West Frisian Circular Dike

During the Middle Ages in North Holland, storm surges caused a lot of peat to disappear into the waves. Lakes were created, the land crumbled and Westflinge, today's West Friesland, was surrounded by water.To prevent even more land loss, small diked areas were connected by constructing intermediate dikes from the mid-13th century. The ring was closed around 1350. The Omringdijk passes Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Alkmaar, Schagen and Medemblik and has a length of 126 km.The dike is now maintained as a cultural-historical monument and is recognizable, among other things, by the red posts that are placed at regular distances from each other on the dike. Due to various reclamations, West Friesland is no longer an island and the sea is hard to find along the entire dike.The stretch between Medemblik and Hoorn still largely borders water and is therefore one of the most beautiful parts. The view from the bike path on top is amazing!

If you head northwest in the evening in summer, you will have an extremely strong headwind. If possible, plan your trip so that you ride the 7km+ in the other direction.