On this page we attempt to make available the experience of individual bicycle tourists who travel to Netherlands (you can share your experiences here).
Table of Contents
What different airlines charge for taking your bike with them
Up to date information about what different airlines charge for taking your bike on their planes.
http://www.cyclefiesta.com/multimedia/articles/taking-bicycles-on-planes.htm
Most European airlines are covered, as well as a few other big ones around the world.
DuVelo / Discover Europe on a really good bike.
We rent trekking bikes (Santos Travelmaster 2.6ALU) with Rohloff and belt, waterproof Ortlieb bags, GPS. We pick up and deliver anywhere in Europe.
looking for maps, collaborators online cycling project
Hiya, I am on sourcing out the best ways to travel with bikes and to this end have started my own project. I need maps of proven cycle routes all around Europe, detailing stop off points, cycle friendly accomodation, repair points and hospitable people along the way to make my journey easier.
glenn newland, November 07, 2010posting bikes from rotterdam
we posted our boxed bikes home to NZ from a post office in rotterdam, 50euros each, easier than trying to fly with them and risk paying excess baggage on several legs.
cynthia borne, February 11, 2010Enno moved to a new e-mail adress again .........
Enno is still very much in touch with the world of traveling- commuting- and racing bicycles. Bike Fridays all around the place but 2 Birdy's ( Riese & Müller ) and 2 Serotta's as well. Oooops need extra locks on our frontdoor !
Enno Roosink, December 11, 2009Happy Beerbike Tour will stay in Amsterdam
Beerbike ( happy beerbike tour will stay for ever,rather it will stay or go you having the best sightseeing tour ever on a bike.
Having a beer and good music on board you will have a great day out.
2 and 3 hours tours daily 365 days/year from startpoit central station to the main places like leidseplein,rembrandplein,vondelpark,Singel
Netherlands, bicycle in train
After 09.00 a.m. you can take a bicycle and put it in a compartment indicated by a bicycle vignette. Don't transport in rush hours (17.00-18.30)
In July/August/whole day. Buy ticket in the machine: 6 euro, notwithstanding distance.
Rolling Across Europa
My site tells the story of my ride from Lviv, Ukraine to Napoli to London in 2006. (There's just a little info on Heathrow toward the end, plus mention of the Channel ferry I took.) There are many stories and photographs, with a lot of information for other travelers. Hopefully, others will find it helpful. I rode as an amateur and completed my route, which shows that you don't have to be a great cyclist to travel far (about 7900 km). The trip also raised a little money for HIV orphans in Ukraine, and I hope to do a longer ride in 2008 and raise a lot more!!
John Robinson, June 28, 2007Recumbent rental - Netherlands
We have had good experiences renting recumbent trikes at two Dutch recumbent shops - Ligfietswinkel Amsterdam is conveniently located toward the west side of Amsterdam, with bus (12) and tram (17 and 10, ride to last station) connections from the Central Railway Station, and a bike path leading toward the coast. Ligfietsshop Tempelman is a little less conveniently located (in Dronten, Flevoland, east of Amsterdam but reachable by public transit), and lies in a lightly-populated, very flat area with lots of bike paths. Both shops offer a large selection of recumbent bikes and trikes. If you haven't ridden recumbent before, the trikes are a treat. You can't fall over, and it's easy to load them with travel gear. (Although the tube size on the racks tends to be larger than US standard, so some pannier clips won't fit, and you could end up also renting panniers.) They would be a problem in the built-up areas (too big for some hotels, too low to be seen coming from behind the hedges along the bike paths), but for riding through the tulip fields, they are ideal.
Mary Arneson, May 08, 2007Cross Channel Ferries
Eleven of us travelled last week on 9 bikes and a tandem, on the Stena HSS Discovery (www.stenaline.co.uk) from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Most of us travelled by train - "One" sell a Dutch Flyer ticket from any of their stations to anywhere in Holland for £50 return, including a foot passenger ferry ticket (http://www.onerailway.com/offers/). At Harwich we paid a further return fee of £10 per bike (same for the tandem, giving rise to speculation about building multi-seater bikes and saving money!) and were very well treated - allowed to embark and disembark before the motorised traffic.
