Netherlands Guide
Getting around
Cycling
One great way to see the Netherlands, whether you're a keen cyclist or an idle pedaller, is to travel by bike (fiets): cycle-touring can be a short cut into Dutch culture and you can reach parts of the country – its beaches, forests and moorland – that might otherwise be inaccessible.
To the Dutch, the bicycle is both a utility and recreational mode of transport. The mostly flat landscape makes travelling by bike an almost effortless pursuit, although you can find yourself battling against a headwind powering a wind farm, or swallowed up in a shoal of cyclists commuting to work. The short distances involved make it possible to see most of the country with relative ease, using the nationwide system of well-marked cycle paths. A circular blue sign with a white bicycle on it indicates an obligatory cycle lane, separate from car traffic. Red lettering on signposts gives distances for fairly direct routes; lettering in green denotes a more scenic (and lengthy) mosey. Long-distance (LF) routes weave through the cities and countryside, often linking up to local historic loops and scenic trails. The Dutch as a nation are celebrated touring cyclists, and bookshops are packed with cycling books; however, for all but the longest trips the maps and route advice provided by most VVVs are fine.