Bike Touring Collection by Johanna
3-5
days
3-5 h
/ day
177 mi
3,375 ft
3,950 ft
On the 2-Country Route (2-Länder-Route), you cycle through the Lower Rhine region in North Rhine-Westphalia to the Netherlands. On the way, you cross the border between the two countries several times, passing beautiful landscapes and magnificent nature. Alongside open fields and meadows, you ride through idyllic national parks and nature reserves with mystical moors, picturesque heathland, romantic forests, and flat polder landscapes.
In this Collection, I guide you along the 270-kilometre (167 mile) cycle path from the imperial city of Aachen in Germany to the Dutch city of Nijmegen in five stages. As the route starts from the main station in Aachen, the easiest way to arrive is by train. The ICE long-distance trains and Thalys run across the border from Belgium and France. Aachen also has good regional train links, both with surrounding German cities and places in Belgium and the Netherlands.
You mostly cycle along flat roads to Nijmegen, riding through beautiful nature, as well as interesting cities such as Roermond and Venlo in the Netherlands and Geldern, Xanten, and Kleve on the German side. There are also many places to stop en route for a bite to eat and enjoy Dutch and Lower Rhine specialties, as well as a good choice of accommodation at all stage destinations.
When you arrive in Nijmegen, you can start your journey home by train. One option is to travel to Arnhem, for example, which has rail connections to Germany. There are also direct connections from Nijmegen to Roermond and Venlo. Before you jump on the train, however, it is worth spending some time in the oldest city in the Netherlands, a fitting finale for your adventure on the 2-Country Route.
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Last updated: July 30, 2022
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The starting point of the 2-country route is in Aachen at the main station. The station offers good long-distance connections with the ICE and Thalys, including cross-border to Belgium and France. In addition, the station is also served by a number of regional trains, whose connections also extend across…
by Johanna
On the second stage, a relatively flat route awaits you at the beginning, which leads you past colorful fields and wide meadows. Behind Haaren you cross the border and continue on the Dutch side, where you follow the playful loops of the Rur to Roermond.
In the Dutch city the Rur flows into the Meuse…
by Johanna
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Also on the third stage of the 2-country route you cycle on mostly flat paths through the beautiful border area. You leave Brüggen to the north and are welcomed by wide fields. After about ten kilometers you will come to the Nette and follow its course. The river flows through large lakes in several…
by Johanna
You leave Geldern to the north and immerse yourself in beautiful nature at the gates of the city. Here you pass the Hague Castle, where it is worth taking a first break, where you can also stop.
Then it goes on a flat stretch past wide fields and meadows until you tackle a first ascent after about 20…
by Johanna
Like the previous stage, the last section on the 2-country route is mostly flat, with a few hills waiting for you only about halfway.
From Kalkar you drive over the fields to Moyland Castle. Here you can take a first break. Then you cycle through the open landscape to Kleve, where you overcome small inclines…
by Johanna
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