I think the biggest issue with all the amsterdam bicycle videos is that people think amsterdam is the best bicycle place in the netherlands and i would argue its one of the worst for many reasons you outlined. My office is in amsterdam and my home in Utrecht. Utrecht for example is way better its amsterdam without tourists and crazy bicycle people. Also what makes (most) dutch cities and areas so good is that the bicycle paths never stop they go from city to city, from park to park, from nature area to nature area. So only looking at Amsterdam gives you a limited and misguided view of how well the bicycle infrastructure is in our country. Also what you are missing is the speed of changes that are still happening new paths and tricks are introduced at a faster and faster pace. Dutch bicycle paths are not just impressive now but the speed of upgrade and extention is probably higher than any place in the world.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Thats very informative! Thank you :) Yes, I am very aware that I visited very touristy spots. The bicycle paths from city to city is completely new to me! I can't imaging biking from munich to another city hahah

@scb2scb2

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops The netherlands has about 38.000km of bicycle paths and they are not all hiding in amsterdam :)

@lexburen5932

Жыл бұрын

@@scb2scb2 heel veel touristen denken dat amsterdam representabel is voor héél nederland. Terwijl andere plekken in nederland veel beter zijn ingericht. Hoewel het wordt wel steeds beter in amsterdam

@Random.ChanneI

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops I 100% agree wit Daniel. The bike paths here in Hoofddorp (suburb of Amsterdam next to the airport), are much better. usually twice as wide as the bike paths in Amsterdam. I can cycle at 30km/h easily all the the time here whilst in Amsterdam I would have to constantly brake for other people or to overtake in narrow spaces.

@sanderdevos5662

Жыл бұрын

Hahaha “It doesn’t feel as fast as in Germany”. Please provide us with a map showing travel times in the capital of Germany and the Netherlands and we’ll compare.

One often overlooked fact is that 99% of drivers in NL grew up riding a bike. And therefore take bikes into consideration while driving their car.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Very true, the way I used to drive in Portugal was a bit different as I didn't bike that much and you don't have to really be mindful of bikers, since there are almost none

@user-ie6jr4bg1w

Жыл бұрын

Yea so? Bikes are the biggest issue in amsterdam. They do not care about the rules and cause sooo many accidents

@rendomstranger8698

Жыл бұрын

@@user-ie6jr4bg1w And how many of those accidents have resulted in lethal or permanent injury that was not caused by a motorized vehicle being involved? All it takes to expose your claim as bullshit is a simple look at traffic deaths PER CAPITA between the Netherlands and the US. Or pretty much any country in the EU for that matter. Careless cyclists may cause accidents. But cars kill people. Not to mention that your response has absolutely no relevance to the comment you were responding to. My guess is that you have a hate fetish for bikes and clicked on this video in the hopes that it would promote cars. You're on the wrong part of KZread for that. The part you want to be looking for are channels that go out of their way to lie and gaslight.

@skyworm8006

Жыл бұрын

99% of drivers in the whole world grew up riding a bike

@abel6846

Жыл бұрын

@@skyworm8006 not as an active participant in everyday traffic.

As a Dutchy living in Munich, I think Munich has all the potential. The structure of the city is super suitable for bikes (more than Amsterdam). They just need to up the infrastructure to the next level to get all age groups on board.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Interesting! what kind of upgrades should Munich have so that all groups feel more comfortable biking? I feel its pretty good already? I am probably very naive

@TheKauan08

Жыл бұрын

​@@mrchops use less asphalt

@turboseize

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops 1) There are to many mandatory use bikepaths that are only the width of a handlebar and force you into the opening arc of car doors. 2) Bike paths need to be wider, so as to allow overtaking. (Speed differences between different bikers are *much* greater than between cars or even between slow pedestrians and runners...) 3) Bike infrastructure often has very sharp bends, which cannot be ridden at more than 3km/h (and most people can't safely ride that slow). 3.5) There are often "mini-curbs" at these bends, which become dangerours when wet (or with narrower tyres). 3.75) At intersections, there are often small curb stones where the bike lane meets the road surface. This makes riding in a straight line unecessary bumpy and uncomfortable, and puts unecessary stress on the material. It also is a crash/fall hazard when you make a right turn from the road onto the bike path, as you will have to cross this mini-curb at a sharp angle. No problem for a fat mountain bike tyre, but with skinny road tyres in the wet, this can get very sketchy. 4) To often there are unnecessary detours involving several traffic lights (happens often around construction sites: bikes are diverted to a pathetic excuse of a bike path on the sidewalk of the other side of the road, whch means there are at least two stops at red traffic lights. What's so difficult about painting a bike lane on the road instead?) 5) Bike paths are not cleared from snow and ice in winter. 6) Bike paths are often littered with glass shards. Anybody dropping a glass bottle in a public space should end up in prison. 7) Bike and pedestrian infrastructure is often blocked by cars. Police and Ordnungsamt need to enforce traffic rules better. 8) Many drivers ignore the minimum passing distance. Police needs to enforce traffic rules better. 9) To many mixed use paths. Pedestrians are the pest. They are completely unpredictable and are prone to doing stupid things. The same goes for dogs. This is tolerable in a park or in a leisure setting, but once a bike route is expected to serve commuters, this is unacceptable. Dogs and pedestrians must be controlled better. *Nevertheless, Munich is a reasonably good city for using a bike. But I feel this is not because of the city administration and the existing infrastructure, but because of the Bavarian mindset. A certain "Grundgemütlichkeit" seems to have a very positive influence on all traffic participants, especially car drivers.* Dangerous encounters with cars are very rare and if they occur, they are mostly always the result of ignorance or incompetence or even just "having a bad day", while in other cities you would witness at least three or four attempted murders a day.

@TommyDisgregato

Жыл бұрын

@@turboseize re point 6: this is something I experienced throughout Germany, and in Munich is not even that bad actually. In other cities it's much worse. There is this habit of some people to break beer bottles for some reasons and on weekend mornings it's just bad. point 7: that's because Munich is too packed with people. When I moved here I noticed cars parked everyone like nowhere else in Germany, and I think it's due to the number of people living in a city that is not designed to have that many people. There is just so much police can do when the infrastructure is not there. Regarding the Bavarian driving style, maybe in the city. When you go outside of the city, it's not that nice. The only few times when I feared for my life in Germany was always in Oberbayern 🙂

@ThePixel1983

Жыл бұрын

Get rid of the rich guys with cars in Munich, they'll stop progress.

