typically.nl

You have heard this before: the Dutch love to ride their bikes. And it’s true. We don’t so much love it, it is just the de facto mode of transportation for everyone. I have a bike, you have a bike, we all have bikes! How did this bicycle madness come to be? I don’t know. Bikes have always been around, and children as young as two learn how to ride one. Bikes are cheap and reasonably efficient; two qualities adored by the Dutch.

How does a typical Dutch bike look like? Pretty much like you would expect. The overwhelming majority rides a typical mens or womens bike. Mountain bikes are not that common, which would be expected for a country without mountains. Beach cruisers are a rarity except for Amsterdam (see below). Nobody wears a helmet. Let me repeat that. Nobody wears a helmet. You will be made fun of when you do. Children might be seen wearing one, but even that is quite uncommon. Luckily, car drivers are extremely aware of cyclists. They should, too, since people driving a car who hit a cyclist are always at fault; even when the cyclist is to blame.

Of course, there are many types of bicycle besides the common type. But this is primarily an Amsterdam situation. For instance, the bakfiets (lit: crate bike) is used by Amsterdammers to transport offspring. Not many people outside Amsterdam have one, though. People have racing bikes too, but these are seen outside cities and most often in the south of Holland, where actual hills can be found.

Amsterdam Bike Madness

As every tourist will tell you, you have bicycles and you have Amsterdam Bicycles. This latter species is often broken, bent, rusty but nevertheless has at least two heavy-duty chain locks. People in Amsterdam will just ride their bike everywhere: to work, going out, friends obviously, but also hauling furniture from Ikea, moving house and/or transportation of entire living rooms.

A tourist coming to Amsterdam will often mistake this behaviour for typically Dutch. That is not entirely the case. In other cities, people will have bikes as well but use them much less often. This might simply be because in other cities, stuff is farther away. Also, many inhabitants of Amsterdam simply do not have a car. And with the nonexistant Metro network (yay for sarcasm; Amsterdam has two metro lines) there isn’t much choice left.

Where do we ride our bikes? Quite simply: everywhere. Most often though there will be a cycling strip on the street, done in red asphalt. Bike lanes are depicted using the sign above. Mopeds are not allowed on this lane, you and the thousands of other cyclists have it all for yourself. In cities, traffic lights will have signs especially for bikes, often on a different schedule from the main lights. The newer versions have counters in them so you know exactly when to go. (See the picture at the top of this page.) In rural areas you simply follow the main traffic lights.

The art of riding

So how do you ride a bike? Well, first and foremost you never wear protection. Or did I already mention that? Second, you ride quite fast and straight towards your goal. Cycling is not a leisure activity and people will tend to ride quite fast. Third, when you arrive at your destination you park your bike as close to the door as humanly possible. Put it directly on the sidewalk. Yes, even when there are notices warning you against this. All Nederlanders do this and you should, too. Fourth, lock your bike. All bikes usually have a standard lock under the saddle. Use it because otherwise your bike will be gone. In Amsterdam, you then also chain your bike to something sturdy. You do not use a wimpy chain from the hardware store, you use a hardened steel cable, preferably also suited to dock oil tankers. Fifth, when (not if) your bike eventually gets stolen, you yell out loud: “Godverdddooooommmeee me fiets is gejat!!“. Then, visit the local AFAC to see if hasn’t been towed instead of stolen.

If after all this you are still interested in cycling, I really recommend you hire one during your next stay in Holland. Cycling is what we do; you will see soon enough that you have become one of us. Well, in theory anyway, since most rental companies have either hideous red bikes or hideous yellow bikes. Still, you will like the experience. Just make sure to stay to the right of the lane, don’t make sudden stops and when you hear a bell, turn around and/or get out of the way!