Cycling in The Netherlands | Why Everyone should try it

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Hey! Cath and I have just set up our own sustainable fashion brand inspired by travel, called *Ortum Clothing*, and one of our launch designs is inspired by cycling in The Netherlands! If you are at all interested please check out the design below: ortumclothing.com/collection/holland-bike-design/ Thanks a lot :)

[@josiahgiese7369]

I genuinely really like your clothes, but my only question is on the quality of the designs. Are they sticker patches, printed on, or embroidered?

[@tubularap]

"The Netherlands allows you to truly experience cycling and cycling allows you to truly experience the Netherlands." Well said, thanks.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot! :)

[@onebicycle3772]

Uk left behind

[@voornaam3191]

Well said, thanks. Thanks, well said. That is flipflop fun, isn't it?

[@dennis7131]

Except if you do something wrong, then its not that much fun. You’ll get insulted...a lot

[@ingridwatsup9671]

@@dennis7131 Walking on a bike path? Did you ?

[@alwayspoppin1812]

tenzij je tegenwind hebt

[@ivar6924]

Precies, klote wind

[@aron6877]

Regen...

[@dailyyy_]

Of regen

[@drdre2641]

Regen, tegenwind en dan over de dijk heen..

[@Iosaiv]

@@drdre2641 en hagelstenen

[@brian5154]

Brian Oosterbeek Nederland. I've lived here for 20 years, and couldn't live anywhere else now. It's high standards for everything spoil you. Simply the best. British born, and lived in the US for three years. Now an elderly gentleman of 74, my Dutch wife and I emigrated here with our two children who now study in Utrecht. I'm glad to say they appreciate the country in which they live. You managed to encapsulate it with a few words and a short film.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Hanny Fenwick thanks for your comment ☺️ I’m glad you liked the film and what I had to say. I really do love the country and would love to live there too one day! I imagine it is a great place to bring up children 😊

[@voornaam3191]

@@jamieroundtheworld Yes, and after Brexit you would be crazy not to move house to Oosterbeek. Britain is not European anymore, at least, that's my humble opinion. Let them join the Utterly Selfish and move to the other side of the Atlantic. Please.

[@shiroineko13]

A moment of silence for the cyclists in the world who are not blessed with this great cycling infrastructure...

[@MJ-rv5ri]

Cries in Italy

[@04smallmj]

*people

[@rajnadar6555]

An hour of silence for those of us in the US...they keep expanding the highways and roadways for more cars rather than bikes or even any public transportation.

[@Jaysee2164]

I live in nyc and I love cycling and this makes me jealous 😭😭

[@pedrofernandez8729]

America, the land of the disappearing bike lanes.

[@ronwhite8503]

As an Englishman who has reluctantly repatriated from the Netherlands I can testify it's all true. Beautiful country and no need to drive, everything can be done by bike. Dayum, I miss it!

[@kudosbudo]

Get an ordinacen map or maybe kamoot on teh phone. You might find the UK can surprise you with its network of almost car free roads across its many moors. I cna do a 30 mile circuit around where i live and see so few cars its practically car free. When you start to look you will see the UK has a huge road network of mostly disused roads suitable for bicycles.

[@alex2143]

@@kudosbudo there's a lot of roads in the Netherlands where it says "Bike road - cars are guests". Those roads sound like a great candidate to turn into those kinds of roads.

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

I’ve just returned from a holiday in The Netherlands. I love the country and have visited many times, but it was my first trip there where I had the opportunity to experience the cycling infrastructure. As you’d guess it was a liberating experience. It feels to me like a perfect vision of the future. I only got a brief taste of cycling but I can’t wait to get back and really explore properly on two wheels. The UK should be ashamed in comparison, but car ownership is still seen as a status symbol here for some reason.

[@JipSlinger]

The dutch are basically born on bikes. I was taught to drive a bicycle when i was 3 (with sidewheels). When you say you dont have a bike in the netherlands people basically laugh at you.

[@JipSlinger]

@P ja precies

[@ammielb1592]

Or they think you can't afford one

[@SophiaF3499]

Not having a bike is like not having your shit together.

[@Larissa-jt5sm]

I've been cycling with training wheels since I was 2, and on my 4th birthday I was finally able to do it without them

[@2009heyhow]

Also a Dutch household with for example 4 family members will likely have like 5 or 6 bicycles. Just one or two extra for if one has an empty tire or when you have friends over from a different city.

[@San4311]

Being Dutch you don 't really appreciate how much thought went into the bike-travel system, since you're just born into it and you deem it almost 'normal'. Also it isn't just the trains that are bike friendly. Most underground, and some trams and non-city busses also allow for bike travel (outside of rush hour).

