Amsterdam and Bicycles go hand in hand
Upon arriving in Amsterdam you can’t help noticing that the Dutch like bikes.
It seems that almost everyone here rides a bicycle. It’s not unusual to see mothers, grandmothers, schoolchildren, businessmen, police officers, old and young hippies — and, yes, tourists happily cycling the city streets.
Some people walk their dogs by bike. Others use it to transport groceries, flowers, furniture, children, girlfriends, or anything else you can think of.
Visiting Amsterdam?
Nearly 70% of traffic to and from work or school is by bike, and bicycles account for 36 percent of all traffic movements in Amsterdam.
In fact, it was long said that the 811.000 people who live in Amsterdam own an estimated 881,000 bicycles. In other words, there are more bikes than residents. 1In May 2015 Kerncijfers Amsterdam 2014, published by Onderzoek, Informatie en Statistiek (Research, Information and Statistics), or OIS, a department of the City of Amsterdam reported that Amsterdam was home to 811.000 people. The department long said nobody knows exactly how many bikes there are in Amsterdam. They did hold regular polls, using the so-called ‘Wisdom of the Crowd’ methodology to arrive at the estimated number of bicycles. When this article was first published, in April 2006, the 750,000 people who lived in Amsterdam were said to own 600,000 bicycles. In November 2011 there were 780,000 inhabitants who together owned 881,000 bicycles as estimated in the poll mentioned. However, according to the most recent figures published by Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), in 2015 the 442.693 households (850.000 residents) in Amsterdam together owned 847.000 bicycles — 1.91 bicycle per household. Mind you, for some reason that count does not include bikes owned by children under the age of twelve, even though most kids do own bikes. An old joke says that “33% of all statistics are incorrect.” So we’ll just note that the city of Amsterdam, in its publication Cycling Matters (2017), says “There is one bicycle for every one of the 837,000 Amsterdammers.” Years later (we’re now talking 2025) that figure is still being cited.
Of course, statistics being what they are, no one knows for sure. Suffice it to say that in a 13th century city — long the domain of pedestrians and pushcarts — nowadays a bicycle is the most logical mode of transportation.
Amsterdam Bike Tours
How Amsterdam got bicycle-friendly
Mind you, Amsterdam hasn’t always been so bicycling friendly.
This video explains how the bicycle got the upper hand in the 1970’s — not just in Amsterdam, but in cities around the Netherlands.
The medieval city of Amsterdam, which was founded in the 13th century, has numerous car-hostile features: narrow streets and canals, far too few parking spaces. and numerous one-lane traffic mazes that only lead in one direction. In recent years, car traffic has been further restricted as the city has embarked on an extensive project to create even more space for cyclists than before. Many existing cycle paths have been extended and upgraded, and further improvement projects are underway.
But there is much more. Amsterdam also embarked on a multi-year plan to improve the city’s cycling experience. That includes
- even more and better bike lanes,
- a huge increase in bicycle parking facilities, and
- the promotion of ‘New Cycling.’
The latter is an attempt to get people to change their habits and behavior. For example, more efforts are being made to encourage more people to cycle. Fit people are encouraged to park their bikes on the upper level of the bike racks, if possible, so that others can use the slightly more accessible spaces. Children and adults are taught not to be distracted by their smartphones in traffic. Bicycle owners are taught to park their vehicles legally and not just willy-nilly.
Bicycles in Amsterdam: It’s Not All Positive
Tourists and other visitors tend to view Amsterdam’s cycling culture through rose-tinted spectacles. They are fascinated by the ‘romance’ of cycling and have turned Amsterdam’s love of the ‘iron horse’ into something of a tourist attraction.
However, the locals know that there are also considerable problems.
In the last 25 years, the number of bicycle journeys per day has risen from 445,000 to 665,000.
With more and more people sharing the (often narrow) roads, safety is a problem.
While most cyclists obey the traffic rules, many others do not.
In fact, there are many idiots who run red lights, ride on the sidewalk and/or pay more attention to their cell phones than to the road.
Amsterdam Tourists on Bicycles
Speaking of tourists: Amsterdam’s citizens have learned to be particularly careful when they see people on rental bikes. Almost always, these are visitors who — with a minimal understanding of local traffic rules and safety issues — have decided to test their cycling skills on Amsterdam’s busy streets while taking in the sights.
The biggest annoyance Amsterdammers have with tourists is when they accidentally walk or stand in the bike lanes. This is a big no-no. It’s safer to step in front of a moving car than to get between a Dutch cyclist and their destination.