2:29 technically the pedestrians have priority. However, coming to a full stop is very annoying, so as a cyclist you'll aim to pass just in front or behind people. I always find it funny how tourists tend to wait longer than they really should have, only for a local to, you know, just cross the road. The thing cyclists like even less than coming to a full stop is a collision. They're not protected by a metal cage. It *hurts*!

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

This makes sense! Thank you for letting me know :)

@DenUitvreter

Жыл бұрын

I had this in another a Dutch city, what appeared to be a foreigner on a business trip at a zebra was uncertain when I stopped pedaling to show I yield to him if he could cross. Still rolling I nodded him to walk and I could tell by his smile he instantly got it: Cyclists want to keep momentum and when you just cross they'll ride around your back. Don't make cyclists do a full stop.

@gerritvalkering1068

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops I'm going to shamelessly make use of this! I used to work in a hotel in Amsterdam, and I regularly gave traffic tips to the guest (also when they rented bicycles) First of all, I want to hammer something home to the people who don't have much experience with bicycles. In case a bicycle hits a pedestrian, the point of impact will be the front wheel or, more likely, the handlebars, making it almost impossible *not* to fall. Having the bicycle between your legs means you're unlikely to be able to catch your balance again. Falling with a bicycle as a kid is annoying and kinda hurts. Falling with a bicycle as an adult can break wrists, elbows, legs, dislocate your shoulder (personal experience here) or cause head injuries. A collision with a pedestrian is somewhere behind riding over 3 meters of broken glass on my 'things I like to do while riding a bike'. Getting my tires fixed costs € 25,- if it's a rush job, which I prefer over getting me fixed, even if it doesn't cost me anything. So. Bicycles will do almost anything to avoid getting into a collision, please don't abuse this. That being said, avoid doing stupid things like taking a step back to take that beautiful picture, straight onto the bicycle lane. It happens more often than you'd think and one of my (only) two serious collisions happened that way. Avoid using the selfie stick. Cyclists take great joy in smashing it out of the way when you're holding it over the bicycle path. A few too many people got hit in the face with one. You won't get any sympathy from the police either. I believe there are, or used to be, signs warning against it. Now, on to crossing the road. First: There is no such thing as jaywalking in The Netherlands or indeed, most (or all) of Europe. You can cross anywhere you like. So if the official pedestrian crossing looks a bit tricky but things seem more manageable a bit down the road, feel free. Second: Eye contact. It's funny you mentioned Not Just Bikes (ok, it's why I watched this video) because he mentions this somewhere: Cyclists are not in a car. You can see their face, they can see yours. Make eye contact. If they keep looking at you, they're waiting to see what you're going to do. If you start walking, they'll slow down. If they make eye contact and then look straight ahead, they're going to cross in front of you. If they don't make eye contact and look straight ahead, they likely saw you way back already and decided they were going to pass in front of you. You can also give off some signals. First of all, step right up to the curb. Don't stay half a meter behind. For some reason people like to stop for a chat just before the crossings on a regular basis, so only when you signal you want to cross by stepping up to the line will they take you seriously. Make eye contact and, while they still look at you, look straight ahead and start to cross. Alternatively, start to cross while looking at them if you don't feel quite as brave. Alternatively, if you feel like it's better to cross behind, look behind them. They'll get the hint and will likely speed up to give you more time to cross between them and the next person. On a busy place like where the bicycle path from Het Spui comes out at Rokin (it's in part of the video, somewhere), just look them in the eye and start to cross. At first people will pass in front of you, at some point they'll start to pass behind you. Everyone will do their best to avoid you, without actually stopping. Honestly, it's a bit of a power rush sometimes seeing so many people try to get out of your way. Often when I walk through the center and come to a crossing, there are tourists waiting. The moment they see me just glance left and right and then cross, they go too. I think it's funny.

@Flutters_Shygal

Жыл бұрын

I personally don't get how people don't stop for people waiting to cross a crosswalk. I cycle everywhere, but always stop for people who clearly want to cross the road. A crosswalk is an undeniable sign someone wants to cross the road.

@gerritvalkering1068

Жыл бұрын

@@Flutters_Shygal Mostly, I do too. But if people see me coming and they see that I see them standing there, and they wait for 10, 15 seconds, which is more than enough time to cross the bicycle path, I consider that proof that they do not, in fact, want to cross the path. Edit: On a bicycle, when I've slowed down? I can stop within 2 meters. When I'm driving a car, sure, I'll stop. If I see tourists desperately waiting for cyclists to stop, missing the cues entirely, I do often stop. But if it's not too busy and they've had plenty of time? Sorry.

I think the main strength of Dutch bike infrastructure is that it is omnipresent, fully standardised, well thought out and intuitive. Growing up in the Netherlands, I never had to think about which was the “best (safest) route” to cycle somewhere. Like walking, you just take your bike in your everyday clothes and go - and you are practically guaranteed the same safety as pedestrians. (And all that with the road safety knowledge of an 11 year old). It was a shock to me how much freedom I lost when I moved to study in London - cycling was pretty scary and routes had to be planned. So I had to either walk for a long time or pay a fee for public transport.

@OrangeColt

8 ай бұрын

In America I would say bikes are about as safe as walking it. (Extraordinarily Dangerous)

Amsterdam is certainly not the best city in The Netherlands to cycle. Utrecht, Groningen, Den Bosch and lots of others are definitely more bike friendly.

@abacaxiveer

Жыл бұрын

And it is even better to get OUT of the cities. Linschoten, Oudewater, Montfoort are better than Utrecht.

@Blackadder75

Жыл бұрын

Amsterdam is fine, but ignorant tourists like this vlogger (even as an experienced cyclist he still shows his ignorance) always pick these busy spots because that's all they know. 95% of bike trips in Amsterdam are just as convenient and comfy as in groningen or utrecht, it's just people biking to school or work, or picking up some groceries on the 95% of the roads in Amsterdam that are not this congested.

Heading to one of the most visited UNESCO sites in the world to check out how is cycling in Amsterdam is like checking how livable is Munich by heading there during Oktoberfest. Cycle where people live. Go to Noord, IJburg, Nieuw-West, not where the most tourists, the traffic, old streets and and all of that. They literally can’t do much more in the city centre without losing tourism money but it’s okay because natives avoid it anyway, and tourists rarely cycle.

