Veenendaal, Bennekom, Wageningen

Between the Veluwe and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug lies a low-lying area: the Binnenveld. This low area was created during the last ice age. The ancient rivers De Grebbe and Kromme Eem flowed into this particularly wet landscape, which was inaccessible until the Middle Ages. Cycle this delightful round to get some fresh air between the fields!

In the 15th century, Utrecht's bishop David of Burgundy ordered the canal the Grift to be dug so that the area could be reclaimed for peat extraction. This gradually turned it into an accessible landscape and allowed farmers to use it as hay land. The wet hay meadows soon formed the ground for many special plants and animals, including several orchids, the marsh fritillary, the mud creeper, and many water and meadow birds. This canal still exists under the name Bishop Davidsgrift. Indeed, you cycle right past it for a while!

In recent years, the Forestry Commission and the Binnenveldse Hooilanden Cooperative have worked to return the grasslands to their former state. Three main types of nature can be distinguished: kingcup meadow, bluegrass meadow and quaking bog. Bluegrass meadow is particularly special: despite its small size, this area in the Binnenveld is one of the best and largest bluegrass meadow areas in the Netherlands. Together with the other land types, it creates a magnificent landscape full of beautiful flowering plants. Especially in summer, when the bluegrass meadow turns purple with the flowers of the Spanish Horseman.

Start your cycle route at the Kwintelooijen nature reserve car park between junctions 39 and 38. Kwintelooijen is also a beautiful and special nature reserve for a short walk, for example to the viewpoint.