Istidsruten Holbæk Loop – a circular ride through fjord country

The Holbæk Loop is a 24-kilometre cycling route that winds through the landscape around Holbæk and the inner reaches of Holbæk Fjord. The route belongs to the larger Istidsruten (Ice Age Route) network and works both as a standalone circular ride and as a side loop off the main route between Roskilde and Sjællands Odde.

From the railway town into open country

The ride starts and finishes at Holbæk Station, where regional train connections make it easy to combine cycling with public transport. From the station the route heads south along quiet residential streets and paths before the landscape opens up in the rolling moraine terrain south of the fjord. Here the views alternate between cultivated fields, small patches of woodland and glimpses of water.

This is a landscape that bears clear marks of the Ice Age. The hills are gentle and rounded – left behind by the enormous glaciers that pushed across Zealand roughly 15,000 years ago. Between the ridges lie small valleys and hollows where meltwater once found its way to the fjord.

Along Holbæk Fjord

The northern stretch of the route follows the fjord coast closely, and here you really sense Holbæk’s maritime soul. Holbæk Fjord reaches like a broad waterway into the interior, and on still days the surrounding hills are mirrored in its surface. Along the shore you pass jetties, small bathing spots and the old fishermen’s cottages that recall the fjord’s long history as a lifeline for the area’s inhabitants.

At Holbæk Harbour there is an opportunity to pause at the quayside, where cafés and restaurants serve with views across the water. The harbour district has undergone a transformation in recent years and has become a gathering point for locals and visitors alike.

A landscape shaped by ice

What makes the Holbæk Loop special is the geological story lying just beneath the surface. The route passes several spots where the Ice Age landscape is particularly visible – from the elevated moraine plateaus with wide views to the narrow valley channels where streams still follow the same courses the meltwater carved thousands of years ago.

Holbæk Municipality sits in the middle of a belt of Ice Age landscapes stretching across Zealand. That makes the area one of the best places to experience Denmark’s geological heritage on two wheels – accessible, varied and with constantly changing vistas.

Experiences in the area

Holbæk offers plenty of experiences beyond the ride itself. Holbæk Museum tells the story of the town and fjord, while the Garden and Outdoor Centre is an obvious stop for families. Along the fjord there are fine bathing beaches, and the narrow streets of the old market town invite a stroll after the ride.

Find more ideas for activities and excursions in West Zealand at destinationsjaelland.dk.