Outdoor PitstopCycle route · Leeuwarden · Updated on 5 November 2026
Elfstedenroute cycle route
Elfstedenroute is a cycle route of 257.7 km from Leeuwarden that starts and ends at the same spot. Along the way: 425 benches and picnic tables, 13 water fountains and refill points, 30 public toilets and 1 bike pump.
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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.
- 257.7 km
- ± 1:35 h per stage
- ↑ 58 m · ↓ 60 m
- Easy per stage
- Circular ride
- Regional route
Pick a stage to see the pitstops per kilometre. Along the way: 425 benches and picnic tables, 13 water fountains and refill points, 30 public toilets and 1 bike pump.
Follow these steps in the appThe route with the water points, toilets and sights within 100 m of it.
18 sights along the way
In the order you pass them. With the Outdoor Pitstop app you hear their story on the spot. 10 more along the route are on the map.
De Hoanne
Memorial
- Audio story · 2 min
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Photo: Condor3d · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsFries Scheepvaart Museum
Museum
Observation tower
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Photo: Pa3ems · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsCastle
Museum
Museum
Museum Hindeloopen
Museum
StoryMuseum Warkums Erfskip
Museum
Stages (11)
- 101 - Leeuwarden - Sneek27.3 km
- 202 - Sneek - IJlst10.1 km
- 303 - IJlst - Sloten31.6 km
- 404 - Sloten - Stavoren32 km
- 505 - Stavoren - Hindelopen9.9 km
- 606 - Hindelopen - Workum8.5 km
- 707 - Workum - Bolsward13.4 km
- 808 - Bolsward - Harlingen20.4 km
- 909 - Harlingen - Franeker15.3 km
- 1010 - Franeker - Dokkum63.6 km
- 1111 - Dokkum - Leeuwarden25.6 km
Elevation and terrain
- Up
- ↑ 58 m
- Down
- ↓ 60 m
- Highest point
- 9 m
- Lowest point
- -5 m
- 2 stairs
Elevation from AHN (Rijkswaterstaat), smoothed.
Way types
257.7 km in total- Road: 128.7 km
- Cycle path: 102.9 km
- Street: 16.8 km
- Busy road: 7.5 km
- Footpath (walk your bike): 350 m
- Path: 325 m
- Steps (carry your bike): 2 stairs
- Track: 50 m
- Unknown: 75 m
Surfaces
257.7 km in total- Asphalt: 126.2 km
- Paved: 62.5 km
- Gravel: 3.8 km
- Unknown: 64.4 km
About the cycle route Elfstedenroute
Updated on 5 November 2026, with data from OpenStreetMap and the AHN.
Where do you cycle?
Elfstedenroute is a circular ride of 257.7 km from Leeuwarden: it starts and ends in the same place.
How hard is the route?
You climb 58 m in total and descend 60 m. There are 2 flights of steps along the way. Allow ± 1:35 h per stage, without breaks. The level is easy per stage.
What roads do you cycle on?
The longest part is road (128.7 km), cycle path (102.9 km) and street (16.8 km). Of the surface, 126.2 km asphalt and 62.5 km paved. For 64.4 km the surface is not known.
Pitstops along the way
Within 100 metres of the route there are 425 benches and picnic tables, 13 water fountains and refill points, 30 public toilets and 1 bike pump. The Outdoor Pitstop app navigates you there.
The Elfstedenroute is a circular ride of about 260 km through Friesland, past the eleven Frisian towns of the Elfstedentocht skating tour, in eleven stages. From Leeuwarden you ride to Sneek, IJlst, Sloten and Stavoren, along the IJsselmeer to Hindeloopen and Workum, and via Bolsward, Harlingen and Franeker to Dokkum and back to Leeuwarden. Along the way you pass museums such as the Fries Scheepvaart Museum in Sneek, the Jopie Huisman Museum in Workum and the Keatsmuseum in Franeker. More than half is asphalt and two fifths cycle path. We know of 30 toilets, 13 water taps and one bike pump on the way.
Sights nearby
Within 10 km of the route, best known first.
- 1
Fries MuseumMuseum · 431 m from the route - 2
OldehoveAttraction · 136 m from the route - 3
Natuurmuseum FryslânMuseum · 170 m from the route - 4
Keramiekmuseum PrincessehofMuseum · 197 m from the route - 5
Museum MartenaMuseum · 216 m from the route - 6
DekemastateMuseum · 1.8 km from the route - 7
PoptaslotCastle · 2.5 km from the route - 8
SchierstinsCastle · 9.1 km from the route - 9
Historisch Centrum LeeuwardenMuseum · 100 m from the route - 10
Royal Eise Eisinga PlanetariumMuseum · 270 m from the route - 11
FogelsanghstateMuseum · 9.6 km from the route - 12
Dam Holwerd-AmelandRuins · 3.7 km from the route - 13
LiauckamastateCastle · 1.9 km from the route - 14
Molenhuis De JagerMuseum · 4.4 km from the route - 15
Ir. D.F. Wouda-gemaalMuseum · 5.8 km from the route - 16
Molenmuseum De EendrachtMuseum · 6.5 km from the route - 17
VissersmonumentMemorial · 6.1 km from the route - 18
Museum JoureMuseum · 4.6 km from the route - 19
Fries LandbouwmuseumMuseum · 1.6 km from the route - 20
Fries VerzetsmuseumMuseum · 455 m from the route - 21
Huis Van EysingaMuseum · 503 m from the route - 22
EpemastateCastle · 128 m from the route - 23
Us HeitMemorial · 363 m from the route - 24
Museum de GrutterswinkelMuseum · 371 m from the route - 25
Kerkmuseum JannumMuseum · 746 m from the route
Explore more
More cycle routes around Leeuwarden
Frequently asked questions
How long is Elfstedenroute?
Elfstedenroute is 257.7 km long, in 11 stages of 23.4 km on average. Allow ± 1:35 h per stage 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 Leeuwarden.
How hard is this route?
Easy per stage, with 5 m per stage of climbing.
Are there toilets along this route?
Yes, there are 30 public toilets within 100 m of the route.
Can you fill up with water along this route?
Yes, there are 13 water fountains and refill points within 100 m of the route.
What is there to see along this route?
Along the way you pass De Hoanne, Fries Scheepvaart Museum and Observation tower.
Start place
More routes from this place
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors
