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

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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

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Route number Name Start & end points Length Connections [1]
LF1 Noordzeeroute (North Sea Route) Den Helder - Boulogne-sur-Mer (France) 470 km [2]
LF2 Stedenroute (Cities' Route) Amsterdam - Brussels 337 km [3]
LF3 Rietlandroute (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 - Enschede 290 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
LF5 Vlaanderen Fietsroute (Flanders Cycle Route) (North) Damme - Roermond 320 km [5][4]
LF6 Vlaanderen Fietsroute (South) Diksmuide - Aachen (Germany) 400 km [6][4]
LF7 Oeverlandroute (River Bank Route) Schoorl - Maastricht 435 km [7]
LF8 [Note 2] n/a Ommen - Winterswijk 100 km [4]
  • Ommen: LF14, LF16
  • Holten: LF15, LF19
  • Borculo: LF4
LF9 [Note 2] NAP-route (Amsterdam Ordnance Datum Route) Bad Nieuweschans - Zoersel 505 km [8]
LF10 Waddenzeeroute (Wadden Sea Route) Callantsoog - Bad Nieuweschans 275 km [4]
LF11 [Note 2] Prinsenroute (Princes' Route) The Hague - Breda 125 km [4]
  • The Hague: LF1, LF4
  • Vlaardingen: LF12
  • Rotterdam: LF2
  • Dordrecht: LF2, LF12
  • Moerdijk: LF2
  • Breda: LF9, LF13
LF12 Maas- en Vestingroute (River Maas and Fortresses Route) Hook of Holland - Groesbeek 220 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 - Venlo 290 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 - Enschede 240 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 - Enschede 260 km [4]
  • Alkmaar: LF7
  • Enkhuizen: LF21
  • Lelystad: LF20
  • Kampen: LF3, LF22, LF23
  • Zwolle: LF9, LF16
  • Holten: LF8, LF19
  • Enschede: LF4, LF14
LF16 Vechtdalroute (Vecht Valley Route) Zwolle - Darfeld (Germany) 230 km [4]
  • Zwolle: LF9, LF15
  • Ommen: LF8, LF14
  • Hardenberg: LF14
LF17 n/a Gorinchem - Doorn 60 km [4]
  • Gorinchem: LF9
  • Leerdam: LF7
  • Doorn: LF4
LF19 n/a Deventer - Holten 35 km [4]
  • Deventer: LF3
  • Holten: LF8, LF15
LF20 [Note 2] Flevoroute Haarlem - Groningen 265 km [4]
  • Haarlem: LF1
  • Amsterdam: LF2, LF7, LF21, LF23
  • Naarden: LF23
  • Lelystad: LF15
  • Lemmer: LF22
  • Heerenveen: LF3
  • Groningen: LF9, LF14
LF21 Zuiderzeeroute (West) Amsterdam - Afsluitdijk 150 km [4]
  • Amsterdam: LF2, LF7, LF20, LF23
  • Enkhuizen: LF15
  • Den Oever: LF10
  • Kornwerderzand: LF10, LF22
LF22 Zuiderzeeroute (East) Afsluitdijk - Kampen 130 km [4]
  • Kornwerderzand: LF10
  • Lemmer: LF20
  • Kampen: LF3, LF15, LF23
LF23 Zuiderzeeroute (South) Kampen - Amsterdam 130 km [4]
  • Kampen: LF3, LF15, LF22
  • Elburg: LF9
  • Spakenburg: LF9
  • Naarden: LF20
  • Amsterdam: LF2, LF7, LF20, LF21
LF30 Schelde-Deltaroute (Scheldt-Delta Works route) Breskens - Kluisbergen 150 km [9]
  • Breskens: LF1, LF39
  • Hulst: LF38
  • Wachtebeke: LF51
  • Ghent: LF5, LF53
  • Kluisbergen: LF6, RV8
LF35 Kempen-Haspengouwroute (Campine-Hesbaye Route) Tilburg - Zoutleeuw 128 km [10]
  • Alphen: LF13
  • Turnhout: LF5
  • Mol: LF5
  • Dessel: LF51
  • Diest: LF50, LF57, LF58
  • Zoutleeuw: LF6
LF38 Dender-Waaslandroute Hulst - Geraardsbergen 100 km [11]
LF39 [Note 1] Flandriensroute Breskens - 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 - Voeren 237 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
LF51 Kempenroute (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 - Kortrijk 128 km [15]
  • Zeebrugge: LF51
  • Blankenberge: LF1
  • Jabbeke: LF511
  • Tielt: LF39, LF53
  • Kortrijk: LF6
LF53[Note 1] Artevelderoute De Panne - Ghent 134 km [16]
  • De Panne: LF511
  • Diksmuide: LF1, LF6
  • Tielt: LF39, LF52
  • Ghent: LF5, LF30
LF56[Note 1] n/a Boom - Halle 48 km [17]
  • Boom: LF2, LF5
  • Brussels: LF56, RV1, RV4, RV10
  • Halle: LF6, RV1
LF57[Note 1] Spiekelspaderoute [Note 3] Leuven - Valkenswaard 101 km [18]
  • Leuven: LF2, LF6, RVU
  • Sint-Joris-Winge: LF557
  • Diest: LF35, LF50, LF58
  • Neerpelt: LF5
  • Valkenswaard: LF51
LF58[Note 1] Donderslagroute Diest - Thorn ? km
  • Diest: LF35, LF50
  • Thorn: LF5, LF7
  • Valkenswaard: LF51
LF511[Note 1] Gravejansroute De Panne - Sint-Laureins 83 km
  • De Panne: LF53
  • Ostend: LF1
  • Jabbeke: LF52
  • Bruges: LF5
  • Sint-Laureins: LF51
LF550[Note 1] Verbindingsroute (Link route) Lier - Nijlen 7 km
  • Lier: LF5
  • Nijlen: LF50
LF557[Note 1] Troonroute (Throne route) Zoersel - Sint-Joris-Winge 50 km
  • Zoersel: LF5, LF9, LF50
  • Zandhoven: LF5, LF50, LF51, LF557
  • Sint-Joris-Winge: LF57

Tours from combined LF-Routes

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

Name Description Start & end points Length
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 Nieuweschans 570 km [4]
Maasfietsroute (Maas River cycle route) LF3, LF12, (LF2, LF11) Maastricht - Hook of Holland 430 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 Holland 270 km [4]

LF6 and LF7. || (tour) || 600 km

Zuiderzeeroute LF21, 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

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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

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  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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "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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