Bicycles have always been an important part of the Dutch culture. Cortina is a Dutch bike manufacturer and it is difficult to get their bikes outside of Europe. One of their best known models is the Cortina U4. DutchNews.nl has been free for 14 years, but without the financial backing of our readers, we would not be able to provide you with fair and accurate news and features about all things Dutch. All you need to know about Dutch biking culture: The Cycling Paradise. A City-Friendly Bike That Brings Dutch Biking Culture To The U.S. On a normal bike, breaking and regaining moment is alot more arduous than a pedestrian stopping for a moment or walking in designated areas. How the Dutch created a casual biking culture. I know too many (Dutch) people who have been in bad bike accidents. It’s true that bicycles are a big part of the Dutch culture. I can clearly recall such an incident in the early months of my arrival in Amsterdam. So yes, cycle culture in the Netherlands boggles my mind. Interested in riding a bicycle? Not bad for such a tiny country! No need to reinvent the wheel! What do you need to know about the Netherlands? If you are dissatisfied with the website or any content or materials on it, your sole exclusive remedy is to discontinue your use of the website. advertisement. Newcomers will appreciate the advice about how to take to the roads, Dutch style, particularly the need for a good, loud bell. It should come as no surprise to you that any mention of the lovely cheese-loving nation that is “The Netherlands” is synonymous with Dutch biking culture. I recently made the cross-continent move to Amsterdam and spend my weekends exploring the country, meeting new people and telling myself I will finish a book every month (a promise I'm yet to keep). april 25, 2017. It's a universal thing for all ages." Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. This could be the another reason for the uprising of the Dutch cycling culture, or perhaps I’m just interpreting “Going Dutch” a step too far In any case biking has been found to be much cheaper than driving or any other form of public transport “Duh”. If you have not yet made a donation, but would like to, DutchNews.nl destinations: lockdown in a lock keeper's cottage, The American Netherlander: 25 years of expat tales, DutchNews podcast special: The On Your Bike, Rutte Edition, DutchNews podcast – The Ham Sandwich Virus Edition – Week 2, Five things you didn’t know about funeral insurance, Huawei and European industry are natural partners. After a year of biking for leisure and work in this country, I have learned firsthand the do’s and don’ts of riding a bicycle in The Netherlands. The website may provide links to other websites on the Internet, the content of which is not in our control. Anna Holligan takes to the saddle to find out. I am glad you enjoyed your biking experience in Amsterdam! Perhaps that puts my “cut-throat” comment into perspective when one considers that nearly everywhere else in the world, the pedestrian always has right of way. It took just one bike ride after I returned home from a three-week cycling course in the Netherlands to realize that I have been deeply and forever changed by the experience of Dutch biking.. Two wheels, or three, sometimes one, but never more than twenty. If you are looking for a modern, trendy Dutch bike, that’s Cortina. 1 year ago. On the other hand, it’s windy, so sometimes you peddle like crazy but you don’t move… still, the terrain is amazing for cycling. Meet the first Black woman to found a political party in Europe, What is happening to the Dutch far right? • Holland-Cycling.com - your internet guide to cycling in Holland. I was lucky to have not hurt my head. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 150. Explore beautiful places of the Netherlands in cycling tours: singles, couples, families, groups - are welcome. When I was younger, I used to while away hours of my school holidays, riding my yellow bike around my garden, pretending it was my car- a Peugeot 307 Cabriolet to be exact. I moved from one bike country to another. Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days! I love biking in NL. An ode to the lovely city of Leiden, PLNT Leiden – the spot for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (and DutchReviews’ homebase! At a Dutch Bike shop, you can forget about spandex, helmets, pedal clips or any of the other typical biking paraphernalia. 13 January 2021 12 January 2021 Bicycle Dutch. The Netherlands understands this and offers over 21,000 miles of biking lanes. Dutch manners are frank which can be described as a no-nonsense attitude, informality combined with adherence to basic etiquette. Source: Bruheze and Veraart. Original posts Leave a comment. It was such a well-spent afternoon by biking through the Dutch dunes that I’m really looking forward to the next sunny weekend to do the same! advertisement. Want to learn more about the Dutch cycling culture to help your city become more cycling-friendly? Such anomalies to the gross generalisation make me feel better in all honesty. Then I guess I became a lovepat. In the Netherlands, everyone bikes and everyone is happy. If you have found material on this website which is copyrighted by others, please contact the webmaster on this matter in order to have it removed. So please stay in your lane and dont obstruct cycling paths or roads. My shoulder ligaments were torn and I had three other injuries. ), Cycling culture in the Netherlands: to bike or not to bike. The culture of the Netherlands is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the foreign influences built up by centuries of the Dutch people's mercantile and explorative spirit. The Dutch have two kinds of cyclists: wielrenner, which means sporty cyclist, and fietser, which just means “someone on a bike.”