MAPS/ GUIDES WANTED: Netherlands, Belgium, France

[Noeta]

We're doing a short Amsterdam to Paris ride. The ride isn't until July, but we're planning the route & booking rooms in the next week or two. I can't get my hands on any maps or guides in a timely manner, so I'm looking to buy or borrow some.  Please drop me a line if you have anything that might help.

Thanks

[mathieu]

There are at least half a dozen different cycle routes Amsterdam - Paris documented in guides. Refering to the map in www.fietsrouteplanner.eu/index.php/fietsroutes/105-fietsen-in-het-spoor-van-vincent-van-gogh
I can point to  :
1. The North Sea coast route following bike paths along the coast until Boulogne sur Mer (route 6 on the map) and then dropping to Paris.
2. A variant on this that leaves the coast by going over Gent (Ghent) or Brugge (Brueghes)  to Ieper (Ypres) and dropping to Paris
3. The so-called Van Gogh route passing over Antwerpen, Brussel(s) - route 1 on the map
4. A variant over Eindhoven (where I live), joining the Van Gogh route in Brussels
5. A route passing over Eindhoven and Maastricht and joining a route coming from Aachen (Aken in dutch) - route 7 on the map
Depending on what you want to see  and taste (cities, art, history, beers, quiet roads?), you should select one of these. I could probably assist you in finding guides including maps and stages and lodging information, probably in dutch but probably not difficult to decipher.

I don't believe there is urgency in booking rooms, possibly excepting Paris and Amsterdam. If your ride is in July, booking in May seems quite timely.

[BobG]

For planning purposes you can look at Michelin maps online and scroll up to any level of detail you need. In France you can buy the local paper versions when you get there at any bookstore, "presse" or "tabac" shop. Not sure about the Netherlands and Belgium. If you use the bike routes option you need to limit your route to 200K per search for that function to work.

http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Maps/Map-France