The Dutch capital is one wheel-whizzing, bell-dinging whirlwind of bicycles. But did you know you are around 20 times more likely to get injured while cycling in the US than in Holland?
That’s because it’s truly built for bikes here—almost a quarter of the population cycles every day, most residents own a bike, and kids are practically born pedalling.
READ MORE | 17 reasons why biking is king in the Netherlands
It’s great that cycling, a fun, healthy and cheap activity, holds mighty high significance in this country. But how exactly did Amsterdam become THE bicycle paradise?
To bike or not to bike (it’s not even a question)
If you recently moved to the Netherlands, you might be considering buying a bike. And don’t hesitate! Riding a bike is good for your body AND the environment. But also, you don’t exactly have much choice.
It’s just the way the Dutch do things: pedal power is ALWAYS preferred.
READ MORE: Do’s and don’ts of riding a bicycle in the Netherlands
As someone who came here from England, I can certainly say that I have never felt safer on a bike. We often joke about cyclists having the highest status on the roads here, but it’s true.
Was it always this way?
Not at all. After WWII, cars were all the rage. The Dutchies (like many others) were scrambling to get their paws on shiny modern motors that they could brag about to their neighbours.
READ MORE | 7 types of cyclists found when biking in the Netherlands
It is sad now to think how many bikes were left to rust away in garden sheds just so traffic could jam up the city’s lovely narrow lanes. They even proposed filling in the canals with concrete!?
I can hardly imagine it these days, Amsterdam without bikes is like, well, Amsterdam without rain. Check out the origins of this wonderfully whizzy bike city. 👇
The concept of ‘Living Streets’ (or Woonerf), was realised in the Netherlands to restrict traffic casualties, and the video makes a good point; it’s not just safety in numbers, it’s power!
Bikes n’ beyond
If you also love how accommodating the Netherlands is for bikes — especially expats like me, who know it’s miles better than cycling in our home country — then you’ll be pleased to know it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
READ MORE | 24 TikToks explaining why Dutch biking culture is wheely ahead of its time
The Netherlands knows that cycling is special, it’s sacred and it’s here to STAY. 👇
Do you enjoy the biking paradise this country has managed to create? Let us know in the comments!