@user-ie6jr4bg1w

Жыл бұрын

Yea thats bs, natives (like myself, born and raised in amsterdam living in the jordaan) often use the centre to travel. We don’t avoid the centre, we do hate cyclists here

Amsterdam is not the best place to cycle. But it still beats anywhere outside of the Netherlands. The difference is cycling is taken seriously and is immensely popular throughout the entire country. Every city, town and village is safe and friendly to bikes. Hundreds (thousands?) of safe routes crisscross the country side.

@MissMoontree

Жыл бұрын

On a Dutch level, I think Amsterdam is average. It is better than Maastricht, but worse than Utrecht. Best place for bikes is Houten, that has entire areas designed with a bike central mindset.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I can completely agree to this, if we take the worst biking paths to bike in the Netherlands, it outperforms any place in portugal to bike (at least where I live)

@isomochyn1

Жыл бұрын

I'd take Copenhagen over the Amsterdam any day of the week, the many narrow streets put cyclists and pedestrians too close in my opinion so not better than anywhere outside the Netherlands. I can't say anything for the rest of the Netherlands though as I have yet to cycle outside Amsterdam.

@majy1735

Жыл бұрын

Ja, als Belg fiets ik dikwijls (én doodgraag) in Nederland. De fietsinfrastructuur is bij jullie gewoon uitmuntend (eigenlijk de weginfrastructuur in het algemeen). Veel Belgen zijn ook dol op fietsen maar waarom blijft bij ons, met zo veel fietsfanaten, de infrastructuur zo middelmatig? Het is voor mij een mysterie...

@majy1735

Жыл бұрын

"It still beats anywhere outside of the Netherlands". Not quite. Bijna. Met uitzondering van Denemarken.

A lot of what you experience as chaos is completely on purpose; it's much better to let people negotiate priority among each other (which means: everybody slows down and looks at each other) than to do things like signalizing (higher speeds, less safe) or fully separating (very space inefficient). On most surface streets, having a bit of a free-for-all ends up being a really safe and high-capacity way of moving people regardless of mode. It's not fast but it doesn't have to be if your city is so dense that a trip is usually a few hundred meters, maybe 2km at most.

@isakaldazwulfazizsunus7564

Жыл бұрын

Right, the same exact situation leads to hour-long jams, crashes, flying bits of metal and even deaths when you're in a car and not on a bike.

@mileswithau

Жыл бұрын

​@@isakaldazwulfazizsunus7564Different situations, different solutions.

@RepstarVixen

11 ай бұрын

@@isakaldazwulfazizsunus7564 except it doesnt, i have never seen a crash happen ever in a shared space. since they only exist in residential areas where the speed limit is low anyway and the traffic isnt that high. it creates a way safer zone where everyone pays attention due to the lack of signs and indicators and thus the traffic finds a natural flow through and around things

I visited Amsterdam a couple years ago. The hardest thing about biking there was the amount of people biking. It was bike traffic. I’m used to being about the only person biking. I’m sure if I was there for more than a few days, I’d be able to get used to it

@DenUitvreter

Жыл бұрын

Lots of Dutch grew up with 'peleton cycling, to school or camps and stuff or just in rush hour. Mostly or partly on single speeds with coaster brakes still. The legs tell it all, the speed, whether they are about to turn or stop, prepare to brake if they might need to, or to yield. If you keep an eye on the legs most Dutch cyclists become very predictable.

“Maybe a little unsafe. Maybe I’m just not used to it”. I think the safety data speaks for itself. Amsterdam is the busiest city in the Netherlands and as such is likely to be a bit chaotic, but injury and death rates of pedestrians or cyclists are the lowest in the world. Not to mention the infrastructure is still being upgraded to the most recent standards. I’m pretty sure NJB has said multiple times that Amsterdam is not the best example of the best place to cycle. Experience places like Delft, Utrecht, Rotterdam, or Groningen before making any decisions.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Very insightful! This definitely answers the question, I'm definitely not used to it, only to the strict light rules in Germany

@Shravanidakeens1178

Жыл бұрын

Vote to pin this comment. And, as an American, I can understand the paradigm shift. At first, everything outside of a car feels dangerous… and then you realize just how much safer you are than driving. Thank you for giving it a chance! Those of us in the English speaking world need to do the same.

For context, I was born and raised in Portugal, I wish the biking situation would be the same as any other country like Germany or the Netherlands. This video is telling the story of my experience on that day. I'm not team Germany nor team Netherlands, I'm definitely team BIKES :) Thank you for everyone for letting me know that there are other way better places to bike that are not in Amsterdam :) I'll be excited to maybe one day to try them!

@Blackadder75

Жыл бұрын

Amsterdam is also fine, but you, playing tourist, had to pick the worst touristy spots... If you had just simulated a daily commute from an office building to somebody's house in Amsterdam you would have experienced a much faster and safer trip

@sanderdewolf

Жыл бұрын

I identify with your 'team BIKES'. For this team I feel it is important to make a difference between using a bike for day-to-day mobility within a city, or using a bike for leisure activity. Within the Netherlands infrastructure is optimized for both - even small Dutch cities have a very high level for bike infrastructure with separate bike lanes throughout. You'll only notice some 'bike traffic' in the morning rush-hour, when all Dutch kids AND their parents all try to reach their destiny at the same time (be is school or office). The rest of the day bike lanes are usually not very crowded. In other European countries comparative level of bike infrastructure within a city can be found (Copenhagen being a famous example). Other examples in which I cycled with an impressive good infrastructure: Oldenburg (Germany); Munster (Germany); Bocholt (Germany); but also Grenoble (France) or Nantes (France). Problem is that it not 'connected' with other bike infrastructure. When talking about biking as a leisure activity then very many places come to mind. Very (very) many regions try to convert ancient forms of infrastructure that lost their original purpose into bike infrastructure for leisure activity. Examples are obsolete train tracks, ancient farm tracks, or old tow-tracks (for horses) along old canals. I found a HUGE amount of examples of these throughout Europe. The main advantage of these 'tourist tracks' is that not very many people know them, so they remain calm. The main drawback of these tracks is that not all of them are well connected with each other. All in all: when 'leisure biking', the infrastructure in Germany is as good as you'll find anywhere in the Netherlands, but less busy - leisure biking throughout Germany is VERY GOOD (and using local trains with a bike in Germany is a dream compared to the nightmare you'll find in the Netherlands). City biking is another story: within the Netherlands it is very good in all cities (of any size); other places in Europe vary very much...

