Best of picnic days
The Dutch take picnicking to a whole new level. Once the sun comes out, it’s like entire kitchens are brought to the park! And the best way to get to the park is of course by bike! The Vondelpark was packed with picnickers this weekend. Where were you picnicking this weekend?
by Meredith
I can’t get enough of you Amsterdam!
What a weekend it’s been. The sun is shining, people are happy and out on their bikes all the day long. This is the time of year when I just can’t get enough of this city. And Queen’s Day has yet to come! Let’s hope this wonderful weather keeps up for Tuesday.
by Meredith
Cycling with Job, former mayor of Amsterdam
Paddy and Philip from the blog Cycling with… went for a cycle with Job Cohen, former mayor of Amsterdam. On a sunny day, Job told them a lot about the history of Amsterdam, about living cities and about interesting things that happened during his time as mayor.
Job Cohen was Amsterdam’s mayor for more than 8 years, he was the first to wed a same sex couple and he was awarded with the title European Hero by Time Magazine.
So sit down and relax and let Job take you for a spin through the Westerpark, de grachtengordel (the old canals) and along the river Amstel…
Cycling with Job from Paddy Cahill on Vimeo.
Two people, one bike
Imagine: you are with two people, you have one bike, and you want to go to a friend’s birthday party. What would you do? You could of course leave the bike and go walking, go by car or take a tram. But you can also be inspired by these Amsterdammers and go together on one bike.
We show you five different ways to share a bike (also called doubling). No special seats or cargo bikes needed!
1. Sit on the back carrier (one leg at each side).
Sitting on the back carrier is the most common way to cycle together. Men normally sit with one leg at each side
2. Sit on the back carrier (two legs to the same side)
This is the version that women like best.
3. Sit on the front carrier
A very popular way amongst Amsterdams youth. (Don’t try this with a heavy person).
4. Stand on the rear carrier
For a good view. Like this son on the back of his fathers bike.
5. Sit on the rear carrier facing backwards
Not a very clear picture. They went too fast and I don’t see this way very often. We actually do not know why you would do this. Maybe when the person cycling doesn’t smell too good, or you prefer looking at the streets instead of looking at a back?
There are a lot of other ways to cycle together on one bike (sit on the crossbar, on the handlebars, or on the saddle). Take a look at more pics in this Cycle Chic Republic post.
Now, after being inspired by these cyclists from Amsterdam would you take a bike together?
Bike crate
You probably already noticed it on our blog, but to have a crate on the front of your bike is really trendy in Amsterdam! Hardly any cute baskets in the streets just cool and sturdy crates, in different colours, sometimes branded or full of stickers. What do you think of this trend?
Sunny Easter Sunday
Easter started with snow this year. Luckily the sun soon came through and turned this Easter Sunday into the first real day of spring.
By Joni
Senior Cycle Chic
In Amsterdam people of all ages cycle. Last week we saw ladies with their babies on bikes, we have seen young kids cycling and trendy students. This week we show you chic cyclists with grey hair. Aren’t they stylish and fit? I guess cycling keeps you young!
Blonde Sunday
Who doesn’t like a blonde on a bike? Nice flowing hair. Great upright posture. Can’t go wrong.
by Meredith
Wood on wheels
by Aude
Beware of the ultimate art of keeping balanced on your fancy bike: riding a slippery and snow-layered surface, steering your bike with one hand, while carrying wooden planks on your shoulder (probably to build a sauna at home, or something: man is it cold these days in Amsterdam!!)
Sunday sledding
I’ve seen tons of adorable kids on or with their sleds these past few days and I keep thinking…where are they going? If you haven’t noticed, this city is really flat. Like really flat. Where are the hills for sledding?!
by Meredith
White january
by Aude
The cold and white feeling we missed for Xmas is in town since a week, Amsterdammers love it and keep on cycling very chic!
Cycling with… Alexander and Ernst-Jan
As some readers know, the ‘Cycling With…’ team has recently shot some cycling videos in Amsterdam. Our very own Meredith was already featured on their blog.
Now they have released a new bicycle interview, with Alexander Klopping (a tech freak and gadget expert, known from the popular tv show ‘De Wereld Draait Door‘) and Ernst-Jan Pfauth (a Dutch journalist and blogger, known best for his columns on technology in nrc.next).
We encourage you to join Alexander and Ernst Jan on their Sunday cycle through Amsterdam, to see how they met via Twitter, to hear them argue about the demise (or not) of traditional journalism, and to learn some cool Dutch cycling tricks.
Cycling with Alexander & Ernst Jan from Paddy Cahill on Vimeo.
The mission of ‘Cycling With…’
“Today’s cities face big problems: polluted air, obese citizens, and social exclusion. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: the bicycle. ‘Cycling With…’ believes that by sharing stories of inspiring people on bikes, we can encourage cities to take pro-cycling action. So we have embarked on a mission to film 100 ‘Cycling with… documentaries’. And to show the world how gloriously easy, fun and sexy a bike ride can be.”
If you want to help, please sign up for their newsletter now.
- Visit the ‘Cycling With…’ blog for more videos
Seriously stylish
by Aude
Most people in Amsterdam are stylish: green parka for him, red lipstick for her. So it goes for these hipsters and they seem to be quite serious about their looks!