. Think of the Netherlands and once you have got through the tourist board cliches, bikes are bound to be on your list. The DutchNews.nl team would like to thank all the generous readers who have made a donation in recent weeks. A Dutch bicycle is designed and built by combining professional engineering, the latest technology and state-of-the-art components. To encourage an active biking culture, special infrastructure is required. The difference was startling as I mounted by 24-speed hybrid-style bike, feeling awkward and bent-over, on a bike catered much more to sport riding than urban cycling. After discovering the history of the bike paths in the Netherlands, I think it’s time to take a look at biking in the 1950s. Book your trip at Dutchbiketours.com I was on my way to a house viewing with my soon-to-be roommate and we were happily strolling along next to the pavement (there being little walking space available on said pavement), when a cyclist sped past and aggressively called out to us: “Can you at least pay attention to where you’re walking, please! "The thing about biking in Dutch culture is how universal it is. In the bike-friendly Netherlands, cyclists speed down the road without fearing cars. Let us know in the comments! If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here. Visit to a Dutch bicycle shop. One little niggle, the translation and editing could have been a little sharper in places, and less use of the present tense would have made the suggested routes feel more natural in English. u/CyclingIsLove. There is a chapter on special bikes and one which focuses on the shared bike and rental schemes which are springing up across the country. The Netherlands has a biking culture; the landscape is very flat so cycling is quite a convenient way of transportation. That way we offer great looking bicycles and cargo bikes, while achieving the highest level of comfort and durability. Cut throat or not, 2019 holds a lot of promise after all: New Year, New Me… perhaps even a New Bike! The way the Dutch cycle has improved their quality of life. So unlike a very close friend of mine, I don’t have that as an excuse. What do you think about the Dutch biking culture in the Netherlands? A dramatic choice of words, yes, but as a pedestrian who has been ushered out of a pathway by an insistent, annoyed cyclist enough times, I feel this is fair to say. I just find the biking culture in the Netherlands a bit… cut-throat. Posted by. I live in the United States and every other year I teach a course in Leiden for three weeks. Amsterdam-Bruges Self guided bike tours in Holland - best Holland bike tours itineraries. Indeed, in a recent conversation with an American friend, explaining my move to Amsterdam and how I have settled into the city, his comment: “Right, but everyone cycles there though, right? And to be honest I can’t say I have any particular reason. However, last summer I was biking in Amsterdam, following a Dutch friend, and I was in a bad bicycle accident. There are, after all, more bikes than people, so they are very difficult to avoid. Great to read a post about what sort of impression our Dutch bikes make on visitors. Your financial support has helped us to expand our coverage of the coronavirus crisis into the evenings and weekends and make sure you are kept up to date with the latest developments. And how did the bicycle become synonymous with Dutch culture? Early threats to the biking culture The rise of cars in the mid-1900s posed the biggest threat to bike society in the Netherlands. Having said that, people can be d*cks and cyclists are no exception. All material on this website (DutchReview) is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. By Kristin Toussaint 3 minute Read. The Cycling Paradise takes a broad look at the Dutch cycling phenomena with lots of jolly pictures of people on bikes – in the snow, with their dogs, carrying a mattress or just getting from A to B. The Dutch have assimilated this, it is truly part of their culture. © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Many cities where under construction, changing them to be adapted to cars. Posts about dutch written by Radu Panciuc. In Copenhagen I was a regular bike rider, just like everyone else. We could not provide this service without you. Living in Utrecht is like living in a village with the perks of a big city. At the start … Welcome to Merwede, a new proposed neighborhood in Utrecht being designed specifically to enhance Dutch biking culture. After the second world war, the Dutch got a hold of the car trend. 913k members in the bicycling community. The Netherlands and its people have long played an important role as centre of cultural liberalism and tolerance. Specialist bike cafes, cycling museums and even a network of affordable places to stay – the Friends on a Bicycle scheme – get a look in too. How the Dutch created a casual biking culture. Surely all Dutch people like to cycle because as my American friend so easily surmised: Everyone cycles in the Netherlands…right? The pecking order in the Netherlands was once aptly summed up by a friend of mine: “Cyclists, motorcyclists, cars… and THEN pedestrians”. If you have not yet made a donation, but would like to, you can do so via Ideal, credit card or Paypal. Your contributions make this possible. Perhaps the most useful is the back section with a number of suggested cycling routes – particularly if you are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to explore more of the Netherlands in a safe way. However, it might come as a surprise to you that as an expat celebrating her six-month-aversary since her move from sunny South Africa, I have never once ridden a bike in the Netherlands.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'dutchreview_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',162,'0','0'])); Alright, alright, I see your raised and quizzical brow and I can basically hear you forming the sounds to raise the question: “Why not?” to me. The Dutch Cycling Embassy is a vast network of public and private organisations from the Netherlands who wish to share their expertise on building what supports the Dutch cycling culture to those interested. