My wife left me so I went cycle camping. I set out from Harwich and took the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland and the Netherlands. The good thing about being on a bike is you tend to get to the front of the queue first and that means you can get to your cabin before everyone else. It was a smooth crossing in early July. I arrived at the Hook of Holland first thing in the morning. It takes about an hour to get processed through customs and get on your way. For my route I intended to skirt the coast from the Hook of Holland and then make my way to The Hague and then North to Lieden where I had booked an overnight campsite. I had just under two weeks
to take my trip. I was using the Fietsknoop app on my phone, which I got better at using as time went on. I wasn't quite aware of all the various bits and pieces I could have used. The cycle track here I later learned is two-way, hence the white line in the middle. The Netherlands grows and exports a lot of food - I'll come to that a bit later on in my trip when passing all the various fields and trying to identify the crops. I'm always slightly apprehensive when you first set off
on an adventure. Carrying all your own stuff. You never know quite what's going to come along. Here I'm filming with one hand and then trying to turn right. Then I thought better of it because I was going downhill and there was sand. I thought 'I'm got to crash'. Cycling through the dunes I was worried that cycling so close to the coast it might be a bit too windy but as it turned out it was fine. Here you can see the cycle tracks just on one side of the road but it's two-way. To start
with the sign posting was fine and then my route navigation got a bit dodgy. I went a bit off piece but eventually I arrived in the centre of The Hague. I apologise now for my Dutch pronunciation, it is a bit hopeless. This traffic junction makes it look like it was quite quiet doesn't
it? I made my way to the Binnenhof - The States General the Dutch Parliament. I had a snack. I'd taken a fair few snacks and a dehydrated meals just in case you get caught somewhere there's no supermarkets open and then I set off North. It's a lovely park with the shade and the trees. I arrived in Leiden and was pleasantly surprised. I've been to Amsterdam a few times and this has
similar sort of attractions - canals and windmills everything expect to see from the Netherlands. It was a beautiful sunny day and a place I'd love to go back to and explore in a bit more detail. I pass through the 17th century gate with the intention of having a bit of a nose around and seeking out the castle, or castle mound as it's one of the highest points in the area. Very vibrant place. Pedestrians, cyclists, paddle boarders. I found the castle but didn't
go in as I didn't want to leave my bike unattended but that's a high spot. I left Leiden and headed off North to a campsite run by a club called Nature Camping Terrain. To start with I had the whole site to myself. I cook my dinner and then a couple arrived and pitched their tent right next to mine. I was a bit worried in case my snoring might keep them awake but they told me the next morning it was fine. A father and his daughter also turned up and did an
overnighter. Very good facilities. It's a bit cooler. The odd spit of rain this morning but the nice thing is cycling under the under the Linden, which is under the lime trees I think. They're in blossom and have got this lovely perfume - really quite pleasant. You'll be pleased to know that the current Mrs Antagonist and myself are still together after 27 years, Perhaps I should clarify that when I said in my first video that she'd left me in fact she had gone on a two-week educational trip accompanying students. I was therefore left my own devices , so I went cycle camping. Day two was a long day some 110 km and skirting west of Harlem then North by Alkmaar to Den Oever. This is the Ruine Van Brederode.
Some gentlemen working. There's a timeless scene isn't it? Castle in the background, geese and cattle in the field. Planes taking off from Schiphol in the background. I must have coincided with the school half-day holiday, or it's around lunchtime. Perhaps it was them all going home for lunch. This is waiting for
the ferry to take us across the canal that connects Amsterdam with the North Sea. There are a lot of youngsters on board this Ferry, nearly all of which are busy looking at their phones. Cycling through urban areas is just as interesting, if not more interesting, than cycling through scenic rural areas. That's an interesting sound. I think "Look out the English are coming!" Well this is my lunch stop at the Alkmaardermeer. I think this sign means
'Look out Deep Water" I'm guessing. I'm sure someone could tell me. I doubt it would just be saying water - I think that's fairly obvious. It's about 1:00ish. I set off at 20 to 9. That's my picnic table. Unfortunately the animals have been through all the burger wrappers and everything in the litter bin is spread all around. which is a bit
unfortunate. You'll have to excuse me for my somewhat random content but you'll appreciate that it's not that easy to cycle and navigate and cope with drizzly rain so I'm afraid that it's just me cobbling together the clips that I happened to take. I'd be very much obliged if you could like and subscribe please as it would make a big difference to the channel. Finally, at the end of day two with about another 15K to go. The turbines are pointing towards me which means the wind is on my back - yippee. I guess because I was tired and keen to pitch my tent I failed to take any photographs of day 2's overnight campsite, which was very good. Well almost at the end and reached my site. The landscape's changed, Still flat, blowy but agricultural now.
