Cycling fun in the North Holland dune reserve

After a cup of coffee at Duinvermaak you get on your bike. Nowhere in the Netherlands are the dunes wider or higher than in the Schoorlse Duinen. With a bit of luck you will see a sand lizard foraging between the dunes here, or you will hear a pheasant or a nightjar. You also cycle along the edge of beautiful Alkmaar and through the picturesque village of Bergen. Two historic mills are worth a closer look. Mill Zijpe LQ was placed in 1598 as an octagonal inner porter that drained the LQ section of the Zijpe and Hazepolder. The other mill you will encounter during the cycle tour is ground sailor Groeter, or the Groetermolen. The octagonal inner gate was built in 1890 to drain the Groeterpolder. Also get off at the Het Zandspoor Visitor Center!