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

That is totaly true, its surprisingly easy for me to go to school by bike eventhough its a 1.5 hour drive. Its really stress free and even stress releaving. Comparing that to germany.. well, you can end up driving in the middle of a highway

[@roy_hks]

Being from ‘de provincie’ I have never seen a bus that lets you bring your bikes on them...

[@idrissboulie]

Congrats, you just made me excited for my own country... Great video!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Idriss B nice! Thanks a lot! ☺️

[@tuttebelleke]

Fantastic video!!! I have an infinite amount of appreciation for the Dutch cycling culture!!! It helps them being ranked with the healthiest and happiest people in the world. One can never make enough propaganda, the whole world should be organised like this. A Belgian.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Yes totally agree!! Although I hear Belgium isn't too bad itself? I would like to cycle there too soon!

[@tuttebelleke]

@@jamieroundtheworld Holland is well organised for cycling as a whole. In Belgium cycling infrastructure is locally organised (by the communities). The result is that certain area's are well done and others are a real disaster. If you plan a trip, you have often to puzzle to avoid shitzones. You have to be alert for rough/broken pathways, otherwise you come home with 2 flat tires and 2 broken rims. For tourist cycling this is not that dramatic, you are alert, you avoid them, it is part of the fun. But for daily commuting this is not stimulating at all. In Belgium we call the Dutch often loudmouths, but on the cycling aspect they have the right to be!!!. To confirm you, there is very very nice places to cycle in Belgium. You should know, the "fietsknooppunten" system, you promote in your video, is a Belgian development, adopted by the Dutch and recently by the Germans too. For cycling infrastructure worldwide, Belgium (together with Germany?) comes in position 3 after Holland and Denmark.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

@@tuttebelleke Interesting stuff! Thanks for the detailed insight :) It still sounds a whole lot better than what we have here in the UK tough!

[@morrisfalker2773]

I'm Dutch and i approve this video. Don't forget to mention that traveling by train can be very expensive, you also have to buy a ticket for the bicycle unless it's a folding bicycle. Inside the train LOCK your bicycle (to a pole) and keep it in sight. Also place it where it's allowed (signs on doors) and not in the way of other people. All is allowed 7 days a week, not in rushhours.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks ☺️ I was trying to keep the video brief but all those pointers are very helpful for people! We made the mistake of trying to get a train home after biking one day and then realised it was rush hour so we couldn't 😂 However compared to the UK train travel in the Netherlands is far better and more reasonably priced (and its very hard to take bikes on most trains here too). You have to book train tickets weeks/months in advance in the UK to get anything reasonably priced. A uni student here recently flew to Spain, got a cocktail at the beach and flew back to their home town and it was still cheaper than taking a train home!!

[@okidoki878]

You approve??

[@papagatorackspanner]

If you think trains in NL are a rip-off you've not travelled much in England. Brits: Dutch rail fairs are capped at a maximum of €27 for 2nd class, yes €27, the trains are reliable compared to the uk, clean and easy to use and the staff are the best looking rail staff in Europe.

[@alanpoh2879]

Folding bikes are free? Are they popular there??

[@papagatorackspanner]

@@alanpoh2879 Yes, because they're free to take on the trains :) I'm not sure if they're 'popular' since there are a million times more grandma bikes and I doubt there are many people who only have a folding bike (there are more bikes than people in Amsterdam and even though a fair percentage of the overlap are stolen bikes waiting to be sold on, there are a lot of people who have more than one). But if you get on the train in the morning rush, you'll see a couple. There's a very good Brompton shop on Overtoom in Amsterdam.

[@jaapongeveer6203]

I was both in den Helder but live in Canada now for 70 years. In 1975 I borrowed my uncles bike and made a month long round trip. Cycle to a city, get a "pensioen" and walk the city. Next day repeat. It was a trip of a lifetime.

[@greg_216]

It might have been a subtle statement, but it was there nonetheless: it's incredibly pleasant to cycle without having to listen to or worry about motor vehicles. I love cycling, and I love the peace and quiet that comes from cycling on that kind of route.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Was that subtle? It shouldn't of been! Those are by far the best routes!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Apologies the sound is pretty bad on this one guys! My lapel mic broke just before we headed out, and looking back I'm not sure what the hell I was doing with the audio mix in the edit. In any case, I'm glad so many people seem to have enjoyed it! ☺️ Let me know if you have any questions x

[@allardfreichmann3733]

Maybe next time visit Zuid Limburg, Maastricht with a concert of Andre Rieu, Aachen Luxembourg, Belgium? Or visit the province of Zeeland, Neeltje Jans, De Delta Werken and the Biesbosch, And de Keukenhof, in spring or de Efteling. Or de Wadden Eilanden.

[@jjakjjak5231]

No problem. I enjoyed your video. We're also planning on a biking holiday in the coming years. Next year the United States though

[@isaachoneycutt9550]

I definitely want to go to the Netherlands sometime soon to experience the amazing bike infrastructure. As an American, the current cycling infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired..

