Bike Rentals

Admittedly, the image of the Amsterdammer on a bicycle is as clichéd as that of the Gouda girl in a tulip field, but the capital’s citizen are serious about their two-wheel drives. Walking down an Amsterdam street at times, all you hear is the squeaking of pedals being pushed vigorously. Dutch even has numerous cycling-related idioms: Op een oude fiets moet je het leren (“You must learn it on an old bike”), for instance, means that someone older is the best instructor, while Oh, op die fiets! (“Ah, on that bike!”) indicates comprehension, and the simple Ga toch fietsen (“Go biking!”) conveys in rather strong language that the speaker wants to be left alone.

The city’s roads truly belong to two-wheelers, and if you’re game for a bit of an adventure, it’s the best and easiest way to navigate the city. If your sole purpose is to peddle through picturesque Vondelpark, MacBike (Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 114; 31-20-620-0985) is the closest to the park and will require the least riding with traffic. I preferred Mike’s Bike Shop (Kerkstraat 134 H; 31-20-622-7970), a slightly farther walk but offering “undercover bikes,” or bikes not branded with big signs for the shop, so you’ll blend in a bit and feel less like a tourist. One caveat: Mike’s does not offer any specialty bikes such as tandems or those equipped with child seats. During the summer months, a bike tour, offered by most shops, is a great way to get your bearings or explore the countryside beyond Amsterdam.