Helmets and Bicycle Gear in the Netherlands
By the way, you will notice that most Dutch cyclists do not wear helmets. Of course there are accidents. But in the whole of the Netherlands, ‘only’ 185 people die in cycling accidents every year.
It is unusual to see a Dutch cyclist wearing a helmet. Most of us simply do not see the need to wear a helmet.
If you see someone wearing a helmet, it is almost certainly a tourist or an expatriate.
Fortunately, the vast majority of Dutch cyclists do not wear lycra or spandex cycling clothing either. “Act normal, that’s strange enough” is a Dutch maxim that applies here2Dutch: Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg. (More Dutch words and expressions you should know)
What you will see are normal-looking people wearing everyday clothes: jeans, business suits, a wedding dress, (mini) skirts, shorts, dresses, trousers, you name it. Rain or snow? Add slickers (raincoats), all or nothing accompanied by an umbrella.
Shared Space: Mixing Humans and Bicycles
As part of the metamorphosis of Amsterdam Central Station the city introduced a unique concept: ‘Shared Space.’
In one spot behind the station, various streams of pedestrians and bicyclists meet and cross each other. This occurs near the berths of the ferries that carry people back and forth across the river IJ.
After multiple studies traffic engineers concluded that traffic signals at this busy crossing would be ineffective, if not counterproductive — to say the least.
Hence they came up with a daring approach: let people watch out for each other while they share this space. Here’s what that looks like:
Initially there were many naysayers, but test after test shows that the Shared Space concept works remarkably well.
Some Bicycle Traffic Rules
Legally, bikes are allowed to turn right at a red light – if and when it is safe to do so.
In reality, many Amsterdammers feel invincible once they mount their bikes, and thus they won’t stop for anything.
They’ll run red lights, weave through traffic (regardless which direction it is coming from), and more often than not teach tourists not to walk on the bike paths by racing through small groups while loudly ringing their bells or yelling.
Wide variety of bikes
Bikes come in all shapes, sizes and colors. A group of alternative artists in Amsterdam North custom-welds two or more bike frames into fantastic creations that have its riders tower high above the road.
Young urban professionals tend to like purpose-built bikes – such as models designed to carry two or more children and/or groceries.
Others prefer the classic cargo bikes, which can be used to transport large pieces of furniture or the contents of a small room.
Nowadays, more and more companies are delivering their goods on custom-built bicycles. The postal company PostNL delivers parcels on electric bicycles and supermarket Albert Heijn brings groceries to your home on electric cargo bikes.
Old-fashioned so-called “granny” or “grandpa” bikes (omafiets and opafiets) are very popular with people who value plain old quality. Others have a more practical reason: ‘boring’ old models are less likely to be stolen than the fancy, eyecatching status symbols.
Electric bikes are increasingly in demand. They range from pedelecs or e-bikes (snorfiets) — bicycles where the rider is assisted in pedaling by a battery-powered electric motor (no faster than 25 km/h) — to speed pedelecs (no faster than 45 km/h). Nowadays there also are so-called fatbikes — electric bikes with fat tires.3Note that the maximum speed of a fatbike with pedal assistance is 25 km/hour (15.53 miles/hour). In reality many of these bikes have been illegally tuned to go much faster.
During the Second World War, the German army stole countless bicycles from the Dutch. Even today, some Dutch people still say half-jokingly to German tourists: “I want my grandfather’s bike back.”
Amsterdam Bike Tours / Rent a Bicycle
If you want to experience Amsterdam, a bike tour is an absolute must.
If you’re more adventurous, or simply are not the ‘tour type’ rent a bike instead.
Buying a Bicycle in Amsterdam
Inexpensive bikes can be found at the Waterlooplein fleamarket, or at regular bike stores (many of which will have refurbished trade-ins for sale).
Many supermarkets and tobacconists have a ‘free ads’ board where you can find good deals from private individuals in the neighborhood. Frankly, we ourselves get our bikes this way. Never yet had a bad deal.
Stolen Bikes
Despite measures to combat it, bike theft is still rampant in the city. If someone approaches you on the street to try and sell you a cheap bike, you can be sure that it was only recently stolen.
If the police catch you buying such a bike you will be fined at least €160. You may face additional consequences as well.
The locals try to prevent their bicycles from being stolen by using two or more good locks. These locks must be fitted so that each part of the bike is attached to something else.
For example, if you make the mistake of only securing the front wheel, upon returing you may find that the rest of the bike has been stolen.