Welcome to day three I'm on the bus across the Afsluitsdijk. You can't cycle all of it at the moment, together with a fellow cyclist. I spent the night at another Nature Camping Terrain called Het Boes Roept. Hopefuly, I've pronounced that correctly, just south of Den Oever. The bus takes you most of the way across. I had to take a rather haphazard route to my
next site at Jirnsum. Most of the roads didn't tend to travel on an East West axis. The cycle path's turned to grass -that's a bit of a worry! Sadly, this is the site of a crashed Wellington number R1 397. Crew of six. Night of 19 25th of July 1941. John James Cox, Mervyn Sydney Lund,
Arthur Edward Owen, Alfred John Le Poidevin, Frank Gordon Walker, and Roy Penry Williams. All of the explanation is in Dutch so I can't help you there I'm afraid. Just before midnight - to attack Emden - on a Thursday - 47 aircraft took part in the raid made up of 31 Whitley bombers and 16 Wellington bombers. It was intercepted at nearly 4:00am in the morning on its return from its bombing Mission by Oblt. Helmut Lent over Oosterwierum. The crew had flown on six previous sorties together and when they turned for home the dockyards were ablaze. At 4 in the morning High over the fields of Holland they were spotted by a night fighter pilot who made an attack. The Wellington fought him off and took evasive action
but the German pilot dived and attacked again from below. This time he crippled the aircraft, which crashed in flames in a pasture close to a farm near the village of Kleiterp. A Vicar recalled: 'Suddenly there was a tremendous roar and a black shadow passed before a fierce jet of fire sprayed the air. Out of the sky a flaming smoking wreck appeared. There was a tremendous bang and then the darkness returned'. The impact blew a 30-ft crater into the ground and people from the village quickly gathered before a squad of German soldiers appeared clapping and cheering when they saw the devastation. Soon though, they were dodging and ducking the shrapnel from the plane. 'They looked like rabbits fleeing from fireworks' joked the Dutch villagers.
It was pouring with rain on Day 4 so I jumped on the bus and went North to Leeuwarden. It was a bit soggy so I decided to head for the Fries Museum but there wasn't a chip in sight! The Oldehove is an unfinished medieval Church Tower. It leans more than the Tower of Pisa in Italy. Thought I'd dash out and take some footage while the sun was still out, or just come out. Been into town today . Leeuwarden was very interesting - went to the museum. Look at these lovely hydrangeas - they're great.
here. In here there is table tennis. They make their own Elderflower and all that sort of jams and things. That's an honesty box for the beer in the fridge. I'm just making myself a cup of coffee planning my route. 'You've appeared in my video twice now! My wife's going to tell me off! What an idyllic camping spot. I even managed to snaffle myself a camp chair so I could
sit and enjoy the sunshine with my new friends. Join us for day five. It's Thursday. Much nicer day than yesterday. I'm waiting at a ferry, don't quite know what you're supposed to do but I've rung the bell and the man said he can see me and it's going to cost me a Euro. So I don't really know where it's going to go. I'll probably be just as quick going
somewhere around the side I don't know. Today's ride is shorter. Heading east towards Groningen. I had intended to visit the West Fresian Islands but the cost of ferries and camping fees put me off. The ferry. Ferries give a good excuse to get out of the saddle and a chance
to watch the world go by at a different pace. Waiting for my next ferry. This one's a car ferry. I hear a tractor behind me waiting there. I think this one's a Euro as well I think. A huge thank you to all my subscribers. You're a fine, select bunch. I do appreciate your support and
[Music] comments. Hats off to the ferrymen. Some ferries appear to be manned more out of love than for profit. Not sure what the drill is here? I imagine the ferry just goes across there. I've spent 4 euros on ferries so far this morning. Worth every penny really. It's been quite good fun. The bridge doesn't look like it's going to be open. There's the bridge operator. Swinging around that side I think there's a group of youngsters walking off into the distance.
