Ode of an Englishman in Midden-Delfland

Several months ago, I was approached by the Midden-Delfland Vereniging to write a short extract of writing about my daily Cycle commute to work through the beautiful natural space of the Midden-Delfland in Zuid Holland Netherlands.

Of course, this was a great honour for me as not only am I passionate about Cycling, but I am an advocate for all things outdoors and actively seek opportunities to raise the profile of being active within our natural surroundings.

Every quarter (from 1977 onwards), the Central Delfland Association issues a beautiful magazine, a glossy publication with many facts about the Middle Delfland area. I was lucky enough to be asked to write a guest column in Dutch, and it would be published in the magazine.

You can read my short written piece in both English and Dutch below.

You can obtain the Midden Delfkrant here: MDkrant - Midden-Delfland Vereniging (middendelflandvereniging.nl)

Written extract

As an Englishman now living in a foreign land, I relish passing through the beautiful region of  Midden-Delfland on my cycle commute to work.

Having moved to the Netherlands some six years ago, I decided to leave public transport behind, and cycle to work instead.

Come rain or shine, and the strong southwesterly winds that so often blow, it now forms my regular daily route between Rotterdam and The Hague—providing many opportunities to revel in this idyllic stretch of open green space. It is an area that allows me to satisfy my own need to be among nature, be regularly active and in the outdoors.

This glorious landscape is an area I have begun to know well and I look forward, each day, to weaving my way on new and exciting routes, as I look to escape the urban sprawl that creeps in from The Hague in the north and Rotterdam to the south. This increase in urbanisation has characteristics of where I'm from in England, and I recognise the importance of preserving and maintaining our beautiful green spaces.

Early mornings here are so special. To witness a beautiful sunrise or a misty atmospheric moment offers many opportunities to instantly reach out for my smartphone and then look to capture this perfect moment in time and photograph the true essence of this impressive landscape and the many unique stories it withholds.

For me and my view of the Netherlands it offers the feeling of being typically Dutch, with long stretches of waterways, stretching across the flat landscape, vast exposed polders, windmills dotted here and there. Its calm and peaceful ambience makes me cherish these special moments out on my daily ride, where I feel the only company I need is that of this unique green, wide-open space.

Currently,  Midden-Delfland as a region is more significant than ever for many other like-minded souls like myself; it offers a place of solace, retreat and a location I can escape to, breathe, gather my thoughts, re-energise and focus.

Cycling here and wandering free reminds me of my childhood home in England, the Peak District. It too is an area of outstanding natural beauty. A place people warm to and relate to. A green space for which we should continually play our part to protect, preserve and enjoy, so that our days can be happy ones, spent among nature, wandering or pedalling free.

Thanks for reading!