This tour starts at the Shell gas station on the Larserdreef in Lelystad (Flevoland). Here we can refuel, have a cup of coffee, eat a sandwich and buy something to drink and eat for the road before departure. Although that is not necessary because there are several possibilities to drink and/or eat something along the route.

We drive through the polder to Elburg, in Lelystad we can consider a short visit to the Aviodrome Aviation Museum. This is the largest Dutch museum for aviation and space travel. You can see, read and hear, do and experience a lot here. Imagine yourself as a real pilot in the flight simulators or experience a lifelike flying adventure in the 4D cinema or take a sightseeing flight in the Cessna 172 and the Fokker Four.

We drive from Elburg over beautiful country roads to De Zande where we turn onto the Zalkerdijk, this dike road winds along the IJssel and is a pleasure to drive. We cross the IJssel at Hattem and drive around Zwolle to Hasselt, where we stop briefly at the almost 100 year old Streukelerzijl pumping station. This pumping station provides drainage for the Haerst - Genne area and was established by the then water board De Noorder Vechtdijken. With a total capacity of 1,200 cubic meters per minute, the pumping station plays a crucial role in the water management of the polders behind it, which lie around the NAP zero line.

From Hasselt we drive via Meppel to Giethoorn, the most beautiful and fairytale village in the Netherlands without highways. The residents can only travel around by boat, walk or bike. Every year more than 1 million tourists visit the Dutch Venice. You can take a break here to have a drink or something to eat, you can also rent a boat to explore the beautiful village from the water. Keep in mind that it is very busy during the holiday season and on weekends.

We continue around the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the national park is the largest contiguous lowland peat bog in North-West Europe. The park was founded in 1992. The park consists of two merged nature reserves: Weerribben and Wieden. In the north of the area it is not far from the Frisian nature reserve the Lindevallei, in the south it connects to the Olde Maten. In the west of the area there is a grass polder with a sea dike (Hammerdijk) towards the Noordoostpolder of the province of Flevoland.

We drive over the Hammerdijk back towards Flevoland, along this winding dike the consequences of the various floods can still be seen in the form of small lakes in the bends of the dike, after each dike breach a deep hole was created behind the dike, in which the water remained. Two major floods occurred in 1776 and 1825 and caused great devastation in Blankenham. On 4 February 1825 the dike breached in no less than six places. In Blankenham we stop at one of the cannons that were used to warn the population when high water threatened.

We stop in Blokzijl, a small town in the Kop van Overijssel and a popular tourist spot among water sports enthusiasts and day trippers. In the harbor there are a number of restaurants where you can have a drink and a bite to eat.
The next short stop is just outside Blokzijl at pumping station AF Stroink. This imposing and iconic building has made an indelible impression on Vollenhove and the surrounding area. Built in 1919 and a national monument since 1997, it is an important piece of industrial heritage in the battle against the water. It is still in use and an extremely important work of art in the water management of Northwest Overijssel. Without this pumping station, large parts of the Kop van Overijssel would be flooded during heavy rainfall.

Via Hasselt we drive to Kampen, a centuries-old Hanseatic city with a vibrant character. Actually just like an open-air museum, where history and atmosphere come together. Admire the iconic skyline along the IJssel, walk over the City Bridge with golden wheels and discover the impressive city gates and monumental city center. Definitely worth planning a break here. From Kampen we drive along the Ketelmeer via Swifterbant back to Lelystad.