Ring Ring… bike delivery!
Saw this lovely burst of colour whizzing by, delivering a parcel, and I just had to stop him! He spent the day riding through snow, sleet, rain and finally some sunshine. Didn’t seem to phase him 🙂
…Go DHL!
By Mel
Poncho giveaway!
Get ready for the rainy season (here that’s every season) with a bike poncho! Thanks to The People’s Poncho for working with us on this giveaway.
This poncho has it all: slick waterproof shell, sheltering hood with drawstrings, snap clasps at the sleeves, and even handle bar grips to prevent flying away with the wind and rain! There’s a little waterproof zipped pouch for valuables. And the piping is even reflective. Retailing for €75 – but worth every penny.
The only thing you need to do is comment below telling us your favourite thing about biking in the rain.
Comment by Thursday, we’ll announce the winner on Friday!
small print: only open to UK/EU addresses – sorry!
Still chic in the ’20s
I love seeing old photos and footage from back in the day. The Eye has a great collection of these old films and this one caught my attention.
A little history lesson: this was when about 80% of all trips were made by bike. Now about 60% of all trips are made by bicycle in the city center. Amazing right?
And look at the people. So simply chic with their hats and jackets. Sitting upright on their oh-so-Dutch bikes. Love it.
Top 5 things to look forward to in 2016
Best wishes for 2016!
2015 was a great year. As an ode to all the fantastic shots our team captured in 2015 and all our loyal followers, we’ve put together a short list of the top 5 things to look forward to this year in Amsterdam – doubled up with our most popular blog and Instagram posts of 2015.
1. Several days (at least) of non-stop sun sometime between March 23 and September 17. Otherwise, don’t forget to smile while you squint and bear the rainy weather.
2. Doubling up with a lover (or a stranger). The best part about getting around in this city is pairing up – on one bike is cozy, but side-by-side works just as well. Our cyclists of the month from February love doubling!
3. Wearing black, preferably a leather jacket as well. 
4. Spotting adorable children and their (stylish) mamas. This black and white made waves on Facebook and Instagram. And photos of our own Aude (who now has two little ones) was the most-seen post of the year!
5. Discovering a new favorite corner in this fantastic city. By bike, of course! Maybe a new cafe or a nice view – where ever it is, let it be all yours.
A huge thanks to all our readers and followers this year! We are grateful for your loyalty and we wouldn’t still be around if it wasn’t for you. From all of us at Amsterdam Cycle Chic, happy new year!
Original Amsterdam. Original cool.
This guy is 100% Amsterdam. Riding one-handed along the beautiful Amstel, cruising with the dog, black panniers flapping in the breeze, and sporting the tweed and the slicked-back silver hair.
Seriously Amsterdam. Seriously cool.
by Meredith
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A bike full of wood
I can only imagine this conversation: Hey man, what are you going to do with all that wood? I don’t know, gonna make something cool. Maybe a nice fence for your garden? For sure.
Seriously, what’s this guy going to do with all those branches? Obviously he just found them and loaded them up on his bike – otherwise he would have a proper transport method, right? Who knows! Oh Amsterdam. How I love you.
Wired for sound
You hear a lot of people singing as they zip past you in Amsterdam. Some know the tunes from their head and others sport rather fashionable ears around town..your thoughts? Unsafe or just a cool way to get into the X-Factor?
By Mel
Snuggle up for sunset
Grab your bike and your love and head out to your favorite vista for tonight’s sunset. It’s bound to be a good one.
Summer in the city
Yes! It’s here! Summer. We only get 10 days of sunshine a year (or at least it feels like that). But when those precious days arrive, we head straight to the park with friends. Pack that portable BBQ into your bicycle crate, grab some beers and bike carefully along the cobblestones streets until you hit your favourite park.
These guys has a bike converted to a DJ sound station which happily entertained the surrounding picnic-ers, combined with their dance moves.
By Mel.
Bike bright!
Stand out from the crowd with bright, wild, neon colours! Make your bike a masterpiece.
By Mel
Bundle up!
It’s cold out there! But the cold doesn’t stop Amsterdammers from getting on their bikes. Or looking chic.
National Tulip Day 2015
This past weekend was the much anticipated start of the Tulip season. 200,000 colourful Tulips were ‘planted’ in front of The Royal Palace of Amsterdam in Dam Square as part of an annual pop-up celebration held to celebrate our national symbol. The best part of it all was that the general public were invited to pick their own bouquet of fresh tulips! (if you were patient enough to cue up for hours!)
