The Netherlands, renowned for its cycling culture, boasts 23 million bicycles for its 17 million residents (the highest per capita in the world). Cycling here is more than just transportation; it’s a lifestyle that influences the country’s urban planning, infrastructure, and daily routines. The oil crisis in the 1970s initiated this initiative, which the nation has now fully embraced. Not only have they developed more than 35,000 km of bike paths, but they’re also offering tax rebates and company incentives for people that cycle to work.
Yet, managing millions of bikes poses some unique challenges. Cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht have built “fietsflats”—multi-story bike parking garages—to prevent “fietsfiles,” or bike traffic jams, and manage bike congestion. This does not consider the issue of bike graveyards and the endless issue of bikes landing up in the canals.
But this does not deter the Dutch; they just love their bicycles. The most popular is the single-speed Swapfiets, which are based on the original Omafiets, but they come in all shapes and sizes. They have trailers for shopping, two-seaters for couples, prams for families—they even have a walking bicycle! No matter the size or shape, in true Dutch fashion, bikes are practical and sturdy, with built-in lights and mud flaps. You would think that, given their obsession with bicycles, they would also be the top producers, but surprisingly, Portugal holds that title!
So, the next time you are in the Netherlands, embrace the culture and rent a bicycle to explore this beautiful country.
