Cycling in Friesland: Sytze’s Eleven Cities Tour Has Begun

DAY 1

Today we officially kicked off the seven-day Eleven Cities Tour organized by Friesland Holland Travel — and what a fantastic first day it was!

Around noon, a coach full of enthusiastic Flemish participants arrived, along with a trailer packed with bikes, all ready for a week full of nature, culture, and fun on two wheels.

After a brief introduction, unloading the bikes, and a few adjustments here and there, we set off at a relaxed pace for the first stage: from Lemmer to Rijs. Not a very long ride today (about 35 kilometers), but certainly one full of variety.

We cycled through Nijemirdum and Oudemirdum, two charming villages in the southwestern part of Friesland where the landscape already becomes noticeably more hilly — something many people don’t expect from Friesland. And then, the highlight of the day: the Mirnser Klif. One of the few places in the Netherlands where you can enjoy a natural elevated view over Lake IJsselmeer. This ancient cliff was formed during the Ice Age and offers a panorama that feels almost foreign. We took a lovely break here: feet in the water, cameras out, and time to soak it all in.

The group is great — a nice mix of ages (the oldest participant is 80 years old!) — but everyone shares the same goal: a week of relaxed cycling and discovering the beauty of Friesland. The mood was immediately upbeat. There was already plenty of chatting and laughter along the way, and a few enthusiastic riders couldn’t resist the occasional sprint.

Tomorrow we’ll start experiencing the real Eleven Cities: we’ll cycle from Stavoren via Hindeloopen to Workum. Along the way, we’ll stop in the tiny fishing village of Laaxum (where time seems to have stood still), and visit the impressive monument commemorating the Battle of Warns.

I’m fully confident this will be a fantastic week. The group is great, the weather looks promising, and Friesland is already showing us its best side.

See you tomorrow!

– Sytze

Friesland Holland Travel

This trip is part of the all-inclusive cycling holidays offered by Friesland Holland Travel, the specialist in Eleven Cities cycling tours. Want to know more or plan your own trip?

🌐 www.frieslandhollandtravel.nl
✉️ info@frieslandhollandtravel.com

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