Explore the World's Cycling Nation Netherlands - Thorn & Roermond 4K

Most Americans only know where is Amsterdam, and Holand itself is super underrated outside of Europe. I had the pleasure to stopover for a bit to explore the Netherlands/Belgium border area with my bike - Putte, Thorn and Roermond. There was this Holanda kid trying to race me with his e-bike which was priceless. Holanda made it to my top 10 list of my favorite!

[@erikloupias7642]

Als je tussen de voetgangers niet verder kan fietsen dien je af te stappen en je benenwagen te gebruiken. Hier geld de wet van de voetgangers!😡

[@henkoosterink8744]

Exactlly the same as Belgium....except the potholes and the bad bicyclepaths.....

[@miles5600]

architecture is different too, we have better road design in The Netherlands too.

[@vast001]

The end of the city limit sign is standard all over Europe. Btw in the city centers, like from 15:41 you are cycling in a pedastian area (signs at the beginning of the street) and cycling is NOT allowed in those areas. When caught by the police they will fine you (€60) Riding not on the right side of the road will cost you €110. And also in areas where are al lot pedestrians it is wisely to step of the bike and walk with the bike through that area. You can't bike everywhere use common sense and look at the road signs.

[@freddyfrieza6742]

If you already didn’t know when you go to a ANWB store in the Netherlands, ask for biking routes and vacations. They are really good and there are plenty of beautiful places to bike around.

[@petersteinmeijer519]

People probably ' stare ' at the bike. Why would they stare at you ?

[@petersteinmeijer519]

I'm surprised you can even see a license plate at the speed you're going.

[@DenUitvreter]

People in the Netherlands have seen Asian faces before, even in Thorn I'm sure they didn't assume you biked all the way from the Far East.

[@Schurkie505]

it seems that you always want to ride on the left side of the road? we drive right here in the Netherlands

[@erikloupias7642]

Dude ,you are not in Asia or in Britain, in traffic🚴you must always stay on the rightside in Europe!🙏👍

[@mmfong297]

That was just a stopover for the city sign. but the truth is that the US or in Asia, these weren't being followed as strictly as the EU. I believe they teach you this at an early age in school in Belgium/Holand

[@huub1297]

Your driving behavior could also be the most obvious reason why people are "staring" at you.

[@marieantoinette7703]

​@@huub1297 and for not wearing a helmet on your racefiets!

[@rickastley7490]

No idea why they stare at you but it is not your face or ethnicity. That was 50 years ago. Cheers from the Netherlands & subbed Edit: its prolly the camera / not used to vlogging. I'd stare too😊

[@Ilske]

That is what I tought too

[@mmfong297]

What I meant was a friendly stare.. everyone in NL and Belgie have been pleasantly friendly. I am also pleased at the level of English they spoke

[@buddy1155]

@@mmfong297 You are talking to yourself (well camera) that is why people stare, like the kid on the fatbike he looked at you everytime you started talking, he thought you might be talking to him. Beside that 'staring' is a bit more common in Europe if people something a bit out of the ordinary they just stare. Watch the channel NALF, a guy form the US that moved to Germany, totally freaked out by the 'staring' he was caucasian, but dressed American: cap, shirt with printed text, shorts and sneakers.

[@wimschoenmakers5463]

Once in a crowdy pedestrian street you should also walk instead of waving around all the people.

[@mmfong297]

I tried to go very slow and didn’t think this would be illegal. Maybe bc I seen those UberEats cyclists dashing thru those city centers in another country and thought it’s ok as long as I yield to pedestrians

[@wimschoenmakers5463]

@@mmfong297 Pedestrian areas are often closed for bicycles, so you always watch at the signs before entering. That can safe you €60,- ( 65 Dollar )

[@buddy1155]

@@mmfong297 There is a hierarchy, as you might have noticed car and trucks are respectful towards bikes, bikers should be respectful to pedestrians. If you hit a pedestrian you are the one to blame legally. The hierarchy is based on speed, weight and vulnerability: pedestrians, bikes, mopeds, motorbikes, cars, trucks. It is never acceptable to cycle on the footpaths, but pedestrians can walk on the bike path if there is no sidewalk.

[@Harrypjotter7]

15:41 you are not aloud to bike their.

[@Smulpaap]

allowed :)

[@Ilske]

*there

[@RougeKirschen]

Please step out from your bike when you are in pedestrian area.

[@liesbethboesjes3307]

Misschien eerst de regels leren, waar je wel en niet mag fietsen

[@erikloupias7642]

Buitenlanders zijn hier echt een gevaar op de weg. Komen zonder ervaring deelnemen aan ons verkeer ,terwijl onze kinderen al op lagere school hun verkeersdiploma moeten halen.😡

[@JacobBax]

The kid that tried to race you will probably lose his e-bike when caught by the police.

[@mmfong297]

That's harsh.. seems like NL has strict laws on bicycles riding that I do not know of.. which explained why everyone is frustrated with me riding thru the walking streets. This is all new to me

[@Muziekdoosmuziek]

@@mmfong297 The maximum speed for an e-bike is 25km/h, the kid was going 40km/h. For a high speed e-bike the maximum allowed speed is 45km/h, the minimum age is 16, you need a licence, license plate, Insurance, wear a helmet, have a rear view mirror and you are not allowed to ride on the cycle path.

[@miles5600]

@@Muziekdoosmuziek is niet helemaal waar, je mag met een speed pedelec op het fietspad zolang er op het bordje een fiets en een bromfiets staat, kan ook dat er met letters onder het bordje staat dat speed pedelecs zijn toegestaan. verder mag je in Nederland alleen een gas hendel hebben op je fiets als je moeite hebt met bewegen, maar deze fietsen mag je niet zomaar verbouwen (ze zouden daar niet op controleren) terwijl je in Amerika met een class 2 fiets 20 MPH mag met gas hendel en class 3, 28 MPH met gas hendel.