It's always uplifting to come across something different. Here I came across a giant beehive with the bees spinning around it in the breeze. And here I came across my first experience of nesting storks. They seem to have their own bespoke nesting station. I reached another splendid campsite. Peaceful, quiet. Well done for making it this far! Please like & subscribe and I look forward to seeing you in the next episode.
Here you find me passing through Groningen on my way to a campsite to the East. I'll visit here again later being a city that I've wanted to visit for long time. I never really made it out to this part of the the country so the whole point of my journey was really to make it up to Groningen and then have an explore around. Anyway, it's a good excuse to stop for a coffee. I saw this intriguing shop opposite. I thought I might pop back later and get that apron! I travelled east through Groningen and followed a straight canal to my campsite just north of the village of Schildwolde. Please subscribe so you don't miss out on later
episodes. Using waterways is such a great way of moving heavy goods around. How they get their cars on and off? I can never work it out. The lifting bridges are always a good excuse to stop and have a rest. By the time I eventually arrived at the campsite the day had become increasingly blustery, with very strong winds, which is never good for cycling. I chose a sheltered corner of the campsite, away from the risk of falling branches, and always try and place myself where there's no risk of close neighbours so I don't keep them awake with my snoring. My second-hand tent
stood up to the wind well but I was to find out later that it wasn't as waterproof as I thought. I liked having the use of the picnic table but this was commandeered by later arrivals. Just look at this site - isn't it fabulous? It met all my expectations. It was peaceful , well-equipped. I decided to make it my base for a few days. It wasn't unusual to see other campers sitting in a corner in the sunshine reading a good
book. I decided to make it my base for a few days while I explored this part of the country, which was always my original intention. These small campsites are primarily for walkers and cyclists and don't generally have caravans and motor homes. The emphasis is very much on sustainability and wildlife. Although I joined the Camping Club in previous years I never got to visit because of Covid. Many of the facilities and amenities are based on trust and honesty boxes.
I stayed for four nights and it cost me €44 in total. I came across this little fellow. He must be guardian of the garden I think. There was a large barn and inside of which there was a kitchen with free cooking facilities and so I saved on gas for my hike stove, so I was pleased about that. I could also charge my mobile phone and my tech and have a shower. In the evening I could relax in the
chairs when it became dark outside. There was also a library which was well stocked with information about the area - with maps and leaflets about sights and attractions to visit. [Music] Please don't forget to like and subscribe and leave your comments. I do read them all and I love having you along for the [Music] ride. You can rent a basic cabin but I like my private spot - only to be
surrounded later by campers pitching their tents only a few metres away. Hello! Welcome back. For those of you new to the channel this is Episode 6 of my cycle trip to the north of the Netherlands. If you want to catch up on the previous episodes please go to the channel and there's a whole load of other videos you can catch up on. I'd be very much obliged if you could like & subscribe. We're nearly up to 500 subscribers and I'm getting increasingly excited as each of the videos are uploaded. Anyway, I left the tent at the campsite and decided to go exploring today so I'm traveling light. It's still a bit breezy but it was a lovely sunny day. I had no real fixed
agenda other than sort of that lovely feeling of 'I can go anywhere I like'. I passed a lake and a beach and headed into Appingedam where I saw a market. The to Delfzijl, which is as far as I could go before I sort of ran out of land in The Netherlands. I then, rather unimaginatively, just turned around and cycled back the way I came, which is the safest way of finding your way back to your the campsite. Once again these interesting cycle routes. Lovely lifting bridge here. By the side of the lake was a beach of white sand look very enticing. I've taken the GoPro with me this time just to see
if I could do a little bit more filming and make it a bit more interesting for yourselves. Good not to be encumbered with panniers and luggage. I hadn't done any research as to where to go or what to see. Just jumped on the bike and went. I was a bit nervous as to why this gentleman was standing here with the road blocked, as to whether I was allowed to go or not. So, I stopped in any case - just in case
As it was first thing in the morning the markets were just setting up. The usual sorts of things you see at the market. Straight in front is a cheese stall. You can see it's still very breezy.
