Planning the Route and Getting Started

Saturday, July 15 was a free day on our trip itinerary, so I decided to test out the “numbered junction cycle network” that stretches across the Netherlands (and into surrounding countries, too). This system allows cyclists to navigate the web of bike-friendly trails and roads across the country by creating numbered routes and then following signs to the path intersections that correspond to those numbers. I am used to having to rely on Google Maps on my phone to navigate during bike rides, so I was intrigued by this system that, in theory, would allow me to find my way with just a list of numbers written on paper.

The system has a corresponding app, called “NodeMapp Bike,” that shows all the numbered intersections on an interactive map. It allows you to click on points to build a route. For example, if I wanted to bike from Utrecht to Amsterdam on bicycle-friendly roads and trails, I could click on a junction close to my location in Utrecht, and then on a junction close to where I want to end up in Amsterdam. The app would then generate a route that I could navigate by following the resulting string of numbers.

In addition to building routes the app also allows you to convert them to GPX files and share them. If you pay a subscription fee, you can also use the app to give you live navigation updates (Google Maps/GPS-style). I did not have the subscription, which meant that if I ever got off track I would have to flip back and forth between the NodeMapp Bike app and my Google Maps app to figure out how to get back onto the route.

I did not have anywhere in particular I wanted to go, so I started at the point closest to the hostel, and then clicked in a loop around Utrecht to the North, West, and South. I was curious to see what kind of roads/trails I would end up on, and whether there would be any interesting “roadside attractions.”

Armed with my rental bike, my list of target intersections, my phone for backup navigation, and some snacks, I set out on my journey.

Ease of Navigation

Overall, I found this method of navigation to be quite intuitive. In most areas, signage clearly indicated when and in which direction to turn to stay on course to the next waypoint. I was a little surprised by how many extra intersections and turns there were between numbers (in other words, not every single intersection in the country is numbered). In hindsight though, this makes sense because numbering every intersection would be impractical, and not all intersections have offshoots that are bike-friendly.

There were a few occasions where I either missed a sign or no sign was present, and I traveled for a while in the wrong direction. I could usually tell when I was off track because I encountered several turns where there was no signage. At that point, I would dismount my bike, compare my location on Google Maps to the route in the NodeMapp Bike app, and navigate back onto the route. This part was tedious, but it happened only a few times, mostly in busier city areas where things were more complicated — more signs, roads, trails, and intersections to distract me. In total, my route ended up being three miles longer as a result of wrong turns and redirections.

Road and Trail Types and Comfort Level

The route was an interesting combination of separate bike trails (mostly paved, but a little bit of gravel too), neighborhood streets, and quiet country roads. For the entire ride, I felt completely safe and comfortable on my bike.

Here are some examples of the roads and trails:

Roadside Attractions

As I mentioned above, I did not plan to go anywhere in particular on this ride, but even still I found plenty of reasons to stop and take in the sights.

Here are some of the highlights:

Conclusion

By the time I got back to the hostel, I found that I had thoroughly satisfied my thirst for adventure for the day. I was happily exhausted, felt that I had experienced a significant swathe of the area, and got to see some “cool stuff.”

As I reflected on my experience, I was excited by the possibilities that the numbered junction cycle network provides. If, for example, I wanted to go out again tomorrow, I could use the app to create an entirely new route that I could access right from my front door. I also like the fact that the network is so widespread – I love the option of being able to get pretty much anywhere without having to worry about accidentally turning onto a non-bike friendly stretch of road. I would love to see something like this at home in the US!