[@mourlyvold7655]

Cycling drummers welcome! 😜

[@LostIn]

Thanks for video, going tomorrow to cycle in Netherlands for a week 🚴🏻‍♂️

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Lost In best way to travel right now!!

[@jpdj2715]

Before cycling in densely populated areas with swarms of cyclists, study "the dance" of people in traffic. Or avoid all rush hours. Also, note there are dedicated cycle lanes next to pedestrians' sidewalks on one hand and car lanes on the other. Don't dare walk the cycle lanes. Vice versa, don't cycle sidewalks. Note that some cycle lanes may/must be used by cars, e.g. in passing an incoming car, or moving to the side of the road when changing direction. When you come here as a tourist, you may want to wear a helmet or head protection until you can blend in. It is a way of signaling you are a foreigner and (maybe) not as good at the dance, yet. And make sure the lights on the bike properly function.

[@Hans.Dewitt]

Amsterdam city center is definitely the craziest it gets, with tons of tourists who havent got a clue. Even Rotterdam and utrecht is nice imo, but I will never bring my bike to Amsterdam

[@MalcolmJameson_1]

Big mistake. No cyclists in Amsterdam. Only crowds filled with pedestrians on bicycles riding at a pace of dying cow. Cycling is about feeling free on i bike, cycling is about wind in your ears and pain in your legs. Amsterdam is not that. Amsterdam is about crowding at walking speed on bicycles.

[@robeleco1]

@@MalcolmJameson_1 Cycling is just a means of transportation. That is exactly what people in Amsterdam (at least the locals) are doing. What the tourists are doing, I don't know. :-)

[@fransdigitalmediaservices3912]

I first went cycling in holland in 1986 Just love going back, They organise their physical infrastructure with every one in mind,

[@fritz2934]

Having dedicated places to store your bike securely near restaurants is something you can only dream of in Germany. Same goes for this incredible infrastructure for traveling by bike. In Germany I often experience bike lanes that end suddenly with no other option to drive on than the road with car traffic. I am very jealous- nice video! 🏖

[@sinthiafs]

I absolutely love the Netherlands!

[@Rhaman68]

When “we” is more valued than “me” bicycling is safer, efficient and enjoyable. Even in bike paths, riding a bike in the USA is full of hazards as racers are rude, do not slow down and it’s all about them! Lovely report from a nation that places people first!!

[@qedqubit]

well spoken !

[@shannontrainer5857]

@@qedqubit Way to throw road cyclists under the bus. Joseph Goebbels would be proud of both of you!

[@ArnieandJo]

Jamie, this really is one of the best, and most helpful, videos I've ever run across dealing with cycling in NL. I had no idea about the signage, maps, etc. you shared. My wife and I keep saying that it is time to return, and this just adds fuel to that desire. Well done!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot, really appreciate your kind words. I knew a lot of people were aware of Dutch cycling culture but not about the great maps and routing, so wanted to share that information 😁 You and your wife should definitely go! If you want to find more information about the cycling infrastructure and order paper maps go to www.hollandcyclingroutes.com I have the ‘Basiskaart LF routes’ - which is a series of maps of the entire countries cycling network 😊

[@Fietsplatform]

@@jamieroundtheworld Wow. What a great video .. again. We published it on our website, www.hollandcyclingroutes.com/cycling-in-the-netherlands. Glad this site and our Basiskaart seem to be useful for you!

[@barvdw]

You can find much information in the ANWB stores, they're a mix of AAA and cycling club (literally, ANWB means General Dutch Cyclist Union), and have shops in many towns all over the country, where they sell excellent tourist maps, travel guides, car insurances, hiking clothes, etc.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Great tip! Thanks :)@@barvdw

[@mirjamkronemeijer3402]

try the routes along the river IJssel. And Nijmegen to Maastricht. so beautiful and I didnt see it in the video. i did a lot of cycling and camping (travelling with the camping geer on my bicycle) and those are my absolute favorite. as well as riding along the sea shore and the islands

[@superploeg9084]

Thank you for your explonation about the LF-routes. Very clear for me now, and I'm from The Netherlands haha! Thank you

[@eyedoclondon]

Thanks for making this video. We love our holidays in the netherlands. So bike and dog friendly. We got as far as Texel and the beaches are absolutely incredible. Loads of little wooden shack cafes on the beach - so relaxed. Lovely lifestyle. Cant recommend NL too highly.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Totally agree!!

[@robertheinrichvonseyfenste267]

The FIRST man who says Amsterdam and not EmsterdEm! GREAT!!!

[@Saartje05]

Wat een onzin. Wij geven buitenlandse steden ook een Nederlandse draai.

