Dutch_National_Cycle_Routes

LF-routes

LF-routes

Network of cycle routes in the Netherlands and Belgium


LF-Routes (Landelijke Fietsroutes, Dutch for countrywide cycling routes) are long-distance cycling routes that form a network in the Netherlands and Belgium. The routes, criss-crossing both countries, are primarily intended for recreational multi-day bike tours, such as cycling holidays. Some routes are also part of a wider international network.

Most of the LF routes have been signposted in two directions, inscribing one direction with the letter "a", the other with the letter "b": the North Sea Route LF1 southbound from Den Helder to French Boulogne-sur-Mer is called LF1a, while in the other direction it is called LF1b.

History

In 1987, Dutch cyclists' organisations founded a "countrywide cycling platform" to create a network of long-distance cycling routes throughout the Netherlands. This platform published maps and guides and started signposting its routes in 1990.

Belgium introduced its first long-distance route, not yet called "LF" by that time, in 1964: it connected youth hostels and was therefore called Jeugdherbergenroute, which later became the LF50. Belgium signposted its first LF-route in 1990 as well (the LF1 North Sea Route) and two years later, the GR organisation took over the planning of Belgian LF-routes.

At the maximum extent, both countries had created a network of 36 routes, of which 5 were only in Belgium, 15 in the Netherlands and 16 in both. Some routes also extend into France and Germany. However, due to the expansion of the numbered-node cycle network, Belgium reduced its official network in 2012 (routes marked [Note 1]) and the Netherlands is doing the same between 2017 and 2021 (routes marked [Note 2]).

Routes

More information Route number, Name ...

Tours from combined LF-Routes

Although a network like the Belgo-Dutch LF routes enable almost endless combinations of sections, a few themed routes have been officially established:

More information Name, Description ...

See also

Notes

  1. In a major network revision in 2012, these routes were taken out of the official network: "Geel-blauw verdwijnt". groteroutepaden.be (in Dutch). 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  2. In a major network revision between 2017 and 2021, these routes will be taken out of the official network: "LF routes to undergo overhaul". Holland-cycling.com. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  3. Named after Spiekelspade, a former hamlet in Hechtel-Eksel

References

  1. For the Netherlands: based on the map on "LF-routes". Nederland Fietsland. Retrieved 16 February 2017. For Belgium: "LF-routes". Vélo Ravel. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  2. "LF 1 North Sea Route - Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  3. "LF 2 Cities Route - Flanders". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "GPS tracks". hollandcyclingroutes.com. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  5. "LF 5 Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. "LF 6 Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  7. "LF 7 Flanders Cycle Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  8. "LF 9 NAP-Route". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  9. "LF 30 Scheldt-Deltaroute - Flanders". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  10. "LF 35 Campina-Haspengouwroute". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.. Distance Tilburg-Baarle: 18km following the old train tracks.
  11. "LF 38 Dender-Waaslandroute". groteroutepaden.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  12. "LF 39 Flandriensroute". reisroutes.be. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  13. "LF 50 Jeugdherbergenroute". Routeyou.com. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  14. "LF 51 Kempenroute - Flanders". groteroutepaden.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  15. "LF 52 Guldensporenroute". reisroutes.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  16. "LF 53 Artevelderoute". reisroutes.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  17. "LF 57". Toerisme Vlaanderen. Retrieved 16 February 2017.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Dutch_National_Cycle_Routes, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.