Outdoor PitstopCycle route · Haren (Ems) · Updated on 5 November 2026
Smokkelroute cycle route
Smokkelroute is a cycle route of 70.1 km from Haren (Ems) that starts and ends at the same spot. Along the way: 109 benches and picnic tables, 1 water point and 1 public toilet.
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The route step by step
From start to finish, with what you pass along the way and the distance in between.
- 70.1 km
- ± 4:40 h
- ↑ 6 m · ↓ 12 m
- Hard
- Circular ride
- Regional route
This route is in pieces in OpenStreetMap, so there are no kilometres per pitstop. Along the way: 109 benches and picnic tables, 1 water point and 1 public toilet.
Follow these steps in the appThe route with the pitstops and sights within 100 m of it.
1 sight along the way
In the order you pass them. With the Outdoor Pitstop app you hear their story on the spot.
- Audio story · 2 min
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Photo: Janwillemvanaalst · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsFort Bourtange
Castle
Elevation and terrain
- Up
- ↑ 6 m
- Down
- ↓ 12 m
- Highest point
- 12 m
- Lowest point
- -0 m
Nowhere steeper than 5%.
Elevation from AHN (Rijkswaterstaat), smoothed.
Way types
70.1 km in total- Road: 28.3 km
- Cycle path: 26.5 km
- Busy road: 5 km
- Street: 4.6 km
- Track: 4 km
- Path: 1.4 km
- Footpath (walk your bike): 75 m
Surfaces
70.1 km in total- Paved: 24.5 km
- Asphalt: 24 km
- Gravel: 4.9 km
- Unpaved: 75 m
- Unknown: 16.5 km
About the cycle route Smokkelroute
Updated on 5 November 2026, with data from OpenStreetMap and the AHN.
Where do you cycle?
Smokkelroute is a circular ride of 70.1 km from Haren (Ems): it starts and ends in the same place.
How hard is the route?
The route is almost flat. You climb 6 m in total and descend 12 m. Allow ± 4:40 h, without breaks. The level is hard.
What roads do you cycle on?
The longest part is road (28.3 km), cycle path (26.5 km) and busy road (5 km). Of the surface, 24.5 km paved and 24 km asphalt. For 16.5 km the surface is not known.
Pitstops along the way
Within 100 metres of the route there are 109 benches and picnic tables, 1 water point and 1 public toilet. The Outdoor Pitstop app navigates you there.
The Smokkelroute (Smugglers' Route) is a circular ride of just over 70 km in the border country between Westerwolde and Stadskanaal and Rhede (Ems) in Germany, and is part of Emsland Tourismus's United Countries Tour. You ride past the Bourtange fortress, through the Sellingerbossen and past villages such as Ter Apel, Smeerling, Wedde and Bellingwolde. More than two thirds is asphalt or paved, nearly two fifths cycle path, and it is flat. There are 109 benches along the way, but we know of only one toilet and one water tap.
Part of United Countries Tour
Cycle routes nearby
2Sights nearby
Within 10 km of the route, best known first.
- 1
Burcht WeddeCastle · 150 m from the route - 2
Standerdmolen Ter HaarAttraction · 768 m from the route - 3
Graaf AdolfmonumentMemorial · 9.4 km from the route - 4
Museum Stoomgemaal WinschotenMuseum · 6.5 km from the route - 5
Schloss DankernCastle · 8.2 km from the route - 6
OudeschansArchaeological site · 2.4 km from the route - 7
Burg NienhausArchaeological site · 6.4 km from the route - 8
Voormalige Brandewijnfabriek PfaffRuins · 6.4 km from the route - 9
OngebrokenMemorial · 6.7 km from the route - 10
MemorialMemorial · 7 km from the route - 11
Dieler SchanzeArchaeological site · 7.8 km from the route - 12
Gut AltenkampMuseum · 8 km from the route - 13
Uitkijktoren Ter WuppingObservation tower · 987 m from the route - 14Observation towerObservation tower · 5.6 km from the route
- 15Observation towerObservation tower · 6.2 km from the route
- 16Uitkijktoren ReiderwoldeObservation tower · 7.3 km from the route
- 17Observation towerObservation tower · 8.4 km from the route
- 18Uitkijktoren BlauwestadObservation tower · 8.8 km from the route
- 19Observation towerObservation tower · 9.3 km from the route
Explore more
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Frequently asked questions
How long is Smokkelroute?
Smokkelroute is 70.1 km long. Allow ± 4:40 h of riding: 15 km an hour, without breaks.
Is this route a circular ride?
Yes, the route starts and ends at the same spot.
Where does this route start?
The route starts in Haren (Ems).
How hard is this route?
Hard, with 6 m of climbing.
Are there toilets along this route?
Yes, there are 1 public toilet within 100 m of the route.
Can you fill up with water along this route?
Yes, there are 1 water point within 100 m of the route.
What is there to see along this route?
Along the way you pass Fort Bourtange.
Start place
More routes from this place
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors
