24 Hours in Rotterdam: Bicycling Up, Enjoying the City Lounge & Less Space for the Car

Wanting to save some funding, I somewhat reluctantly booked myself for an extra day stay on a trip to The Netherlands this summer for 2017's VeloCity conference in Nijmegen-Arnhem. It left me with more time prior to the event and so I queried the Streetfilms Twitterverse what I should do with my 24 hours. A cadre of voices from Rotterdam said I should come see their wonderful of the city - and boy was I glad I did!

[@angeloacosta9411]

I lived in Iowa, USA for many years. Many Danish, Dutch, Scandinavian descendant towns that employ this style of socializing. That is a great way for all to be active...

[@ex0stasis72]

Oh, that’s interesting. My super conservative aunt used to live in Iowa, and normally she just spouts out right wing garbage from Fox News, but occasionally, she surprises me by being in favor of certain ideas that are far more popular in Europe than in the US. Maybe her Iowa friends, who may have been influenced by European culture, have passed some of that culture onto her before she moved back to where we are now in Washington State.

[@mikeskor6230]

Fabulous video. The city is such a good example to the rest of the world. It is amazing to see a city government that is actually responsive to the needs of its people. How far behind North America is !!!!

[@frankhooper7871]

Nice to see Rotterdam becoming more cycle-friendly; it's always seemed to lag behind the rest of the Netherlands...but even then, *way* ahead of the best we see in the UK!

[@dutchuncle3310]

It’s not really cycle-friendly, that is a byproduct of environmental measures trying to bring car exhaust down. Another byproduct is the decline of the city centre as a shopping area. Most big shops have moved outside of the centre. The city center is mote of a leisure area: restaurants, bars etc. Of course it is shopping area as well ( hugely one sided, shoes, fashion and perfume) too expensive for most residents. It also has street market ( Tuesday and Saturday in the summer on Sunday’s)

[@anglerfish61]

@@dutchuncle3310 not really true. After WW2 the design of the city was specifically to keep the next phase in mind which was to make it greener and car free. The car friendly design back then was mostly to get Rotterdam up and running as soon as possible.

[@xFD2x]

Well done ! A nice presentation. Most cities have some 'catching up' to do.

[@kervennic]

This is amazing how bikes make a place look lihe heaven, and cars like hell. Keep on cycling bro, we'll make it to heaven for sure !

[@stevet6676]

Beautiful vision of how people can live. Bravo!

[@rallyzamora8356]

Got to love it, a place where i can live forever

[@kgmnemails]

I’m from Canada......I’m soooo jealous and wish we had this kind of infrastructure here in Canada.

[@KJSvitko]

Speak up for bicycles in your community.

[@jorgebello4105]

Well we have to work hard to get there. Is what I do every day

[@moladiver6817]

Check out the channel Not just bikes. It's made by a Canadian who moved to The Netherlands. He created lots of interesting content and it's well narrated.

[@SD-co9xe]

Fantastic!

[@bikelanez7376]

This a great video thank you for sharing this

[@Jaydon05]

Nice video! Thanks! Greetings from the Hague!

[@mirceacrisan4108]

Amazing ! Romania should do the same !

[@pauldunneska]

Very interesting video,i must say i enjoyed it.

[@jessicam6532]

+l

[@KJSvitko]

Bicycles make life and cities better. It is time to provide more protected bike lanes and walking paths for people in cities. Speak up for protected bike lanes in your city.

[@bramvanduijn8086]

I only know of one neighbourhood in my city that is not bike optimal, it has some small stretches where the bikelanes don't connect all the way and you need to cycle into a shared road where there will be cars during rush hour. I live there now, it took me several days to find a route that has only 120 (quiet) meters of shared road.

[@SilviaGomesDri22]

Great City, i Love it

[@eagleowlfeathers4156]

The UK is light years behind.

[@mysurlytrucker7510]

Keep it growing 👌 the car needs to be a thing that's handy but not over bikes or people well done 👍my little input is at traffic lights put up a shelter going back for some feet so if you do have to stop you can stop in a little shelter.

[@mobydick4023]

I like those seats, they can be turned.

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way forward!

[@ronwhite8503]

England will never do this as all they think about for transport is cars. But I don't care as I emigrated from grim SE England to the outskirts of Rotterdam..... ha!

[@jsb7975]

@Yesmer Just TRY !!👍

[@jsb7975]

@Ed Rotterdam's innercity has been whiped out by german bombing in the beginning of the second worldwar. After the war they had to re-invent the city. So there's been a lot of architectural experimenting going on. Still is. Now it is a world-wide hub of modern architecture. Symbol for that is one of the iconic bridges in Europe (the Erasmusbrug) , an enormous spacy central station , a markethall combined with houses that really gives the impression of some sort of cathedral, and if you like skyscrapers there is a lot to see. Ofcourse the historic centre is no more, but still Rotterdam is not a cold place at all since it is full of horeca, festivals, a fantastic harbour (also in the city itself). And so on. Monumental and modern , yes. But still with some old streets still existing , combined with high buildings, Rotterdam is cosy as well. There are many foto's on internet. Go and look for them. (Just a Rotterdam-fan, not from any tourist organisation or such😁)

[@jamelz]

Really lol lucky u im in grim London i want to visit Rotterdam with my new bike can't waitb

[@crazymulgogi]

Cities in the Netherlands used to be just as car-centered as anywhere else.

