LF-Routes (Landelijke Fietsroutes, Dutch for countrywide cycling routes) are long-distance cycling routes that form a network in the Netherlands and Belgium. The routes, criss-crossing both countries, are primarily intended for recreational multi-day bike tours, such as cycling holidays. Some routes are also part of a wider international network.

Most of the LF routes have been signposted in two directions, inscribing one direction with the letter "a", the other with the letter "b": the North Sea Route LF1 southbound from Den Helder to French Boulogne-sur-Mer is called LF1a, while in the other direction it is called LF1b.

History

In 1987, Dutch cyclists' organisations founded a "countrywide cycling platform" to create a network of long-distance cycling routes throughout the Netherlands. This platform published maps and guides and started signposting its routes in 1990.

Belgium introduced its first long-distance route, not yet called "LF" by that time, in 1964: it connected youth hostels and was therefore called Jeugdherbergenroute, which later became the LF50. Belgium signposted its first LF-route in 1990 as well (the LF1 North Sea Route) and two years later, the GR organisation took over the planning of Belgian LF-routes.

At the maximum extent, both countries had created a network of 36 routes, of which 5 were only in Belgium, 15 in the Netherlands and 16 in both. Some routes also extend into France and Germany. However, due to the expansion of the numbered-node cycle network, Belgium reduced its official network in 2012 (routes marked [Note 1]) and the Netherlands is doing the same between 2017 and 2021 (routes marked [Note 2]).

