We had back to back heat waves in Amboise, France, and after the last heat wave we needed to go somewhere inherently cool. So we hopped in the car and headed north.

First stop: Bruges, Belgium. We had been here before but it seemed like a good stop on the first day of our roadtrip. Bruges has charming views and corners wherever one looks. 

As we had previously explored the old central part of Bruges, we decided to rent bicycles and explore the area around Bruges. We followed the towpath along the main canal to the nearby village of Damme where we enjoyed lunch before riding back. The path is straight and flat, so the riding was relaxing.

After Bruges we stopped to see close friends in Amsterdam. The weather was perfect and we had a chance to see their garden allotment outside of Amsterdam, before dinner in Amsterdam.

The main destination was now at hand. Our friends in Amsterdam have spoken so fondly of the island of Vlieland, in the Wadden Sea. They had family connections to the island and passed down memories. We had heard of this haven from them for decades, and we looked forward to finally seeing this little island for ourselves.

From Amsterdam we drove to Harlingen, Netherlands and parked in one of huge car parks. Only locals are allowed to take cars to Vlieland so most people simply park and take the walk on ferry operated by Rederij Doeksen. Ninety minutes later we found ourselves in the only town on Vlieland, named Oost-Vlieland, and we walked the ten minutes to our hotel. 

Oost-Vlieland is a compact town arranged along one main road, with a few side roads to neighborhoods. It's a unique combination of locals who call this island home and a stream of mostly Dutch and German tourists, with us included. 

We rented e-bikes for the day, and were able to easily circle the island (with battery to spare!). On the east coast facing the mainland we peddled along an easy road through pine forests and a rocky coastline in the sunshine. 

Near the far southwestern end we stopped at famous outpost, the Posthuys, tempted by pancakes and poffertjes. 

From the Posthuys we joined a smooth gravel path that wound around sand dunes and grasses back to Oost-Vlieland. 

As a bonus, nearby Harglingen was hosting their annual Tall Ship Races, so the horizon was filled with classic sailing vessels heading to the races. The site of tall masts on the North Sea gave a strong nineteenth century painting vibe everywhere we looked.

It was a short week filled with sights, friends, and new destinations. We will definitely be back to spend more time on Vlieland. Vlieland is perfect for casual cycling so if you go, take or rent bikes!

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