Fietselfstedentocht, live.

235 km past the eleven cities of Friesland in one day

The Fietselfstedentocht is a 235 km touring ride past the eleven cities of Friesland, held every year on Whit Monday from Bolsward.

The 2027 ride is on Monday 17 May, Whit Monday, and marks 115 years of the Fietselfstedentocht. The first edition was held in 1912, and since 1947 the ride has taken place every year. It is organised by Stichting De Friese Elfsteden Rijwieltocht, largely run by volunteers.

It is not a race but a one day challenge ride. Participants start in 23 groups in the centre of Bolsward between 05:00 and 08:00, a group of about 650 every 8 minutes, and the last group leaves at 07:56. Along the 235 km you collect 15 stamps, one in every city and also in Holwerd and Oudemirdum, and you must reach the final control in Bolsward by 24:00. Time controls in Dokkum, Bolsward and Stavoren are based on an average of 25 km/h, so nobody can turn the day into a race.

The route is marked with large yellow arrows on the road. Riders bring most of their own food, though the organiser hands out an apple in Bartlehiem and a cup of soup at the intermediate control in Bolsward, and there are food posts in Winsum and Kippenburg. Some people ride in colourful costumes on an ordinary bike.

Entry is capped at 15,000. Open registration for 2027, for anyone aged 16 or over, runs from 27 November to 20 December 2026, followed by a draw on 21 December if there are more entries than places. In 2026 the ride counted 14,395 finishers. For an overnight stay there is a special 11-cities campsite on the sports fields in Bolsward.

On Livebib you can follow a cyclist who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from the organiser.