[@ls200076]

@@Saartje05 Helemaal wel

[@ricohcrap]

Daily commute becomes workout, it's a brilliant idea...

[@emiel1976ep]

Yes you ditched the helmet! I agree, bike only are the best routes. They bring you to places where you ells would never come. Helmets are not saver!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

emiel1976ep haha yeah definitely no need for the helmet on these bikes!

[@emiel1976ep]

jamieroundtheworld if you are not racing or go on a normal speed, than you don't need one. It's even proven that people that use no helmet have less accidents than people that wear a helmet. They did that investigation in countries where it's normal to wear a helmet. People that wear a helmet ride a lot more dangerous and cars keep less distance from a person that wears a helmet than as they don't wear a helmet. Advice was, to ditch the helmet and the number of injuries and deaths would drop significantly. On a race bike where you go fast, than it's different. They take more risks already and as they ride in a group, they can fall and than is a helmet better. But that is only for racers as they fall. As a car hits them, a bicycle helmet will not save you because it's not designed for that. Here you look crazy as you wear a helmet. You only see it with racers on and of road plus the electric bikes that have pedal support above 25km/h. On those electric bikes you must wear a helmet and a plate on the back. They see it as a moped. But as you want to ride save on a bike, don't ride outside the Netherlands. 😂😂😉

[@HansKeesom]

@@emiel1976ep That is not a logical answer and frankly bs. Off road and racebiking is more dangerous therefore they wear an helmet, it is not the helmet though that makes is more dangerous. Wearing an helmet on a normal bike at normal speeds will indeed be more safe.

[@emiel1976ep]

@@HansKeesom you mean your reaction is bs. First, I am not talking about offroad or racing. Second, it's investigated. Yes a bike helmet will give some protection against injuries. I say some protection because it's not designed for great impacts like a motor helmet it. Therefore, it's not allowed to use it on a motorcycle. Also as a car hits someone on a bike with high speed, it's not effective and will not save you. They investigated it in countries like Canada, the USA Australia and some other countries where they wear a helmet on there bike. And again, no it's not about offroad or people who race. The results where very clear, people that wear a helmet have a much greater chance of getting in an accident than people without a helmet. This came because of 2 reasons. One, carse gave no space to people that wear a helmet on there bike. This results in many accidents where people where hit by the car. Cars gave people who didn't wear a helmet way more space what resulted in way lower accidents. Second reason, people that wear a helmet, take a lot more risks what also resulted in more accidents. That is why they concluded that not wearing a helmet is saver. So yes a helmet protects you as you fall, but the amount of time that people fall of there bike is way smaller than getting in an accident. And as they fall from there bike, they almost never fall with big injuries as result.

[@HansKeesom]

@@emiel1976ep Until you show me the report you refer to with "They investigated it" You are just making my point when you write "Second reason, people that wear a helmet, take a lot more risks what also resulted in more accidents. That is why they concluded that not wearing a helmet is saver." This is a clear mix-up of cause and effect. Also I'm not talking about racing, I am talking about race-bicyles. People on faster bike that make more miles at higher speed, not surprisingly they are involved in more accidents. The cause is not the helmet, the cause is speed, more miles and partly how they behave on the road. if you score one of those three then a helmet isrecommended. Finally, to think an american research can be applied to the dutch situation is ridiculous as the bike-path situation is completely different.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

You are welcome. Come and cycle here in the Netherlands! Myself I do bicycle touring too, this is the perfect country for it.

[@lauwke123]

Well, well, I never knew about the numbered bikeroutes and numbered intersections...and I'm Dutch! Thanks for this info mate!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Haha nice! Thanks for the comment!

[@Saartje05]

Dit bestaat al jaaaaaaaaaaaaren

[@AnEnormousNerd]

This is really well made! Gives a good idea of just how bicycle-centric the country really is.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot!

[@aldertprast939]

I love the LF routes and cycled a lot of them, but they're far from 'efficieny bike motorways'. They're mapped out to be scenic, to to be ridden on a holiday, and because of that they will rarely be the shortest/fastest. You'll usually need to ride the bike paths alongside N roads for that.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Aldert Prast totally correct

[@andydinwoodie1497]

Great video Jamie. I've lived in the NL (Breda) for nearly 3 years now and I love cycling. I'm on my stadsfiets nipping into town or to the supermarket or at the weekend on my racefiets doing 150km+. Most of it on dedicated cycle paths or quiet back roads. Such a contrast to the UK

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Andy Dinwoodie amazing! Would love to live there myself at some point!

