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LF Frisian Zuiderzee weekend route

(150.0 km)

Fancy an active weekend break? Why not set off with your touring bike or e-bike and spend the weekend cycling 150 kilometres along Friesland’s Zuiderzee coast.

A beautiful route along the former Zuiderzee coast, now the shore of Lake IJsselmeer. The return journey brings you back through the wetland landscape in the southwest of the province.
Along the way, you get to see some of the beautiful cities on the historic Elfstedentocht route as well as vibrant water sports villages. Water features prominently in the stories all along the route.   

You can start cycling the route at any junction. Click here to see where you can park your car, charge your e-bike and find somewhere to stay along the way.

This route is one of the long-distance weekend routes mapped by Landelijk Fietsplatform, a national organisation that promotes recreational cycling. Part of it runs along the LF Zuiderzee Route.

Sights on this route

Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre

On the Afsluitdijk causeway, at Kornwerderzand, you will find a remarkable building resembling a foaming wave, breaking on the causeway wall: this is the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre.

Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre
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Makkum

Makkum is a seaside resort on the IJsselmeer coast in Southwest Friesland, just south of the Afsluitdijk.

Visit Makkum

Makkum wapen van makkum
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Piaam - De Ral - Vogelkijkhut

Rietkragen en slikrandjes.

Piaam - De Ral - Vogelkijkhut
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Aeltsjemeerpolder

The Aeltsjemeerpolder is an area of peatland near the town of Workum that was reclaimed from a lake in 1877.

Aeltsjemeerpolder
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Workum (Warkum)

Workum (or Warkum as we say in Friesland), is one of the famous Frisian cities that has enjoyed city rights since 1399. Located on the shores of the former Zuiderzee and bordering the Frisian lakes.

Visit Workum

Workum (Warkum) Workum Fontein
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Workum Lighthouse

You'll find Workum lighthouse on the Hylperdyk at the entrance to the harbour. It's known as the Toarntsje (little tower), which is very apt for the square white brick tower.

Workum Lighthouse
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Hindeloopen (Hylpen)

Hindeloopen, or Hylpen as we say in Friesland, is known for its painting and stylish costumes from the past.

Visit Hindeloopen

Hindeloopen (Hylpen) Hindeloopen

Bocht fan Molkwar

Vanaf de vogelkijkhut zie je de invloed van de wind. Westenwind zorgt voor een hoge waterstand waardoor de zandplaten onderlopen, de eilanden kleiner worden en minder plaats bieden aan vogels. De aalscholvers, meeuwen en visdiefjes verdringen elkaar...

Bocht fan Molkwar
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Stavoren (Starum)

Stavoren (or Starum as we say in Friesland) is very much the main city of the IJsselmeer, being enclosed by the lake on three sides. It is also the oldest city of Friesland, founded around 300 BC at a waterway, and gaining city rights in the 11th century.

Visit Stavoren

Stavoren (Starum) Fontein Stavoren

The Lady of Stavoren

From the 15th century on, the flourishing Hanseatic city of Stavoren began to fall upon bad times. It is this period in history that is related in the saga of the Lady of Stavoren. In the saga, all aspects of Stavoren as a trading city are covered.

The Lady of Stavoren
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Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer

At the edge of Lake IJsselmeer there is a red cliff that is 10 metres high. It was formed during the last ice age but one when the land was pushed up by glaciers that advanced from Scandinavia. The forces exerted by the ice created hills in the landscape.

Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer
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Harbor of Laaksum

The harbor of Laaksum is an idyllic spot in Southwest Friesland. We often refer to it as the smallest fishing harbor in Europe.

Harbor of Laaksum Laaksum de Hang

Zwemtrap Laaksum

Duik vanuit Laaksum het IJsselmeer in en voel de vrijheid!

Zwemtrap Laaksum Zwemtrap Laaksum Friesland
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Mirnserklif

If you set off from the Rijsterbos forest and walk in the direction of Lake IJsselmeer you will come to the cliff at Mirns. It is a place that attracts kite surfers, kite flyers and beach lovers. The cliff was formed during the last ice age but one.

