Netherlands, the provinces of North and South Holland. Cycling tour through the flower region of Bollenstreek: from Haarlem to Leiden through tulip fields and Keukenhof Park. Difficulty: easy. Season: April - early May.

🚲 Start from Haarlem, ideally after an early breakfast and an easy warm-up through the southern neighborhoods of the city. Finish — Lisse or the Keukenhof area. Approximate distance: 34–42 km depending on loops through the dunes and field roads. Pure riding time without long stops: about 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 15 min. Elevation gain is small, approximately 60–90 m for the day: these are not mountains, but gentle dune waves and small bridges. Surface is mostly excellent: separate cycle paths, urban asphalt, quiet rural roads, short sections of compact gravel or paving near parking areas and park entrances. Difficulty for an average tourist — easy. Main stops along the way: 1) Bezoekerscentrum De Kennemerduinen in Overveen as a convenient first break with water, toilet and bike parking; 2) Vogelenzang and the surrounding fields as the most photogenic section of the day; 3) The landscape around Landgoed Keukenhof and the approach to Lisse. The day is realistic because the distance is short, the profile is flat, services appear regularly, and traffic in the region is well adapted to everyday bicycle use. It is important to remember a seasonal nuance: in April and on May holiday weekends, there can be a lot of people around Keukenhof and Lisse, so it is better to leave Haarlem early and reach the park before the midday peak. Water and food are easy to restock in Haarlem before the start, then at Visitor Centre De Kennemerduinen, in cafés along the way through Vogelenzang, and finally in Lisse. The most logical overnight stay is in Lisse or in the nearest part of the route between Lisse and the northern edge of Leiden, so that the second day stays short and relaxed. Road nuances: it is better to ride via the cycle paths through Overveen and farther south, avoiding haste on approaches to large intersections; in strong westerly winds, open field sections feel longer than they look on the map. For an average tourist, this is a very comfortable first day: little climbing, many scenic stops, easy navigation through the cycling network, and plenty of time for photos of the tulip fields.

🚲 Start — Lisse or the Keukenhof area, finish — the historic center of Leiden. Approximate distance: 28–36 km if you include relaxed loops along flower roads and the approach to central Leiden via the canals. Pure riding time without long stops: about 2–2 hr 45 min. Elevation gain is symbolic, around 25–45 m. The surface is almost ideal for a tourist: asphalt cycle paths, local roads with low traffic speed, waterfronts, polder sections and short urban stretches of cobblestones in central Leiden. Difficulty — easy. Main stops along the way: 1) Keukenhof in the morning, while there are fewer visitor flows in the park and on the approaches; 2) Sassenheim or Teylingen as a convenient coffee break in the middle of the route; 3) Warmond and the lake-and-polder section before Leiden, where the route becomes especially calm and pastoral. Water and snacks are convenient to take at the start near Keukenhof or in Lisse, then restock in Sassenheim or Warmond, and save a full lunch for Leiden. It is best to stay overnight in Leiden itself: the city is pleasant for an evening walk on foot after returning the bike, and from the station it is easy to continue elsewhere in the country. Road nuances: in bloom season, the approaches to Keukenhof are very busy with cyclists, pedestrians and tour buses, so the last kilometers around the park are best done without racing; on open sections along the polders, crosswinds occur; in the center of Leiden it is worth reducing speed because of pedestrians, bridges and narrow historic streets. The day is realistic for an average cycle tourist because the distance is moderate, almost the whole route runs through flat terrain, and the intensity of impressions is balanced by short time in the saddle. This is an ideal second day: calmly see the park and fields, and then ride without hurry to a beautiful urban finish by the canals of Leiden.