Dutch National Cycle Routes
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LF-Routes (''Landelijke Fietsroutes'', Dutch for ''countrywide cycling routes'') are long-distance cycling routes that form a network in the
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and
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. 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 Den Helder () is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula. It is home to the country's main naval base. From here the Royal TESO fe ...
to French
Boulogne-sur-Mer Boulogne-sur-Mer (; pcd, Boulonne-su-Mér; nl, Bonen; la, Gesoriacum or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais. Boulogne lies on the ...
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
hostel A hostel is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed in a dormitory, with shared use of a lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex and have private or shared b ...
s 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 The numbered-node cycle network ( nl, fietsknooppuntennetwerk; german: Knotenpunktbezogene Wegweisung/Knotenpunktsystem für Radwanderern ormaland bike-by-numbers", informalref name="Jerichow"/>) is a wayfinding system. It spans the Netherlands ...
, Belgium reduced its official network in 2012 (routes marked ) and the Netherlands is doing the same between 2017 and 2021 (routes marked ).


Routes


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:


See also

*
Numbered-node cycle network The numbered-node cycle network ( nl, fietsknooppuntennetwerk; german: Knotenpunktbezogene Wegweisung/Knotenpunktsystem für Radwanderern ormaland bike-by-numbers", informalref name="Jerichow"/>) is a wayfinding system. It spans the Netherlands ...
, a second parallel signage system, allowing users to select arbitrary routes *
EuroVelo ''EuroVelo'' is a network of currently 17 long-distance cycling routes criss-crossing Europe, in various stages of completion. When completed, the EuroVelo network's total length will almost be . more than were in place. EuroVelo is a project of ...
*
German Cycling Network The German Cycling Network (German: ''Radnetz Deutschland'') is the national cycling route network of Germany. There are currently 12 such long-distance cycling routes, called D-Routes (the "D" stands for "Deutschland’" i.e. Germany) criss-cross ...
, the national cycling route network of Germany * National Cycle Network, the national cycling route network of the United Kingdom


Notes


References

{{Reflist, 3


External links


Long-distance cycle routes
on ''Nederland Fietsland'' website
National LF network
on Holland-Cycling.com Cycleways in Belgium Cycleways in the Netherlands National cycling route networks Long-distance cycling routes