Summary The major findings are presented below. Possession and sales of bicycles - 84% of the Dutch possesses one or more bicycles; overall 18 million bicycles; - in 2008 almost 1.4 million new bicycles have been sold; - the average price has risen considerably: €688 (+ 18% compared to 2006); - remarkable growth of electrically-assisted bicycles (2008: approx. 10% of all sales); - 40% of bicycles bought for recreational purposes (2007). Recreational cycling trips - 52% of the Dutch population (over 8.5 million people) makes recreational cycling trips of at least 1 hour (2007); - overall 205 million recreational cycling trips (2007); - the number of cycling day trips, over two hours’ duration, has decreased in 2007 compared to 2002, probably mainly due to unfavourable weather in that summer (actual increase visible in spring). Cycling holidays - 3.9 million domestic holidays with cycling (2008, stable); - over 1 million cycling holidays by 750,000 Dutchmen, holidays where bicycle is used on over half of all days (2008, increase); - over 450,000 multiday cycling trips along LF routes (2008, increase) Effects What’s the yield? (economic effects) - annually approx. € 750 million on expenditure along the way; - € 400 million of this during regular bicycle trips (particularly on refreshments) and € 350 million during multiday trips (particularly stopping off). Considerable increase of expenditure during cycling trips, 2007 + 44% compared to 2002 (corrected for inflation + 34%); - turnover bicycle industry in relation to recreational cycling opportunities: annually approx. € 450 million. Other effects - cycling is an effective tool to exercise to the degree required for good health; - increase in cycling leads to a decrease in health care costs; - cycling benefits the environment. Positive image of recreational cycling may help promote daily cycling. Trends/developments - the result of the ageing of the population (+), participation of ethnic minorities (+/-), more attention for aware and healthier lifestyle (+ and increasing need for quiet and perception (+) is that it is to be expected that interest in making recreational cycling trips and cycling holidays will increase even more; - whether there will actually be more cycling trips and holidays depends on issues like the weather (number of cycling trips) and the economic situation (in particular the number of cycling holidays); - the economic situation will also affect the size of expenditure along the way, these may temporarily be somewhat lower. Recreational cycling opportunities The Netherlands are known as a cycling country, even as regards recreational cycling opportunities. Why? What is on offer to cyclists? - environment: this is a suitable and attractive environment with much variety over short distances. There is much to be seen and done by bicycle, the scale of the country is perfect for cycling; - infrastructure (accessibility): there is a wide range of suitable paths and roads, in a country with few differences in altitude; - product development: many secondary products have been realised, such as routes, signposting for cyclists, etc. Many new items such as regional route networks (junction networks, probably countrywide in 2010) and route planners; - additional facilities/services: there are many facilities available such as cafés and a wide range of possibilities to spend the night; - marketing/information: there is a lot of activity in this field, many parties contribute to the promotion of Nederland Fietsland from various perspectives. But there are also bottlenecks and points of attention: - environment: attractive and diverse regions are spread unevenly over the country and are not near major population centres; quality of the environment is moreover threatened (clutter); - infrastructure; accessibility steadily decreasing by increasing number of barriers: maintenance of bike paths sometimes insufficient; - product development: supply of routes not always very well organised: maintenance of signposting sometimes insufficient; - additional facilities/services: cafés and places to spend to night are unevenly spread over the country, cyclists are not always very welcome and cafes and restaurants are regularly closed; in short: often quite a nasty surprise (recommendation: develop quality label bicycle-friendliness); moreover limited opportunities for taking a bicycle along in the train. - marketing/information: a surplus of information for Dutch cyclists, little information for cyclists from abroad; little coherence between marketing and educational activities (wish: more cooperation/concentration of forces). Developments in other countries - Many European countries have started actively promoting cycling tourism in recent years; - Flanders and most certainly Germany occupy a special place: as neighbours they are both interesting markets but also the major competitors; - little is done to promote the incoming cycling tourism where there are clear opportunities! Major conclusions: - there are great opportunities for a further increase in recreational cycling and cycling holidays in the Netherlands; conditional however on more cooperation/concentration of forces, certainly in the fields of marketing and information. - investments in opportunities for recreational cycling (even in maintenance) will remain worthwhile.