Round Loosdrechtse Plassen

Literally on the border of North Holland and Utrecht, your bike route starts. Hollandsche Rading is located in the municipality of De Bilt, Utrecht. Rading, which also means border or line, was the center of wars in the Middle Ages to determine that border. You head towards Nieuw Loosdrecht and pass large grasslands. Typical of this area are the many ditches that run through the landscape like a fan. Originally this area was too marshy for agricultural purposes. To dewater it, ditches were dug to the Utrechtse Vecht. The resulting low moor was dry enough to be used as grazing land. The Loosdrechtse Plassen form the central part of the Natura 2000 area called the Eastern Vechtplassen. You cycle along the dikes with water on both your left and right. Along the Vecht you meander south and cycle parallel to the many ditches towards Hollandsche Rading.