@HrHaakon

Жыл бұрын

You say you're not German, but you immediately complained about a house being crooked. I'd say it's too late for you. Soon you'll be debating the exact amount of nutmeg and ginger to put in a frankfurter...

@diogomatos9718

Жыл бұрын

As someone born and raised in Portugal and also living in Germany now, after visiting Amsterdam recently as well, I can say that it is crowded and chaotic, pretty much the same experience as you had. But even then, I wish back home the cycling infrastructure was nearly as developed. But cheers to another Portuguese on team bikes, definitely the thing I like the most about these countries!

@rykez0r

Жыл бұрын

Also raised person in Portugal here. I live in Netherlands for 9 years now and I hate biking in Amsterdam. It is too touristy and still in need of proper infrastructure in the center. Don't judge the whole country for Amsterdam. Next time try biking in Delft or Utrecht. You'll find a very different experience specially on commuter routes

There is only two REAL rules in Amsterdam bike traffic 1) don't dawdle; be purposeful in whatever you're doing or wherever you're going so you are easy to predict 2) look around you; be aware of the traffic around you, make eye contact and adjust for others. That's why "outsiders" (foreign tourists but also Dutch people not from Amsterdam) often have trouble in Amsterdam because they often don't practise these unwritten rules. I think Amsterdam bike traffjc generally is very relaxed and I do most of my rides around the city with my hands on my back or in my pockets.

@sdtok527

Жыл бұрын

This, tourist who cross a crosswalk and then stop to look in the eyes of an incoming biker will get hit like a deer staring in the headlights. When you have decided to go and taken the step, proceed. The bikers know how to adjust their speed accordingly until you change your pace. It's a bit like scooters in Vietnam but a bit less stressful.

@littlemissmello

Жыл бұрын

@@sdtok527 I'll refer you to the first rule ;)

@Laroling

11 ай бұрын

yes, but the deal is the majority dawdles in Amsterdam (esp the center ofcourse) and it drives me nuts. There's no city where I've seen this much dawdlers. Dawdling tourists definitely, but come on, how hard is it to cross a road and not stand in the middle of it and be surprised to be hit. You don't do that in new york either. Somehow in Amsterdam everyone thinks it's a custom or something.

@littlemissmello

11 ай бұрын

@@Laroling tourists walking through the center as if it's Disneyland is every Amsterdammers biggest enemy

@marcheida2819

11 ай бұрын

The biggest thing tourists are missing is that they think it's chaos. It's not. An experienced cyclist recognises small clues from other riders. Small changes in speed, stopping pedaling, where someone looks to, eyecontact or the place on the road they are riding are all tells of what a cyclist is probably going to do in the near future. pedestrians also have some tells. Be aware of your surroundings, you should hear, cars, motorcycles or other bikes that are going to overtake you or stay right behind you. If you recognise those signals, the chaos disappears. Second trick is looking ahead. Don't just look at what's right in front of you, also look 50-100 meter ahead. If theres a car on the bikepath, it's smart to know all the traffic around yo, so you know how you safely can pass that obstacle. The third thing to keep in mind is that most people have been there before, they know what they can expect. Most people ride regular routes, to and from work or to the shops. They know where the risks probably come from.

As someone that lives in Amsterdam. It is definitely not the best place to bike in the Netherlands but compared to the rest of the world it is amazing. A big reason why other places in the Netherlands are better is mainly due to the amount of people so for Amsterdam being so packed, it is doing so great

@olevandongen96

Жыл бұрын

I think compared to some parts of Germany and the parts of Denmark I've cycled, I would say The Netherlands are "better" not "amazing". And that's the current situation. Back in the eighties, Denmark was better, with consistent protected bike paths along main roads, and good intercity bike routes. Except there was one town that banned all through-traffic, bike and car alike, meaning you had to navigate a rather complicated bicycle-bypass system. The Groningen "verkeerscirculatieplan" was infinitely preferrable to that.

i think cycling between citys (Amsterdam-Delft or Almere -Hilversum maybe even Leeuwarden - Groningen )would give a better impression because then you start to notice cycle routes extend to towns and villages allong the way. Make a fietsvakantie out of it

@mixererunio1757

Жыл бұрын

Arnhem-Nijmegen is just amazing

@kos-mos98

11 ай бұрын

tie

The most amazing thing about your ride is we could here you speaking clearly due to lack of traffic noise.

oh. your back! I'm from Cologne Germany and it's slowly evolving into a nice bikeable city. we're getting there 🚲

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Hey! Glad to hear! Never went there, but hope the city is as flat as Munich hahah, makes a huge difference for biking

@tastybread69420

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops its pretty much super flat yes!

I'm a Not Just Bikes subscriber and this video popped up in my feed. Great to see this alternate perspective.

I would say Amsterdam is not the best bike city om the Netherlands. It is too crowded with tourists and unfortunately, they lack the knowledge how to move safe on the shared streets, sometimes as well walking on the bike lines. This is a problem. If you would visit Netherlands in the future - take a longer ride between some towns and villages. Or visit Delft, Den Bosch etc... those places are much nicer... Or take a ride along the coast... that nice. There is more than 17000 km of bike roads and paths to explore. Amsterdam city center - not exactly the best place to cycle... as you have noticed. In working days, you have much more bike traffic jams there... but still - it is nothing comparing to cars traffic jams... where you can spend hours...

Great idea to have this compared. A lot of these channels compare biking in Amsterdam with North American cities, which is just another universe. But comparing Dutch and German bike infrastructure isn't about the chance of survival; it's about details. If German cities redesign a road it's often not that much different - only the bike lanes are narrower and things are often less consequent. But by far the biggest difference is "if", because change happens far far to slow.

I wish here in Czechia it was like that. We have good public transport and sidewalks for pedestrians almost everywhere but cycling infrastructure is either nothing or just a painting on the streets with a few exceptions. Capital Prague is very car centric and cycling is kinda suicidal and very stressful also because lot of the drivers behave like the bikes don't belong on street since "biking is a leisure sport". Even many politicians say it does not belong here because we have colder winters and our cities are many times built on hills.

> Someone just threw away their oregano topping for their pizza Wtf dutchies, don't just cycle, recycle! It's the first thing the poor German guy saw when he got there even.

Good video, keep on making them short (ish) and consistent!👍

Amsterdam is an old city surrounded by beautiful canals and get easily very crowded, it is by this reason that foreigners think that Amsterdam is de worlds bike capital of the world while other cities like Utrecht in The Netherlands have way better bike infrastructure. There is a limit on where Amsterdam can improve without paving all canals streets with red asphalt and destroy the authentic 17th century atmosphere.

