Cycling from Germany to Netherlands – 2-Country Route

On the 2-Country Route (2-Länder-Route), you cycle through the Lower Rhine region in North Rhine-Westphalia to the Netherlands. On the way, you cross the border between the two countries several times, passing beautiful landscapes and magnificent nature. Alongside open fields and meadows, you ride through idyllic national parks and nature reserves with mystical moors, picturesque heathland, romantic forests, and flat polder landscapes.

In this Collection, I guide you along the 270-kilometre (167 mile) cycle path from the imperial city of Aachen in Germany to the Dutch city of Nijmegen in five stages. As the route starts from the main station in Aachen, the easiest way to arrive is by train. The ICE long-distance trains and Thalys run across the border from Belgium and France. Aachen also has good regional train links, both with surrounding German cities and places in Belgium and the Netherlands.

You mostly cycle along flat roads to Nijmegen, riding through beautiful nature, as well as interesting cities such as Roermond and Venlo in the Netherlands and Geldern, Xanten, and Kleve on the German side. There are also many places to stop en route for a bite to eat and enjoy Dutch and Lower Rhine specialties, as well as a good choice of accommodation at all stage destinations.

When you arrive in Nijmegen, you can start your journey home by train. One option is to travel to Arnhem, for example, which has rail connections to Germany. There are also direct connections from Nijmegen to Roermond and Venlo. Before you jump on the train, however, it is worth spending some time in the oldest city in the Netherlands, a fitting finale for your adventure on the 2-Country Route.