Cycling Eleven Cities Tour

Thousands of cyclists cycle along the Elfstedenroute every year on Whit Monday. What these cyclists skip, because there are so many of them, is a narrow, beautiful road along the Dokkumer Ee. Do you want to take this route? Then start at the bridge at Sibrandahuis, on the road: Trekwei. You turn left onto the Iewal, the water is then on the left. At the T-junction, left again, onto the Iedyk. As soon as you cycle a bit further away from the water, you have to turn left, a narrow cycle path into the forest.

Keep following that cycle path, it will lead you around the harbour in Burdaard, past the mill and through the village. Keep cycling to the right of the water. Not far from Burdaard the cycle path ends and you follow the Iedyk again, a little further from the water. The turn-off to Bartlehiem is not to be missed. There you will find the famous wooden bridge. This bridge has become world famous due to the television images of the enormous crowd of spectators at this location during the Elfstedentocht.

It is located at the place where the spectators see the skaters pass by twice. First to Dokkum, and then from Dokkum back to Leeuwarden. After Bartlehiem you cycle along the water to Wyns. There you can cycle to the right of the water to end up in Leeuwarden. You can also take the ferry, then keep right, to end up on the Wynser Binnenpaad. Straight through meadows and over farmyards you end up in Lekkum, the end of this route. Especially with freshly mown grass a real experience!

Another famous bridgeInstead of keeping right in Wyns, you can also follow the main road towards Gytsjerk. At the T-junction you can turn right and follow the route over the Canterlandseweg to Lekkum, the end of this part of the Elfstedentocht. You can also turn left at the T-junction. You will then cycle over the 'Tegeltjesbrug'. A bridge tiled with photos of participants in the Elfstedentocht. Seen from a greater distance, the thousands of tile portraits form a large image of skaters riding one behind the other. It is the last bridge before the skating finish of the Elfstedentocht.

The Dokkumer EeThe Dokkumer Ee forms a long connection between Leeuwarden and the Lauwersmeer. The Ee used to be an important shipping connection for the transport of raw materials and materials in the north of Friesland, but now mainly has a pleasure boating function as a connection between Leeuwarden and the Wadden Sea. Via this connection there are connections with the Dokkumer Grutdjip, Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen and the Lauwersmeer. The sailing route from Leeuwarden to Dokkum is also called the Northern Eleven Cities Sailing Route. Experience a part of the Eleven Cities Tour on the water via this route.