Routes

Route numberNameStart & end pointsLengthConnections [1]
LF1Noordzeeroute (North Sea Route)Den Helder - Boulogne-sur-Mer (France)470 km [2]
LF2Stedenroute (Cities' Route)Amsterdam - Brussels337 km [3]
LF3Rietlandroute (Reed bed Route)
Hanzeroute (Hanseatic League Route) [Note 2]
Maasroute (River Maas Route)
Holwerd - Kampen
Kampen - Millingen aan de Rijn
Millingen - Maastricht
535 km [4]
LF4 [Note 2]Midden-Nederlandroute (Middle of the Netherlands Route)The Hague - Enschede290 km [4]
  • The Hague: LF1, LF11
  • Alphen aan den Rijn: LF2
  • Utrecht: LF7, LF9
  • Doorn: LF17
  • Arnhem: LF3
  • Bronkhorst: LF3
  • Borculo: LF8
  • Enschede: LF14, LF15
LF5Vlaanderen Fietsroute (Flanders Cycle Route) (North)Damme - Roermond320 km [5][4]
LF6Vlaanderen Fietsroute (South)Diksmuide - Aachen (Germany)400 km [6][4]
LF7Oeverlandroute (River Bank Route)Schoorl - Maastricht435 km [7]
LF8 [Note 2]n/aOmmen - Winterswijk100 km [4]
  • Ommen: LF14, LF16
  • Holten: LF15, LF19
  • Borculo: LF4
LF9 [Note 2]NAP-route (Amsterdam Ordnance Datum Route)Bad Nieuweschans - Zoersel505 km [8]
LF10Waddenzeeroute (Wadden Sea Route)Callantsoog - Bad Nieuweschans275 km [4]
LF11 [Note 2]Prinsenroute (Princes' Route)The Hague - Breda125 km [4]
  • The Hague: LF1, LF4
  • Vlaardingen: LF12
  • Rotterdam: LF2
  • Dordrecht: LF2, LF12
  • Moerdijk: LF2
  • Breda: LF9, LF13
LF12Maas- en Vestingroute (River Maas and Fortresses Route)Hook of Holland - Groesbeek220 km [4]
  • Hook of Holland: LF1
  • Vlaardingen: LF11
  • Dordrecht: LF2, LF11
  • Woudrichem: LF9
  • 's-Hertogenbosch: LF7
  • Groesbeek: LF3
LF13 [Note 2]Schelde-Rheinroute (Scheldt-Rhine Route)Flushing - Venlo290 km [4]
  • Flushing: LF1
  • Roosendaal: LF2, LF50
  • Breda: LF9, LF11
  • Alphen: LF35
  • Best: LF7
  • Mierlo: LF7
  • Venlo: LF3
LF14 [Note 2]Saksenroute (Saxons' Route)Lauwersoog - Enschede240 km [4]
  • Lauwersoog: LF10, ferry to Schiermonnikoog
  • Groningen: LF9, LF20
  • Hardenberg: LF16
  • Ommen: LF8, LF16
  • Enschede: LF4, LF15
LF15 [Note 2]Boerenlandroute (Farmland Route)Alkmaar - Enschede260 km [4]
  • Alkmaar: LF7
  • Enkhuizen: LF21
  • Lelystad: LF20
  • Kampen: LF3, LF22, LF23
  • Zwolle: LF9, LF16
  • Holten: LF8, LF19
  • Enschede: LF4, LF14
LF16Vechtdalroute (Vecht Valley Route)Zwolle - Darfeld (Germany)230 km [4]
  • Zwolle: LF9, LF15
  • Ommen: LF8, LF14
  • Hardenberg: LF14
LF17n/aGorinchem - Doorn60 km [4]
  • Gorinchem: LF9
  • Leerdam: LF7
  • Doorn: LF4
LF19n/aDeventer - Holten35 km [4]
  • Deventer: LF3
  • Holten: LF8, LF15
LF20 [Note 2]FlevorouteHaarlem - Groningen265 km [4]
  • Haarlem: LF1
  • Amsterdam: LF2, LF7, LF21, LF23
  • Naarden: LF23
  • Lelystad: LF15
  • Lemmer: LF22
  • Heerenveen: LF3
  • Groningen: LF9, LF14
LF21Zuiderzeeroute (West)Amsterdam - Afsluitdijk150 km [4]
  • Amsterdam: LF2, LF7, LF20, LF23
  • Enkhuizen: LF15
  • Den Oever: LF10
  • Kornwerderzand: LF10, LF22
LF22Zuiderzeeroute (East)Afsluitdijk - Kampen130 km [4]
  • Kornwerderzand: LF10
  • Lemmer: LF20
  • Kampen: LF3, LF15, LF23
LF23Zuiderzeeroute (South)Kampen - Amsterdam130 km [4]
  • Kampen: LF3, LF15, LF22
  • Elburg: LF9
  • Spakenburg: LF9
  • Naarden: LF20
  • Amsterdam: LF2, LF7, LF20, LF21
LF30Schelde-Deltaroute (Scheldt-Delta Works route)Breskens - Kluisbergen150 km [9]
  • Breskens: LF1, LF39
  • Hulst: LF38
  • Wachtebeke: LF51
  • Ghent: LF5, LF53
  • Kluisbergen: LF6, RV8
LF35Kempen-Haspengouwroute (Campine-Hesbaye Route)Tilburg - Zoutleeuw128 km [10]
  • Alphen: LF13
  • Turnhout: LF5
  • Mol: LF5
  • Dessel: LF51
  • Diest: LF50, LF57, LF58
  • Zoutleeuw: LF6
LF38Dender-WaaslandrouteHulst - Geraardsbergen100 km [11]
LF39 [Note 1]FlandriensrouteBreskens - Wattignies (France)203 km [12]
  • Breskens: LF1, LF30
  • Kaprijke: LF51
  • Aalter: LF5
  • Tielt: LF52, LF53
  • Ypres: LF6
LF50 [Note 1]Jeugdherbergenroute (Youth Hostel Route)Bergen op Zoom - Voeren237 km [13]
  • Roosendaal: LF2, LF13
  • Loenhout: LF9
  • Zoersel: LF5, LF9, LF557
  • Zandhoven: LF5, LF51, LF557
  • Nijlen: LF550, LF557
  • Diest: LF35, LF57, LF58
  • Riemst: LF6
  • Visé: RV7
  • Voeren: RV4
LF51Kempenroute (Campine Route)
Gravejansroute (Earl John's Route) [Note 1]
Eindhoven - Antwerp
Antwerp - Zeebrugge
120 km [14]
+126 km
  • Eindhoven: LF7
  • Valkenswaard: LF57
  • Lommel: LF5
  • Dessel: LF35
  • Zandhoven: LF5, LF50, LF557
  • Antwerp: LF2
  • Sint-Gillis-Waas: LF38
  • Wachtebeke: LF30
  • Kaprijke: LF39
  • Sint-Laureins: LF511
  • Sluis: LF1
  • Zeebrugge: LF52
LF52 [Note 1]Guldensporenroute (Golden Spurs Route)Zeebrugge - Kortrijk128 km [15]
  • Zeebrugge: LF51
  • Blankenberge: LF1
  • Jabbeke: LF511
  • Tielt: LF39, LF53
  • Kortrijk: LF6
LF53[Note 1]ArtevelderouteDe Panne - Ghent134 km [16]
  • De Panne: LF511
  • Diksmuide: LF1, LF6
  • Tielt: LF39, LF52
  • Ghent: LF5, LF30
LF56[Note 1]n/aBoom - Halle48 km [17]
  • Boom: LF2, LF5
  • Brussels: LF56, RV1, RV4, RV10
  • Halle: LF6, RV1
LF57[Note 1]Spiekelspaderoute [Note 3]Leuven - Valkenswaard101 km [18]
  • Leuven: LF2, LF6, RVU
  • Sint-Joris-Winge: LF557
  • Diest: LF35, LF50, LF58
  • Neerpelt: LF5
  • Valkenswaard: LF51
LF58[Note 1]DonderslagrouteDiest - Thorn ? km
  • Diest: LF35, LF50
  • Thorn: LF5, LF7
  • Valkenswaard: LF51
LF511[Note 1]GravejansrouteDe Panne - Sint-Laureins83 km
  • De Panne: LF53
  • Ostend: LF1
  • Jabbeke: LF52
  • Bruges: LF5
  • Sint-Laureins: LF51
LF550[Note 1]Verbindingsroute (Link route)Lier - Nijlen7 km
  • Lier: LF5
  • Nijlen: LF50
LF557[Note 1]Troonroute (Throne route)Zoersel - Sint-Joris-Winge50 km
  • Zoersel: LF5, LF9, LF50
  • Zandhoven: LF5, LF50, LF51, LF557
  • Sint-Joris-Winge: LF57