After leaving the market I went for a bit of a nose round into the centre, which is the more historic core. One of the things I found out is that the some of the more historic houses fronting the canal are renowned for having kitchens that overhang the canal. I did read the reason why they had the kitchens overhanging in the canal but I can't remember. It was something along the lines of if they catch fire than it it's a bit safer, or something like that. I can't quite remember but you can see here these these houses are little bit more age to them.
[Music] There are the kitchens hanging out the back of the buildings. I imagine they could throw all their rubbish straight into the canal. I followed the canal that led all the way to the sea. For once, the wind was on my back. I thought I'd try out some hero shots - the obligatory hero shots. I seem to have a bad smell under my nose for some reason. I'm not sneering - that is my natural look. Bit of a busman's holiday there taking photographs of a new roundabout
going in. I regularly get passed by older people on bicycles. They whizz past and then you think why are they going so fast? You realise they're on electric bikes but I think this couple were genuinely on Old School push bikes and they was still in front of me. Heading into Delfzijl. I went a bit off piste trying to find the centre. You can see here the canal widens out. Much bigger ships and boats This port lies on the northern coast of The Netherlands. Delfzijl - inevitably, there's a windmill in the background. Although it was a bright sunny day it
was still a chilly wind. I nipped into Albert Heijn and grabbed an apple and a salad. Got myself out of the wind and had a bit of lunch. [Music] I think overall in the trip in the course of the 10 days or so I managed to lose something along the lines of about 4 kilos. I may have lost a bit more than that but sorry to say it's all gone back on again. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that little bit more of the trip. More
to come. Please like and subscribe. I look forward to joining me next time. I decided to nip into Groningen for a spot of lunch rather than surviving on rice and thin sardines. Stopped off to have a look at a 13th century Bell Tower. These houses have enormous barns. I imagine they kept livestock. It seems traditional for around here, with the farmhouse bolted on the front. I'm being instructed to go there. Some road works. I've got to go down the the Feitspad. I think he said words to that effect. Digging
for a pot of gold. So, we go down here and then I imagine I can go back over here again. I've got two-man control here. The Netherlands produces a lot of food. In fact it probably over produces food. Certainly, I know they've got problems with their livestock producing a bit
too much waste. It was lovely cycling past huge fields of potatoes. You could smell the scent in the air. So you see some barley and what the Americans would call corn, or we call maize, sweetcorn. Corn in English is a generic term for grain. I think that must be some sort of leafbeet.
You get to see some large boats on some of these canals. You can see here that I'm almost below the the water line but it's an excellent way of shifting heavy stuff about without damaging your roads. I decided to visit the railway station a day early as I don't know what the drill is for catching trains and putting your bike on trains in in the Netherlands. So I went to the main railway station, which you can see is being revamped, just to see what platform I needed to be on and where I needed to stick my bike. It's a lovely ornate railway station. The chap here
with the dark trousers looked highly suspicious - don't know if he was loitering with intent - who knows? I think this is Soup House Street when translated. I just wandered about taking in the city looking for a nice place to stop and have a bite to eat and just chill. You can see here that the land is a lot higher than the water. I found the perfect place to stop and watch the swing bridge opening and just people watch for a bit. I ordered myself a nice cool beer and I have to say this was probably the best bruschetta that I've I've ever had. Perhaps,
I was just hungry but it really was very good. And then my return back to the campsite down the main large canal, which makes for easy route finding. Please join me for episode 8. I think we've got one more day of pootling about and then it's the the final day. Please make sure you like and subscribe we're nearly at the 500 mark. Thanks every so much for watching and I look forward to you joining me again soon.
I always keep an eye on the turbines to see which way the wind's blowing - usually into your face. As mentioned in previous episodes the various crops: wheat. oats, onions, and what other crops have we've got - peas, and finally I think, that's oilseed rape or canola as the Americans call it. Very fertile part of the country. This was just a short day cycle out from my base where I've left the tent at the campsite, up to see what I could find. Dive dive, dive! Himmel! Gott im himmel!