Jane, September 22, 2006SatRDay folded bike on Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris
The Thalys website indicates that "folded bicycles in suitable covers...are considered hand luggage and thus carried free of charge." In hopes of meeting this requirement, I brought two large garbage bags and a small roll of packing tape with me. On the platform, I folded my Saturday (leaving the seat attached), and pulled the garbage bags on from the front and back, taping them together. Seats are assigned on the Thalys and there were a large number of people boarding the same car I was. I waited until everyone else had boarded, then brought the bike on board. There are baggage racks at the end of each car, and the conductor helped me get the bike pushed to the side (to clear the aisle), seeming to be quite fine with the bike. In Paris, I similarly waited until everyone else got off, then ripped off the bags, unfolded it, and rolled off. (Needless to say, I stood in the baggage area keeping an eye on the bike while waiting for everyone else!) In my experience, garbage bags are a suitable cover, and the SatRDay (original model), folded is a folding bicycle, dispite the seat's large profile.
Mary, August 24, 2006Bicycle Rental in the Netherlands
Du Nord is a very large bicycle rental firm located in Scheveningen, which is on the North Sea coast, near The Hague. They have a large number of bikes in various sizes with various numbers of gears. They also rent panniers and trailers for touring, helmets, child seats, etc. I rented a bicycle and panniers there, and was very pleased with the quality of the bike. According to their website, they will pick up and deliver in the Netherlands, but we picked up the bike at the shop. It is easily accessible by tram. Their website is: http://fietsverhuurzuidholland.nl/english/index2.htm
A surprize is that they just do not seem very helpful or friendly, but the bike was ready as reserved by email and there were no problems.
Bicycle padded airline Bag
Still the best product out on the marketplace is the Bicycle Travel Bag from ROME Bike Bags, CA 310-791-6366, they ship the same day for procrastinators like myself who needed a bag in a hurry. The bag was used for a trip to france and was easily stored in a locker at the train station when I was riding. ***** Great price $129, give them a cal, I think the website is www.bikebags.com ask for Sandy.
Brian, May 26, 2006Beachside Bike Rental HOLLAND MICHIGAN
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PAVED BIKE TRAILES AROUND THE HOLLAND, MI AREA. WE OFFER HOURLY AND DAY RENTALS. WE HAVE SINGAL AND 21 SPEED BIKES, TANDOMS, BURLYS, BABY SEATS AND KIDS BIKES. WE ARE LOCATED JUST UNDER A MILE FROM LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE HOLLAND STATE PARK. COME AND SEE OUR GREAT BIKE PATHS!!
ANY ?'S E-MAIL OR CALL 616-399-9230
Amsterdam - Dublin with Aer Lingus
I flew Aer Lingus from Amsterdam to Dublin (and back) in september 2002. Had to pay 25 Euro twice, a special 'bike tariff'; still cheaper than paying for the overweight.
A bought a large carton box for 14 Euro at Schiphol (= Amsterdam Airport). At Dublin Aiport I had my bike wrapped in saran for 5 Euro. No damages either way.
BikeFriday since 9/11
In May 2002 I was Ride Director for a Bicycle Adventure Club ride in Holland. We had 71 participants (2 non-bikers) on three barges of Bike & Barge, Holland. Of those, there were 14 BFs, one a Tendem. I had suggested that each person with a BF case indicate to Security at various airports around the country that IT was a piece of excercise equipment. On arriving in Amsterdam, no reports were received of trouble . I cannot speak for return trips. But there must have been dozens of airlines and airports represented on this trip.
