So here it is, finally, the second part of my article about Amsterdam and what to do when you're there.
Most people were interested about the cycling part. You might remeber I stated that you should NOT cycle in Amsterdam. Why? First of all, don't worry - cycling is of course permitted for everyone and I definately can't forbid anyone to cycle. But there are a couple of basics you should know. Cycling is normal for Dutch people. Almost everyone cycles and it's not just to get exercise, it is actually to get from home to work, school or the shops. Everyone cycles and you don't need special cycle pants or even a helmet; noone in the Netherlands wears a cycle helmet and I can assure you noone ever will.
But, you will probably say, if that is the case I can see no problem in me hiring a bike when I visit Amsterdam, as cycling is so common there. And that's where most tourists go wring. Cycling is a means of transport and a way of life for most Dutch people, especially in Amsterdam. But our country is small and so are our roads. Amsterdam is tiny as well, and it's flooded by tourists on a daily basis. So when those tourists decide to hire bikes and start cycling through Amsterdam in groups, moving incredibly slow and hitting their brakes whenever they spot something to take a picture of, the regular Amsterdam cyclists get annoyed, and rightly so. Try comparing it with driving in your car to go to work and having to drive at 30 mph on the motorway because all 3 lanes in front of you are clogged with drivers who are constantly hanging out the windows passing eachother crisps and soda.
So what if you do want to cycle in Amsterdam? Simply abide by these rules:
-make sure you know how to ride a bike beforehand
-while in the city centre, don't ride next to eachother but keep room for other cyclists to pass you by
-try to keep a healthy pace; if you go as slow as a pedestrian, you should just ditch the bike and walk yourself
-if you hear a cyclist ringing his bell, let him pass
-don't brake without looking behind you
-don't be alarmed when other cyclists ignore a red light, that's the Amsterdam way of cycling. They know what is safe, don't worry.
-always make sure your bike is chained to something - even though bike thefts are decreasing, it is still happening
-try to get out of the city centre as soon as you can. There are many wonderful places to cycle to, especially in the north of Amsterdam
Ad of course the last tip: have fun!
If you're planning on taking a trip to Amsterdam or any other place in the Netherlands, and you need tips or help, let me know. I'll be putting up some more articles on other cities on here soon.