[@anyelocuello3885]

I loved😄

[@JaccoSW]

Ha! I saw myself and my girlfriend in this video twice. Nice overview of the city. :)

[@danutatokarska7428]

Ładnie ,pięknie

[@MS-ut8fd]

This is how advanced societies live.

[@jamelz]

Nice I'm coming I been amsterdam many times but not with a bike I'm bringing my bike next time can't wait peace

[@peet4921]

This video is about Rotterdam.

[@theloveboxquartet]

6:20 reminded me of blockbusters...

[@Greenjuiceman]

my city of birth - I love it - wanted to come back to live here - thanks brexit :-(

[@Snowshowslow]

You can probably still make the jump before brexit is finalized... And I sincerely hope relations won't deteriorate to a point where it won't be possible afterwards...

[@Teutonius88]

Also my birth city, and I still live here. :)

[@anglerfish61]

@@Snowshowslow honestly Britain cant really affort to cut ties with us..

[@Snowshowslow]

@@anglerfish61 But they've been doing a lot of things that don't make sense economically and of which it isn't clear whether they can afford them lately... But I really do hope they will come to their senses.

[@Lurch685]

Get a visa like anyone else.

[@pappy9473]

Please visit Dublin, Ireland and influence our town planners and local and national governments.

[@TheMegaMrMe]

free use of ParkTool bike tools? sign me up!

[@ex0stasis72]

Does the term “inner city” mean something less derogatory in the Netherlands than it does in the US?

[@femkevanwageningen6068]

I think so. I didn't know it was like that in the US. We simply mean the part of the city (usually it's in the middle of it) where the (big) shopping streets are, where you find the office building, museas , theaters, stuff like that. There usually are some people living in the city center but it's mostly the place you go to for work of if your visiting another city. It doesn't really have Any negative tone in the Netherlands, Just factualy meaning.

[@ex0stasis72]

@@femkevanwageningen6068 Thanks for your response! I don't personally think that it should be a derogatory term for the poor and black neighborhoods, but that seems to be the euphemistic word that people use when they talk negatively about those parts of the city. From the way you described it, I guess our word for that is probably..."downtown"? LIke "downtown Seattle".

[@femkevanwageningen6068]

@@ex0stasis72 Not a problem, I only have movie references but I think downtown is indeed the right word

[@MrEscen]

Every time I see Miranda Sings in the thumbnail...fooled again

[@xavierforcadell1327]

One word: Planification. 👍🏻

[@vklaus8702]

Will never happen in Germany. So sad... my city would be much more human friendly with less cars and more public green and quiet spaces...

[@Paul_C]

@Yesmer The eastern part, the former DDR, should be able to do it. They still have the old street plan intact. It would it possible to genrate enough income through cycling, it means more diverse shopping the only thing hindering it the lack of small supermarkets within the confine of the centre. But that can be changed, it would mean less traffic toward the big box stores, and a more friendly environment to live and work.

[@bernardfinucane2061]

Strange this to say, because it is happening in Germany, for example in Düsseldorf.

[@andreboot2598]

This video does not work ??

[@StreetfilmsCommunity]

just played.

[@andreboot2598]

​@@StreetfilmsCommunity working now :)

[@kyriboyg]

Yes everything seems nice to this not so hot summer. Let's try that this video on January as well, I want to see how many bicycles are on the road while raining with close to zero celsius.

[@KittyK.]

almost the same number

[@kyriboyg]

@@KittyK. sure let's see some proof

[@KittyK.]

@@kyriboyg Or kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZzKfIygp7N_rck

[@GrunnenEnSeyst]

@@KittyK. Interesting how your interlocutor has suddenly disappeared after your demonstration

[@Brozius2512]

You again. Can you please not be a pussy? It's only rain and a little bit of cold, man the fuck up.

[@mariusb5150]

City lounge ... marketing gespetter :-)

[@mitreka88]

my country indonesia should copy dutch cycling habit coz netherland is our former colonialist wkwkwk

[@tomster95]

Susah di indonesa, jalanan kosong langsung diisi warung rokok dsb wkwkwk

[@djopdam199]

A topic about green transportation could not be fillled with more steenkolen (coal fuel) Dutch than this

[@anglerfish61]

what do you mean?

[@Pedalareversoilcielo]

Il mondo è invaso di auto e polvere sottili nel mondo Occidentale. L'Olanda e la Danimarca sono piccoli territori avanzati che non saranno mai imitati dalle altre nazioni dell'EuropA e degli USA, dove la gente preferisce usare l'auto. E' un mondo difficile incapace di dare una soluzione unitaria al problema della viabilità e dell'inquinamento.

