Netherlands: The Big Five

The Big Five was built in collaboration with Cobbles Cycling and The Gravelracer, two names the Dutch gravel community knows well. The route covers the five gravel regions that serious riders talk about: the Veluwe, the Kroondomein, the Sallandse Heuvelrug, the Achterhoek, and Montferland. Four to six days, nearly 450 km and beyond, starting and ending in Arnhem near the train station.

This is not a beginner route. Daily distances run between 108 and 117 km. The climbing is real, especially on day 4 where you hit the Posbank. But it's also not chaos. The route is tested, the accommodations are handpicked, and Kees is reachable by WhatsApp from day one to day six.

You'll visit Radio Kootwijk and the royal forests of the Kroondomein on day 1, the beautiful Sallandse Heuvelrug on day 2, ancient oak-lined lanes in the Achterhoek on day 3, and the famous Posbank climb on the final push home. These are places most Dutch cyclists have heard of and never done in sequence. Four days makes the full loop possible, with the option to take five or six days for a more relaxed pace.

Terrain: Mixed gravel roads, forest paths, singletracks, cobblestones, and some asphalt

You ride on your own terms, with the people you booked with. No unknown group to keep up with, no fixed pace. We take care of the route, the accommodation, and the backup. The GPS is loaded, the beds are booked, and Kees is reachable if anything comes up. You just ride.