From Paris to Amsterdam by bike: an adventure between three countries

Leave Cergy and enter the peaceful atmosphere of the Avenue Verte. The Epte valley unfolds its small bridges, old mills, ponds and rural landscapes like a setting made for cycling.

Between Gasny and Gisors, the greenway invites you to simply let yourself drift. Then the medieval past resurfaces: you follow the old Franco-Norman border before catching sight of the imposing Gisors castle. An arrival that is certainly not lacking in character.

From Gisors, set off through the wooded hills of the Vexin, between wet meadows and limestone slopes. In Saint-Germer-de-Fly, take the time to admire the abbey before rejoining the greenway.

Hedgerows, orchards and the vast landscapes of the Pays de Bray now accompany your journey. The terrain softens and the kilometers pass peacefully until you reach Forges-les-Eaux, a former spa town nestled in a verdant setting.

Today, Normandy reveals itself in all its gentleness: pastures, apple orchards and green countryside border the old railway line which has become Avenue Verte.

Former train stations and small railway remnants dot this almost perfectly straight cycle path. Then something changes in the air… a hint of sea air heralds the sea. The white cliffs of the Alabaster Coast finally appear and guide you to the port of Dieppe.

The Vélomaritime cycle route takes over and leads you along the last cliffs of the Alabaster Coast. Pass through Le Tréport, then admire the elegant Belle Époque facades of Mers-les-Bains before climbing towards Bois de Cise and Ault.

The landscape then becomes wilder at Hâble d'Ault, a former lagoon protected behind its pebble beach. In Cayeux-sur-Mer, a vast promenade overlooking the English Channel awaits you to end this beautiful day by the sea.

Welcome to the Bay of Somme! Follow the Route Blanche between sea, dunes and pebbles to the Pointe du Hourdel. Keep your eyes peeled: you might spot some seals.

For a timeless escape, hop aboard the little train of the Bay of Somme with your bicycle, or continue your adventure on two wheels. Then, cycle through the landscapes of the Marquenterre and the Bay of Authie before reaching the vast sandy beach of Berck-sur-Mer.

Head towards the elegant resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, with its villas and tree-lined avenues. Then skirt the Canche Bay via Étaples before returning to the tranquility of the Mont Saint-Frieux nature reserve.

Fancy a break with a sea view? Head to Hardelot. Prefer a castle? Its stunning Franco-British castle awaits you a few kilometers further on. The day ends in Boulogne-sur-Mer, overlooking the English Channel and the spectacular Nausicaá aquarium.

A spectacular stage! From Boulogne, the Vélomaritime cycle route takes you towards the Grand Site des Deux-Caps. The colorful villas of Wimereux gradually give way to the vast, wild landscapes of the Opal Coast.

Admire Cap Gris-Nez and the views of Cap Blanc-Nez before reaching Calais. Then, experience another change of scenery as you cross the Platier d'Oye nature reserve. In Gravelines, the ramparts designed by Vauban await you for the evening.

Today, a border disappears beneath your wheels. Leave Gravelines and cross Dunkirk, the corsair city of Jean Bart with its rich maritime heritage.

The Flanders Dunes then accompany you all the way to Belgium. A sign, a few pedal strokes, and you're in a new country! The day ends in Nieuwpoort, a charming Belgian coastal town and the final destination of your Vélomaritime adventure. Tomorrow, the North Sea continues to lead the way.

The North Sea becomes your guiding thread. Follow the Belgian coast to Ostend, where the cycle path offers beautiful views of the beach and the horizon.

Continue towards Zeebrugge and its port before gently approaching the Netherlands. Beaches, canals, and small harbors follow one after another until you reach Breskens. A third country beneath your wheels: welcome to the Netherlands!

Start the day with a ferry crossing to Vlissingen: before you lies Zeeland, a land of islands, peninsulas and cycle paths where water is never far away.

Cross the dunes before reaching one of the most impressive structures of the trip: the Oosterscheldekering, a gigantic storm surge barrier built by the Delta Works. Between the sea, dikes, and windmills, today you'll discover the Netherlands at its most iconic. The day ends in Haamstede.

Cross the dunes of Kop van Schouwen and take your first break facing the sea on Renesse beach. Then head towards Brouwersdam, with the water sometimes seeming to stretch out on either side of your bike.

Explore the narrow streets and small port of Goedereede before reaching another giant of the Delta Works: the Haringvlietdam. The day ends in Hoek van Holland, with the North Sea as a backdrop and Amsterdam slowly coming into view.

A day almost entirely spent surrounded by dunes and the sea. Follow the beaches and natural areas of Solleveld and the Kapittelduinen before reaching Scheveningen and its famous pier.

The trail then winds its way between sand, marram grass, and the sea horizon to Katwijk. Its lighthouse marks the final kilometers to Noordwijk, where the iconic water tower watches over the coast. Enjoy it while you can: tomorrow, Amsterdam awaits.

Last morning on the road! Leave Noordwijk and gradually leave the coast behind you. Cycle paths and canals guide you towards a city where cycling is not just a means of transport, but almost a way of life.

Then the first bridges appear, the narrow houses with gabled facades and the canals lined with bicycles: Amsterdam!

After 862 km and three countries, your grand European crossing ends in the heart of the Dutch capital. Put down your bike, look up and enjoy: you came all the way here from Paris, powered by your own two legs.