5 Tips for Bikepacking from Cologne to Amsterdam (300+km)

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 Last year, I bought my first ever gravel bike. It was something I didn't plan, but it just happened.

They say, if you are over 30, you will find yourself in a marathon event and on a gravel or road bike. And yes, they were right.

I chose this path because I had two conferences: One in Cologne and the other in Amsterdam. They were only a week apart, and traveling back and forth with flights or trains wasn't sustainable, so I decided to take my bike with me. Thankfully the company approved of it.

Here are the things that I wanted to share from my experience.

5 practical Tips for This Route:

  1. Plan Your Stops: The route is packed with charming towns. There are lots of cities and towns on the way, so it's not super difficult to find accommodation. However, depending on the season, it might be difficult to find an affordable accommodation, so I recommend to at least plan a few days ahead of your journey. Being flexible is one thing, but being safe should come first.
  2. Stay Hydrated and Energized: I carried snacks like nuts and energy bars, especially for longer stretches without shops nearby. For water, I didn't have much of a problem to find the source. You can always find somewhere to buy them. However, if you are cycling in summer, it is very important to figure the water source out in advance.
  3. Pack for Weather Changes: The weather can be unpredictable, especially in the Netherlands. Bring a lightweight rain jacket and layers to stay comfortable. And what troubled me the most was actually not rain, but the wind. Be careful with that.
  4. Know the Cycling Rules: The Netherlands is a cyclist’s paradise, but it’s important to follow the rules. Use bike lanes whenever possible and yield to pedestrians. As soon as you cross the boarder, the bike lane would never end, but there are LOTS of roundabouts.
  5. Navigation: I used the Komoot app to figure out the route. It helped me find the best cycling paths and avoid busy roads. Especially in Netherlands, there are some paths where you need to take a ferry or you can cross bridge at a certain time. It doesn't have to be Komoot but I strongly recommend to use any app that can provide such an information.

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

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