CITY CYCLING: Cycling tour combines culture and climate protection

At the invitation of the city of Bocholt, 20 cyclists set off on a "German-Dutch bike tour". As part of the CITY CYCLING campaign, they combined culture and climate protection. The city of Bocholt has announced that another public cycle tour will take place on 20 May.

Under the motto "for the climate to the freedom meal", the route first led to the cross-border so-called "freedom meal" in Dinxperlo in the Netherlands, where they met up with a Dutch cycling group from Aalten. At the market in Dinxperlo, a sign for peace and freedom was jointly set at the "freedom meal".

After this stop, the Bocholt night watchman, Florian Sauret, led the group along the border to various historically significant places, peppered with many episodes and anecdotes about border history. "The best way to explore the green border between Germany and the Netherlands is by bike", explains Sascha Terörde from the City of Bocholt's Climate Protection Department. So the entertaining cycle tour followed former smugglers' trails with stories about centuries-old border conflicts back to Bocholt.

On the approximately 31 km long route, the participants cycled a total of 600 km for the City of Bocholt's CITY CYCLING account. In this CITY CYCLING competition, cities of the same size across Germany compare themselves for the title of the most bicycle-active municipality. Until 21 May, everyone can still make their contribution to bringing Bocholt back to the top ranks after second place last year. Information on taking part in the CITY CYCLING competition can be found at www.bocholt.de/stadtradeln.

This "German-Dutch cycle tour - for the climate for a freedom meal" was made possible by the Interreg programme Germany-Netherlands and its programme partners, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and supported by EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt.

Next cycle tour on 20 May

Another cycle tour will take place on the penultimate day of STADTRADELN, on Monday. 20 May. It leads "in the footsteps of Rembrandt"s favourites again across the border to Breedevoort, combined with a historical city tour and a visit to the "de Borgham" brewery. Registration for this cycle tour is possible via klimaschutz(at)bocholt(dot)de. The number of participants is limited. Participation is free of charge.