Standing Out: Pimp my Bike, Amsterdam Style
Many people paint or otherwise decorate their bikes to make them easier to find back.
Too, a uniquely-decorated bicycle works like bike theft insurance. Bike thieves prefer bikes that blend in. They are harder to spot and easier to sell.
Bicycle parking problems in Amsterdam
As you might imagine, the overabundance of bicycles creates an ever-growing parking problem — especially in the center of town.
At times some sidewalks are nearly impossible to negotiate due to countless haphazardly-parked bikes.
The city spends a lot of time and money removing bicycles that were illegally parked. Consequently, if you find your bike missing, don’t automatically assume it was stolen.
You may discover that you can collect your bike — whether stolen and found, or removed by the police — at the Fietsdepot (Bicycle repository).
At and around Central Station bike parking was long at a premium. There were simply not enough parking spots available.
One of several solutions was the bicycle flat which provided 2500 free parking spaces.
The structure, initially meant to be ‘temporary,’ had become one of the city’s most photographed spots.
It was eventually replaced by a new, underwater bicycle parking garage which opened in January, 2023.
In all, as of 2023 there are total of 13,000 covered bicycle parking spaces at Amsterdam Central Station. The number of bicycle parking spaces around Central Station will be expanded to 22,000 in the coming years.
Is Amsterdam the “Most Bike-Friendly City”?
Copenhagenize Index
The Copenhagenize Index was first published in 2011, and appears every other year.
The most recent index was published in 2019 — the year the global COVID-19 pandemic hit. No new indexes have been published since then.
Amsterdam is the world’s most bicycle-friendly city. Well, that was true in 2011 and 2013 at least, according to the bi-annual Copenhagenize Index.
But in its 2015 edition, Copenhagen edged out Amsterdam. Referring to the latter, the Index noted that
While the city finished with a higher baseline score, it lagged behind in the race for bonus points. Amsterdam, like most Dutch cities, suffers from their insistence on maintaining a status quo, rather than trying to improve, think modern and take things to the next level.”
One of the world’s benchmark cities for cycling, Amsterdam has a leadership role for what they have done, as opposed to what they are doing and planning.
The 2015 Copenhagenize Index of Bike-Friendly Cities
Then, in 2017, the index ranked Amsterdam in third place — with Copenhagen still leading the list, and the Dutch city of Utrecht ranking second.
Amsterdam remains the most amazing bicycle city. It scored highest in the baseline score in the 2017 Index, as it did in 2015, but it stumbles when it comes to the bonus points that reflect the dynamics in a city moving forward. Indeed, watching Utrecht passing by into second place shows that the city needs to dust off its gameface.
2017 Copenhagen Index
2019: Amsterdam in Second Place again
In the 2019 edition (the most recent available) Amsterdam is in second place again — still behind Copenhagen, but ahead of Utrecht. “Amsterdam is back in the game,” the Index says (though it clearly was never out of the game to begin with). But Copenhagenize notes that
Since the last index, the City has released an ambitious new bicycle plan for 2022 that focuses on improving bicycle parking and existing bicycle infrastructure. With 11,000 new inhabitants filling the city every year, Amsterdam is creating new “royal routes” to accommodate more bicycles. These corridors include measures to allow for a lower stress cycling experience during rush hour periods. Some of these measures include widening existing cycle tracks to 2.5 metres for increased capacity, building more low-speed cycle streets and redesigning major intersections to allow for more protected cycling space.
By 2025, the City will be removing over 11,000 car parking spaces from the city centre (1,500 per year), to be replaced with bicycle parking, street trees and better walking environments.
– Source: Copenhaganize Index 2019
Indeed the city’s Fietsplan 2017-2022 is in full swing. More bicycle paths have been added. Existing bike lines (most of which consists of red asphalt) have been upgraded and where possible widened.
Since April 2019 mopeds have been banned from using bike paths in the center of town. They now share the road with other motorized traffic. Not surprisingly, unofficial statistics already show a marked decrease in the number of accidents on bike paths since then.
Copenhagenize Index of Bike-Friendly Cities: City Marketing Tool?
The Copenhagenize Index of Bike-Friendly Cities was published every two years from 2011 to 2019
The last index was published in 2019 — the year the global COVID-19 pandemic hit. No new indexes have been published since then.
Observers note that the Index essentially was a marketing tool for the Copenhagenize Design Co. — an urban design consultancy based in Copenhagen, Brussels and Montréal.
