The country estates and lake route

Starting point: Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) Oud-Zuilen, Slot Zuylen.
Address: Tournooiveld 1, 3611 AS Oud-Zuilen

The route to follow: this cycle route simply follows the cycle junction network. The route takes you past the following junctions: 45, 47, 48, 49, 27, 28, 26, 07, 25, 02, 84, 46, 45

For all routes in the Gooi & Vecht region and more tourist information, tips and highlights, go to the official site of the region: www.visitgooivecht.nl

Short route description
From Oud-Zuilen you make a beautiful cycling tour around the Maarsseveense- and Loosdrechtse plassen and along the historic Vecht. This cycling tour, which takes you more than 2.5 hours at a leisurely cycling pace, takes you to the most beautiful places of the Vechtstreek. You will be introduced to a great diversity of old Dutch landscapes where it seems as if time has stood still. It is a succession of beautiful water and nature reserves, views filled with windmills and historic farms and centuries-old impressive country estates and castles along the winding Vecht, perhaps the most beautiful river in the Netherlands. Along the way there are plenty of cozy catering points with a terrace to relax and enjoy a snack and a drink. Halfway along the route you can rent a sloop, sailboat or canoe at various places so that you can also discover the Loosdrechtse plassen and the Vecht from the water.

Special sights and attractions along the way
Maarsseveense and Loosdrechtse plassen for swimming and sun and sailing opportunities, Spa Sereen (wellness, sauna), Castle-Museum Sypesteyn, Ice and activity farm with country shop, Fort Spion with overnight accommodation, Mijndense sluis, historic Vechtdorpen Nieuwersluis, Breukelen, Maarssen and Oud Zuilen, Slot Zuylen, terraces on the water, the beauty of the river Vecht and its surrounding country estates and castles.

Suggestion for a route extension: Vechtplassenroute 27.5 km
Nodes: 7,5,6,9,8,38,39,40,41,1,2,3,4,5,7
You can start this route extension about halfway from Junction 07. This extra round of about 2 hours introduces you to the village of 's-Graveland with its beautiful historic country estates that you can walk around from the Visitor Center of Natuurmonumenten. You then cycle between the Ankeveense and Kortenhoefse plassen along meadows and through nature reserves with swamp forest and reed beds. You will also get acquainted with an extra part of the beautiful historic Vecht with, among other things, the villages of Nigtevecht, Nederhorst den Berg and the imaginative Vreeland with plenty of cozy restaurants. The journey leads back between the Wijde Blik (left) and the Loenderveensche plas (right). De Wijde Blik is a beautiful, quiet lake where you can rent a sloop, canoe or sub for a short sailing round with plenty of mooring beaches along the way. Along the way you will also come across some forts of the Dutch Water lines (UNESCO World Heritage).

More about Gooi & Vecht
The Gooi and Vecht region comprises two regions: the lower, wetter Vechtstreek and the high and dry Gooi.

The Vechtstreek is named after the river Vecht, which flows through it as a proud rich vein. The Vecht is often mentioned as the most beautiful river in the Netherlands, on which the wealthy Amsterdam merchants had their imposing country houses built in the 17th century. Even now you can still cycle, walk or sail the river with a sloop and admire these special monuments. In the Vechtstreek you will also find water sports valhalla the Loosdrechtse Plassen and the nature-rich Ankeveense plassen and the Naardermeer. Beautiful historical places such as Naarden, Muiden, Weesp, Breukelen, Maarssen and 's-Graveland can be found there.
't Gooi has become the 'Hollywood of Holland' since the rise of television. An area with picturesque villages with old farm centers, special boutiques and surrounded by capital villas of the rich and famous. Laren, Blaricum, Huizen, Bussum exude the rich Gooise atmosphere and are also beautifully surrounded by the Goois Nature Reserve. Hilversum is the bustling heart of 't Gooi and the Media Capital of the Netherlands with, among other things, the beautiful Institute for Sound & Vision (with the most interactive Media Museum in the world), the largest Media Park in Europe and a cozy and extensive shopping heart.