Amsterdam: The Kingdom of Bikes

Amsterdam remains a paradise for those who enjoy riding bikes. Streets here are quiet, and the city is among one of the most suitable cities for cycling.

The history of Amsterdam and cycling goes back a long time. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Amsterdam was an important port of Holland, the ocean nation. To enlarge the range of the city, Amsterdam dug many canals that surround the city center. All these canals, that stretch as long as 100 km when added together, divide the city center into chessboard-shaped parts, in which there are 1,500 bridges. These canals are not far away from each other, and the streets are not wide. So, the flexible and convenient bikes turn into ideal transportation tools. This city structure still remains in the city center and canal area, and cycling has been kept alive as the most popular method of travel.

People of Holland are closely connected to bikes. Not many pedestrians can be found in the country, but independent bike lanes can be found here and there. From Amsterdam to Utrecht, a large number of bikes can be found in almost every city of the country. On the street, you may easily see various bikes, with some used for the rider to ride while lying down and some used for a family of three...

Cuyperspassage, a newly built tunnel of Amsterdam Centraal staion, connects the city and IJ (Amsterdam). Since its opening at the end of 2015, about 15,000 pedestrians or those who ride bikes passed through the tunnel. This “slow traffic corridor” is what many citizens need.