Klaus Bondam, director of Cyklistforbundet — Copenhagen’s bicyclists union — admits as much in an interview with Dutch news daily NRC. When it comes to marketing, he says “Amsterdam and Copenhagen are both doing very well. But we are better at communicating how well we are doing.”
The Copenhagenize Design Co. is a member of Cyklistforbundet.
Headed by urban designer and author (Amazon.com: Copenhagenize, The Definitive Guide to Global Bicycle Urbanism) Mikael Colville-Andersen the company advises cities and governments in how to work towards a more bicycle-friendly urban landscape.
Meanwhile, reality is that Amsterdam remains the bicycle capital of the world.
Not Just Bikes: Copenhagen is great… but it’s not Amsterdam
Not Just Bikes is a YouTube channel by Canadian-Dutch content creator Jason Slaughter. The channel explores urban issues, including but not limited to cycling in the Netherlands. It contrasts the transportation, infrastructure and built environment of the Netherlands to that of the United States and Canada.
In this video he explores the differences in street design taken by Copenhagen and citites in the Netherlands, to discover some of the finer points of what makes for great urban design:
Amsterdam Bicycle Statistics
The year these statistics were last update is noted in [brackets]
Bicycles and Phones do not go together
Since July 1, 2019, it is illegal to hold or touch your phone while riding a bike anywhere in the Netherlands. Colloquially referred to as an appverbod (apping prohibition), the new law comes with a €95 ($107/£85) fine — plus administrative fees — for anyone who violates it.4The fine for those operating mopeds or scooters is €160, and for other drivers (car, bus, truck, et cetera) €240.
Checking Google Maps, finding your favorites on SoundCloud, or letting a friend know you’re on your way — it’s all good, as long as your bike is not moving while you do so.
Handsfree use of your phone is allowed. So is listening to music using earphones, but you must be able to hear ambient noise as well.
This law covers not just mobile phone, but also navigation systems, tablets or music players.
Recommended book: In The City of Bikes
Buy from Amazon.com
The Story of an Amsterdam Cyclist
American author and bicycling enthusiast Pete Jordan, known for his hilarious cult classic Dishwasher: One Man’s Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States, is in love with Amsterdam and with the city’s bicycling culture. So much so, that he moved here.
In time he wrote a highly entertaining book chronicling the history of the city’s cycling, from the craze of the 1890s, through the Nazi occupation (with the Dutch to this day only half jokingly telling German tourists that “my grandfather wants his bike back”), to the bike-centric culture adored by the world today.
In his book In The City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist [Amazon.com] Pete Jordan combines personal anecdotes, local lore, Amsterdam facts, and an in-depth ode to bicycles in an engaging book that we ourselves — card-carrying Amsterdam bicyclists — count among our favorites. Highly recommended!
Paperback | Kindle [Amazon.com]
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Amsterdam girls on bikes — in slow motion
In Amsterdam bicycling is seen primarily as the best way to…Footnotes
- 1In May 2015 Kerncijfers Amsterdam 2014, published by Onderzoek, Informatie en Statistiek (Research, Information and Statistics), or OIS, a department of the City of Amsterdam reported that Amsterdam was home to 811.000 people. The department long said nobody knows exactly how many bikes there are in Amsterdam. They did hold regular polls, using the so-called ‘Wisdom of the Crowd’ methodology to arrive at the estimated number of bicycles. When this article was first published, in April 2006, the 750,000 people who lived in Amsterdam were said to own 600,000 bicycles. In November 2011 there were 780,000 inhabitants who together owned 881,000 bicycles as estimated in the poll mentioned. However, according to the most recent figures published by Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), in 2015 the 442.693 households (850.000 residents) in Amsterdam together owned 847.000 bicycles — 1.91 bicycle per household. Mind you, for some reason that count does not include bikes owned by children under the age of twelve, even though most kids do own bikes. An old joke says that “33% of all statistics are incorrect.” So we’ll just note that the city of Amsterdam, in its publication Cycling Matters (2017), says “There is one bicycle for every one of the 837,000 Amsterdammers.” Years later (we’re now talking 2025) that figure is still being cited. ↩︎
- 2Dutch: Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg. (More Dutch words and expressions you should know) ↩︎
- 3Note that the maximum speed of a fatbike with pedal assistance is 25 km/hour (15.53 miles/hour). In reality many of these bikes have been illegally tuned to go much faster. ↩︎
- 4The fine for those operating mopeds or scooters is €160, and for other drivers (car, bus, truck, et cetera) €240. ↩︎
Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.
Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.
Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 43 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.
Last updated Sunday, March 15, 2026 CET (Central European Time)
Do not republish or repost.
