Sneek, IJlst, Terherne

Cycle around the Frisian waters through the Frisian countryside. Get to know Snits, aka Sneek, known as water sports town and from Sneek Week. In the Middle Ages, Sneek was an important trading town. You can still see this in the fortifications from that time. The Waterpoort is the most famous of these.

Just below Sneek is the small town of IJlst. This small town has a protected townscape. You will therefore find many beautiful monuments, from beautiful churches, mills, a museum and a historic train station. The Overtuinen are also worth a visit. The gardens were laid out on the banks of the river Geeuw and are so called because you had to cross a (water) road to sit in the garden. The river used to be used by residents to wash clothes in. The clothes were then laid out in the grass to dry and bleach. This is why the gardens are also known as the 'bleachers' in IJlster vernacular. The Overtuinen make IJlst's townscape unique and one you won't find anywhere else in the Netherlands!

On the other side of the Sneekermeer you'll find Terherne, this village exudes the atmosphere of Hotze de Roos' famous Chameleon books. Also get off in the historic centre of Langweer. For many years, the village was only accessible by boat, and only in 1856 was a permanent connection established.

The Sneekermeer is already beautiful and via De Kûfurd you reach the Slotermeer; quite a bit smaller than the Sneekermeer, but just as fun to cycle around.

Note!
There are three ferries along this route.
Two of these ferries do not run all year round and seven days a week. Be well prepared, check the stopover moments and follow an alternative route if needed.

Rufus bike ferry runs daily, between 10:00 and 20:00. Outside these hours, follow the route via junctions 65–64–80–79–62, or the other way around if you’re cycling the route in the opposite direction.

Boornzwaag ferry operates from 1 May to 15 September. Cycling the route when the ferry is not running? Then follow this detour: via junctions 84–82–83–57–55–56–91, or the other way around if you’re cycling in the opposite direction.

The Terhernster ferry operates from April to October. Outside these months, follow the route via junctions 42–21–22–43, or the other way around if you’re cycling in the opposite direction.