15-21 deg C
Moving time: 3h50m; elapsed time: 4h49m
Ride total G: 2,429km
Ride total W: 2,361km
Walk G: 6km; total: 595km
Walk W: 6km; total: 499km
11 weeks down, 1 to go!
What a lovely day’s cycling. Got away just before 9am into a cool but fine day. Mixing it with the peak hour traffic on the bike paths was interesting. Even just getting onto the path to start was a challenge. We finally blended in and straight onto a path directly outside the hotel door.
The locals are certainly on a mission when they get on their bikes! None of this “riding for pleasure” stuff, it’s more like “get out of my way I want to get there now!” By keeping up with the speed of most of the traffic we managed to avoid causing or being involved in any form of accident or incident.
The Dutch countryside is so unique, the amount of water everywhere (probably caused by the fact that nearly a third of the country is below sea level) and the greener than green pastures makes it all very beautiful. And of course we dare not mention the amazing cycling infrastructure.
We didn’t stop for too much today, it was just a pleasure riding along, especially when the tailwind kicked in. Sometimes it was from the side, and occasionally it turned into a headwind, but in the main we couldn’t have wished for a better penultimate day of scheduled riding.
The last time we were in The Hague was 11 years ago and just about the entire city was a construction site. After settling into our room, having a mandatory cup of tea and a clean up we ventured out on foot. Well that construction site is still here, but it has certainly got a heck of a lot smaller, and is in different places than last time. We tried to remember where we had visited last time so we could see how it had changed. But so many new buildings had gone up it was difficult. Wendy was much better at that than Greg; anyway it was fun trying. It’s still a very arty city with lots of new sculptural pieces all throughout the place. We believe that it is busier than it was in 2014. Like all the countries in Europe that we’ve been to this trip, we noticed a definite change in the demographics of the population. A lot has happened in the world during the previous 11 years.
Google maps scene shot of all the bike paths from Rotterdam to Amsterdam. Many of the minor roads are designated bike paths where the cars have to give way!
The traffic we had to negotiate just to get onto the bike path this morning!
Some of the paths we rode today
Two short videos of a suburb outside Utrecht. Neat as a pin.
A fine example of a good thatched roof
Entrance to a local’s yard
Mornos stop
On the side of the canal
One of the bridges closing
Lunch stop
Wouldn’t be Holland without a windmill
Mercure Hotel and room #610 (we were in room #210 11 years ago)
Entrance side of the hotel
Decor,sSetup and colours have not changed at all
Ride route and stats
Frog with umbrella
Bike alleyway
Maurits House Art Gallery
House of Europe / European Parliament / European Liaison Office of the European External Action Service
Sculpture of a Slacker
Look at me, look at me, aren’t I a fine seagul?
Hofvijver (lake), in the heart of the city right next door to the Houses of Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office (the buildings)
Noordeinde Palace, regal site of the Dutch King’s offices dating back to the 16th century
Equestrian statue of Prince William I
Statue of Queen Wilhelmina
The Passage
Is the oldest shopping centre in the Netherlands and the last covered shopping arcade of its kind. It is on then UNESCO World Heritage list. It opened for business in 1885. The original arcade was built in an internationally-oriented neo-Renaissance style, while the later section is in the Expressionist style.
Some of the sculptures on display
Den Haag Central Station
Nieuwe Kirk (New Church) is in the Top 100 of Dutch UNESCO monuments. It was built in 1649 after the Grote Kerk (Great Church) could no longer hold all the churchgoers. The building was completed in 1656. Today, the church is a concert venue.
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