[@sjaakdewinter6258]

I still love it to bike in the Netherlands. Nice bikelanes, nice surrounding, you never tired of that. (60 plus and an E-bike)

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Sjaak De Winter that’s great! I think my girlfriend would of liked an electric bike! 😂

[@tarquinmidwinter2056]

Nice video Jamie. I'm a Brit living in Apeldoorn, which is roughly in the middle of the Netherlands, so great for exploring the country by bike. (I've put some of my bike rides on my channel.) I agree that everyone should come here and try it. Then they should go back to their own countries (UK take note) and lobby for equally good cycling infrastructure everywhere. Makes such a difference to the quality of life.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Awesome, I'll check out your videos ☺️ I completely agree with you, it is such a massive difference between the UK and Netherlands. It creates such a better lifestyle!

[@onebicycle3772]

Tarquin you said youre a brit right? What makes you decide to leave uk?

[@tarquinmidwinter2056]

@@onebicycle3772 My wife is Dutch. After I retired it was her turn to live in her own country.

[@vanderquast]

Great compliment for our cycling culture 👍

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Jacobus Johannes no problem, it’s like a dream to a cyclist from the UK!

[@Snowshowslow]

Lovely video :-) One small note if you are going to take a bike on a train: you have to buy a ticket for it (day pass or "fietsticket", which is the only available option, is currently 7,50) and you can only bring your bike on the off (non-peak) hours and in designated areas. If those are full, you will have to wait for the next train. So plan for some flexibility :-)

[@klontjespap]

even if you're lost, look for the "mushroom", those little white distance markers with 4 directions on it placed at cycling junctions, they're very low from the ground so you'll have to know to look for them :D when that fails, ride to the nearest church tower you see, and you'll end up in some town center with directions, when not available, try to pinpoint an industrial area to find the outskirts where the cycling paths converge with car roads again for directions.

[@TTTzzzz]

It's true, it's a wonderful country.

[@positivenergylife]

❤️🥰Love the Netherlands!!!

[@sseaditya]

This is exciting. I will be riding these routes next year. I feel like the best way to really experience the place is to cycle through it, and then you remember all the subtle curves, the ascends and descends, and the vibes!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

So true! Despite spending more time in other countries I feel like I know the Netherlands better because I've ridden through it all. I hope you enjoy your trip when you go!

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Nice video. Fun to see some footage of my old home town Gouda. Although I have to say, that opening rooftop shot was possibly the worst angle anyone could possibly have picked. You cant even see the old townhall from that angle. Cycling is so easy, if the weather is nice and I want to visit friends or family, I would rather cycle 30 kilometers than take the bus or a car. Its good exercise and because of the seperated bike lanes you can go at a good speed without having to constantly slow down and watch out for traffic, if you follow the bike routes like the video explained. Would you rather drive for half an hour or bike for an hour and a half on a sunny day, if you dont have to worry about dangerous traffic? Easy choice for me.

[@Rafaga777]

Great video. I really enjoyed watching it.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

alborada777 thanks a lot!! ☺️

[@JipSlinger]

Or you just use google maps for navigation with the bicycle routes option which is supported in the netherlands. But idk if you can plan entire routes with it, maybe you can.

[@raphdroidt692]

Oh my goodness this was such a lovely video!

[@sjaakdewinter6258]

I am Dutch, it s true, the Netherlands is a paradise for bikers.

[@woutervanr]

Ha, that endcard. I've only just been to 'De Haar' like 2 hours ago, haha.

[@windsurfer]

Cycling in The Netherlands is one of my favourite things to do! Great video.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Me too! (If you didn’t already notice 😂)

[@windsurfer]

jamieroundtheworld it’s a modern wonder of the world!

[@grusbekse]

A small note by the part you were talking about taking the train. You are indeed allowed to take your bike with you into the train, but if it isn't a folding bike you need to have a extra ticket for it. So one ticket for you and another for the bike. And you aren't allowed to travel during rush hour, this simply because of space issues in the trains. But you can rent a bike on every bigger station in the country if you don't want to take one with you in the train.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Great points, thanks for the comment! Yes we did try to get the train during rush hour with our bikes one day before realising the time!

[@cyclingchantal]

Also you can't take your bike in the train on week days in the morning and afternoon rush hours (6 to 9 and 4 to 6:30 I believe)

[@fb079]

I'm looking at this video with such envy from London I wish we had similar systems were so far behind.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Tell me about it! 😂

[@mourlyvold7655]

In the 1970's people revolted against the ever growing danger of car-centric developments in infrastructure. Thank heavens we had a governement who took these protests serious. Here we are 50 years later, best bike infrastructure in the world I dare say...

[@garrardzero1]

You can also use your phone with Google maps to navigate. Set it on cycling and use a simple €5,- Aliexpress phoneholder.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

garrardzero1 yes I did use this as well when I got lost!

[@jay-self-appointedpromotor8309]

Another brilliant, clear video. Great that you mentioned and explained our nationwide cycle junction network. (the LF routes and signposted junction network) Perfect!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Jay - self-appointed promotor of the Netherlands thanks so much!!

