Yes indeed, a 1200k event with not a single AAA point in sight, it's still on offer for this year.
After we had to cancel Bordeaux-Dordrecht and Dordrecht-Bordeaux due to the Covid restrictions, as Randonneurs Netherlands we still wanted to organise a 1200k event. Since the Covid rules vary from country to country and there have been regular border closures we designed a route which doesn't cross any national borders. We do cross a lot of water borders though, something nearly inevitable as we want to hug the waterline with this brevet.
The start and finish are at Dordrecht youthostel, conveniently close to Hoek van Holland harbour. You could even check on your way from the harbour if there's a spot to stash some supplies as you'll pass Hoek van Holland during the ride. We'll first cross some main rivers and then head to Zeeland, basically a lot of (former) islands in the Schelde estuary. Nowadays the former islands are linked by dams and bridges, you'll cross the most epic of them, the Oosterscheldekering. Just hope for a south-westerly wind here otherwise you'll meet the Dutch mountains head on. After crossing the final of the main rivers, the Rhine, the route follows the coastline until Den Helder. Lot's of dunes during this part of the route. In den Helder you'll head south again but this time along the old Zuiderzee, now renamed IJsselmeer. This stretch ends at the Muiderslot, a fitting place to leave the old lands and head towards the new lands of Flevoland. This area is one giant polder with the exception of the old fishermen's island of Urk. Once you've crossed all of the new land you'll enter the speedskating province of the Netherlands, Friesland. I you know a bit of Dutch, don't be surprised. The Frisians usually don't speak it and prefer to speak Frisian.
On the northern shores of Friesland and Groningen you'll see a several harbours with ferries to the Islands. You'll never know for sure here if the area to your left is land or sea, the Waddenzee is one big tidal area. Finally you'll reach the north eastern tip of the route, at Eemshaven. Again a harbour here but one of the industrial kind.
Do expect a lot of headwinds for the final section, at least if the wind is as usual. But you'll be more inland now for part of the time so you'll have some shelter now and then. While crossing the IJssel and continuing along the southern shores of the former Zuiderzee you'll pass a few old Hansetowns before heading to the larger towns of Amersfoort and Utrecht. Those at the tail end wil welcome them as you can find supplies here even in the late evening.
From Utrecht you'll follow some canals and rivers again for the final dash to Dordrecht.
As I'm writing we're finalising the routechecking, the GPS track will be available soon on
https://www.randonneurs.nl/brevet/brm-1200-dordrecht-bord-eau/You can also register for the ride on this page.
