Cycling tours in the northwest: Dollard route is booming and strengthening the economy!

Cycling tours in the northwest: Dollard route is booming and strengthening the economy!

Cycling tours are becoming increasingly popular in northwest Germany and make a significant contribution to the region's economy. Especially that one nwzonline.de highlights that important cycle paths such as the Weser cycle path, the Ems cycle path and the Dollard route attract thousands of tourists every year. The International Dollard Route (IDR) stretches over 354 kilometers and welcomes around 70,000 cyclists annually who want to take advantage of the region's welcoming offerings. The route was launched in 1996 and was expanded by 45 kilometers in Midden-Groningen in 2025. This expansion offers cyclists additional potential for new experiences and sights in the Dutch-German border area.

Cyclists spend on average up to 130 euros per day when staying for one or two nights. For longer tours, the expenses are reduced to around 117 euros per day. Day trippers spend around 32 euros per person. The increasing expenditure is a clear indicator that cycle tourism is not only a leisure activity, but also an important economic sector that particularly supports the hotel and catering industry.

The Dollard route in focus

The Dollard route generates around six million euros in sales annually. Over half of cyclists use this route for day trips, with 88 percent of users being over 45 years old. The MS “Dollard” ferry service, which runs between Ditzum, Emden and Delfzijl from May to the end of September, is also vital for tourism. However, a growing concern is the lack of dining options along the route, particularly for lunch. An improvement in the catering infrastructure is considered necessary to better meet the needs of cyclists.

In addition to the Dollard route, the Weser cycle path, Germany's most popular cycle path, attracts over 150,000 cycle tourists every year. Cyclists spend an average of around 100 euros per day on this route. The growing popularity of cycling tours is also reflected in the results ADFC-Radreiseanalyse, which has been studying the cycling behavior of the German population since 1999. This nationwide survey provides important data about travelers and their needs, which is invaluable to tourism organizations and municipalities.

Important findings from the cycle trip analysis

The ADFC cycle travel analysis surveys around 10,000 people across Germany and records numerous criteria, including socio-demographics, information behavior before and during the trip and the most popular travel destinations. The results of the 25th ADFC cycle trip analysis were published on March 6, 2024 at the ITB international tourism trade fair in Berlin and are now also available on YouTube. The next analysis will be carried out in 2025 and the results are announced for 2026.

The combination of natural landscapes, attractive cycle paths and tourist services not only strengthens the region, but also helps to create awareness of the importance of cycling in Germany. Continuous observation and analysis of trends in cycle tourism is crucial in order to understand the requirements of cyclists and to set the tourism focus accordingly.