Page 19 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

DISC OVERING THE NE THERLANDS  17

A Cycling Tour of the
River IJssel
• Duration Seven days.
• Arriving Arnhem, at the
start of this itinerary, is easy
to reach by train, bus and
car, as is Kampen at the end
of the itinerary.
• Transport To complete this
itinerary, hire a bike in
Arnhem or take one with
you on the train or by car.

Day 1: Arnhem Cycling trail in the National Park de Hoge Veluwe, Gelderland
Begin the tour with a stroll
through the centre of Arnhem a cluster of immaculate cottages. and very ornate weigh house,
(p344), a lively city that suffered Then, continue to Zutphen the Waag. Don’t leave town
terribly during the Battle of (p345), a beguiling country without trying the local
Arnhem in 1944. It now hosts a town with a huddle of ancient speciality, Kruidkoek, a tangy
vibrant restaurant and nightclub buildings and the remnants of spice cake.
scene. Pause to admire the medieval walls. Look out for
imposing edifice of the the Drogenapstoren (p345), a Day 5: Sallandse Heuvelrug
Eusebiuskerk (p344), restored fortified tower dating from From Deventer, travel northeast
after wartime damage – as the 15th century, and drop by to the partly wooded, sandy
were the neighbouring Stadhuis St Walburgskerk (p345), a heathlands of the Sallandse
and Duivelshuis (p344), both splendid Gothic church with a Heuvelrug (p324), now
of which are fine examples of medieval library, where the books protected as a national park.
Dutch Renaissance architec ture. are still chained to the desks. At the Bezoekscentrum (Visitor
Then, go down to the Rijnkade, Centre), visitors can get their
where there is a walking and Day 4: Deventer bearings and pick up maps of
cycling path along the bank Cycle onwards and relax in the park and its myriad cycling
of the River Rhine. Deventer (p324), a small and routes. While wandering
historic town that nudges up through the park, look out for
Day 2: National Park de against the River IJssel. Watch the black grouse – this is its last
Hoge Veluwe the heavily laden barges remaining breeding ground in
Pedal out to the National Park ploughing up and down the the whole of the Netherlands.
de Hoge Veluwe (p343), a chunk river, and then wander along
of mixed woodland, heath, the main square, the Brink, Day 6: Zwolle
marshland and sand dunes that as it curves past the town’s Cycle to Zwolle (see p16 for
stretches north of Arnhem. intriguing Historisch Museum details on Zwolle).
Explore the park’s maze of (p324), which occupies the old
cycling trails, and be sure to visit Day 7: Kampen
the Museonder (p343), a Approach Kampen (p320) from
subterranean museum that the east across the River IJssel
offers a picture of what the to appreciate the town’s fine
natural world looks like below riverside setting and soaring
ground level – from how roots spires. Once in town, make a
grow to the animals that burrow beeline for the unusual
there. Afterwards, head for the Ikonenmuseum (p321), with its
park’s crowning highlight – the substantial collection of Russian
Kröller-Müller Museum (p342), and Greek icons, and get the
with its world-famous art low-down on the town’s long
collection and open-air history at the intriguing
sculpture garden, Beeldentuin. Stedelijk Museum (p321). Finish
Return to Arnhem for the night. the day by wandering through
the town centre, admiring its
Day 3: Bronkhorst to handsome old buildings, most
Zutphen memorably the Oude Raadhuis
Head out of Arnhem to and the three remaining town
Bronkhorst (p345), a tiny but The Deventer skyline across the gates, which date back to the
immensely pretty little place with River IJssel 14th century.

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