Frankly, I have literally been all-over the world with my BF on 24 trips, and the only complaint I have is that someone once stole the extra-safety belt around the Carlton case, and another time something punctured the case - no real damage. Otherwise, TROUBLE FREE
Shipping Services, Worldwide
Hi folks,
From Chile and to Chile, Also to Bolivia, or through my Agents in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Perú, etc. I can help you Shipping your staf worldwide. If your comming to Chile on tours, Biking, etc. Just e-mail me, I was a Traveller and have helped friend from USA, Australia, New Zealand shipping their bikes, etc.
Folding Bikes in the Netherlands
Folding Bikes in the Netherlands http://www.gfarnsworth.com/Famazine/BikeTrips.cfm
Bike Friday on trains
When I traveled in Europe in 2000 I had no problems on the trains with my Sat R Day, in and out of the Carlton.
In The Netherlands I traveled with the bike folded and in the Carlton. When folded I usually had to keep the bike in the bike compartment of the car. (Folding bikes were free on Dutch trains.) When in the Carlton, I just kept it next to me.
I would never attempt to lift it into an overhead rack, I value my back too much. Something that heavy up high seems to me to be dangerous. When travelling on the TGV and AVE, I just kept it in the rack at the end of the car, as low in the rack as possible, and would lock it to the rack with my bicycle lock.
I will be doing so once again, very soon, on my next trip there.
Enjoy your trip.
- David
Bike Friday on trains
I have taken two suicases on regular trains in Holland and Belgium, and on the TGV in France. No problem at all. On normal trains you may have to leave the suitcases just ouside the passenger compartment. On TGVs and similarly configured French trains there are racks next to the exit on both ends of the carriage. For peace of mind, you may want to have a bicycle lock to tie them to the rack. Traditional trains with small compartments may be a problem since racks are small.
Safe travels Guillermo
Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona
(MikesBikeTours.Com)
Cruise the streets of Munich in ultimate style on an exclusive Beach Cruiser, with big fat cushy seats!
The price to rent is 10Euros per day and everyone speaks English. They also give bike tours in English that include a trip to a fav. beergarden. They have a wonderful group of people with lots of good energy.
Bringing a bike on the trains in Holland
The cost of bringing a bike on trains in The Netherlands is now 6 euros per calendar day.
John Bermont, March 10, 2003Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport), Netherlands
Hi George,
I was just looking at the info on Shiphol Airport in the Netherlands. In the first article there is a link to the schiphol site.
This link is broken now, but I think this link: HERE should take you to the right place.
Mind-you we could not get the map to show up using mozilla (0.9.9), I had to dig up an old copy of IE to see the map.
Or if you search on the www.schiphol.nl page for 'Bicycle', it takes you to the correct page.
Hope this helps, -kt
-- Kingsley Turner, http://MadDogsBreakfast.com - Travel Tales: The good, bad, and down-right ugly
(I had trouble finding it so I copied it here -- GF)
Bikes on Trains in the Netherlands
You are allowed to take bikes in the train in the Netherlands for a fee of DFL 12,50 (5US$) per day.
The previous schedule with prices per distance in not valid any more!
Bikes are allowed on the train after rush hour (after 9h). During Summer holidays (approx. mid July- mid August) you can take bikes 24 hours.
Folding bikes are free to take (folded)!
Bikes on Trains in the Netherlands
Bikes are allowed on trains here but you have to follow the rules:
Not before 9.00 a.m.
Not between 17.00 and 19.00 p.m
No BOB trailers
Costs are:
f 9.00 one-way max 80 kilometers
f15.00 one-way over 90 kilometers
f17.50 two-way max 90 kilometers
f25.00 two-way over 90 kilometers
Holidays, weekends and July and August have no rush hour restrictions.
Some trains do even have special bike cars. Between Amsterdam and Maastricht. You have to enter the train trough the door with the bike symbol on it. There is mostly a luggage room.
Have fun.
