Eleven Villages Route - A cycling tour of Frisian villages
This beautiful 170-kilometre cycling route takes you to eleven of the 133 villages in southwest Friesland. All equally ‘smûk’ (the Frisian word for ‘welcoming’), quaint and recognisable from afar by their church towers. Some of the villages are tiny, others are like the smaller cities along the famous Elfstedentocht tour skating route. The village of Joure, for example, the birthplace of Douwe Egberts coffee and Pickwick tea, has a distinctly urban character. And the village of Terherne is unique in that it is essentially an island, completely surrounded by water.
The Eleven Villages Route takes you to the villages of Balk, Woudsend, Heeg, Oudega (in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân), Makkum, Koudum, Oudemirdum, Lemmer, Joure, Terherne and Langweer. Along the way, you get to enjoy spectacular views, scenic cycle paths and two ferry crossings. So, are you ready to visit eleven villages?
Locations on this route
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68
Start point:
Waypoint bike 68
Balk
Navigate to starting point -
Balk
Balk
Balk is a large village with many amenities in Southwest Friesland; it is the main town of Gaasterland and is situated along the Elfstedentocht route.
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39
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40
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Woudsend (Wâldsein)
Woudsend (Wâldsein)
Woudsend is a village nestled between Lake Heegermeer and Lake Slotermeer.
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41
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54
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36
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35
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38
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32
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31
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15
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14
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10
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09
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07
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03
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87
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49
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70
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Makkum
Makkum
Makkum is a seaside resort on the IJsselmeer coast in Southwest Friesland, just south of the Afsluitdijk.
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56
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01
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22
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20
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19
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96
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95
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Koudum
Koudum
Koudum is centrally located in Southwest Friesland. This makes it an ideal base for your next vacation.
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94
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11
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10
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08
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07
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06
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15
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16
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23
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Oudemirdum
Oudemirdum
Oudemirdum is a charming village located amidst the forests of Southwest Friesland in the Gaasterland region.
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22
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20
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21
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27
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28
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85
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29
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68
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32
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44
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45
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46
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51
-
47
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52
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78
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54
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55
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57
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83
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82
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63
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69
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80
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64
-
73
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68
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43
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Terherne
Terherne
Terherne is known as the Kameleon village and is an island in the Sneekermeer. On one side, you'll find the lake, and on the other side, the Terhernster ponds.
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68
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65
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61
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62
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84
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91
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Langweer
Langweer
Langweer is a true watersports destination. From this centrally located village in the Frisian lake area, you can sail in all directions.
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92
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93
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14
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53
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42
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43
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44
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32
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68
End point:
Waypoint bike 68
Balk
Navigate to endpoint
Directions
Start point:
Waypoint bike 68
Balk
Navigate to starting point
Start and end point
The directions start and end in Balk but you can start and end the route at any point. You follow the route by cycling from one junction of the cycle route network to the next in the order indicated by the numbers.
Ferries
Please note! Always check that the ferries are running before you depart.
If the Rufus passenger and bike ferry is not running, you can change the way. Go from junction 65 to 64 - 80 - 79 - 62. Here you can pick up the original route.
If the Woudfennen passenger and bike ferry in village of Boornzwaag is not running, you can extend the route by cycling from junction 84 to 82 - 83 - 57 - 55 - 56 - 58 - 92. Here you can pick up the original route.
End point:
Waypoint bike 68
Balk
Navigate to endpoint
- 68
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 54
- 36
- 35
- 38
- 32
- 31
- 15
- 14
- 10
- 09
- 07
- 03
- 87
- 49
- 70
- 56
- 01
- 22
- 20
- 19
- 96
- 95
- 94
- 11
- 10
- 08
- 07
- 06
- 15
- 16
- 23
- 22
- 20
- 21
- 27
- 28
- 85
- 29
- 68
- 32
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 51
- 47
- 52
- 78
- 54
- 55
- 57
- 83
- 82
- 63
- 69
- 80
- 64
- 73
- 68
- 43
- 68
- 65
- 61
- 62
- 84
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 14
- 53
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 32
- 68