Introduction
If you think the Netherlands is just cities like Amsterdam and flat polders filled with tulips, think again. In the East of the Netherlands there are huge areas of sandy woodlands. If 
you cycle north of Wageningen for just ten minutes you are in the woods, and you can then cycle, off-road, for hours, with large areas of forest, heathland and inland dunes. The area is highly suitable for gravel biking. You are in the Veluwe, an area popular with Dutch tourists, but little-known outside the Netherlands. For part of the area there are few restrictions on where you can go. You do not have to stick to waymarked tracks (although they do exist if you prefer that). There are restrictions south of Wolfheze (where there are vulnerable areas with rare plants and animals) and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug (the moraine area west of Veenedaal and North of Rhenen), where mountain bikers are restricted to the official routes apparently because of the high recreative pressure on the area. The military zone of the Ginkelse Heide has restricted access and in parts of the Renkumse Beekdal mountain biking is not allowed. Look out for the signs!
This site has a blog, which is normally updated every month or so (you can subscribe from the RSS link at the bottom of this page or mail to mtb {at} andrewspink.nl. The most recent item is always shown on this page. There are also some pages about where you can go on your mountain bike near Wageningen, and some other information. If you want to contact me with comments or suggestions, please see the About page.
Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord
It was a long cycle ride to get to the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, but I had high hopes that the trip would be worth it. My expectations were exceeded! The old steelworks was incredibly dramatic and astonishingly beautiful. The public was allowed to clamber all over one of the blast furnaces, with metal walkways taking us right to the top. An incredible structure. And then on top of that, a whole other dimension, with a combination of planting of trees and grasses with allowing vegetation to find its own way in, which made for a remarkable symbolism of rewilding. An amazing place! You can read an account of the whole cycle ride here.