I'd be ever so pleased if you could like and subscribe. It makes a huge difference for helping grow the channel. I came across a small Museum here but didn't go in. It had anchors outside. You will be sad to learn that this is the penultimate episode of my trip. The final episode will just be my journey South and home. I've enjoyed putting these videos together. I hope you've enjoyed them too. It's been a learning experience and you'd be surprised at just how long it they take to do! It's a very short ride - the line ends just there. Just come across what looks like a second world war German flak battery
with a mock 88mm gun. There's some information boards down there so I'm going to have a have a nosy. Just over my shoulder here you can see there's a Dutch bin. If you're a cyclist you just cycle past and chuck your stuff into that big basket on its side. The battery is part of the Atlantic Wall. Here we are down in Fiemel. Here's a blurry photograph of some strapping Germany chaps. These are the locations that were trying
to shoot the bomber streams coming in. We're just way up in this corner up here, so was a bit of an afterthought. Here's what it looked like from above. It's taking some bomb damage looking at it. You can see here we are in Fiemel and this is the Emms. There's Emden there and further up there's the Kiel Canal so that's what they would have been protecting I imagine. Yah Helmut!
I didn't realise that although the general capitulation took place on the 8th of May 1945 these Germans enjoyed fighting so much they didn't give up till June 11th. You know it's a month later and they're still carrying on. Unbelievable! Wherever you go there's always someone else right over your shoulder - unbelievable! For my return journey I plan to take a train from Groningen to The Hague and then cycle to a campsite to the south of Delft. The train journey was meant to take 2 and 1/2 hours but eventually it took 5 hours and turned into something of a nightmare. Having no previous experience I was anxious about taking a bike on a train and in the end I took the bike on four trains! The first train terminated at Assen because I think there was 'someone on the line' but the announcement was in Dutch so I didn't fully understand. The guard was hopeless. Everyone got back on the train and returned to Groningen. He gazed
unfeelingly as the train pulled out of the station. Leaving only me and a lady confined to a wheelchair, and her dog, remaining on the platform. I decided to wait an hour to see if another train turned up before cycling to Zwolle to try and continue my rail journey from there. After 3/4 of an hour a train arrived from Zwolle then returned with us on board this time.
After changing trains I was advised to travel to Utrecht and then catch a train to The Hague. I was becoming something of an expert travelling with a bike on trains although one lady guard told me that my bike should be in the parking space but it was occupied by a lady with her fold-up bicycle. So, she told the lady off for having her fold-up bicycle in that space and then told me off because I should have taken all my panniers off but there you go... The outskirts of The Hague merged into Delft where I stopped and had a late lunch before continuing to Buitengoed Ta Fete for the night.
It was a friendly little site although more expensive than the ones up north. I was able to camp on a little finger of land that the host referred to as 'the island' among some trees. There was even a hammock for me to laze in although it was quite breezy. It was the perfect place to pitch. I'm miles away from anyone else, which is what I always like. You'll be pleased to learn that I've since fixed my leaking tent by reproofing it and retaping and sealing the seams.
I always enjoy arriving at a new campsite as you never quite know what to expect. All of the sites I stayed at were First Rate and all were different. I was able to make use of the tea-making facilities and relax in the lounge area watching the horses. That night England beat the Netherlands in the Euros at football and so I made a mental note to keep a low profile the next morning. Fortunately, my host spoke excellent English and I recall she worked at the Delft University, or the University of Delft is it? [Music] The deck area was beneath a Dutch barn, or a hay barn. It's one of those barns where the roof can go up and down to
store the hay or straw underneath it but it has since been converted no doubt. [Music] Here come all the Reform voters! Morning everyone. We're all very well behaved. Morning number 19625. Are you in trouble? Well you've got a bit of a limp there - poor old thing. Having a scratch. Off to pastures new. There we go. After an early start, the next day I made my way to Maasluis for breakfast before arriving early at the port to catch the ferry home. I made my way to my cabin and enjoyed sleeping in a bed once again. Next time, I aim to visit the south of the Netherlands via Middelburg, Breda, and Tilburg,
to Maastricht. If you know of any safe, secure, place near the Hook of Holland to leave a vehicle, or good small campsites in any of these areas, please let me know. Also please like and subscribe and let me know the content you enjoyed and what you didn't so I can improve the videos. Thank you so much for watching and I've enjoyed very much having you along for the ride. Ant
2025-01-23 10:24