{"id":15189,"date":"2023-02-02T16:54:23","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T15:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wobblyride.com\/?p=15189"},"modified":"2026-03-26T13:28:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T12:28:30","slug":"cycling-in-the-netherlands-bike-touring-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wobblyride.com\/pl\/2023\/02\/02\/cycling-in-the-netherlands-bike-touring-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling in the Netherlands – Practical bike touring guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Widely concidered the most cyclist-friendly country in the world, the Netherlands is a perfect destination for any bike-traveller, regardless of their experience and fitness level. In 2020, during my first trip to the country of tulips, I was struck by how easy it was to navigate the perfectly-designed bicycle paths.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And cycling in the Netherlands is far from boring (even for such a mountain-geek as myself)! From the sandy beaches of Zeeland, through the vibrant cities of Rotterdam, Zwolle, Amsterdam and Groningen to the quiet countryside in Frisia, cycling through the Netherlands was a perfect way to spend my holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Travelling to the Netherlands with your bicycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Planes directly to Amsterdam from the US and outside of Europe. From Europe, cheaper flights to Eindhoven, You can also travel by Flixbus and train – for example from London, Paris, Brussels, and Berlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plane<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re travelling to the Netherlands from outside of Europe, there is a good chance you\u2019ll be flying with KLM. You can take your bike with you but their prices for intercontinental flights are pretty high, so it might be worth renting a bike in the Netherlands instead. You can read more about KLM’s bike policy on its official website. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s possible to buy a KLM bicycle box at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for 20 euros. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure how to pack your bicycle for the flight? Read my guide here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Train<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

London – Amsterdam<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You cannot currently bring your bike on the Eurostar train from London to Amsterdam<\/a> (it\u2019s only possible to take a boxed bike between London and Paris). The exception is if you have a folding bike. The length of a folded bike has to be shorter than 85 cm, and it has to be in a protective bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berlin – Amsterdam<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I paid 73,90 euros for a train from the Hague to Berlin, and I only booked two days in advance (it was low season). It\u2019s not possible to make a booking with your bicycle online. You have to call NS International for your reservation. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brussels – Amsterdam<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are direct trains from Brussels to Amsterdam, and the ticket prices start from 25 euros. You\u2019ll have to pay another 12 euros for the bicycle ticket and 4 euros for the reservation for IC Brussels if you travel in July or August. You can buy a bicycle ticket from Brussels to Amsterdam here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paris – Amsterdam <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can take your bicycle on the Thalys train from Paris to Amsterdam, but it has to be disassembled and stored in a non-rigid cover no larger than 135x85x30 cm. You can find more information here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flixbus<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flixbus<\/a> can be a low-cost alternative for trains if you\u2019re travelling to Amsterdam from Berlin or Brussels. Only selected buses are equipped with bicycle racks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flixbus connection from Berlin to Amsterdam is quite convenient – you board at 23:00 and wake up at 8:15 in Amsterdam! If you book in advance, you can travel with your bike for as little as 25 euros. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flixbus from Brussels to Amsterdam costs less than 20 euros (bicycle ticket included), and the journey takes about three hours – almost the same time as the train. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more about travelling by Flixbus with a bicycle. <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Bike rental in the Netherlands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bringing a bicycle to the Netherlands might feel like carrying coals to Newcastle. If you\u2019re not very attached to your own two-wheeler, you can easily rent a bike in the Netherlands. Here are some of the best options I found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Black Bikes Bike Rental<\/a> you can rent a bike in one of 19 Dutch cities and return it to another location. The prices start from 16,49 euros for the first day, and the longer you rent the bike, the less you pay. (You will need to add the payment for theft and damage insurance to the price).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At MacBike<\/a> you can rent a typical Dutch city bike or a proper touring bike with 21 gears, including two panniers (if you don\u2019t have your own) and a repair kit. It costs 25 euros daily (if you rent for longer than four days, you will get a discount). If you come to the Netherlands with big luggage you don\u2019t want to carry around on the bike, they will store it for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re on a budget and don\u2019t carry much stuff, you can save a lot of money renting a bike with Swapfiets<\/a>, especially if you\u2019re planning to stay in the Netherlands for a bit longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swapfiets is a Dutch bicycle subscription, something like car leasing. A monthly subscription for the Deluxe 7 model <\/a>(a Dutch-style bike with 7 gears) costs 21,90 euros. You\u2019ll also have to add 29,90 euros for the flexible membership, so you can cancel anytime. It means a rental bike for just a little more than 50 euros a month! Unfortunately, the Swapfiets bikes are only equipped with a small front rack for a basket and don\u2019t have a rear luggage rack for panniers, so you can\u2019t travel with a lot of luggage. But if you pack light, you will be perfectly fine with a Swapfiets bike! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terrain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Netherlands are as flat as it gets, making this country a perfect destination for first-time bicycle tourers<\/a>. If you\u2019re not in terrific shape and hate the climbs, you will love the Dutch roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bike lanes, traffic rules and safety on the roads<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Netherlands are famous for the best and safest cycling infrastructure in the world. Unlike everywhere else in the world, road design prioritises cyclists. In most places, the cycling lanes are wide, separated from the car traffic and well-marked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"cycling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are, however, a few spots in Amsterdam that might feel hectic for you, especially if you\u2019re not a seasoned cyclist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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