Marianne Rooijmans
Cross-Channel Ferries
1) Brittany Ferries (at http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk ) sail to/from France from/to Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth (my home town, nostalgic sob 🙂 .
2) P&O European Ferries (at http://www.poef.com/poef/index.htm ), who also sail for France from Portsmouth, and
3) http://www.a2beurope.com/ looks like a great place for planning (and booking) your ferry trip across the Channel.
For planning how to get to/from Bath from/to the southern English ports, try... http://www.railtrack.co.uk (trains) or http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk (long-distance buses - quite fast and very comfortable).
I don't think the latter will carry your bike, and the former may require reservations to be made for your bike in advance. You can book tickets on the National Express buses by credit card over the Net and have them delivered to an address you specify - very convenient indeed, I have found. Railtrack doesn't offer this option at the moment, as far as I know.
Hope this helps! Bon voyage 🙂
Bryan
Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport), Netherlands
We have just returned from the Netherlands and Belgium after nearly a month of touring the 2 countries. Wonderful times were had by all. But to get to the point, Bike box and/or bike storage at airports in Brussels and Amsterdam.
The airport serving the Amsterdam area has storage in the basement level. "(-1" on the elevator button) Again, follow the signs for "Left Baggage Center" The cost here is good, only US$3 per day. From the airport you can travel to any destination in the Netherlands via sign posted, well maintained bike lanes.
Train travel with a bike is easy in the Netherlands. Trains leave from the airport to any place in the E.U. Amsterdam Central Train Station has box and bike storage as well, but at $75.00 per week you are better off to store at the airport.
WARNING ...WARNING ...WARNING ... AMSTERDAM IS WILD BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAM
!! DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR BIKE!!! NOT EVEN FOR A SECOND!! BIKES ARE BEAMED AWAY NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN
The tour books tell you the best way to see Amsterdam is by bike and the are correct, BUT WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS DON'T LEAVE YOUR BIKE, LOCKED OR UNLOCKED, TO GO INTO ANY PLACE. I have several photos of destroyed bike frames locked with 4 or 5 locks to immovable objects. A junkie in need of a fix will take anything.
The rest of the Netherlands are not so bad. But use caution in any large city. Bike theft is their commonest crime.
Brussels, Belgium
We have just returned from the Netherlands and Belgium after nearly a month of touring the 2 countries. Wonderful times were had by all. But to get to the point, Bike box and/or bike storage at airports in Brussels and Amsterdam.
Storage for bikes and bike boxes is available in the basement level of the Brussels airport. Follow the signs to the "Left Baggage Center" The bad news is it is very costly, almost US$10.00 per day!! OK I guess if you miss or your flight is canceled and you don't want to be burdened with large packages. Long term is pretty much out of the question. I was unable to locate any other acceptable storage. The other bad news: it's your worst nightmare to try to cycle from the Brussels airport to anywhere. Good news? Yes, train travel with a bike is easy. Almost every train accepts bikes a small charge(US$7.00) From time to time the bike care may be full so you have to take another train. It is a beautiful country, with lots of history as well as wonderful people. If you get the chance, go there.
Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport), Netherlands
The airport inn Amsterdam has a storage room for oversized items. We stored a tandem bike box (85"x28"x8") for three weeks when we toured the Netherlands and Belgium in the summer of 97. Cost was about $100. cdn.
Frank Chappell, August 05, 1999Bike Rental -- Amsterdam, Utrect, Neth.
My wife and I rented bikes in Holland last summer... and it was a problem. In Utrect (large city) there were only 5 bikes available for rental ... all in bad shape .. and nothing small enough to fit my wife (5'-2". In Gouda, we were able to get a bike that fit her, only by calling ahead two days before to reserve a rental bike at the train station. My advice is to call ahead to verify that bikes are available at the train station.
I agree that low gears are not necessary as in the US. The cycling there was great, great, great and the people very friendly and hospitable.
Don't forget to try the herring.