The problem with biking in the Amsterdam city centre is that it's too busy and there's a lot of tourists who aren't used to having so many bikes around. As a result, the locals who bike there tend to be a little less nice to everyone around as in the rest of the Netherlands. Outside of Amsterdam biking tends to be less hectic, people tend to stick to the rules more and you can go a lot quicker.

The fact that bicycle traffic jams happen is more proof for "induced demand", where if you build proper infrastructure for a certain thing, more and more people will use it and eventually, it will jam up. This will also be the case for walking. However, bicycle and people jams can have an order of magnitude more people in them before they become a problem.

The safety of cycling comes in a large part from everyone using a bicycle at least 'every now and then'. Here it is not cars vs bikes. It is cars AND bikes. Every driver you see, takes a bicycle for short distances themselves. They know the vulnerability of a bike. Most other places that are toying with the idea, are places where car drivers think they own the road and bicycles are an unwelcome obstacle. Not so in the Netherlands. Also, public transport in the Netherlands is not looked down upon. It is just a practical means to go places. I live 135 KM's from Amsterdam. Hop on bus for 7KM's. Hop on train for 130 KM's Arrive in Amsterdam after 2 hours. (By car it would also take 2 hours and then some, traffic jams, finding a parking spot, paying for the parking spot) Hop on a tram or metro line to get to the place I need to be. No parking issues, comfortable traveling, I can even work on my laptop in the train, public WIFI. Cost wise, traveling alone, public transport is cheaper. Traveling with more then 1, favors the car, cost wise. But look around you on the highway, how many people are there per car, on average ? The majority of cars have just 1 person. That is silly, 50 people in 50 cars, causing a traffic jam ? The Dutch are a pragmatic people. Using a bicycle or public transport has nothing to do with being able to afford cars. Not here.

I've frequently holidayed in the Netherlands; sometimes with my cycle, sometimes using train and walking. Personally, I wouldn't want to cycle in Amsterdam, much as I love the city. I have cycled from Hoek van Holland to Leiden, and from Hoek to Den Bosch, and from Hoek to Etten-Leur as well as doing side trips from those three destinations to places like Breda, Baarle-Nassau, Bergen op Zoom, Katwijk aan Zee. Cycling from town to town is great and you never know what surprised you're going to encounter on the way.

If all of those bikeriders were on car, the trafficjam would be insane

as someone who is planning to move to Munich in September, the city has great cycling infrastructure. I fell in love with it more than I expected

Ha. Munich. So I opened streetview munich..... Randomly dropped the little man somewhere. Cars... Cars.... More cars. Carparking. Hey a biker... Cars. Yep a bikelane. Yesss, a cluster of parked bikes at Anulfstrasse, thats how its done. Potential, yes but not in the near future. Sorry. Germans just love their cars. And I think it's hard to get people on board, to give asphalt up in the cities.

@_Madfly

Жыл бұрын

Tbf the streetview images of Munich are 15 years old so it might well have changed for the better since then

@seinehakkers5607

Жыл бұрын

​@@_Madfly You're right. Still, how to compare this?

@kailahmann1823

Жыл бұрын

@@seinehakkers5607 try Mapillary, which is basically a "street view by private users". What's a bit confusing to me: Their bike lanes are black asphalt (even the newly made ones), while in Northern Germany they are usually red like in the Netherlands.

@seinehakkers5607

Жыл бұрын

@@kailahmann1823 I see the difference is amazing. Mapillary, is a great tool. Don't worry about the red asphalt. The infra is the most important part. Now, Munich, we need more people on their bikes there. Power by numbers.

Not Just Bikes tends not to address the issue that overpopulation/too much traffic will eventually make even the best cycling/public transportation system feel crowded and claustrophobic and lead to jams. Car-centric design needs to die, but we also need to face up to the capacity limitations of our cities, as well as the limitations that come with fighting urban sprawl. Limiting the ability to build on virgin land ultimately leads to having denser cities and towns, but on the other hand it's necessary if we want to preserve what's left of the environment.

Maybe a little unsafe? You are not used to it! It is a very subtle game, and for those who know the (implicit) rules that is exactly the FUN of it!

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Definitely hahah, I'm so just used to the very linear rules in Germany!

one of the reasons i moved to Amsterdam was because of the Not Just Bikes' videos and my experience after a couple of months is: cycling here can be a pain, for example, in the city centre or along s100 in some places or wherever they decide to start a road work next. but still much better than in Berlin, for example

The Amsterdam city center may be the worst place to cycle in the entire Netherlands

Did you rent/hire a bike in Amsterdam? Which app did you use?

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

yeah! it was called mobian :)

I think one important thing to notice is that biking is mainly a form of transport, but when tourist do bike tours they treat it more like a sightseeing activity. This is usually the main reasons for dangerous situations, theyll abruptly stop on the bike path to take pictures etc.

@HrHaakon

Жыл бұрын

I mean, when tourists take the bus, they ALSO treat it as sightseeing, what with specific sightseeing buses etc. arounrd it's kind of to be expected.

@YassinePineapple

Жыл бұрын

@@HrHaakon first of all, tourists dont drive the busses themselves. The busses follow a designated route that isnt allowed to go into the old centre and has to follow the same rules other cars follow. So no abrupt stops. Tourists biking around on their own without knowing the bike traffic rules and treat the bike lanes like an amusement park is in no way similar to busses other than “theyre both sightseeing”. I dont know why you felt the need to bring that up lol

@sdtok527

Жыл бұрын

This is also the reason why bike traffic might be a bit slower on average than other places. People have taken into account the time it takes to bike and do not want to arrive sweaty. It's transport, not exercise.

Yeah the hype is real. I grew up in the Midlands in the UK where there was no such thing as a bike lane, I first saw these on an exchange visit to W. Germany in the 80s (Lippstadt) and went on bike rides out into the country as well as around the town and I was amazed at how much freedom this gave me. Later I lived 11 years in the Netherlands. The bike lanes are such that even as a novice rider you are safe on segregated bike lanes. Amsterdam city centre is a different story as there are many tourists who are ignorant of the existence of bike lanes and even walk in the road where this is a shared car/bike lane. But in the suburbs this isn't an issue and you can often have wide well made bike lanes pretty much to yourself. Btw even though you guys aren't on rental bikes it's obvious to the Amsterdammers that you are visitors, just from the way you sit on and ride your bikes. Your friend was riding on the pavement a bit at the beginning which was funny (typical tourist) but even after that it's clear she's a visitor from her sitting position on the bike, with the saddle very low. Most Dutch despite being the tallest people in the world tend to put the saddle up so high that their feet can't reach the ground, and try to avoid stopping as this means effectively getting down from the saddle.

