Quirky Holland...

In my last blog, I promised to write something about some unusual, unknown or interesting things I've seen whilst pedalling through the Netherlands!

From my end, some of thost things are getting a BIG thumbs up, some a definite thumbs down and in some cases I haven't made my mind up about it.

Read on and decide for yourself!

Dutch Cycle Paths...

Well, I've written enough about the smooth, often red painted, pot-hole-less Dutch cycling roads in my last blog. However, I just like to make the point again, there is not NOT ENOUGH DONE for cyclists in the UK!

It's not just done by pointing out how many kilometers of cycle paths we have in the UK! It's also about how those cycle routes were built in the first place, how often they get cleaned, how the verge of those paths are maintained, proper signage, proper & readable road markings etc.

Cycling Helmets...

Holland has a population of about 17.7 million people riding over 22 millions of bikes.

Who's wearing a helmet? Well, most of the serious looking, lycra wearing, carbon bike riding, cyclist appear to wear a helmet.

But apart from those riders, only a very few cyclist seem to see a need to wear a helmet. From school kids to parents with children on their bikes to the more elderly cyclist - nearly none of them sees a need to wear a helmet. It looked to me it would be easier to make a living by selling dust caps for bike wheels than by selling bike helmets!

Mountain Bike Parks...

No proper hills = no mountain bike parks. Wrong!

We cycled along this mountain bike single track for several kilometers. All built on the flat! It must provide a blast of a ride if attacked at the right speed! Sorry, no uplifts available (nor needed)...

Coffee...

We weren't long enough in Holland to really get to understand when & how the Dutch drink coffee. Compared to the UK, we only saw a very few people walking around with cups of coffee in their hands. We also found it challenging to simply buy a cup of coffee in the earlier hours of the day. Google talks about a flourishing Dutch coffee culture - unfortunately, in the three days we were there, we couldn't find it but instead...

...we found this! 9 AM or 9 PM, you've got to have a bit of coffee liqueur & whipped cream with your coffee!...

Garbage Bin or Wild Life Feeding Stations?...

I thought they must be garbage bins for cyclists! Big, open, cylinder shaped baskets - perfect for some target throwing with your apple cores!

Recycling System with a Difference...

No wheelie bins or containers - hooks on a lamp post instead!

It looked like people have to hang their recycling bags on those hooks, ready for pick-up for the bin men!

What if your hook is taken by a naughty neighbour using two hooks that week? That could cause serious neighbourhood trouble!

Anyway, I thought those recycling lamp posts looked quite colourful...

Last but not Least...

I was eleven, and it was my first holiday abroad when my parents took us to Holland on a road trip. Since then, there are three culinary Dutch experiences I've never forgotten about. French fries eaten with all sorts of different mayonnaises, pancakes (crepes) with different toppings (kind of a Dutch style pizza..) and, HAGELSLAG (hail storm).

Look at the picture below and yes, it is what it looks like and like 11 year olds do, I had several of those in the three day!

I now understand why people can get so excited when they see a full English breakfast served in the morning...

...And one more for good Measures...

Charging points for e-bikes... YES, charging points for e-bikes!

Did I say somewhere further up, not enough is being done for cyclist in the UK? Let's not get me started on this again, I'm sure you have better things to do than to read another of my rants! Charging points for e-bikes, free of charge - I must be dreaming...