Filed under: amsterdam transport, featuredarticle, things to do in amsterdam
The Amsterdam Bike Experience
Pedal along wine-red bike lanes, across humpback bridges and along off-the-beaten-path canals. Your bike will whisk you about Amsterdam faster than the tram or a taxi. Rent a bike for your entire stay and feel like a local.
Rent your bike from MacBike next to Centraal Station. Join their daily two-hour tour that runs along Dam Square, Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, Rembrandtplein, Museumplein, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, De Pijp, Heineken Experience, Skinny Bridge, Plantage neighbourhood and Oosterdok, Nemo.
DO-IT-YOURSELF TOUR SUGGESTIONS
All three tours start and finish at Centraal Station.
TOUR 1
Head south, pedal along Damrak, past the National Monument and turn right into Damstraat. Cruise through the Red Light District. Slalom past ambling tourists and return via Zeedijk to Centraal Station.
TOUR 2
Head west along Prins Hendrikkade, down Brouwersgracht and follow the length of Prinsengracht. Detour through the Jordaan neighbourhood and pop out at Anne Frank House and Westerkerk. Continue on Prinsengracht. Turn left at Leidsestraat. Cruise through Vondelpark and return to Centraal Station via Vijzelsgracht, Rokin and Damrak.
TOUR 3
Hop on the free ferry behind Centraal Station and escape into the countryside. Stop at Restaurant Tolhuis for a frothy cappuccino and scrumptious apple pie. Renewed with energy, pedal along breezy Noord-Hollands Canal, dug in early 19th century allowing larger vessels to enter Amsterdam harbour. Turn left at Varenweg. Mosveld Market is just down the road. Shop with the locals and stock up on crispy baguette and Gouda cheese. Head north through Florapark. Cross Buiksloterdijk at the far end of the park. Windmill d’Admiral is straight in front of you.Until 1954, it was used to mill chalk in order to produce mortar. This mill and over six hundred other water and wind mills open their doors to the public on National Windmill Day, an annual event in May. Double back and return to Florapark, the perfect spot for your cheese picnic. Head south along Buisloterweg, board the ferry to Centraal Sation.
BIKE RULES
* Use bike lanes
* Give way to traffic from the right
* Cross tram tracks diagonally to avoid catching your tyre in the rut
* Use arm signals
* Don’t imitate the Dutch who jump red lights and bike in pedestrian streets
Be aware that the police tickets bikes the same way as they do drivers.
Leave your bike in a bewaakte fietsenstalling , guarded bike parking. If you can’ t find one, chain your bike to a lamp post, bridge railing or other fixed object. Wrap the chain lock around the main bar of the bike and include the front wheel. If you just chain the wheel, you may find your bike gone but the wheel still chained to the lamp post or wherever you put.
WHAT: MacBike
WHERE: Stationsplein 5 (map), Nieuwe Uileburgstraat 16 (map)
Big Loft in Red Light DistrictRATES:
3 hours – €7, plus €1.50 insurance
24 hours – €9.50, plus 3€ insurance
DEPOSIT: €50 or credit card imprint
MacBike’s daily tour starts at Centraal Station Oost
Departure time: 10:00 and 14:00
Duration: 2 hours
Price: €15
WHAT: Restaurant Het Tolhuis
WHERE: Buiksloterweg 7 (map)
OPENING HOURS: 9.30 am – 7.30 pm
Dutch and French cuisine, average price for main course €25, bottle of wine €15.50, glass of wine 2.60
photo credit: personal collection
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