[@roomiller1308]

Hi thanks for the video. We're planning a family cycling holiday to NL this summer. What's the map that you're using in the video? Where can I get it?

[@jackmorgan1677]

Hi Jamie, loved your video. Wondered what the music was called, do you have an artist and/or title?

[@andrewOsoto]

You forgot to include Flanders in the bike network. Its bikepaths are part of the fietsnet too.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Very true and well spotted! I took the map directly from Fietsplatform and animated it so I'm not sure why they aren't including it 😂

[@andrewOsoto]

@@jamieroundtheworld fietsnet.be has the whole network I think

[@ESOMASTER]

As a Dutchy who lived in Bucharest Romania for a while, and only had acces to 1 good/safe cycling line (the one to Calae Victorie from the ''shit on the stick statue, at least that's what every Romanian I talked to called it lol) it was quite the change haha, then again I was lucky It was next to my apartment and I could use that bicycle lane :P Really made me appreciate what we have here more! Bucharest was really nice though, awesome people!

[@acrofanatic]

Thank you for this video and showing our country this way and thank you for showing my hometown Gouda as well :)

[@jamieroundtheworld]

It was a pleasure! Gouda is such a lovely little town!

[@mawoodsiesx]

A great video Jamie promoting the delights of cycling in Holland well done. Me and my partner are off cycling in April for the 5th time and we just cant get enough of it and we agree with all the advice and tips you brought up. I use a cycling app called Naviki it works really well you can plan routes before you go it doesn't need a data connection check it out. Also we always stay in accommodation through a club called Vierenden op de fiets it's a web based group 10 euro membership a year and you get to stay at peoples houses for 19 euro B&B. Anyway a great video well put together.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot for your comment and kind words, those are some great tips! :) Enjoy your next trip!!

[@mawoodsiesx]

@jurriaan Adema Thanks for the spell check I always get it wrong.

[@cstewart3671]

Another great video Jamie! I’d love to see the 1000k route in more detail, love to do it myself!

[@Vested_Investor]

Loved the video! How can one find bike paths that are segregated from traffic, especially ones that travel alongside canals or under a tree canopy? Is there any tool and capability within Komoot or a similar service to find segregated paths?

[@janwanders3542]

The segregated paths are allmost everywhere outside cities. Just in low trafic areas not. No needs to worry it is safe everywhere. Cars drive responsible because they are liable if an accident occurs. And most of them are also bikers. There are also a lot of special bikeparhs. Through all the forest, dunes etc. It is a paradise for bikers.

[@harveysharman3777]

Thank you this is fantastic info. Can I ask as never been to Netherlands or abroad properly before, where would an ideal peaceful area for short village scenic cycling be? I tend to rent a left hand car and drive from UK to Netherlands to some Airbnb apartment as being tourist for the first time. I am not keen on taking flights and its stress as I like travelling by car :)

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks for the feedback, glad this was helpful ☺️ A lot of this video was shot in the lovely AirBnB apartment we rented in Gouda, and most of the footage is from the town and countryside around there. I would definitely recommend Gouda as (at least to me) it was a good example of Dutch urban planning, centred around a peaceful pedestrianised town centre and surrounded by lush green countryside and rivers to explore by bike. Gouda is also very close to the Hook of Holland where the Stena Line ferry from the UK arrives - We actually got the ferry and train this time but it is only about 45 mins in the car. Hope this helps!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Also, if you do not yet have an AirBnB account, sign up using this link to get £25 off your first booking ☺️ www.airbnb.co.uk/c/jamieb1184

[@harveysharman3777]

Super thank you really appreciated and useful advise :) Yes just signed up on AirBnB tonight.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Let me know if you go and how you find it! 😁

[@harveysharman3777]

Will do thank you. Not sure when as sorting STEM in schools so might be school half term :)

[@ce-ce-em]

Great video! Thank you!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Carolien thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mhjmstultiens]

Beautiful video, Jamie! Loved it. Greetings from the Netherlands. :)

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Mhjm Stultiens thank you so much! Always good to know you dutchies approve! 😁

[@ziggyziggyziggy]

Nice video! Just keep in mind that those LF routes are usually not the fastest routes from A to B. They tend to lead you by landmarks. The fastest way to another town is usually indicated with white signs with red letters.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

ziggyziggyzig yeah good point! I should of clarified they are the simplest for tourists in terms of just following one nice route without having to think about it too much 👍

[@sjaakdewinter6258]

I have a tip for you> go to the dunes on the Sea, you have to sea that, the bikelanes (total 200 km) there are only for bikes, very safe, specially for kids.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Where exactly are you talking about? I rode down most of the coast in 2017 passing through Bergen Ann Zee, Edmond Ann Zee, Noordwijk, etc and loved all the coastal nature reserves and dunes with long winding paths!