Ive always wanted to visit The Netherlands and after watching NJB videos, I was looking forward to bike there too. I enjoyed Biking outside of the central district which was my least favorite area in all of NL, except for the Grachtengordel canals, those were the most beautiful urban canals I've ever seen

Thanks, I now know twist bell grips exist. I'm going to buy one lol

the rule is the you have right of way as a pedestrian on a zebra path... but only outside of amsterdam. In amsterdam it is so tourist infested, the locals wouldn't be able to get from A to B if they stopped all the time so the unofficial rule in Amsterdam is the bike always has right of way ;)

@topd0wn

Жыл бұрын

No, you still have that right as long as you use it. If you linger you'll be ignored. There are plenty of aggressive pedestrians too btw who'll storm onto a zebra crossing just to make a point.😆

The point about bike traffic was very interesting to me, having lived here my entire life it always came naturally to just bike around everything thats in ur way. So same goes the bikes Infront ofu, cars, people ect. I guess I can be a lil chaotic especially for ppl who aren't used to bikes everywhere

Nice to see a German KZreadr interested in Urban Planning etc Munich is an amazing city ❤

Mind you that every car driver is also a biker!!So they know how it is when a biker meets a car,so they are more friendly to bikers.This is in any other country completely different.

That is quite the dangerous title you have there, I like it 😝

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Hah! Absolutely no disrespect to "Not Just Bikes" or Netherlands, I love both :)

About the priority: bikers and pedestrians are not cars, so you can look how someone is reacting to know if you can behind them, before them or stop. That's pretty much a crosswalk on a bikelane. The bikers just watch what the pedestrians are doing and ride through.

Naked streets is actually one of the safest streets because it forces everyone to pay attention.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

what are naked streets? do you mean the ones without any lights or signals? :)

@KRYMauL

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops Yes

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

yeah i saw a video about it! But maybe to me, as someone who is only used to lights, it felt a bit more unsafe probably it was the shock factor hahah

@MegaEssin

Жыл бұрын

​@@mrchops Thats kinda the point. What is percieved as safe, and what is actually safe, can be different at times. A signal controlled junction feels safe, but a red light wont physically stop a car, and the average speed of traffic is higher. Most pedestrian deaths happen at these junctions, because of the speed. A major problem in North america. And Zebra crossings actually cause more accidents, but it makes it easier for pedestrians to cross. But obviously you cant just remove them because it would technically be safer either. Traffic planning isnt always logical. But if you're looking for a solution, the Dutch have probably already solved the problem.

Have you tried biking to IKEA? I don't think you visited a very representative part of Amsterdam, let alone the Netherlands. A lot of areas you showed were more pedestrian areas than bike areas.

NJB also stated clearly, that one should not judge A'dam bikeinfrastructure by the very busy and touristy old citycentre. You missed out all great infrastructure outside of the citycentre...

im a bicycle messenger from cologne, germany and once talked to a bicycle messenger from amsterdam after a bike race. his opinion was that for slow bike riders/ old people amsterdam is better, but if you work on the bike and generally go at a faster pace he prefers cologne, because the huge amount of bikes and tourists in amsterdam makes it hard to predict whats going on, while an even mixture of bikes and cars, and fewer tourists is easier to predict and navigate. basically whats happening here, because of the very reason that amsterdam has such a good bike infrastructure, its harder for fast paced bicyclists to move outside of that predefined structure, while in cities with a mixed bicycle and car structure its always possible to just act like a car and move at fast pace in the car lane. the same can also be seen in new york, where most people go on the green bike lanes, while the fast bicycle messengers just go with the cars.

The buildings are really beautiful there, too.

If i got an traffic accident, i would prefer got hit by bicycle rather than car or motorcycle. So, even in the chaotic, i could feel much safer than walks in my country stroad

Bikes don't stop for you on pedestrian crossings, they just miss you...that's all.

@therealdutchidiot

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Biikes can maneuver, unlike cars.

Amsterdam has like twice the amount of bikes as there are people. So, you would be correct on the bike/car ratio. What also encourages this, is the city is making it difficult for the car in the city centre (making parking expensive for instance). The amount of people in Amsterdam (especially the centre) is huge on an average Saturday, let alone a sunny Saturday, haha. In Amsterdam it's give way and take way, you have to give way to other pedestrians, but also take your turn, otherwise you'd be waiting for an eternity.

Cities go through periods of innovation and periods of stagnation. Often the good reputation formed during a period of innovation hangs on long after the city has ceased to deserve it. I've seen that happen twice in my own city. But when people have the life experience of seeing major reforms succeed, they know that if they get their shit together, they can do it again. Amsterdam has been a beacon of hope for people trying to reform their cities, because it has pulled off things successfully that others were afraid to even try. But the whole point of being a beacon is to inspire others to copy your success, and hopefully do even better. The point of being a beacon is to bring everybody to the point where they don't need a beacon.

Amsterdam still gives a head start to any American city. Just remember, NJB targets Americans. Also, Amsterdam could have been bulldozed for highways like most US cities. You should have shown Munich for comparison. You say there are fewer cyclists there, it must tell something.

One thing I noticed instantly was how quite the streets are in your video, WOW! Not like USA at all. In USA, you can't even enjoy a walk in the park without car sounds 3:05

Jason is too snarky to be wrong

I think Amsterdam is chaotic haha. I live in the Hague and its less chaotic here were I live. That's why I never could live in Amsterdam city. I love biking.

Yeah I live in Amsterdam and the city center is super over crowded and chaotic. I try to avoid it usually.

Interesting video. Not to long. Just easy watching.

It doesn't help in Amsterdam there are many people living who didn't grow up with the bicycle, and don't know all the rules of the road. Add some tourists to it, and it can be real messy. I truly suggest to try a beautiful sunny day in other area's like the Veluwe. There are many cycling hot spots popular with the elderly and it's a completely different experience.

@DenUitvreter

Жыл бұрын

Trams add complexity too, both the trams itself and the rails.

