Visit the Netherlands
Prepare an excursion to the Netherlands or pay a virtual visit and get information about cycling policy, measures and services in the best Dutch cycle towns
Preparing an excursion to the Netherlands
If you are preparing a visit to the Netherlands and need some assistance or useful addresses, contact with our intenational co-ordinator might be helpful. Please sent us your requests a couple of weeks in advance (e.g. 4 - 6 weeks). Click here to send an e-mail and state which themes you are interested in, which period and if you want to see specific towns.
A virtual visit to the Netherlands
Find here a list of the best Dutch towns on cycling and a description of what makes them special. If you click on a town name, you can find a list of all items on this site that concern that town. All these towns are also shown on this map; by clicking on the name of the town you get all the information on that specific town.
The best Dutch bicycle towns:
Groning
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Groningen (178.000 inhabitants, 2002 cycling city of the year) sets the example as regard bicycle climate and bicyle use. What has made these two factors so prominent here? The answer revolves around three key words: policy, coherence and continuity. The municipality for instance conducts a broad cyling policy, firmly embedded in overall transport and traffic policy. On the other hand, spatial policy has been persistently oriented at a compact city for decades, offering many activities well within bicycle reach to its citizens - with a large number of students (46.000). Leading to a bicycle share over 50%. Vast investments in infrastructure show bridges and an astonishing new free guarded bicycle parking near to the station (picture). Click here for all information on this site on Groningen.
Houten
Chose for green and cycling and you will see Houten (47.000 inhabitants). The whole lay-out of the town is geared towards green and cycling. In the urban development the choice for a central green zone means a choice to lead the car traffic to the outskirts of the town. The lay-out for another 6.000 houses fits neatly to the 'old' green structure and cycle network. Very popular with visiting groups to show how much liveability is influenced in a positive way by the combination of green and cycling. Chosen to be the cycling city of the year 2009. Click here for all information on this site on Houten.
Amsterdam
Competing with Copenhagen to be cycling capital of the world. An integrated cycling plan is backed up with large investments in cycling infrastructure (tunnels and bridges to complete the cycling network), large cycle parking facilities (near stations and houses), measures against bicyle theft and bicycle promotion campaigns. Amsterdam also is looking for twinning with other countries and towns on cycle promotion. The only Dutch town with a green wave for cyclists. The picture shows the Nesciobrug a designated bicycle bridge connecting the new residential area IJburg with the rest of the city. Click here for all information on this site on Amsterdam.
Delft
One of the first towns in the Netherlands with a consistent and persistent cycling policy that still is going on. Since the early eighties Delft (96.000 inhabitants, 15.500 students) designed and realized a fine network in a city with and ancient city centre. Even a slogan (Delft fietst - Delft cycles!) is put in place to keep everybody (yes, also students) on the bike. Also connected Delft itself with Rotterdam by a cycle free way. Click here for all information on this site on Delft. Examples of Delft bicycling.
Zwolle
Not as well known as Groningen or Houten but Zwolle is of top quality. Zwolle (over 100.000 inhabitants, 2004 cycling city of the year), with a compact ancient city centre, offers very few car accomodation possibilities, enhancing the position of bicycle trips to the city centre. An essential element in the history of Zwolle cycling policy: segregated networks with cycle lanes for the comfort of the cyclists, continued from 1978 until now. Click here for all information on this site on Zwolle.
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city worth mentioning for two reasons: The excellent bicycle-public transport combination and the quality of the bicycle infrastructure throughout town. Utrecht (295.000 inhabitants, 65.000 students) grew in territory so the cycle network needs to be redefined. She is also looking for measures to keep everybody cyling e.g. beter parking facilities and a bike rental system. Utrecht looks across her borders by a bicycle free way to Breukelen and a large wooden bicycle bridge tot the rural area Lopikerwaard. Click here for all information on this site on Utrecht.
Tilburg
Tilburg (202.000 inhabitants, 26.000 students) has a tradition in cycling policy. In 1977 Tilburg had the first high quality bicycle road and in the decades after the 'sternet' was expanded, a close network with six main routes. The present cycle policy is remarkable for the large amount of attention paid to maintenance to keep this fundament valuable for cyclists. And narrowly targeted promotion to pupils, shopping public and ethnic minorities. Completed with large investments to push the bicycle use up to 38%. Click here for all information on this site on Tilburg.
Veenendaal
In 2000 Veenendaal was the first cycling city of the year. Their cycling policy is much more seen in the street than on paper. Veenendaal is favorite for its attractive routes, free guarded bicycle parking, their eye for detail and maintenance (cycle comfort). Combined with bicycle tunnels to new residential areas Veenendaal keeps its already perfect network optimum. As result that with more use of the bicyle and a growing amount of inhabitants, there are less victims among cyclists. Click here for all information on this site on Veenendaal.
Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn has since the 80-ies in the last century, a strong policy to keep its cyclists moving on by realizing axis in their cycle network. Combined with free bicycle parking in e.g. a very well designe bicycle parking at the station, Apeldoorn (155.000 inhabitants) is good place for cyclists. Also cycling during free time gets attention in a city which lies in a beautiful wildlife area. Click here for all information on this site on Apeldoorn.
Enschede
Since the nineties the town goverment of Enschede (156.000 inhabitants, 18.000 students) wanted to make their cycle network more atractive and more complete. Although the bicyle network at itself has a strong relationship with the car network, you see much more of free guarded parking. A big one over 1000 bicycles had more yhan 1 million visitors in 4 years. In the region initiaves take care of the realization of cycle free ways with neighbor cities as hengelo, Gronau and Oldenzaal. Click here for all information on this site on Enschede.
Nijmegen
A new, socialist town government (2002) wanted to reinvigorate bicycle policy. The goal is to upgrade the complete bicyle network. A complete new residential area across a major river north of Nijmegen is connected by a bicyle bridge designated 'Snelbinder' (the Dutch word for the strap on bicycles for carrying luggage). South of Nijmegen a fast bicyle road (6k) runs to Wijchen. Click here for all information on this site on Nijmegen.
Zutphen
Just an average town with an ancient own centre in the Netherlands with a basic cycle network and a bicycle use of 60% inside the town. However Zutphen (46.000 inhabitants) had the first free guarded parking near the railway station. Now the top quality bicycle parking has attracted more cyclists than expected. Click here for all information on this site on Zutphen.
Drachten
Another average town in the north of the Netherlands, but a shared space hotspot. It has an intersection and a roundabout designed from a shared space point of view. Click here for all information on this site on Drachten.
Raalte
Also smaller towns can have a cycling atmosphere worth mentioning. Raalte (37.000 inhabitants), a rural municipality set in the nineties of the past century a standard for communication to influence the inhabitants to use the bicycle. The campaign 'Raalte fietst!' (Raalte cycles!) started after a segregated bicycle network with six main cycling routes, was completed in the main village. It shows perfect the effective combination of infrastructure and communication, in a small community. Click here for all information on this site on Raalte.