Helfstedentocht

(93.9 km)

Instead of skating, go cycling along six historic Frisian cities and villages. You cycle along lakes, cliffs, meadows, on shell-covered paths and historic dikes.

There hasn’t been an official eleven cities skating tour since 1997. It has been many years since it froze long enough or hard enough to organise the ‘mother of all skating tours’. But what does start every year on Whit Monday is the 11-city cycling tour. At 235 kilometres long, it’s also quite a challenge. Especially if you encounter headwinds and a rainstorm. That’s why the Helftstedentocht cycle tour is a nice alternative. It’s about 90 kilometres long and starts in Bolsward.

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Sights on this route

Starting point: VVV locatie Bolsward
Wipstraat 6
8701XG Bolsward

City Hall of Bolsward

The City Hall of Bolsward is one of the most beautiful gems of Friesland, although it's currently surrounded by scaffolding for renovation purposes. The richly decorated City Hall was built in the 1614-1617 period and designed by Jacob Gysbert.

11Fountains Bolsward

Bats are intriguing, useful animals, crucial to the ecological system for their insect hunting. In Asian culture, the bat symbolises wealth, happiness and the blessings of old age.

Broerekerk (church)

The Broerekerk was built in the 13th century as a monastery church of the Friars Minor. The monastery was abandoned and demolished in 1580. The three-aisled church without a tower is a ruin as a result of a fire that took place on 8 May 1980.

Theetuin en kanoverhuur Kootje bij de Brug

Kanoverhuur Friesland Kootje bij de Brug is een Kano- en Roeiboot verhuurbedrijf met een theetuin aan het water. Het is één van de leukste kanobedrijfjes met theetuin van Friesland.

IJsboerderij Margje 24

Jopie Huisman Museum

The Jopie Huisman Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the Frisian self-taught master painter Jopie Huisman. His love of nature and his compassion are a recurrent theme.

Blazerhaven

Alongside the sea lock in Workum, is on the one side the De Hoop shipyard and on the other, the Blazerhaven. The latter was dug in 2008, and forms a historic maritime complex together with De Hoop, around the old Zuiderzee locks in Workum.

Biologische kaasmakerij de Nylander

Restaurant-Logement De Hinde

Dining, sleeping and enjoying om the most beautiful place of Hindeloopen. A pure kitchen, comfortable terrace, luxury hotel rooms and a wonderfull view of the IJsselmeer.

Friesian Ice Skating Museum

This museum is a must for all ice skating fans. You will find the world’s largest collection of ice skates here, and a complete history of the Elfstedentocht in a specially designed Elfsteden-room.

11Fountains Stavoren

The sea gives, the sea takes. Stavoren, once a rich Hanseatic city, has much to say on this subject. Floods, maritime trade wars, a port that silted up: the city fell into poverty several times.

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.

Eetcafé De Visserman

Strandpaviljoen De Potvis

Het paviljoen biedt een wijde blik over het IJsselmeer. Bij ons kunt u met volle teugen genieten van een geweldig uitzicht en een uitgebreide kaart. Ook voor uw feest of zakelijke bijeenkomst bent u bij ons aan het juiste adres!

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.

Veerpont It Oerset (It Heidenskip)

d' Ald Herberch 'Yn 'e Ielaek'

Tre Paesi

Stadsherberg 'Het Wapen van IJlst'

Stadsherberg 'Het Wapen van IJlst' ligt in het centrum van het pittoreske Elfstedenstadje IJlst. Het terras ligt vlakbij de brug waar vooral zomers veel toeristen in hun bootjes langs varen.

Nooitgedagt chimney

The silhouette of IJlst would not be the same without the old factory chimney, on which the letters of the Nooitgedagt name can be read from top to bottom.

Waterside Gardens

Unique and characteristic to IJlst are the waterside gardens on each side of the Ee.

11Fountains Ijlst

Culture, like nature, consists of layer upon layer. New generations continue to build on a foundation which does not disappear.

Houtzaagmolen de Rat

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

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.

11Fountains Sneek

A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.

Frisian Maritime Museum

The Frisian Maritime Museum focuses on the history of Frisian shipping.

Proeflokaal 'Het gerechtshof'

A unique experience in the 150 year old courthouse. Come and taste our dishes from all over the world in hospitable Sneek. Create your own lunchplate, or taste our unlimited dining menu.

Restaurant Onder de Linden

Restaurant Onder de Linden is een modern restaurant met een rijke historie, gevestigd in een monumentaal pand in het bruisende hart van Sneek. Je kunt bij ons heerlijk lunchen of dineren in de serre, of bij mooi weer op het terras.

Markt23

Eat, drink & meet at Markt23. Markt23 is located in a beautiful historical building with a rich history. Our restaurant is located in the heart of Sneek and is surrounded by attractive historic buildings.

City Hall of Sneek

The City Hall of Sneek was built around 1478. The building was actually constructed on the foundations of two Frisians strongholds: a Medieval, defensible, residential tower. The City Hall was subsequently extended and altered many times.

De Friese Bierbrouwerij Us Heit

The Frisian Brewery is giving a guided tour and some special tastings, which only can be done on appointment.

End point: VVV locatie Bolsward
Wipstraat 6
8701XG Bolsward

Directions