Loop 1 (362.4km):

From Delft you will pass the RWV de Spartaan race course. Through the Westland, the greenhouse area of the Netherlands, you go to the final part of the Delta Works. On top of a hill you have a view of the Maeslantkering. In Hoek van Holland there is a signpost to all directions and then you take a detour to ‘s-Gravenzande to take a picture of a statue of a cyclist. Through the dunes you come to well-known seaside resorts such as Scheveningen, Katwijk, Noordwijk and Zandvoort. The Zandvoort circuit remains hidden, but then you come to Gerrie Knetemann’s training area. As a tribute, a replica of the letterbox has been placed on top of the Kopje van Bloemendaal with its image indicating the top. However, you now descend via the other side and you pass the Ruins of Brederode. You can transfer the ferry in IJmuiden for free when wearing a mouth mask. You cycle to Schoorl along the edge of the Noord Hollands Duinreservaat and Schoorlse Duinen. In 1988 a pub owner in Warmenhuizen painted his café in the colors of the polka dot jersey of the Tour de France. Because fellow villager Steven Rooks won the mountain classification. It is a sporty village with, among others, an old Eleven Cities winner. So as a compromise an image has been made for the Warmentuutse Athletes, also your control. You go back to the coast to reach the northernmost point of Den Helder along the beach at hotel Land’s End. Past the former Marine shipyard Willemsoord we come to the statue de Wervianen. (Dockworkers)

You leave the city and follow the Noord Hollands canal. After Van Ewijcksluis you descend along the Waard canal, which ends in the “Pishoek” (=Piss corner) (km 214) and then flows further. You will eventually reach Hoorn along Polders and dikes. Because there are not only leaders in a peloton. We take a picture of the water carrier. You will arrive in Edam along the Markermeer / IJmeer. Normally it is nice to slalom along the dike of Volendam between the tourists. But it is now more sensible to take the shorter route to Monnickendam. There is also renovation work on the dike between Uitdam and Durgerdam, so you now go land inward to the Schellingwouderbrug. The flood defense path goes between Nieuw Diep and the Amsterdam Rhine Canal and then it crosses Amsterdam on the Kruislaan (= Cross Lane) in 1 straight line to the Amstel. We meander south along the Amstel to the Toll booth lock. Via Leimuiden it is a bit over the Ringvaart to finally arrive over the Joop Zoetemelkpad in Rijpwetering. Joop Zoetemelk grew up in this village and the statue is the next check. Along the Vliet you cycle from Leiden to Leidschendam and then go to the village of the first Dutch Tour winner, the spectacled Nootdorper, Jan Janssen. From now on it is still a short distance to the end of the first loop in Delft.