Sandy Gravel Ride across the Royal Kroondomein in the Netherlands with Grupetto Sterrato

Route Description

For this gravel ride we joined the Grupetto Sterrato crew for a lap across Kroondomein Het Loo. We started at Bospaviljoen ‘t Leesten on the 11th of July 2026, riding into a proper Dutch summer after a long dry spell, so the sand was as loose as it gets.

Kroondomein is best known for its rolling, wide gravel roads that let you rack up kilometers without hitting pavement. This route takes a different angle: instead of sticking to the fast gravel, it dives into more forest trails and sandy stretches, giving a rougher and more technical feel to the ride. In a few spots the sand gets deep enough so that some of you’ll be pushing the bike rather than riding it. Expect pushing hard in some places to keep the wheels turning the entire way.

About halfway we ducked off the main trail for a short detour to a waterpoint at Gortel, a welcome stop to refill bottles before continuing through the rest of the estate back towards ‘t Leesten.

Further comments on the ride: a proper hard gravel day out, less about smashing kilometers and more about testing yourself in the sand. Good company from the Grupetto Sterrato group made the tougher sections a lot more fun.

• Tip: Kroondomein Het Loo is closed to visitors every year between 15 September and 25 December, so plan outside that window.
• Tip: Run wider or lower-pressure tires if you can. With this much loose sand you’ll want the extra float.