Mirnserklif
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Oudemirdum

Oudemirdum is a charming village located amidst the forests of Southwest Friesland in the Gaasterland region.

Visit Oudemirdum

Oudemirdum

Oudemirdumer Klif (cliff at Oudemirdum)

The cliff at Oudemirdum is 6 metres high. It was formed during the last ice age but one when the land was pushed up by enormous glaciers that advanced from Scandinavia and deposited large boulders in Gaasterland.

Oudemirdumer Klif (cliff at Oudemirdum)
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Sondeler Leien Nature Reserve

The Sondeler Leien nature reserve is in Gaasterland. The small inland lake here probably formed when the waters of the former Zuiderzee broke through the dikes.

Sondeler Leien Nature Reserve
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Woudagemaal: largest steam pumping station in the world

Visit the largest steam pumping station in the world!

Woudagemaal: largest steam pumping station in the world
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Lemmer

Lemmer is the ultimate combination of beach, coziness, and UNESCO World Heritage.

Visit Lemmer

Lemmer
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Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)

The Tjeukemeer is the largest inland lake in Friesland.

Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)
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Langweer

Langweer is a true watersports destination. From this centrally located village in the Frisian lake area, you can sail in all directions.

Visit Langweer

Langweer
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Veerpont Langweerdervaart (Langweer)

-De pont vaart op feestdagen volgens de zondagsdienstregeling.

Veerpont Langweerdervaart (Langweer)
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Sneek (Snits)

Sneek, or Snits as we say in Friesland, is the water sports city of the Netherlands. But Sneek is more than water sports and the Sneekweek. The city is bustling with events, culture, unique hotspots, and nice shops.

Visit Sneek

Sneek (Snits) Waterpoort Sneek
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Water Gate Sneek

The Waterpoort in Sneek is a water gate, a gate in a defensive wall that connects a city to a waterway. In the 15th and 16th century, a defensive wall had been built around Sneek.

Water Gate Sneek
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IJlst (Drylts)

IJlst (or Drylts in Frisian) is not only one of the famous 11 cities, but also a 'wood city'. For many years, tree trunks were processed here by the legendary wood trading companies Oppedijk and S.O. de Vries.

Visit IJlst

IJlst (Drylts) Molen IJlst

Houtzaagmolen de Rat

Visit wind powered sawmill ‘De Rat’ and step back in time three hundred years!

Houtzaagmolen de Rat
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Hemdijk

A hemdijk is an inner dike that was constructed in the twelfth century to protect important agricultural areas in the Low Middle of Friesland from surging water.

Hemdijk
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Jaagpad langs de Workumertrekvaart

Een prachtig jaagpad om langs te fietsen of wandelen is het jaagpad bij Tjerkwerd langs de Workumertrekvaart. Je fietst of wandelt direct langs het water.

Jaagpad langs de Workumertrekvaart
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Terpdorp Allingawier

Allingawier is een pittoresk terpdorpje, gelegen tussen de IJsselmeerkust en Hanzestad Bolsward. 

Terpdorp Allingawier Allingawier terpdorp
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Pingjumer Gulden Halsband inner dike

The Pingjumer Gulden Halsband is an inner dike that once protected the village of Pingjum from the waters of the Marne, an inlet of the Wadden Sea.

Pingjumer Gulden Halsband inner dike Pingjumer Gouden Halsband dijkje met wandelaar
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Wadden Sea near Zurich - UNESCO World Heritage Site

The stretch of Wadden Sea that faces the little village of Zurich nestled at the foot of the dike is the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Netherlands. Twice a day the tide laps against the dike and twice a day it goes a long way out.

Wadden Sea near Zurich - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kazemattenmuseum

On Kornwerderzand at the head of the Afsluitdijk are the famous casemates, largely hidden under sand. Within the metre-thick walls, the period before and from May 1940 is revived.

Kazemattenmuseum

Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre

On the Afsluitdijk causeway, at Kornwerderzand, you will find a remarkable building resembling a foaming wave, breaking on the causeway wall: this is the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre.

Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre
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