We had a hard time trying to find a hotel room in Amsterdam. All the internet sites we tried showed nearly every hotel as being sold out for the dates we wanted. The rooms that were available were $700+ or the reviews were so bad we couldn't ignore them. Finally we found a site that had apartments for rent for short term. There was an apartment, reasonably priced, in a good neighborhood, with good reviews!
It was a great apartment- updated, fully stocked kitchen, private bath, large room with beds, a big table to eat on and a couch and coffee table and a beautiful double door to a garden! Perfect, except for one thing- the street is very residential and the parking is limited and very expensive. The manager told us to take our car to the Olympic Stadium parking lot, go through the middle ticket gate marked P+R (Park and Ride) and take our ticket to the parking garage office. They will give us 2 bikes to use while we are in Amsterdam- FREE!
We couldn't believe our ears! We had already figured out that "bikes are boss" in Amsterdam. They have their own lanes in the streets, including separate traffic lights, they have the right of way in the large traffic circles, they have bike racks everywhere for parking- which are always full!
So we got outfitted with our bikes, and locks and have happily been joining the swarms of people who use bikes for transportation.
Just think of what you do in and with your car, and Amsterdammers do it on their bikes- text, talk on the phone, eat lunch, go grocery shopping, pick up kids from school, go on a date! It is wonderful!
The bikes come in a wide variety of models, but there is a basic black, single speed, no hand brakes model that is most prevalent. The bikes are equipped with bells. There are bikes for one person that have large woven baskets in the front, or plastic baskets strapped to the back, bikes that have huge box cars in the front for up to 4 children, or a week's worth of groceries for those 4 children! Bikes can also have small seats for children in the front or the back or both- smaller seats in front of the rider usually include a little windshield. 99% of the riders do not wear helmets.
You can imagine what it might be like trying to find your black bike amongst several thousand other black bikes. People personalize their bikes with plastic flowers, ribbons, paint, or decorate their baskets. Most bikes have interesting locks- ones that close through the back tire's spokes so the wheel won't turn and then big thick chains with a lock for the rest of the bike.
Cycling under Delft Blue Skies!
I'm pretty sure it's MORE than 99% don't wear helmets. I think we saw one or two on our entire four days. Great photos! Amsterdam's the best.
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