[@sjaakdewinter6258]

@@jamieroundtheworld I exactly means the bikeroad between Haarlem and Den Haag, but al the way from Den helder to Hoek van Holland is beautiful.

[@owensuckling1446]

Very good video. Good information thanks 👍

[@tonyfrewin4822]

Love this video 👍

[@chrisccummins]

This is a lovely video!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Christian Cummins Thanks a lot! Appreciate it ☺️

[@rajnadar6555]

are the bike paths on google maps? It would be amazing for those who are new to the country or just want to explore a new bike route.

[@zivkovicable]

Yes they are.

[@jakeparker3336]

Love this video and your previous one for the 1000km ride for charity. It's very inspiring and I can't wait to plan my own trip this year, thankyou.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot and glad you liked them! I hope you enjoy your own trip as much as I enjoyed mine :)

[@jakeparker3336]

@@jamieroundtheworld You're welcome! Hopefully I will, I'll let you know! :)

[@jamieroundtheworld]

@@jakeparker3336 Yes please do, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

[@jakeparker3336]

@@jamieroundtheworld Brilliant thank you! I'll do some more research then get back to you :)

[@johnwealthy6044]

Nice video Jamie. As I have never cycled in Europe, what method do most from the UK get over to Europe?

[@voicefactory4009]

Thank you for the very good video of our country.

[@Havoc083]

This is cool! I live on the outer edge of Gouda, on the east side. This is close to some of the locations you showed us in your video. Yet, I'm still amazed by the beauty of the area. I also used to deliver parcels in that area (Reeuwijkse plassen) in the evening. I loved it on summer evenings.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Havoc thanks for watching! I absolutely loved Gouda and the surrounding area! Such a nice little town ❤️

[@williamJohanns436]

Live in the Netherlands cant wait for my new dutch bike. Van moof s3😄.

[@EDerable1]

You're welcome, try "De Peel" also nice

[@letsgodosomestuff6495]

Also I now want to cycle around the Netherlands

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Maybe next time Frank is touring there you could cycle and see him haha?

[@letsgodosomestuff6495]

jamieroundtheworld great idea 🤣

[@brucejones3337]

Nice video! Thanks James

[@mikeskor6230]

Fantastic video, Jamie. Is there an LF routes Map? Can you recommend a route through interesting cities?

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot mate! Yes if you head to www.hollandcyclingroutes.com/cycling-in-the-netherlands they have loads more information (and actually feature my video too!). They have an Interactive Cycle Route Planner which has all the LF and Junction Routes, or they have various paper maps and guides you can order from them. They also have Themed routes which combine several different LF routes to make a longer trip through famous parts of the country. My personal favourite areas are round the central and western part of the country, but all of it is unique and great to ride through!

[@pembrokeshirephotography3642]

Hi. Just planning a trip to Holland next month. What do you think is an acceptable distance to expect to cycle each day on roads and LF routes? When you did the 1000km ride were you really pushing it to do 100 miles a day? Thanks.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Pembrokeshire Photography hey! Glad to hear you’re are heading to Holland and great question! I cycled between 75miles and 100miles a day on my tour. 100miles was pushing it at times, particularly with windy conditions. I guess you need to consider 2 things: how fit are you, and what kind of trip do you want to do. Obviously your fitness level determines how much you can physically manage per day, but the more important question is whether you want it to be a purely cycling trip or a tour of the country. The Netherlands is designed to be taken slower - a lot is packed into a small area, it’s not like other countries where there are large expanses of nothing so I guarantee you will want to continuously stop and enjoy nature reserves or little villages, and you don’t want to feel rushed. For me whilst the 100 mile days were physically manageable, it was more annoying to not spend as much time as I would have liked in the places I passed through. The shortest days of 75/80 miles were far more enjoyable but I still felt a bit rushed. I would probably do even shorter days if/when I return! Hope that helps!

[@pembrokeshirephotography3642]

Many thanks for your insight. Let planning commence!

[@jay-self-appointedpromotor8309]

Super video. Great explanation. (a Dutchy)

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thank you! :)

[@gotuble]

Well done, this video. Please add cycling in the south of the province Limburg to your next video ;-)

[@Ginger-hk1bq]

I agree, the south of Limburg is beautiful. I often go cycling there myself, especially in spring and autumn.

[@mariadebake5483]

And Noord-Brabant too!

[@laurenenglish826]

Cool

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Lauren English 👍

[@Maiten01]

1.56 haha that's the route I cycle to and from school everyday. The first time I've seen Driebruggen and Waarder in a KZbin video 😂

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Dierengek2001 great area and route!

