If you know anything about Amsterdam, The Netherlands capital city, then you will be aware of one of its most charming characteristics, the bicycle. Yes, it is often a shock to visitors upon arrival the sheer number of them, approximately one million and counting! Considering that Amsterdam has a population of around 780,000 at the time of writing, then there is easily a bicycle for every citizen.
Cycling in Amsterdam is one of the great joys of visiting, and is by far the best way to get around. Bike lanes are everywhere, and almost half of all journeys in the city are done by bike. You will see businessmen heading to work on them, parents taking their children around, and a friend giving another friend a lift on the back. It is great fun getting a group together for a bike around, or head out by yourself to a park, or around some of the quiet canals.
Cycling has been around for a long time and is engrained into life there. You could be fooled into thinking that all this cycling is some kind of political statement, going against the car and pollution. The reality is that thanks to good government planning, especially in the 1970’s, it is simply just an easy way to get about, thanks to all those bike lanes. The lack of pollution, and the natural physical exercise you get from your journey, are just additional benefits. And with your own bike, you wont be waiting for delayed public transport!
It is interesting to note that the very original classic Dutch omafiets bicycle, that can be seen everywhere, is in fact of English origin. The Dutch bike makers in the early 1900’s used the design, but it dates back to the late 1890’s as an English roadster. It can however be said that the Dutch makers perfected the design, and when The Netherlands became the top cycling nation in the world in 1911, the omafiets had its future set.
It’s great getting some local knowledge just by having a chat with the workers in a bicycle shop, at least the ones that know their stuff. Many times waiting around for a tire to be fixed you could learn something. Did you know that:
- Roughly 25,000 bicycles end up in Amsterdam’s canals every year.
That’s a lot! Many of the second hand bicycles you can see for sale come from government collections. If a bicycle is left unclaimed for a long time on the street, or if you park the bike in a no parking zone, government trucks will come by and cut the locks, taking the bicycles to a huge outdoor storage depot. To get it back you must pay a small fee, and be able to show that you have the key to the broken lock. Not very convenient! If they are left unclaimed for a period of time, then they will be auctioned off.
Some great bike rides out of Amsterdam.
Cycling around Amsterdam itself, like said above, is one of the best experiences in the city. From the slow peaceful canals, to meandering through parks, it really is sublime. There are also some very easy rides just out of Amsterdam that can be done, and will only take a few hours, getting you out into the countryside and visiting small quant towns.
1. The first bicycle ride that is recommended for all visitors will take you beside the Amstel river, going for about 30 minutes from the centre, until you get to the aptly named Amstelpark. From there turning inland for 15 minutes, passing by a traditional windmill, you will reach a big wooded area call the Amsterdams Bos, (bos meaning forest in Dutch). This place is very peaceful to bike around, with plenty of open space between the trees. You will see on a sunny day people playing sports, having picnics, taking the families out, horse riders and more. If you like planes, then Schipol airport is not far away, and you can see some get quite close at times flying overhead. You can easily spend an hour cycling around there.
Heading back into the centre either by the way you came, or by going along a relatively boring road for around 15 minutes, you start to reach the older buildings of the city, and eventually the splendidly big Vondelpark, full of activity (on a sunny day). At that point you are in the centre, and can take your pick of what you would like to do. Ending in the Jordaan area is a good idea, with the winding old streets to explore, and maybe some ice cream for the end of a good ride.
2. The second bike ride that can be recommended, is to go out via the small towns of Muiden and Naarden, and then take the train back from Bussum. This ride will give you the opportunity to see an old castle and some countryside and sea. After riding for a few hours you will be glad by then to get a train back, rather than cycle all the way. Note that you have to pay to take a bicycle on a train, although feigning foreign ignorance could get you off the hook!
Leaving Amsterdam’s centre, you head up to Diemerpark, about a 20 minute ride. A good way to get there is via the multi-cultural Java Straat, where you could pick up some tasty food en-route. The Diemerpark is peaceful to go through, and after leaving you will go along some farmland and a path by the sea, until you reach the quant town of Muiden. Diemerpark to Muiden is around another 20 minutes riding.
Muiden is a good place to relax for a while and take in the castle. It costs around 13 euros to get inside and is worth it, especially with the falconry inside the grounds, where you can see, and touch, some birds of prey. Stop for a drink at a cafe by the water, or continue on straight away. After Muiden you cycle through quiet farmland for a while, which is pleasant, before you start going through a rather less interesting area of modern buildings, until finally getting to Naarden.
Naarden is surrounded by water, with old fortified walls all around making a good sight. There you can stop for a drink or a snack by the water, before taking a stroll through the town on foot for a while, then finish up your trip in Bussum (nothing interesting there) to just catch a train back. Muiden to Naarden is about 40 minutes, and Naarden to Bussum only 10 minutes.
Copyright © 2014 by Backpacking Man. This article was written by Jonny Duncan and originally published at backpackingman.com