Must be a good book
by Aude
I guess some people are really happy with their Christmas presents! Look at her, she is reading her book on the back of a bike, I just had the time to read the title: “Congo“. Now I know which book I will ask next time I receive a present..
Panthers in town
Maybe not as common as the green parka, but still the panther coat is quite popular this winter.
So don’t be afraid if you feel surrounded by them.. You are not a prey, although?!
by Aude
Cyclist of the Month: ‘Miss Fair Fashion’ Marieke
Meet ‘Miss fair fashion’ Marieke Eyskoot: her mission is to make fair fashion normal in the Netherlands. “For me fashion is a way to celebrate life. I love it! But it should also be nice for the people who make it. I can’t enjoy clothes that people made in terrible working conditions.” For many years people have asked Marieke where they can buy fair fashion, what to look out for when shopping, easy things they can do for a more ‘fair lifestyle’ and if a fair lifestyle isn’t too expensive? Those questions made Marieke decide to write the book ‘Talking Dress- Vertelt je alles over eerlijke kleding (en lifestyle)’ that was recently published.
‘Talking Dress’ is a guide –written in Dutch – to a fair lifestyle in the Netherlands and Belgium. The book shows you the way to your own fair fashion lifestyle. Ranging from shopping tips to DIY-tricks, from washing instructions to swapping ideas, from clothes to accessories, beauty products, food and even marriage: Talking Dress makes it easy (and fun!) to do good and look great at the same time.
We love Marieke’s book and know that she uses her bike every day, so we asked her for an interview. We met in the lovely fair lunchroom and boutique ‘Beter & Leuk’ on the Eerste Oosterparkstraat.
Marieke and her bike
“This interview is a tribute to my bike. I bought it second hand in 1996 for 100 guilders and I have cycled it daily through the streets of Amsterdam since then.” The frame is from 1967 and it is a classical black Gazelle Dutch bike. But after more than 40 years some essential parts can’t be repaired anymore. So Marieke has to get a new bike. The decision of which bike to get was an easy one; “A Roetz bike of course!” Roetz’ bikes are sustainable and fair bikes made in the Netherlands. (Read more about Roetz on our blog).
“I love to cycle and I use my bike every day, to go to my office, to meetings, to go out and to go for cycles in the weekend. I like to go fast on my bike. It is a great break every day to cycle in between the many meetings, phone calls and long hours behind a computer. The movement, the wind or sun and just being outside for a while make me feel relaxed. When I pass bridges I always slow down a bit, to enjoy the beautiful city and look at the water.”
“I can still clearly remember the moment I learned to cycle. I was with my father practising in the street where I grew up. I was cycling and he was running beside me, holding me. Suddenly I heard him quite far behind me shouting ‘I am not holding you anymore!’ and from that moment on, I could cycle on my own!”
Text by Joni – Pictures by Aude
Links
- Order Marieke’s book ’Talking Dress’ (19,95 euros, free shipment in the Netherlands).
- Marieke co-organises MINT, the fair fashion section of international fashion tradeshow Modefabriek
Fall colors in Amsterdam
One thing the Dutch love to talk about is the weather. I hear these conversations all day long. Such a lovely time of year in this city. The leaves of course are the highlight. All the oranges and yellows. Bring your layers though and get out your gloves: this is the time of year the weather can’t decide on anything.
I joined a local yoga studio and in one of the classes, the instructor spoke about the fall; that it’s a time to reflect inward and, like the trees, change your inner color, express yourself in a different way, and maybe think about shedding something you’ve been holding on to for a while. I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit because I can’t seem to pin something down. What could I let go of? Maybe I should be vegan again. Become a tea drinker. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just think about it more and get back to you.
For now, I just looooove riding my bike in this city…
by Meredith
Racing in style
by Aude
The advantage of the ever populair fixies is that it allows you to cross town, while keeping style and speed to a maximum.
Add to this a scenery of typical Amsterdam canals and you are once more convinced of the fact that Amsterdam cycles chic!
Hitchin’ a ride
I think this photo truly captures the strong, independent, and do-it-all mentality of Dutch women. Totally fantastic. You can give a man a ride on the back of your bike, purse on arm, and sport your leopard gloves, too.
It’s not easy giving a ride — and it takes practice. I completely fell over the first time I tried to give a ride. Ended up just sitting on the back like this guy. I’ll keep trying though!
by Meredith
Sexy Sunday
Added benefit of cycling everyday: nice legs. Pairs perfectly with super short shorts, black tights, and studded booties.
Show it off ladies!
by Meredith
Hunky Sunday
Here’s a little something for the ladies out there…and a helpful definition, adapted from the urban dictionary!
hunk on a bicycle (hʌŋk ɒn eɪ ˈbaɪsɪkl): An attractive male, usually with nice chiseled abs and a very sexy tan (except in northern European countries where the sun doesn’t often shine), pedaling a two-wheeled human-powered transport machine.
by Meredith
Sunk in thoughts
by Aude
This girl is clearly sunk in thoughts while cycling through the Vondelpark on one of the last summer days.
Waiting for his date
When waiting for your date to arrive, why not sit on the back of your bike?
That is what this guy did while playing around with his mobile.
And he might just have been texting her!
by Aude
