Initial roadtrip wiki: Walldorf → IoM → Wild Atlantic Way

Route: Germany → Hoek van Holland ferry → England → Isle of Man → Ireland (Wild Atlantic Way cycling). Includes location files, AI context, contributing guide, and README with ferry/logistics table.
2026-08-03 11:51:37 +02:00
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+# Route: Walldorf → Hoek van Holland
+
+> **Type:** Drive
+> **Distance:** ~530 km
+> **Drive time:** ~5–6 hours (without stops)
+> **Best for:** Driving with 1–2 stops
+
+## Route Overview
+Walldorf → A5 north → Cologne (optional stop) → A57/A3 → Dutch border → Utrecht → The Hague → Hoek van Holland
+
+Alternatively via Cologne → Düsseldorf → Arnhem for a slightly different angle through the Netherlands.
+
+## Recommended Stops
+
+### Cologne (Köln) — 3h from Walldorf
+The cathedral alone is worth a stop. Pull off, park near the Domplatte, and spend an hour.
+- **Kölner Dom** — Gothic cathedral, one of the world's largest. Free entry, towers cost ~€6. The view from the top is worth it if you have time.
+- **Hohenzollernbrücke** — Love-lock bridge right next to the Dom, good photo with the cathedral spire.
+- **Altstadt** — 15-minute walk, old town with brewhouses serving Kölsch in small cylindrical glasses.
+
+### Utrecht — 1.5h from Cologne
+A smaller, quieter Amsterdam with canals at street level rather than road level. Very walkable.
+- **Domtoren** — 112m church tower, tallest in the Netherlands. Views across the flat lowlands.
+- **Oudegracht** — The canal with wharf-level cellars now turned into cafés and restaurants.
+- **Cycle infrastructure** — World-class cycling city; if you need to test any gear, this is the place.
+
+### Delft — 30 min before Hoek van Holland
+Optional quick stop if you're not pressed for time.
+- **Markt** — Beautiful central square with the Nieuwe Kerk and City Hall facing each other
+- **Vermeer connection** — Girl with a Pearl Earring was painted here; small Vermeer museum
+
+## Practical Info
+- **Total drive:** Leave Walldorf by 7am to reach Hoek van Holland comfortably before an evening/overnight ferry
+- **Dutch motorways:** Toll-free; watch for 100 km/h speed limits (strictly enforced by cameras)
+- **Fuel:** Fill up before crossing into Netherlands — German prices are lower
+- **Parking in Utrecht:** P+R lots on the outskirts are cheap; old town is cyclist-priority
+
+## Ferry Connection
+See `02-hoek-van-holland.md` for ferry details.