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Section 3: Harlingen - Dokkum | Eleven Cities Bicycle Route

(80.0 km)

This section of the Eleven Cities bicycle route takes you through three of Friesland’s eleven cities: Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum. These northern cities

are all quite large by Frisian standards: you will find plenty of shops, small terraces, museums and much more. 

Yet they are different in nature. Harlingen is a real port city, Franeker was once a university city and Dokkum is actually a place of pilgrimage.  

You cycle from cycling junction to cycling junction, past charming little towns and villages separated by vast stretches of countryside. You also cycle along part of the Wadden Sea dike.

Along the way you will see the new signs for the Elfstedentocht bicycle route. If you are cycling the route in the clockwise direction, follow the green signs. If you are cycling the route in the anticlockwise direction, follow the blue signs.

T…

This section of the Eleven Cities bicycle route takes you through three of Friesland’s eleven cities: Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum. These northern cities

are all quite large by Frisian standards: you will find plenty of shops, small terraces, museums and much more. 

Yet they are different in nature. Harlingen is a real port city, Franeker was once a university city and Dokkum is actually a place of pilgrimage.  

You cycle from cycling junction to cycling junction, past charming little towns and villages separated by vast stretches of countryside. You also cycle along part of the Wadden Sea dike.

Along the way you will see the new signs for the Elfstedentocht bicycle route. If you are cycling the route in the clockwise direction, follow the green signs. If you are cycling the route in the anticlockwise direction, follow the blue signs.

This section of the route also takes you through Het Bildt, where the fertile clay soil of the reclaimed land in this part of Friesland produces an abundant variety of potatoes. The long dikes wind their way past monumental farmhouses and simple workers’ cottages.

Sights on this route

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Harlingen (Harns)

Harlingen is de Elfstedenstad aan het Wad. Een prachtige stad met een nautisch heden en verleden, gebouwd op de bodem van de oude zee...

Bezoek Harlingen

Harlingen (Harns) Harlingen stad
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11Fountains Harlingen

Harlingen used to be all about whaling. Nowadays we no longer kill these big and grandiose animals, but prefer to conserve them.

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11Fountains Harlingen
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Franeker (Frjentsjer)

The Elfsteden city Franeker is a captivating town with its rich university history. For many years, this city was home to numerous students, including well-known names such as Descartes.

Bezoek Franeker

Franeker (Frjentsjer) Franeker
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11Fountains Franeker

The fountain is an ode to the world-famous astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, who was born in Franeker. His assumption that a ‘cloud’ of billions of comet-like objects is moving around our solar system was a breakthrough in astronomy

Read more

11Fountains Franeker
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Dokkum (Dokkum)

Dokkum is de meest noordelijk gelegen Elfstedenstad, ze ontstond nadat deze plek een bedevaartsoord werd na de moord op Bonifatius in 754.

Bezoek Dokkum

Dokkum (Dokkum) Dokkum kerk en fontein
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11Fountains Dokkum

The Ice Fountain is a toy for the elements and no two days are the same. The ice draws patterns on the copper surface layer of the sculpture.

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11Fountains Dokkum
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Elfstedentocht Turning Point

Sit on a bench shaped like a traditional Frisian ice skate next to the famous turning point on the Elfstedentocht route. This is one of Dokkum’s most popular Instagram hotspots!

Meer informatie

Elfstedentocht Turning Point Doorlopers bankjes bij Keerpunt Dokkum
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Directions

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Bebording:
Onderweg volg je de Elfstedenroute bordjes. De groene bordjes zijn voor de route met de klok mee (zoals de route op deze website is aangegeven). De blauwe bordjes zijn voor de route tegen de klok in.

Openbaar vervoer:
Kom je met het OV naar Friesland? In Harlingen stopt de Arriva trein. En in Dokkum de Arriva bus. Je fiets mag mee in de trein (koop wel een speciaal ticket hiervoor). 

Horeca onderweg:
Klik op de rode knoppen bij de plaatsnamen in de lijst onder 'dit ga je zien' om een logeeradres of restaurant voor onderweg te vinden.  

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