[@zeveroarerules]

LF routes are a Dutch invention, the numbers system is a Belgian (Limburg) thing :-)

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

You won't hear us when things are claimed by other countries. Leeuwenhoek discovered everything beyond normal sight and Lorentz discovered relativity (it wasn't Einstein). Only the french, the brits and the yanks are very aggressive about their discoveries. The Dutch and the Germans punch far above their weight however.

[@NorthEastTrailRunner]

If only the UK had this attitude to cycling.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Rick Smith totally! It’s like another world!

[@onebicycle3772]

Ricky... The uk is hopeless... Lots of idiots drivers, obese and they love cars which basically are pollutants and keeping them less active. UK is claiming that their country is rich... But why is it that they have a poor infrastructure nationnwide? The government cares only about automobiles and care less about cycling.. So UK of great britain and northern ireland is far behind.

[@Nico-cg2sw]

@@onebicycle3772 Cambridge

[@kurczloci]

Amazing quality! It's clear you love what you're doing! I'mma just stay tuned here haha! (A fellow "filmmaker")

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot :)

[@fishwhosmokesopium6645]

WoW at 3:52 you can see my village!! Its Ulvenhout to the south of breda

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Ahh I only briefly passed through Ulvenhout when I did my big ride back in 2017 but the area is beautiful!

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

I've not yet cycled in the Netherlands, but I have so far visited 3 times. I think the UK certainly could do a lot of learning from our continental neighbours - for one thing, the extensive cycling network and "can do" attitudes towards cyclists over there is probably why you have to try to find a single fat person in a crowd in the Netherlands. Meanwhile obesity rates in the UK are soaring because "exercise" is all too often confused for "extra fries"!!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

haha very true. It's a completely different world over there!

[@onebicycle3772]

Cal I totally agree with you. UK has obesity problems nationwide and lots of people have CVD due to lack of exercise. But brits loves car so much that they dont want to share the road to other road users. And UK has one of the most worst road infrastructure in europe. No network of bicycle lane..government and boroughs are hesitant to build cycling infrastructure because they think of cycling as a leisure only. I hope UK will turn like netherlands someday but I think it wont happen.. They dont care....

[@JohnTaylor-bf6ll]

Did you record some of your favourite bike routes?

[@zeppafloyd]

Great video. I want to take my family on a bike trip there next year, 2022 either spring or summer. My twin daughters will be 14 then. Any suggestions for where and how to rent bikes and book places to stay?

[@jaapvw66]

Nice video! And so true! And if you don't mind, I jump on my bike now to cycle around 100 km around abcoude.

[@TheTsjippie]

lovely video enjoyed ervry second off it

[@Coleton33Music]

Jamie, I’ve been planning a tour around the Netherlands for a summer trip. I have a few questions for you: Question 1: I often saw you going upwards of 100 miles a day. Was this a challenge or was this easier due to the Netherlands flatter landscape? I’ve heard from some professional bicycle tourists that up to 60 miles a day is their max, but this takes into account hills and mountain climbs. Question 2: Did you camp during the tour? If so what do you suggest I look for in regards to camp sites? Question 3: Were there any things you wish you would have packed on your trip, and were there things you never needed? Dankjewel for your time.

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Coleton Visser hey great questions! 100 miles was a bit of a challenge (and I designed it that way as it was for charity). Whilst Netherlands doesn’t have many hills it does have some very strong winds which can be absolutely killer! If you cycle regularly at home I think my ideal when touring would be around 50 miles. That would allow you time to stop and enjoy places you come across and not be pushing yourself too hard. I sometimes felt like I couldn’t fully appreciate some places at times on my longer days, and was always keeping an eye on my watch which was a shame. I didn’t camp as I was packing as light as I possibly could without any panniers - instead I used some great hostels, B&Bs and airBnB rooms. I really packed light with only one or two spare tops and a pair of trousers other than my cycling gear for a week - and was greatly full for it. Pack as light as possible! Hope that all helps!!

[@dikkertjefap9709]

Ook op Terschelling geweest zie ik!

[@notanape5415]

A century long silence for India, where I am afraid to go out on long bike rides because I am almost certain that I will be kidnapped 😗 Coming to Netherlands real soon :)

[@josephakendrick529]

What's the upright bike you are on?

[@Brozius2512]

The brand is rock machine. they have a website.

[@Beun007]

Nice promotion video!

[@LeonOverweel]

Great video!

[@jamieroundtheworld]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@LindaCasey]

I'm elderly, live in North Holland and am going to lease a small Canta (invalid car) this Spring for me and my dogs. I understand I can make use of all the same bike paths that you travelled on. I noticed you had a map on your bike. Is it specifically for bikes? Where did you stay while here? Did you have to make arrangements ahead of time? How did you plan your trip? Maybe you could make a video on 'how to' for people like me? Thank you. 🌹