Bikes of course were out in full force, with their crates swinging with gorgeous towering tulips. The red colour represented Red Cross who was a sponsor of the event. They want this to be “a reason to share and give flowers to your neighbour, to show you care”. Let’s hope there was some sharing done here as it’s easy to take home beauties like these just for yourself.
Couldn’t get any more Dutch than this!
Happy Tulip Day!
By Mel.
Winter wonder blur
I caught these Amsterdammers going though the Rijksmuseum bike path, enjoying today’s sunny chill and riding fast through the tunnel. So many people out and about on their bikes today. Babies, bakfiets, lovers, and friends — I love that no matter the weather, we keep on peddling.
Happy New Year!
Oh what a year!
We would like to thank all of our followers and fellow cyclists around the world and wish you all a wonderful 2015!
Cyclist of the Month..Alexander, Owner of A.P Bloem florist
Alexander is a true Amsterdammer. He owns a beautiful flower shop in the speigelquartier in the centre of the city. His customers cycle up to his store on the Prinsengracht canal and cycle away with handfuls of gorgeous flowers neatly tucked away in their arms, bike crates or panniers. He lives and breaths flowers – he even lives on a street called the Bloemgracht! (flower canal). You may have seen Alexander or his staff zipping through Amsterdam on their bikes delivering daily flowers to locals in the sunshine, rain or even snow.
Why did you become a florist?
The story all started in the area of Nieuwendammerdijk, in Amsterdams North where I grew up. This area provided my inspiration as a small child where I played in the forest behind my family home, building huts and creating my own garden. I used to make floral necklaces for my grandmother in my little secret hideaway. Floristry came naturally as I love working with my hands and creating special and unique things and getting to know all different kinds people. I love it.
Where are your favourite places to ride?
In the Summertime I love riding my racebike to the fishing village of Marken. This 45km cycle route is the best way to spend a summer day and it is also a popular route amongst locals and tourists. You can take a quick ferry ride from Amsterdam, cycle along the picturesque dyke houses all the way through Durgedam. Its a beautiful cycle route. In Spring and Fall I love cycling through forests such as Amsterdamse Bos or Hoge Veluwe which is outside of Amsterdam. I even take my bike to other cities such as Brussels when I have weekends away. It’s the only way to travel.
What bike do you own?
I have an original Gazelle that my Grandfather used to own, a racebike, an opa fiets (Grandpa bike) which has a big wooden crate to make my flower deliveries with – and I recently received a beautiful hybrid bike for my birthday which is half race-bike, half mountain bike. Each one has it’s own purpose.
A.P Bloem
A.P Bloem services Amsterdam and across the Netherlands with their arrangements and displays for local homes, birthdays, weddings and special events. Their signature style draws inspiration from the Golden Age and wild fields in the true essence of nature. “We genuinely love what we do and we wish for people to share and experience the beauty of the special things we source and create” says Alexander. You can keep up to date with their flowery adventures here.
Foldable style
Just when the bike wasn’t practical and stylish enough..they go and make cool packable.
By Mel.
38HOURS in Amsterdam. What would you do?
Come and join the Amsterdam Cycle Chic-ers tomorrow night at the 38HOURS launch party in Amsterdam. Click here to join. It was a privilege to be asked to contribute to the cool new travel guide curated exclusively on the fabulous city of Amsterdam.
So cycle down to the Prinsenstraat and have a sip of local beer, listen to some music to gear up for the weekend. Stay tuned for our next post for updates on the event..we hope to see you there!
38HOURS in Amsterdam from 38HOURS on Vimeo.
The Amsterdam Cycle Chic team.
Lady of the night
Dressed to the nines with black heels and all, this VANMOOF dame is heading out on the town!
3 styles in 3 minutes on Museumplein
Spotted on Museumplein: casual chic, sporty spice, and too cool for school … which one wins?
A dog’s life
We all love our pets and hate leaving them at home. In Amsterdam, being a dog is pretty cool. You get walked while your master rides next to you (finally those humans can keep up the pace!) or you can choose to sit and ride in style! This little ball of happiness was riding through the canals in his crate with a big smile, the wind in his face and just watching the world pass by.
By Mel
Match your bike!
Do you match your outfits to your bike? I doubt she meant to, but look at that! Blue and red, with red flowers, bell, and panniers to boot.
Bromance in the park
Nothing like a leisurely ride in the Vondelpark with a friend. And with style, might I add. Looking good boys!
man + dog + music
Equals adorable!
Look at that cute little thing! Aw. His little ears flapping in the wind.
Amsterdam Cycle Chic 