BIKING IN HOLLAND
Rent a Cycle from Amsterdam to Tour the Netherlands
There
are more bikes in Holland than there are people, an estimated 17 million.
Biking is a way of life
in the Netherlands. In old medieval
times when the country was much more water than reclaimed land, people
got around by canal, but with plenty of flat landscape, few hills and
expensive petrol, the bicycle is the ideal mode of personal transportation.
It gets you through narrow alleyways and across canal foot bridges.
The ubiquitous bicycle called by locals the Oma Fiets (granny bike)
often
comes laden with lights, rear bag racks and of course the ever necessary
bell, for dinging through pedestrian traffic. The country has 100 scenic
cycling routes to lead you past Holland’s many places of interest.
These biking itineraries are available from bike rental companies and
from the local tourist information offices. The roadways have easily
recognizable road signs of red letters on white, posted along the cycling
paths which show the distances to nearby towns, making very difficult
to get lost – unless you want to.
On visiting Holland, you find that bike riders have the right the way.
In fact, the law favors bikes over automobiles. There are bike lanes
are on just about every street with a separation from traffic. But
when cross a street, look both ways, as bike lines should be treated
just
like any other lane of car traffic and just because the bike gets the
benefit of the doubt, that won’t give much comfort on the ambulance
ride.
Stealing of bikes is pretty common, leading to a familiar joke in that
if you step into a busy square in Amsterdam and shout ‘Hey, that's
my bike!’ 4 people would drop their bicycles and run away. Though
it’s probably not thought of as theft, but borrowing, as there’s
another bike nearby to be had. As you peddle around, lock up both the
back tire and the frame to something sturdy. There are guarded bike
parking
sheds
in many locations with a small charge or free bike racks just about
everywhere.
Bike Rental in Amsterdam
Touring Amsterdam from the seat of a bicycle is the best way to get
around the city. You can cover most of the city in a few hours. There
are a
number of bike rental agencies in the city, and you can easily ride
into the countryside or take your bike with you on the train to explore
farther
afield. Bike rentals are easily available in Amsterdam at the Central
Rail Station and locations throughout the city, at the Leidseplein
and Dam Square. Day rental rates average €8 with some multi-day rates
as low as €4. The bikes are basic andsturdy and locks are included.
Equipment for children and other add-ons are also available. Many of
the rental bikes are painted a bright Dutch orange, so they can’t
be missed as rentals. If you want to be less touristy, a plain black
bike might cost just a bit more. Most companies offer guided tours as
well as maps of recommended routes for trips in and outside of Amsterdam.
The Hague
The city center of The Hague (Den Haag) is quite consolidated, so you might want to park the bike and hoof it to the Binnenhof (seat of the Dutch government) and the next door Hofvijver, where the city was formed, the 19th Century covered shopping street, and medieval prison the Gevangenpoort, but hop back on to head out to the nearby attractions like Scheviningen, former fishing village now seaside resort, famous for its beach-side restaurants and bars. The Peace Palace has beautifully landscaped gardens, and is where war criminals show up to meet there fates at the International Criminal Court. Just 4 miles outside the center of the Hague a great destination for families where you can see Holland’s Windmills, canals, flower fields, famous city objects in miniature is the Madurodam.
Nijmegen
Nijmegen is recorded as the oldest city in Holland. With its many bike paths, this city is very easy to explore by bike, with a bridge built especially over the River Waal reach the suburbs. The area around the city features some of the Netherlands few hills, remaining woods and polders for a beautiful countryside with a variety of recreational opportunities. The city of Nijmegen built a bike bridge over the river to connect the city with its suburb.
Leiden
Where to find the world famous tulips of Holland? In the spring from late March to May the Tulip bulbs bloom along the biking trails between the historic towns of Leiden to Haarlem. Leiden was once the biggest port city in the lowlands, where the Pilgrims set forth to find Plymouth Rock, but far surpassed over time by Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Near Haarlem are the unforgettable fields of the Keukenhof Garden Park with acres of tulips, hyacinth and daffodils, and flowers shows of riotous color in the pavilions. © Bargain Travel Europe
Amsterdam Bike Rental Services
Mike's Bike Tours
Kerkstraat 134
Black-Bikes.com
Multiple Amsterdam Locations
MacBike
Weteringsschans 2
Henry
Work Cycles
Veemarkt 150 A
StarBikes
De Ruyterkade 105
Find best hotel and travel deals in Amsterdam on TripAdvisor
Web Info
Amsterdam
Bike Info
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SEE ALSO:
BIKING STRATFORD AND COTSWOLDS
EUROPE HIGH SPEED TRAINS - TGV - ICE