In China you have bike traffic jams every day in any big city haha

It is, as ever, the most powerful question: compared to what? A'dam compared to US, UK, Mozambique.....

Great well made video dude

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

people have priority on pedestrian crossings but with bikes you just kinda have to go for people to stop or go around you

if you have a zeprapath all other traffic need to yield. You seem very unsure. Now i understand why people in amsterdam dislike tourists because they create dangerous situations

@ChristiaanHW

Жыл бұрын

when i'm cycling and i get to a "zebra crossing" i slow down so the pedestrian(s) can cross. but sometimes they keep standing around and don't make any attempt to cross, in those cases i slowly keep cycling. if you want to cross you need to do so when you're given the chance. you can't keep standing around and expect everyone to come to a complete stop, then look around and only after everyone stands still you cross. bicycles are able to slow down a lot so when someone slows down, pedestrians and cyclist can both cross in a safe way. but for a cyclist to come to a complete stop and 2 seconds later have to start cycling again is one of (maybe even the #1) the worst things about cycling.

@dimrrider9133

Жыл бұрын

We have a special video for tourist ;p (couldnt find the real but this will work lol) kzread.info/dash/bejne/mYaZxZOaaJbao7g.html

I go by bike through amsterdam almost everyday, and it can be horribly frustrating. People randomly standing in the middle of the road, some people just deciding it's the UK now and riding on the left side and passing on the right. Tourists here really look like they forgot their brain and are deciding to end their life. Others really look like they think they are massacred and screech almost fall over from the sidewalk while you pass by. Biking in Berlin; while the roads were big and sometimes you suddenly hit the actual car road, seems very organised compared to Amsterdam, definitely not as many bikelanes and it seems scarier, but the organisation and 'logistics' of people who stop at traffic lights and don't randomly run on a death mission is sometimes fantastic. I miss berlin lol. In munich I never had the chance to ride a bike, but I can imagine from seeing some bicyles there it's fairly chill. To be fair outside of Amsterdam biking in the Netherlands is very organised aswell and there are spaceous bikelanes everywhere, the buildings are boring and lots of it is hideous but the bikelanes are nice.

there wil also be a difference between native and people that lived there for a while comparerd to people that coe and visit. We are thought from elementry so we have the feeling of what to do in many situations.

On pedestrian crossings pedestrians have priority. But cyclists don't tend to stop for them because they can easily just cross in front or behind; it usually isn't necessary to come to a complete stop to let a pedestrian cross. Tourists don't tend to realise that though, and will wait unnecessarily.

If you’re looking for a big biking city, you should visit Utrecht. Its like Amsterdam minus the drunk tourist and it houses the biggest bike garage in Europe.

I’ve noticed that people rarely wear helmets over there. In America, it’s a requirement because the streets and stroads weren’t built for people. Honestly, I felt worried that something bad might happen during NotJustBikes videos including this one, but nothing bad happens

@sdtok527

Жыл бұрын

Yeah apart from the safety because of the infrastructure, that is because we see it as transport and not exercise. Like he mentioned, we probably bike slower on average. This is all to arrive at your destination without getting sweaty. From data most bike related injuries/deaths we have are elderly. So maybe for them it would be more beneficial.

@5K00O

Жыл бұрын

@@sdtok527 Well, what I'm saying is, in general, people don't use it over there. I use my helmet all the time regardless if it's for exercising or not since I'm in the US. If they were to have helmets for the elderly, I'd imagine them wearing bike helmets that look like hats.

@insignificus

10 ай бұрын

Ebikes, not regular bikes. The former are great, but far more hazardous for everyone, including the latter.

Hey I see what you did there with the graphic design. Very sneaky. lol.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

;)

There's still some pretty old infrastructure (painted bike lanes), but that's slowly disappearing. The main reason Amsterdam is 'terrible' to bike is the sheer amount of people.

I went to Amsterdam recently and it seems like traffic rules simply don't exist for 75% of the people bicycling there lol, incredibly impatient and some where even driving on the wrong side of the bike paths (they blamed us for it while we were on the right side lmao) Utrecht is way better

I spent a week biking in Amsterdam and it is not for the faint of heart. Had a few close calls are cyclists go flying by without looking. Nearly got taken out by a helmet-less scooter who flew by inches from my front wheel. People don't realise that you can run small cars and scooters as well on bike paths as well. If you want to enjoy cycling avoid the city center.

You need to go to a different place in the Netherlands that is a bit more normal, Almere is a city not too far away that can show you a different picture as there are usually far less people going every direction, still very bicycle friendly but not nearly as hectic.

Why do you ring? Does it make any difference when you overtake someone with ringing or without it? I hate when people do tha. It's so annoying.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Honest answer, I didn't ring hahah, the sound was edited in to let the viewers know the action I was going to make and add a bit of "interestingness" to the story. I usually don't ring, only when there is no space to pass.

@mateuszkrol2057

Жыл бұрын

@@mrchops okay. Sorry for the accusations :c

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

It's totally valid no worries :)

Netherlands has experienced the true nature of induced demand with how much bike traffic there is. At least that's less space than cars would take

I would rather be stuck in bike traffic than in car traffic.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

Preach! Bike and public transport for the win.

Honestly I don't think that it's better than any other place. The thing is that it is catering more to bicycles than other places but if you don't know what the road signs are about or other rules when cycling then will you still think it is so great. Most people complain about other places and biking there but if you grew up in that area and were riding bicycles since you were young I think you find that you know how to ride all around your area with no problem. You know the rules and do it without thought. I once saw people biking in NYC and thought they are crazy but except for the idiots cutting thru traffic which isn't what I was talking about a normal ride still looks crazy but to those living there it's normal legal way to ride your bike. On a side note when people say they want a certain place to be more friendly or suitable for bicycles they never considered that it really isn't something most people are interested in. That being there not many people who bike so why make bike paths. Of course because there is no bike paths not many bike. You have to show that the need is there but because it is not available most don't bike making it seem nobody is really wanting to bike. Bring it up to your representatives show by signatures that people want bike paths or better ones.

"Is biking in Amsterdam that good?". No, please stop it! The real point is "Is biking *in the Netherlands* that good?" Not only is the Netherlands much more than Amsterdam but the country has tons of cities and towns that are way better and more enjoyable than Amsterdam, be it in terms of biking, of tourism, of way of life or anything else. Please, give us a break with this upsetting equation "Netherlands = Amsterdam"!

