wadden Sea.
-
53
-
59
-
31
-
45
-
Wadden Sea near Zurich - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Wadden Sea near Zurich - UNESCO World Heritage Site
The stretch of Wadden Sea that faces the little village of Zurich nestled at the foot of the dike is the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Netherlands. Twice a day the tide laps against the dike and twice a day it goes a long way out.
-
Kazemattenmuseum
Kazemattenmuseum
On Kornwerderzand at the head of the Afsluitdijk are the famous casemates, largely hidden under sand. Within the metre-thick walls, the period before and from May 1940 is revived.
-
Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre
Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre
On the Afsluitdijk causeway, at Kornwerderzand, you will find a remarkable building resembling a foaming wave, breaking on the causeway wall: this is the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre.
- 45
- 74
- 52
- 70
- 56
- 01
- 02
- 04
- 17
- 22
- 20
- 21
- 19
- 96
- 97
- 84
- 60
- 98
- 64
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 15
- 16
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 45
- 46
- 51
- 47
- 52
- 53
- 14
- 93
- 59
- 50
- 05
- 53
- 40
- 39
- 29
- 30
- 12
- 14
- 10
- 09
- 07
- 03
- 87
- 49
- 24
- 55
- 95
- 53
- 59
- 31
- 45