Looking for the perfect bikepacking adventure in the Netherlands? Look no further! Ride the complete length of this small country’s two biggest forests and National Parks, adding up to a three-hundred-kilometre-long bikepacking adventure for gravel bikers. Starting near Amsterdam at Naarden-Bussum train station, the route finishes further to the northeast in Zwolle. Welcome to the perfect Dutch off-road bikepacking adventure. Welcome to the GREEN DIVIDE.
Once Upon a Time
The idea of creating the GREEN DIVIDE started when I moved to Arnhem a couple of years ago. The city, situated at the south end of the Veluwe forest, is known for its hills and many parks. From the moment I started living in here, it fascinated me that you could start riding your bike in a park and do a hundred kilometres of off-road forest riding in a single direction, without ever bumping into anything other than trees. This might not sound super special from an international perspective, but it damn well is in our small country. Over the years I’ve been looking for and scouting the best and most beautiful legal paths to ride your bike on, resulting in a three-hundred-kilometer-long route across the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and the Veluwe forests. The GREEN DIVIDE was born!
From A to B
The idea behind the GREEN DIVIDE route isn’t just to ride the complete length of these Dutch forests, but in doing so visit its most beautiful places. From hardpack gravel tracks at the Goois Nature Reserve and the Let de Stigterpad in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park to mesmerizing nature such as the Loenermark, the Speulderbos, and even the Loo Royal Estate. From easy gravel to adventurous forest tracks, the GREEN DIVIDE will show you the Netherlands in an unique and beautiful way.
Bikepacking
With its three hundred kilometres in distance, the GREEN DIVIDE is designed as a multi-day bikepacking adventure. Showing you the most beautiful places in Dutch nature, the route invites you to take it easy and enjoy nature at 15km/h – or party pace as I’d like to call it. Most people ride the GREEN DIVIDE in two to four days, but there are accounts of people riding it faster or slower. With these forests being quite popular amongst tourists, there are plenty of campsites, hotels and B&Bs to be found near the route. A smart camper however is a happy camper. It might be a good idea to book your stay in advance to prevent disappointment or riding in the dark (which is illegal in Dutch nature). Those struggling to ride the full GREEN DIVIDE length can also choose to ride parts of the route: HEUVELRUG DIVIDE or VELUWE DIVIDE. When riding the route during the late summer or fall (September 15 to Christmas), please ride the BROWN DIVIDE. This almost similar route takes into account the closing of tracks during hunting season. Whatever route you choose, you’ll be in for a great gravel adventure.
VeloTours
For those not comfortable bikepacking but curious about the route, there’s now the option of booking an all-inclusive GREEN DIVIDE trip via route partner VeloTours. They’ll set you up for success, taking care of everything like refreshments along the way, a warm welcome at the start and hotels in nature along the way. All you have to worry about is enjoying your bike ride. In 2024 VeloTours is offering four trips in total, one for each season. For information and booking please visit the VeloTours website.
Ride the GREEN DIVIDE
I developed the GREEN DIVIDE supported by Komoot. You can find the latest versions of the GREEN DIVIDE, BROWN DIVIDE, HEUVELRUG DIVIDE and VELUWE DIVIDE exclusively via my Komoot collection page. Here you’ll also find more information about the specific rides, including all your answers to frequently asked questions.
What the media is saying
GREEN DIVIDE has gotten its share of attention after launching in Dutch and international media. There you’ll read more about the GREEN DIVIDE.
Gravel Union (UK); Bicycling; GRIT! Gravel with Grinta! (BE); Velozine; Cobbles Cycling; Far Out (BE); Raw Magazine (ES); Fiets Magazine; WIELRENBLAD; 3opReis; RIDE Magazine; GRINTA! en Wielerflits.
Don’t like reading? Check out one of the many YouTube videos posted about the GREEN DIVIDE, such as this one by Dutch YouTube star Douwe Doet Dingen (turn on subtitles).
erwinsikkens.com 