Short Bulb Route: the Kop van Noord-Holland

Your route starts at Camperplaats Jachtwerf Willemsoord. High in North Holland, between Alkmaar and Den Helder, a sea of colors sparkles. The Kop van Noord-Holland is claimed to be the largest contiguous flower bulb region in the Netherlands. Here, in spring, tulips wave all the way to the horizon. A beautiful sight with windmills, dikes, and villages like Julianadorp. In late summer, blooming gladioli and dahlias brighten up the surroundings. Dotted here are small nature reserves. On the way back, you'll discover Mariendal, where low dunes and dune grasslands now grow on the former bulb fields. You'll also cycle past Fort Kijkduin near the village of Huisduinen. When it was built in 1877, De Lange Jaap Lighthouse was the tallest lighthouse in Europe. As far as cast-iron towers go, it's still the tallest in Europe!