Bicycles in Amsterdam

One of the first things we noticed when we arrived in Amsterdam was the bicycles. They’re everywhere. It makes sense, Amsterdam (and the Netherlands as a whole) is completely flat so there are no pesky hills to worry about, and as the city’s streets are arranged along canals and were built long before automobiles were invented the bicycle is the fastest way to get around. If everyone drove the place would be completely gridlocked, but in fact there are more bikes than residents.

Bicycle parking along the pavementThe pavement along our street is crowded with parked bicycles

Baby in bakfietsHaving very young children doesn’t stop Amsterdammers from riding their bikes. These bicycles with boxes at the front are called bakfiets, or cargo bikes.

BakfietsWhen the kids are a bit older they can be strapped into a seat at the back of the box.

Three-seat tandemAnd older still, you might get a tandem for three!

Dam Square on Saturday afternoonWith so much of its population on two wheels, any available place is used for parking, there’s even a dedicated parking garage with 2500 spaces outside Centraal Station. On Saturday afternoon, Amsterdam’s central Dam Square gets pretty crowded…

Decorated bicyclesMany people customise their bikes, maybe to make them easier to spot in that pile of parked bicycles… Clockwise from top left: this one has a knitted frame cover; hand painted frame and basket; plastic flowers around the handlebars

Wooden framed bicycleAn eco-conscious local hotel advertises its credentials with a wooden framed bicycle at the front of their building

Amsterdam canal bikeAnd if you don’t fancy travelling by road you could always rent a ‘canal bike’ and pedal yourself through Amsterdam’s waterways

2 thoughts on “Bicycles in Amsterdam

  1. Keith

    I remember leaving Amsterdam’s train station and was greeted with a sea of bikes parked hundreds and hundreds of them. Quite a few had been there for a number of years abandoned. Also remember the bikes with a small platform to wheel a wheelchair on the front like the boxes for the children.

    Wonderful city enjoy

    Keith

    Reply
    1. Julie Post author

      We haven’t seen one of those, we’ll have to keep an eye out. Yes, there are quite a few abandoned bikes, or bits of them, around the streets.

      Reply

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