PoppaSonny, March 24, 1998Bike Friday
Lectori Salutum / Hi George Farnsworth
Found you on the web last weekend while the weather was too lousy for cycling so I decided to go for an alternative bicycle trip. Let me introduce myself, my name in Enno Roosink and I am living in the city in Amsterdam with my family. I am a longtime bicycle rider ( all dutch people are ) and addicted to riding my bicycles whenever I can. (commuting-touring-training-racing-cyclocross ) I ran into Bike Friday 4 years ago by reading an article in BICYCLING - magazine ( USA ) and after a lot of consideration ordered my first rocket. ( post ordering a bicycle is very uncommon / not done in the Netherlands )
Once liberated out of its Samsonite I fell in love with my Pocket Rocket, after just a few kilometers it felt as trustful as my traditional rigs. It has seen a lot of places by now my Basso's and Presto and Gazelle were never able to arrive due to their seizes and thus impossible to carry along. Out of pure enthusiam I started promoting this wonderful product just by driving it around my homeplace and places in Europa once on holday trips, cause I never travel without.
Since you know your way on the bicycle - network please could you mention this upcoming event ?
Hope to hear from you soon. Happy cycling and surfing. Enno.
Enno Roosink - Amsterdam - phone fax Netherlands, December 10, 1997Bike Rental -- Bergen, Neth.
In the charming town of Bergen near the North Sea we rented typical Holland-Bikes at the Hotel Marijke. The bikes were in good conditions, they all have three gears und are designed for tall people. The price was about US$10 a day. We had fun with these bikes in the flat area in northern Netherland. There is a bike shop in Bergen which rents bikes too!
O. Kantorek, November 24, 1997Tricycles on Trains in Europe
There are massive differences between the treatment of bicycles and of tricycles. In the UK, bicycles can be taken onto most trains outside rush hours but tricycles typically can only be taken onto trains with guards vans (InterCity trains and very few local trains). This is OK for long-distance travel but you may have to cycle into and out of the cities to get to a station.
In Germany, bicycles can be taken onto all local trains, most InterRegio and very few InterCity trains, making long-distance transportation a problem. About half of these trains are capable of transporting a trike but it is rather difficult to find out which ones. I haven't had much problems with my Kingcycle with front and rear fairing though. It should be possible to send your trikes ahead (this used to be the standard way of getting your bike to a holiday destination).
I think in the Netherlands and in Belgium you can take a bicycle onto almost every train. I assume that again trikes are too bulky for some types of trains.
In France and most of Scandinavia, you have to send the bike in advance though in Scandinavia you can almost rely on the bike being on the same train as you; in France you have to send it two or three days ahead.
Only a limited number of international trains take bicycles; on other trains you may have to get off before the border and get on again on the other side (while the intra-Schengen borders are not manned any more, they still exist in buerocrat's heads).
Rolf
Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport), Netherlands
If you don't feel like taking the train there's a signed bike route from the airport to the city center. You can find out how to get to the beginning of the route by asking at an information desk at the airport. The signage is (unfortunately) good for the first half of the route only, but I had no problems blundering about thereafter with the map in the Michelin red guide.
Joe Chapman , March 31, 1996Toronto (Pearson), Ontario
I recently discovered this page with information for cyclists about Canadian Airports. Last year I landed at Pearson Int. Airport, Toronto, Canada. I saw that this airport wasn't discripted to well at this page. Here comes my version:
With kind regards,
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Maarten Huisman
Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport), Netherlands
I was in Holland for a while and know that cyclists can use the train to/from Schipol. The railway station is underground but is linked to the main airport terminal buildings by inclined moving walkways.
JOCELYN, April 13, 1994
Holland
The bikes could be boxed in the areas around the check-in terminals. Those having bikes have to check-in one hour earlier than normal. Don't know about box storage, though I guess something could be worked out given that Holland is a bike-friendly place.
Garrard Cole/UK, January 31, 1993