Biking

Upon arrival you will notice one thing very quickly: almost everybody in the Netherlands rides a bike or cycle. These bikes generally are old, have two locks and are ridden at speed. More often than not people seem to carry everything with them on their bikes: shopping bags, beer crates, a passenger or multiple children. Familiarizing yourself with buying, maintaining, and selling a bike can be a handful.

Getting a bike

There are two options for getting a bike for your time here. You can get a lease bike for a fixed monthly fee or buy one (either first or second hand).

Biking rules and road safety

The Netherlands has excellent biking infrastructure with Utrecht being one of the most bicycle-friendly cities of the world. However, there are certain rules and tips to learn to ensure that you bike safely. Watch our cycling crash course to prepare yourself!

    Lesson 1: About your bike

    Cycling in Utrecht can be daunting, but before you even start venturing out there are several things that your bike must have.

    In this series of videos we will try to give you a crash course in cycling in Utrecht and what you need to succeed while you cycle to class (and everywhere else)! 

    Lesson 2: Parking

    Now that you have everything you need to cycle safely & legally, it’s time to park those bicycles!

    Considering that there are 1.3 bicycles in average per person in The Netherlands (22.3 million bicycles in total ) and over 125.000 cyclists during the working day in Utrecht, finding a parking spot can always be a challenge (as can finding your bicycle afterwards).

    Lesson 3: Rules of the road

    After our first two videos you should now know how to equip and park your bike properly!

    Next we will guide you to the rules of the road. Before hopping on your bike and pedaling away, there are few basic rules you should know. There are some signs and rules typical to only Dutch bike lanes you might not had come across before. Biking is an inseparable part of living in The Netherlands, therefore you should know how to do it right!

    Some final tips

    Before you arrive

    • Practise riding a bike before you get here. Riding a bike here has been described as participating in the Tour de France for normal riders, bringing up your skill level cannot hurt.
    • Do some further YouTube research on what to expect e.g. Utrecht Bike Rush Hour.

    When you are here

    • Buy a used bike that does not look too new or expensive, as bike theft is rather common. Buying two very good locks is a must.
    • Buy detachable bike lights and a rain suit.
    • Stick to the bike paths.
    • Do not swerve or suddenly stop on a bike path.
    • Always lock your bikeframe and frontwheel, with at least two locks.
    • Add an eye-catching detail so your bike will stand out in a sea of parked bikes