Cycling through the Utrecht forests

This route takes you through the Utrecht forests for a day. A varied route in which you also pass through some beautiful places such as Zeist and Bilthoven.

Picturesque Maartensdijk
The route runs through Maartensdijk, a picturesque village in the Utrecht polder. On the Dorpsweg you will see various monumental farms and country houses, such as Kasteel Eyckenstein from the seventeenth century and the country estate Rustenhoven from the eighteenth century. You cycle through villages such as Bosch en Duin, Bilthoven and Den Dolder. Wealthy merchants had their holiday homes built in this region around 1900, so that you now cycle through a beautiful mosaic of forests and country estates.

Utrecht Hill Ridge
Past Zeist you really notice that you are on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug: the landscape starts to undulate a bit more. The route starts in the middle of the forests at Woudschoten Hotel & Conference Centre, a beautiful hotel where you can spend the night in comfort and peace. You cycle through the vast and quiet forests. One moment you are cycling under a thick canopy of leaves, the next you smell the fresh conifers or you look out over a quiet and rolling heathland.

Special excursion
Close to your route are two special places to take a trip. You can take a look at or visit Slot Zeist. This pleasure garden was built in the seventeenth century by order of Willem Adriaan van Nassau, a grandson of Maurits van Oranje. Just past Soesterberg you can visit the beautifully renovated National Military Museum. Here you will find interesting exhibitions about historical and new weapon systems. Do you want to enjoy the nature on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug even more? Then also drive route 524601.