North Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo 12): bikepacking plan & riding days
EuroVelo 12 is a signposted circuit around the North Sea coast, linking Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK. It is billed as the longest signposted cycle route in the world.
Good conditions68.3riding daysno wind, no rain, mild temperature
Tough conditions99.7riding daysmoderate headwind and light rain on every segment
Estimate from BikepackPilot's model: base pace 110 km/day on asphalt, adjusted per 50 km segment for surface, wind and rain. Rest days not included. Your own numbers will differ – that's what the app is for.
Route map
Route line from OpenStreetMap, simplified – for planning, not navigation. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Map style: CyclOSM.
Key facts
| Distance | about 7,250 km on the current official EuroVelo listing (older sources say about 6,000 km or 5,942 km) |
|---|---|
| Start | Bergen, Norway (circuit; start point is arbitrary) |
| Finish | Bergen, Norway (circuit; the route links to Orkney and Shetland, with a ferry to Norway) |
| Countries | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, United Kingdom |
| Surface | 85% asphalt, 13% gravel, 2% technical gravel (estimated mix for this plan) |
| Typical duration (sources) | 60 to 90 days for experienced cyclists riding around 70–100 km per day (one tour operator's estimate) |
About the route
- The official EuroVelo listing gives the route as 7,250 km; older sources quote about 6,000 km or 5,942 km, so published lengths differ.
- The route forms a circuit around the North Sea and passes through eight countries, including both England and Scotland in the UK.
- The German section is roughly 920 km, running from Bad Nieuweschans via Emden, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven and Hamburg to Ruttebüll at the Danish border, mostly on tarmac.
- Landscapes range from below-sea-level Netherlands to high cliffs and fjords in Norway.
Planning notes
- The route is built from national routes, so signs and route names change at each border; check the local numbering as you cross.
- The southern coast (Netherlands, Belgium, northern France) and the Schleswig-Holstein coast are flat, while Norway and Scotland are much hillier.
- Expect open, exposed coastline in many places, so wind direction can matter a lot on the dykes and beaches.
Plan your own North Sea Cycle Route plan in minutes
Enter your real distance, set surface, heat, wind and rain for each 50 km segment and get realistic riding days – plus a gear list that adapts to your conditions, water and food nearby and a safety check-in. Works offline, in English, Polish, German and Spanish.
The route in 50 km segments
Show all 145 segments
| Segment | Surface | Days (good) | Days (tough) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–50 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 50–100 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 100–150 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 150–200 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 200–250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 250–300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 300–350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 350–400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 400–450 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 450–500 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 500–550 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 550–600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 600–650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 650–700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 700–750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 750–800 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 800–850 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 850–900 km | Technical gravel | 0.65 | 1.14 |
| 900–950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 950–1,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,000–1,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,050–1,100 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 1,100–1,150 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,150–1,200 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,200–1,250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,250–1,300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,300–1,350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,350–1,400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,400–1,450 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 1,450–1,500 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,500–1,550 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,550–1,600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,600–1,650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,650–1,700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,700–1,750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,750–1,800 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 1,800–1,850 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,850–1,900 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,900–1,950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 1,950–2,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,000–2,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,050–2,100 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,100–2,150 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 2,150–2,200 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,200–2,250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,250–2,300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,300–2,350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,350–2,400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,400–2,450 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,450–2,500 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,500–2,550 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 2,550–2,600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,600–2,650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,650–2,700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,700–2,750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,750–2,800 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,800–2,850 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,850–2,900 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 2,900–2,950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 2,950–3,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,000–3,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,050–3,100 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,100–3,150 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,150–3,200 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,200–3,250 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 3,250–3,300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,300–3,350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,350–3,400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,400–3,450 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,450–3,500 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,500–3,550 km | Technical gravel | 0.65 | 1.14 |
| 3,550–3,600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,600–3,650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,650–3,700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,700–3,750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,750–3,800 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 3,800–3,850 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,850–3,900 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,900–3,950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 3,950–4,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,000–4,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,050–4,100 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,100–4,150 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 4,150–4,200 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,200–4,250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,250–4,300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,300–4,350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,350–4,400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,400–4,450 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,450–4,500 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 4,500–4,550 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,550–4,600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,600–4,650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,650–4,700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,700–4,750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,750–4,800 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,800–4,850 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 4,850–4,900 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,900–4,950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 4,950–5,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,000–5,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,050–5,100 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,100–5,150 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,150–5,200 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 5,200–5,250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,250–5,300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,300–5,350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,350–5,400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,400–5,450 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,450–5,500 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,500–5,550 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 5,550–5,600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,600–5,650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,650–5,700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,700–5,750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,750–5,800 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,800–5,850 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,850–5,900 km | Technical gravel | 0.65 | 1.14 |
| 5,900–5,950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 5,950–6,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,000–6,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,050–6,100 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 6,100–6,150 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,150–6,200 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,200–6,250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,250–6,300 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,300–6,350 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,350–6,400 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,400–6,450 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 6,450–6,500 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,500–6,550 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,550–6,600 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,600–6,650 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,650–6,700 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,700–6,750 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,750–6,800 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 6,800–6,850 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,850–6,900 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,900–6,950 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 6,950–7,000 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 7,000–7,050 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 7,050–7,100 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 7,100–7,150 km | Gravel | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| 7,150–7,200 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| 7,200–7,250 km | Asphalt | 0.45 | 0.65 |
FAQ
How many days does it take to bikepack North Sea Cycle Route?
With BikepackPilot's default pace of 110 km per day on asphalt, the 7,250 km route takes about 68.3 riding days in good conditions and about 99.7 days with moderate headwind and light rain, using the surface mix shown on this page. Rest days are not included.
How long is North Sea Cycle Route?
about 7,250 km on the current official EuroVelo listing (older sources say about 6,000 km or 5,942 km), from Bergen, Norway (circuit; start point is arbitrary) to Bergen, Norway (circuit; the route links to Orkney and Shetland, with a ferry to Norway).
What surface is North Sea Cycle Route?
For this plan we assume 85% asphalt, 13% gravel, 2% technical gravel (estimated mix for this plan). In BikepackPilot you set the surface for each 50 km segment yourself.
Sources
- EuroVelo 12 – North Sea Cycle Route (official EuroVelo site)
- EV12 North Sea Cycle Route – Wikipedia
- North Sea Cycle Route – Germany Travel
- EuroVelo 12 – VeloPlanner
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