@majy1735

7 ай бұрын

@@gerrylanter8109 A ridiculous remark, as I'm not even Dutch, so your comment falls completely off the mark. I simply happen to be (very) familiar with the Netherlands, so I know what I'm talking about when I say that there are lots of more interesting places in the NL than A'dam, both in terms of sightseeing and of cyclability. Your post completely fails to address this point. It's off the mark, as I said.

I doubt Amsterdam is the best city for biking. The amount of people makes a lot of people intimidated and it can get very chaotic. However, if you want to compare it with any city outside of Netherlands it would be very difficult find any that would come close.

that's nothing try the city centre of utrecht during bike rush hour that puts it on a whole new level

Biking is amazing but, for working? In a rainy city? I don't think so. Cars are expensive and nasty, but they are so versatile for carrying stuff, setting your own travel times, etc. Biking feels more like a hobby and exercise, which is great but not if you are going to office.

I think the problem isn't so much the mix of pedestrians, bikes, and cars but peoples inability to follow the rules in cooperation. As a Canadian who has seen trails go from multi use to a series of varying single uses and encounter the attitudes every day I have come to the conclusion that the real issue is people forming into cliques and adopting the "us" vs "them" mentality. Just the fact that I have to "battle" for position with cars and other vehicles keeps me from using my bike as much as I should. That said, I don't think the solution is simply "less cars" but a better "give and take" attitude to alleviate tensions and incorporate everyone; which would lead to less cars but it wouldn't be adversarial, thus in my opinion, more effective.

@Roel_Scoot

Жыл бұрын

Educating people into another mentality never had any but little succes, you can however entice people into another behaviour by using clever tricks in the construction of the road: speed bumps, meandering (chicanes), different heights and traffic islands and different road surfaces, widening and narrowing of the road etc.

@sdtok527

Жыл бұрын

​@@Roel_Scoot although in the Netherlands most children get a bike certificate at school. Learning about deadzones of cars/trucks, traffic laws and behaving on the road. I am not saying this explains the whole attitude but I think it helps. I will never forget sitting in a truck looking into the mirror and not seeing my classmates who were standing just beside the truck.

@Roel_Scoot

Жыл бұрын

@@sdtok527 You are right about educating practical skills, mentality is something else, but you are right to try, by all means: try. I stay corrected as an old grumpy man after a lifetime trying myself.

"i wonder who has priority here" It's coded by paint and the color of asphalt.

@mrchops

Жыл бұрын

You're right, that is exactly why I was so confused after seeing so many bikers just passing in the middle of pedestrians. In other comments some explained it's actually all about eye contact and confidence, I assume it's some sort of unwritten rule in Amsterdam at least :)

My recommendation would have been to research the rules of the road before going. And like other commenters have posted, other areas of the Netherlands are easier to ride because less tourists that don’t follow the rules.

Bikes are at a scale where you can dodge pedestrians without having to stop. Only time I stop is when I know I can't dodge them.

@rotwang2000

Жыл бұрын

It always seems to be to balance between being able to weave through with ease one day and then the next day they all seem hell bent on blocking you in every way they can. It's amazing how three people walking together can completely block off a 12m wide street.

About the unsafe part, it is worth remembering what happens when a pedestrian is hit by a bicylce; nothing happens, maybe a few nice words here and there. What happens if a pedestrian is hit by a car; probably hospitalization, maybe better, maybe worse.

the big advantage of cycling in the Netherlands is that all car drivers are cyclists, and they therefore know how a cyclist behaves. This results in much fewer injuries/deaths

His whole point is that it's Not Just Bikes

I think there are differences in "cycling culture" when you compare Germany to other countries, such as the Netherlands. The first obvious hint for that is: Bicycle design. Check out how the average bike looks in the Netherlands, then compare it to the average German bike. You immediately realize that Dutch bikes are much more comfortably built, whereas the German counterparts are built in a more "sporty" way. This reflects in the total average speed driven by cyclists, which is much higher in Germany than in the Netherlands, which could give quite some implications for infrastructure design. While unsignaled intersections work in the Netherlands because "everybody is somehow mingeling through", I am not sure if the same would work on a busy German cycle highway. Ultimately, the various speeds driven by cyclists should be taken into account when designing infrastructure. Cycles are much more flexible than e.g. cars, but their flexibility should not be romanticized. Stuff like "bicycle traffic flow" is an important consideration for efficiency - the university of Wuppertal is afaik currently conducting studies on that topic.

He’s awfully whiny.

I think the strength of biking in the Netherlands is the very fact that both pedestrians, cars, trams watch out for bikes. That for me makes it feel super safe.

@sdtok527

Жыл бұрын

Yeah but I would not count on the trams. Treat them like a train that cannot stop. They actually ALWAYS have priority.

@MrAronymous

11 ай бұрын

@@sdtok527 They actually have to give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings. But the tram drivers routinely ignore that.

2:29 - bikes. usually bikes. and to be fair it's much less afford to stop car or legs ;) i think the title was kinda clickbait, since it doesn't seem like You are disagree ;P But still nice clip :)

Amsterdam is crowded. It's the capital. Any type of infrastructure with that amount of people would always be messy and inconvernient

I never understood "Amsterdam Hype". Personally I don't like Amsterdam at all. Way too overcrowded, commercialised and dirty. There are so many beautiful cities in The Netherlands, Utrecht, Den Haag, even Rotterdam. And a lot of small gems like Den Bosch.

He lives in Germany, speaks Portuguese and English but filmed himself in Amsterdam.

0:57 That look like not so great weed, no wonder it was thrown away :P 1:34 HOW?? Every single video on the internet that is about bycicles and the Dutch tells you "Everybody rides their bikes in the Netherlands" .... how did you expect less and not more..... there is hardly anyone there 1:45 because he is an idot, that is why. Not something that is "typically Dutch", just stopping in the middle of a bycicle lane. City center Amsterdam is a bad place to learn about Dutch bycicle culture. To many tourists that have no clue mess up the traffic. That is why it is so confusing. If you go outside of downtown Amsterdam or to other cities like Utrecht, Groningen or Maastricht (all very visit worthy) it is much more clear. You will see what I tend to call "the Dutch flow", the interaction between cars, bikes and pedestrians. 2:56 Tourists with bikes... never trust tourists with bikes (sorry, nothing personal) 3:54 nah, not really. But cars are kept out of city center as much as possible. This is true for most cities. There are a few through routes in general but if possible, traffic is routed around.