[@lapland123]

Volgens mij heb je gelijk, elke regio moet zijn eigen oplossing zoeken. En fietsen kan dat soms zijn.

[@jannetteberends8730]

At the moment there is a lot of movement in the USA. On this channel there are several videos about that.

[@tammowallinga5826]

Nice video, but the subtitles are beyond ridiculous, there is a glaring mistake in just about every second sentence.

[@StreetfilmsCommunity]

Those are auto-generated by KZbin.

[@paulairola7041]

Though biking works in Europe it would not work in the US. America is to spread out?

[@edipires15]

Of course it would work and it does work. A lot of US cities are starting to implement cycling paths in their cities and people are using them “if you build them, they will come”

[@paulairola7041]

@@edipires15 Of course it works, here in Phoenix, Az a bicycling path runs from far north to downtown Phoenix but only .001 people use it "heat" !

[@Brozius2512]

It works in Europe??? You do realize that off the 44 countries in Europe there are one a few that have a decent cycling infrastructure but the true cycle country is the Netherlands. And you do know that Europe is larger than the US right?

[@user-qx5ie9rj9s]

세상이 어떻게 사람이 차보다 가치가 없게된 걸까요.

[@MB12345678889]

What you should keep in mind when watching these videos: The Netherlands are still very car focused, they have the densest highway network in the world and increase the number of lanes radically.

[@dimrrider9133]

We have the best, savest and most bikepaths of the world so save even grannys fly over them hehe kzbin.info/www/bejne/roSqqWZ-iM9-etE

[@moladiver6817]

Highways don't even get near city centers. And there the approach is changing also. The government isn't as eager as it used to be to create more asphalt. Simply because more asphalt doesn't lower the amount of traffic jams. Getting people out of cars does.

[@jannetteberends8730]

The video channel Not Just Bikes did a video about driving a car in the Netherlands. It seems that a car drivers organisation proclaimed the Netherlands the best country in the world to drive a car.

[@peterdejong9172]

The text sub-titles are really bad here. They get many Dutch words completely wrong and also seem to misunderstand the Dutch accent when speaking English.This is not great for English viewers as they will miss many important points. For example traffic light was translated as "an attractor glide" ? There are quite a few more. Funny but a pity for such an interesting video.

[@peterdejong9172]

Rotterdam is a great city. "The Rotterdammers" translated as "rotten arrows" ? "Phasing out fossil mobility becomes "facing outfall so mobility". "one seaters" becomes "once eaters", "this Square used to be completed paved" becomes "completed phased" ??? Has the translation been done by a robot?

[@paulairola7041]

If you like bikes move to Rotterdam, here in America we have choices cars or bikes LOL.

[@jannetteberends8730]

According to an international organisation for car drivers the Netherlands are the best country in the world to drive a car. Not Just Bikes made a video about that. When you start thinking about infrastructure, you don’t stop with with biking paths I suppose

[@paulairola7041]

@@jannetteberends8730 I agree with you

[@rickcoleman8903]

Bicycles won't get me far enough or fast enough from the cities in which these cattle are herded my space is greener no people spitting or throwing trash on my lawn or telling me I am the wrong in my politics.

[@lapland123]

you are wrong in your politics, i spit on you and my trash is on your green. Just because i love you.

[@johanwittens7712]

I hope you enjoy living where you live. Just take into account that not everyone likes the same things. I would be bored out of my mind in a few days where you live amongst all the "green". I prefer to live in a lively bustling city amongst the "cattle". I love all the activities i can do here, and i love the fact that i don't need to own a car to get anywhere. I don't have a lawn, but an entire public park maintained for me by the city, shared with my community and neighbours. And it is relatively free of trash since we recycle our trash as much as possible, and the city cleans the park on a regular basis. I have an entire city center full of cosy restaurants, bars, terraces and pleasant pedestrain areas to use, to sit, eat, have a drink, and to meet with friends. I have an entire city with culture, full of activities and stuff to see and do. Believe me, i don't feel like cattle, and i enjoy living in a historical city very much. Public transport or bikes can't get me back to my city fast enough when i left it for some reason. To each their own, but your perspective is quite skewed from only seeing horribly designed, ridiculously spread out, and badly managed and maintained american cities i'm afraid.

[@simonh6371]

Sorry for you living in a gypsy ghetto in Bulgaria, by the sounds of it. Most people are not so fucked up and antisocial in the Netherlands.

[@anglerfish61]

Rtterdam is actually a really clean city. we are taught to use bins

[@jannetteberends8730]

Spitting? Is that a thing in the USA. Never saw someone spitting. But the cycling infrastructure is everywhere in the Netherlands. Also in rural areas. In the Netherlands children go to school biking. And we want them to be safe. Dutch children are the happiest in the world according to UNICEF. One of the reasons is that they are independent from a young age. Don’t need their parents and school buses to transport them everywhere.

[@Josukegaming]

Rotterdam is such a horrible place to be compared to cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht. The roads are incredibly wide, the buildings are all modern and ugly, and nonstop car traffic everywhere you look.