How to get a bike in The Netherlands
I n The Netherlands, everyone gets around on the bike. Children, students, elderly people and even the president of the Netherlands included. If you truly want to experience Dutch culture and want to live like a Dutch student during you stay, you should ride around on a bike. Below, we have listed how you can get yourself a bike and what you should keep in mind while purchasing one.
What kind of bike do I need?
The first step is to determine what kind of bike you need. You will most likely need a city bike, which can only differ if you are male or female. Dutch students generally ride around on a typical Dutch bike that they call a ‘Grandma’ bike. These are very simple bikes on which you simply jump because they frame is very low. They have a back brake and a bell and that’s about it. You can search for a grandma bike here, they are generally cheaper than other bikes as well. If you are planning on going on trips in The Netherlands with you bike, which is a real good idea, you should have a bike that is fitting to your trip. You should then buy a cross hybrid bike, you can use it for long distances and it is a very quick way to navigate through the city. There is no need for two bikes in that case.
Where do I buy a bike?
The best thing is that nowadays you can purchase your bike online and have it delivered to your home. A Dutch store that offers their website in English is Internet-bikes.com. They offer a wide range of every possible bike you may need and also provide the accessories you might need, such as a lock, a basket or a tire pump. The best thing about buying a new bike is that you get the standard two-year European guarantee. So, if there is something wrong, you can call the company and they will help you with the service.
You can also buy a pre-owned bike. This is generally cheaper. For this, you can check out the Dutch website Marktplaats. It is Craigslist in Dutch and you can find anything second hand there. You can also post your bike on there when you leave, so you will earn some of the money back. However, the bike is second hand and might have some faults. It is important to test the bike, for example with a test ride, before you purchase it. Also, you may end up buying a stolen bike. When you buy a stolen bike, you might lose the bike of the police finds out that you bought it. You should always stay alert and think that when a deal is too good to be true; it might actually be too good to be true.
The last option when you do not have a bike yet is to rent an OV-bike. You can find these on the train station in the big cities. You can rent them for a day, they cost about three 3 euro a day. The option is great if you need a bike occasionally, but for the long term it is more beneficial to buy your bike and sell it afterwards, either online or to one of your roommates.
How do I keep my bike?
This might seem like a simple and obvious question, but bike criminality is actually a thing in The Netherlands. With bike criminality, we mean that bikes get stolen when you don’t lock them properly. So a good lock is essential. You can buy a chain lock or a cable lock to secure your bike to a pole or lantern. You can also park you bike in guarded bike facilities, most cities have one and they are also available on campus.
Have fun during your stay!