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dutch bike culture: How cycling comes first and pedestrians second, Photo report! ‘We need answers’: why are people living near Dutch goat farms getting sick? Practice what you reach: is the “Dutch Reach” legit? You have entered an incorrect email address! Guide to buying your first bicycle in the Netherlands (from a bike expert), Miss the Dutch snow already? Dutch Banking Supervision on Conduct and Culture Dutch Banking Supervision on Conduct and Culture Agenda 01 02 Dutch Banking Supervision 03 Supervision in Practice 04 Practical Solutions Introduction Dutch Banking Supervision Supervision in Practice Practical Solutions 05 Wrap-up and questions Wrap-up and questions Introduction Like, no matter the weather.” easily comes to mind when considering how tourists often view the Netherlands. Which begs the question- if the pavement is occupied (by streams of tourists, or in fact dozens of parked bikes), where is the safest place for a pedestrian to stroll in peace; no bell-ringing or annoyed cyclist rants allowed?eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'dutchreview_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',161,'0','0'])); The attitude of cyclists has created a very: “You’re either with us, or against us” type of vibe for me and to be honest, it’s one area of Dutch life that I am yet to assimilate to. © 2021 DutchNews | Cookie settings | website by Vindustries. I always rent a bike for that duration. Biking through the Netherlands is one of the best ways to see this country and its dunes are something that shouldn't be missed! For a while, it seemed that this country was going to forget about the two-wheels. I do think it would make more sense for the Dutch to wear helmets. The Dutch versus the Danish biking culture: to wear or not wear a helmet? Think of the Netherlands and once you have got through the tourist board cliches, bikes are bound to be on your list. It doesn’t mean I’ll never assimilate to Dutch society- some Duchies don’t even like to cycle and all I’m saying is that Dutch bike culture is not as easy for all as it might seem. But that aside, this is a great little introduction to cycling culture for a new arrival in the Netherlands, and a useful Sinterklaas or Christmas gift for someone who keeps promising to get out and see more of the country by bike. We're constantly hunting for the latest, greatest, and most Dutch spots for our readers. Not because I fell in love with a Dutch woman but because I fell in love with the overall society — the organisation, the biking culture, openness to change, Albert Heijn, and Utrecht, which is where I live. Are you even allowed to be Dutch and dislike cycling? I go everywhere on my bike, without ever thinking … How come the Netherlands has it nailed when it comes to cycling? It’s an easy, cheap and healthy option. Biking is also cheap. Except maybe perhaps I do. We welcome … !” in an American accent. Archived. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Want your business to reach an unrivalled expat and international audience? It is a very young company and you can feel they aren’t stuck with old habits. Learn how your comment data is processed. It’s been a long way. *. From Wilders to Baudet…. Assuming you are not disabled in any way, if you don’t more or less live on your bicycle, dan wordt je nooit een echte nederlander. Now they are readily available in the USA. It should come as no surprise to you that any mention of the lovely cheese-loving nation that is “The Netherlands” is synonymous with Dutch biking culture. Despite my apparent fear of it, I am still surprised when I meet Dutch nationals who hate cycling. Dutch bike culture: How cycling comes first and pedestrians second. It’s also small so you can get everywhere in a short time. If I had to sum myself up in three words they would be: quirky, curious, and meme-lover. Close. Can you tell me the most important things about Dutch etiquette? 20-something year old traveller, coconut lover (Seriously-anything coconut), and Libran. For an American, the prospect is thrilling—and terrifying. I’m fortunate enough that I possess the relevant know-how to ride a bike. There are, after all, more bikes than people, so they are very difficult to avoid. Another stage of the F50 fast cycle route finished. Before the Second World War, bikes were the primary mode of transport but after the war, the Netherlands flourished economically from natural gas wealth, and the popularity of the car swept through the nation. See how society in the Netherlands benefits from cycling in this video. Soon, that will be me; happily speeding along, the wind in my hair, the annoying tourists/expats getting in my way, reaping all of the health benefits of some easy cardiovascular activity. There are a lot of different brands of bikes “ made in … The Dutch Golden Age is popularly regarded as its zenith. The F50 fast cycle route from Oss to Uden in the south of the Netherlands is under construction. I love biking (and having money to eat) so much, that I even deliver food on my bicycle on the weekends for spare money. I’m warming to the idea though: I now take my five-minute walk to my tram stop with keen eyes; alert for general biking trends, trying to glean the confidence of Dutch bikers as they ride through an intersection, barely glancing at the vehicles that come to a sudden stop to anticipate their momentum and roll out the red carpet. It’s not for the young and fit exclusively. I see the need and want for it though Dutch public transport can be very pricey and the lay of the land is generally quite even and is clearly well catered to cyclists. The plans also include places to visit, places to eat and places to stay while you are out and about. A City-Friendly Bike That Brings Dutch Biking Culture To The U.S. The share of trips made by bicycle in Amsterdam plunged from 80% to 20% between the 1950s and 70s. Reminisce with this flurry of top snaps , Banned Amsterdam protests attracts 2000: police arrest 143, use water cannons and dogs, Dutch primary schools and childcare will remain closed for at least the next three weeks, Press conference: the Dutch cabinet has fallen, LIVE BLOG: Dutch cabinet falls, Prime Minister Rutte to offer resignation to king. I do love the biking culture, though, and will continue to bike when I am in NL, even though I am in my mid-60s and I was in that crash! This might be perceived as impersonal by some other cultures but is the norm of the Dutch culture. Sounds like a winning formula that one … The Netherlands is as flat as a pancake, which makes biking an easy method of transport. In the Netherlands, everyone bikes and everyone is happy. 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