ROUTECARD – HOOK OF HOLLAND TO MINDEN
(Distances in miles, from the off-ramp of the ferry).
General points:
- The motorways in Holland do not always follow a logical pattern. Occasionally, although the map tells you to carry on ahead, you may have to turn off at forks. Don’t ask me why, but I have tried to warn you about some of those odd junctions below.
- Many of the roads share both European and National numbers. I have tried to give the most obvious European number.
- Although the German autobahns are famous for their speed, do not assume that you can drive as fast as you want all the time. Occasionally you will encounter speed restrictions (for roadworks etc) at which the German police at hot on using mobile speed cameras.
- Once in German towns, at traffic lights, if turning Right or Left, you must give way to pedestrians or cyclists. Knocking a cyclist off a bike is not recommended.
- Lastly, at most road junctions it is pretty obvious which is the main road with priority. However, at unmarked small country crossroads, give way to traffic coming from the right.
Initially – Follow signs for Rotterdam (E25, E30).
2 miles – Follow E25 Rotterdam (right fork).
5 miles – Note the quaint old customs house. Straight ahead for Rotterdam.
7 miles – Turn right, signed Rotterdam.
9.1 miles – Follow E25 Utrecht.
46.7 miles – E30/E35 (A12) Amersfoort.
50.3 miles – E30 Amersfoort (right hand lane),
then stay alert for…52.7 miles – E30 Amersfoort (keep in right hand lane).
66.2 miles – Straight ahead, following signs for Apeldoorn,
then stay alert for…66.7 miles – Turn off right, follow E30 Apeldoorn.
67.5 miles – Take right fork towards Apeldoorn.
73.1 miles – Keep straight on towards Apeldoorn.
88.9 miles – Keep straight on.
91.5 miles – Keep straight on.
93.1 miles – Keep straight on, E30 Hengelo.
NB. 111.8 miles – Service Station with McDonalds (possible rest stop).
122.9 miles – Take right fork, E30 Enschede.
124.9 miles – Take left fork, E30 Osnabruck.
NB 140.3 miles – Dutch-German border.
148.6 miles – Keep straight on, E30 Osnabruck.
179.1 miles – Keep straight on, E30 Hannover/Osnabruck.
185.7 miles – Keep straight on, E30 Hannover.
NB. 216 miles Battle of Lohne-Gohfeld, but carry straight on towards Hannover/Bad Oeynhausen.
219 miles – The road enters Bad Oeynhausen. Follow the main road,
but stay alert for a lane change and then a turn…220.5 miles – After Burger King and Shell garage, get into Left hand lane.
220.8 miles – At the lights turn Left, signed Minden. After the turn, stay in the Right lane.
NB. 222.4 miles – For info, the Minden Ridge is straight ahead, and to the right is the Minden Gap of Porta Westfalica.
225.7 miles – Take right fork, Route 482, signed Porta Westfalica. Up the slip road, get into Left hand lane. At the lights at the T-Junction, turn left. After the turn, get into the Right hand lane, signed Potts Park.
You are now on the outskirts of Minden. Follow signs for the Zentrum (centre) and then for the Hauptbahnhof/Bahnhof (Hbf)(railway station). Fort C is almost opposite the entrance to the station.
RETURN ROUTE – MINDEN TO HOOK OF HOLLAND
I have not gone into the same detail, as the return journey always seems easier.
Don’t forget my point about Dutch signs, and reset your trip meter as you may want it at about the 160 mile point.
In general, follow the signs for:
-Porta Westfalica.
-Bad Oeynhausen.
-E30 towards Osnabruck/Amsterdam.
-Utrecht.
-At about 160 miles, watch the junction and then a lane change shortly afterwards.
-Rotterdam.
-Hoek van Holland.
The final 10 miles or so to the ferry can sometimes be slow (single lanes). If you are tempted to call in at Delft, you may find parking awkward and the final approach to the ferry slower than you expected (lots of heavy trucks on single lane roads).