Why This Is Perfect Cycling Country
If you are going to cycle anywhere in the Netherlands, the Waterland region just north of Amsterdam is one of the best places to start. The land is completely flat - this is reclaimed polder and dyke country - and it is laced with dedicated, paved cycle paths (fietspaden) that are physically separated from car traffic. You can ride for hours and barely share the tarmac with a vehicle.
The Dutch also make navigation almost foolproof with the knooppunten (numbered-junction) network. Across the whole country, cycle-route junctions are given numbers shown on small green-and-white signs. You plan a ride as a sequence of numbers - say 56 → 12 → 9 → 4 - and at each junction a sign points you to the next number. Note your sequence on paper or your phone and you never need a detailed map. It is the single most useful thing to learn before you set off.
Renting a Bike
Hire near the harbour
Both regular bikes and e-bikes can be hired near the harbour in Volendam. E-bikes are well worth it if you want to cover the longer dyke routes or are riding into a stiff headwind. Rental shops usually supply a lock, and many can fit child seats - check availability and current daily rates with the rental shop directly, and book ahead in peak summer.
OV-fiets from the train
If you arrive by public transport, the national OV-fiets rental bikes are available at many train stations (Amsterdam, Purmerend and others) for a flat daily fee, using a Dutch public-transport (OV) account. They are a cheap, convenient way to pick up a bike where you arrive - though the nearest stations are a bus ride from Volendam itself.
Four Route Ideas
Distances below are approximate and one-way unless stated. All are flat. Mix and match using knooppunt numbers to build your own loop.
| Route | Approx. distance | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Volendam – Marken (causeway) | ~10 km each way | Lighthouse, wooden village, ferry home |
| Waterland loop (Monnickendam & Broek) | ~30-40 km loop | A proper half-day with classic villages |
| Volendam – Edam (dyke) | ~3-4 km each way | Families, a short flat warm-up |
| Long Markermeer dyke ride | ~40-60 km+ | Big-sky distance riding |
a) Volendam → Marken via the causeway
One of the most rewarding short rides in the country. Head south and follow the cycle route across the long causeway out to the former island of Marken, with the Markermeer on both sides. The reward at the end is the wooden village and the squat green-and-white Marken lighthouse (Het Paard) on the point. Ride it as a there-and-back, or - much nicer - ride one way and take the ferry back to Volendam with your bike. See the ferry guide for bringing bikes aboard.
b) The classic Waterland loop
The signature ride of the region. A loop of roughly 30-40 km links Volendam with the harbour town of Monnickendam and the famously pretty wooden village of Broek in Waterland, threading through polders, past grazing meadows, drawbridges and waterways. Build it on knooppunten so you can shorten or extend it on the day. This is the ride to do if you have a half-day and want to see what makes Waterland special.
c) Volendam → Edam along the dyke
The easiest outing of all: a flat 3-4 km run north along the dyke to the historic cheese town of Edam, with water on one side and meadows on the other. It is short, safe and scenic - ideal for families or as a gentle first ride. Edam's cobbled centre, canals and cheese market reward the small effort. More on Edam.
d) The long Markermeer/IJsselmeer dyke ride
For stronger riders, follow the dyke for as long as you like - 40, 50, 60 km or more - with the open water on one side the whole way. The path is flat and uninterrupted, the views are vast, and the only real challenge is the wind. An e-bike turns this from a serious outing into a relaxed cruise. Turn back, or knit it into a loop through the inland polders for variety.
Practical Tips & Road Etiquette
Use the numbers
Plan your ride as a list of knooppunt numbers and follow the green signs. It is far easier than a map and lets you improvise loops on the fly.
Bikes on the ferry
The Marken ferry takes bikes, which lets you ride out and float back. Confirm capacity and any bike surcharge on the day - see the ferry guide.
Mind the wind
Ride out into the wind, home with it. On exposed dyke sections an e-bike or a lower gear saves the day.
Keep right
Ride on the right, overtake on the left, and signal turns with your arm. Locals ride fast and commute on these paths - hold your line.
Bell & lights
A bell is normal courtesy; working lights are legally required after dark. Rental bikes should have both - check before you leave.
Cyclist signs
Round blue signs with a white bike mark compulsory cycle paths. Where paths and roads cross, give way as the signs and markings direct.