By Mr_Venjer on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 09:20 am:

I want to go to Amsterdam with some colleagues on our bikes. Can anyone in the know post some suggestions on how we could get there. Both the quickest and cheapest (not necessarily together).

Thanks

Kevin  

By Scotty on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 09:24 am:

I've driven via the channel tunnel to Amsterdam before. Tunnel is not the cheapest method of crossing the English Channel but it is the quickest.  

By Mr_Venjer on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 09:48 am:

How long from the French side of the tunnel to Amsterdam Scotty ?

Kevin  

By Zhaith on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 10:09 am:

Kev you could try dover to zebrugge, that was fairly reasonable last time I went over, it shaves a fair bit off the journey comapred to the dover calais route  

By Befbever on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 10:33 am:

Calais to Antwerp is approx. 2 hours.
Antwerp to Amsterdam also approx. 2 hours.
All depends on traffic, refueling and how many times you get lost.

Hansie should be able to tell you. Taking the ferry to Hoek van Holland might be easier, I don't know. Of course, Hansie rides a Falco. You might have to add some time since you're on a Mille.

Hansie! Help!
 

By Benw on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 12:33 am:

Hi Kev,

I used to work in Amsterdam and had my Falco there with me. Take the ferry from Harwich to the Hoek, it's much easier when you get to the other side. About 45 mins to 1hour 15mins from the terminal to Amsterdam - depends if you get lost or not!

I took the tunnel once and even though it only took thirty minutes or so, it was the fact that you're stuck in the train and can't go anywhere. On the ferry you can wander round etc. The ride from Calais up to Amsterdam was a long one too - 3 hours or so.

Ben  

By Hansie on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 12:44 am:

I'm dutch so : ferry calais-dover with P&O is the cheapest! The 4 hour trip to Amsterdam is correct for a Falco! But prices are very depending on availibility , check via internet.

Hansie 

By Rca on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 01:16 am:

... You might have to add some time since you're on a Mille ...

Yeah, the locals will want to stop you to look at and talk about the Beautiful Mille, whereas those Ugly Falco thingies don't get a second glance. 

By Scotty on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 01:45 am:

Think it comes to personal preference, I prefer the tunnel Ben and have used it on numerous occations both c*r and bike. With the bike yer you're stuck in the carridge with no seat but it is only 30mins!!

Don't get me wrong I've used the ferry loadsa times as well, don't have a problem apart from just how long it takes.

To go to the Hoek depends what sort of journey you'd have to get to Harwich to pick up the ferry, also whats the journey time to Holland?
Makes no sense for me from East London I can be at the channel tunnel terminal in about an hour (thats at realistic legalish speeds), slightly longer to get to the ferry terminal at dover.

Assuming that I'm not penny pinching (which I don't usually) I'll take the tunnel every time!  

By Powermaster on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 10:52 am:

What's the point of going by bike if you are going to travel so long on a boat
Take the tunnel you can afford it and avoid motorways, it's more fun and you get lost quicker  

By Hanvdw on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 10:59 am:

This site usually offers the cheapest crossings from/to UK-Mainland Europe

http://www.taxistop.be

br, han 

By Befbever on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 11:05 am:

.be?
Bugger!  

By Mr_Venjer on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 03:37 am:

Thanks peeps. We have decided on the Eurotunnel route then the 3-4 hour ride to Amsterdam. I will be the first to fill up as usual.

I'd better not tell my mum that drugs and prostitution are legal!

I'm going out on the 29th July. Can anyone provide details of a good bike route(s) from Calais to Amsterdam please. I could look at a road map but i'd prefer a tried and tested route (with petrol stations every 130 miles at most !!)

Ta

Kevin 

By Befbever on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 05:16 am:

Be advized, Kev, that's softdrugs, not cocaine!

---

Quote:

Can anyone provide details of a good bike route(s) from Calais to Amsterdam please.

---

By Crmc33 on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 05:26 am:

A question which is sort of on the same theme...

Whats the easiest way of getting to the Hooky Holland from the east of Yurup (land of the Yuro). I will be attempting to find the port in August coming from the German A2 autobahn. Any ideas? Hansie? Should I buy a GPS?!

Last time I was in Holland was last September and it was raining so hard I couldnt see where I was going for 200 miles so I cant retrace my wheel tracks! Amazing how I only got lost once.

I could get the Calais Ferry to Dover but the then necessary Berlin-Calais-Dover-Derby-Cadwell trackday-Dover-Calais-Berlin trip in one weekend mite be a bit too much for my neck muscles and beer money reserves! 

By Hansie on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 07:50 am:

Hoek van Holland is near to Rotterdam. Where does the german A2 enters Holland??

Hansie  

By Crmc33 on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 10:11 am:

From Germany
sorry

Seriously tho, it comes into Holland near Osnabruck. I just remember trying to navigate thru hundreds of miles of traffic near rotterdam and appeldoorn in heavy rain and minimal road signs being very testing! Maybe finding the port isnt so difficult going in the opposite direction?

Is it fairly well sign posted?

thanks for any help you can muster