Schiphol leaves Brits stranded in the Netherlands — so they use bikes to get home

Thanks to the giant mess that Schiphol is at the moment, an adventurous journey home is no longer reserved for just epic movie characters like Frodo Baggins.

Fourteen young Brits were unable to get back home last Saturday after celebrating a bachelor party in Amsterdam, reports the NOS.

An epic journey home

Because it was impossible for the men to rebook their flight, they found an alternative journey: take the train to Calais and then hop on the ferry to Dover.

There was just one catch. For safety reasons, pedestrians aren’t allowed on the ferry.

Luckily, the men quickly found a solution — going as cyclists.

But how did they suddenly get fourteen bikes, you ask? Well, this is where it gets interesting.

A quest to find bicycles

Part of the group managed to get second-hand bikes in Brussels, where the train to Calais stops.

“I spent two hours on Facebook Marketplace to make deals with people who sold a bicycle. The prices ranged from 40 to 220 euros. Then we ran through town for another two hours to pick up the bikes,” says groom-to-be Alex Sisan (29).

The rest got their bikes during the next stop in Lille.

Only one of the fourteen guys wasn’t able to get a bicycle. Luckily, he could sit in a car with a couple to cross the channel safely.

The arrival

The group arrived in Dover shortly before midnight and then got home by taxi or hitchhiking.

For the groom-to-be, the journey was the “icing on the cake” of his bachelor party. “Of course, it was a stressful experience. It felt like a Top Gear challenge or something out of a movie.”

The cost of this epic adventure? About 400 euros per person.

An EasyJet spokesperson told the British newspaper The Mirror that the airline would reimburse “all reasonable costs” the men incurred during their journey.

The groom-to-be remains positive. “It’s a brilliant story that I will tell at the wedding. And hopefully soon to my children — and their children,” he adds.

What do you think of these men’s incredible adventure? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image:Depositphotos
Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
Originally from the Czech Republic, Jana moved to the Netherlands for her studies. Seven years in the flattest country in Europe has brought her a Masters in Environmental Management, experience in content creation, projects, partnership coordination, and about 20 ideas on how to deal with Dutch winter blues (most of which didn’t work). Her love for the local cycling culture is undying — but she finally knows better than to hop on a bike in a typical Dutch downpour.

4 COMMENTS

  1. The most bizar thing is that people carrying a bike aren’t a safety hazard but people without one are??? Weird rule at ferries to England!! Anyone got an explanation??

  2. Total clowns. Why on earth go to Calais. Stena rail and sail would have got them from Schiphol rail station to Liverpool street station/or any East Anglia station with a bed for night or daytime crossing for 50-100euro each and rested.

  3. I rode from Wageningen to Alkmaar and back in a day because we couldn’t afford the train trip & had to return a tent. At least I didnt have to search for a bike first lol. I love the Dutch cycleways!

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