Delft, The Hague, Leidschendam

You probably know a few things from history that you will encounter during this cycle route. The Gevangenpoort in The Hague, the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft and Kasteel Duivenvoorde in Voorschoten are iconic buildings.

You will also cycle a bit along history that is less obvious: the Trekvliet. In fact, this water already existed in the 13th century and was used for barges, which used to be the fastest means of transport. Incidentally, it sounds more efficient and romantic than it was. By no means all boatmen could afford a draft animal and then the wife and children were allowed to pull the barge along the towpath. In other draught barges, horses were used, with the hunter on the back, the horses ran on the 'towpath' beside the canal. Draught barges sometimes held as many as 30 people.

Draught canals were built in several places in the Netherlands and Delft became an important hub for the draught barges. The Delft-Leiden route was particularly popular. And where you now travel from Delft to Leiden by train in 20 minutes, back then this trip took about three hours.

This cycle route does not take you all the way to Leiden, but you do cycle a large part along the Trekvliet on the towpath!