Tours from combined LF-Routes

Although a network like the Belgo-Dutch LF routes enable almost endless combinations of sections, a few themed routes have been officially established:

NameDescriptionStart & end pointsLength
Nederlandse Kustroute (Dutch Coastal Route)Dutch sections of the LF1 and LF10 form the Dutch section of EuroVelo 12, the North Sea Cycle Route.Sluis - Bad Nieuweschans570 km [4]
Maasfietsroute (Maas River cycle route)LF3, LF12, (LF2, LF11)Maastricht - Hook of Holland430 km [4]
Rijnfietsroute (Rhine River Cycle Route)Sections of the LF12, LF11, LF17, LF4 and LF3. It is part of EuroVelo 15 (the International Rhine Cycle Route) which takes you through Germany, France and Switzerland to the source of the River Rhine.Millingen - Hook of Holland270 km [4] LF6 and LF7.(tour)600 km
ZuiderzeerouteLF21, LF22 and LF23 form the Zuiderzee Route (Zuiderzeeroute)(tour)405 km [4]
Vlaanderen Fietsroute (Tour of the Flemish region)A round tour of the Flemish region, consisting of sections of the LF1, LF5,
Ronde van Nederland (Tour of the Netherlands)A round tour of the Netherlands following sections of LF routes closest to the border: LF1, LF10, LF14, LF16, LF4, LF3, LF7, LF13.(tour)1300 km [4]
Rondje Twente (Tour of Twente) [Note 2]Sections of the LF14, LF15 and LF8.(tour)175 km [4]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 In a major network revision in 2012, these routes were taken out of the official network: "Geel-blauw verdwijnt". groteroutepaden.be (in Dutch). 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 In a major network revision between 2017 and 2021, these routes will be taken out of the official network: "LF routes to undergo overhaul". Holland-cycling.com. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  3. Named after Spiekelspade, a former hamlet in Hechtel-Eksel

References

  1. For the Netherlands: based on the map on "LF-routes". Nederland Fietsland. Retrieved 16 February 2017. For Belgium: "LF-routes". Vélo Ravel. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  2. "LF 1 North Sea Route - Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  3. "LF 2 Cities Route - Flanders". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "GPS tracks". hollandcyclingroutes.com. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  5. "LF 5 Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. "LF 6 Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  7. "LF 7 Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  8. "LF 9 NAP-Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  9. "LF 30 Scheldt-Deltaroute - Flanders". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  10. "LF 35 Campina-Haspengouwroute". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.. Distance Tilburg-Baarle: 18km following the old train tracks.
  11. "LF 38 Dender-Waaslandroute". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  12. "LF 39 Flandriensroute". reisroutes.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  13. "LF 50 Jeugdherbergenroute". Routeyou.com. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  14. "LF 51 Kempenroute - Flanders". groteroutepaden.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  15. "LF 52 Guldensporenroute". reisroutes.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  16. "LF 53 Artevelderoute". reisroutes.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  17. Following the Brussels-Charleroi Canal and the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal
  18. "LF 57". Toerisme Vlaanderen. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
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