Cycling around Amsterdam
Long before the rise of environmental trends and bike-sharing systems, bicycles were an integral part of Amsterdam’s landscape. Perfect for exploring this flat city. Hop on and cycle through Amsterdam!
Cycling along Amsterdam's canals
In Amsterdam, bicycles are part of the scenery, whether they are black and rustic or colorful with integrated back-pedal brakes. Yellow Bike offers tours on yellow bikes! You can choose a simple rental (€14.50 for 24 hours) for a leisurely exploration or opt for a guided tour to ensure you don’t miss the city’s highlights (€27.50 for two hours). Off you go, but stay alert with the handlebars steady and the bell ready, as the city-center bike lanes are as crowded as the Paris ring road! Leave behind the vibrant Dam Square and the Royal Palace, and pedal quietly along the Amstel and the 250 km of canals to capture the spirit of Amsterdam. With their gabled facades, the typical Flemish patrician houses reflect in the waters, only disturbed by passing barges and tour boats. No curtains on the windows... the residents invite passersby to admire their cozy or quirky interiors. Here, there’s nothing to hide! This free spirit extends even to the infamous “Red Light District,” which the city council is considering relocating further to the outskirts.
On the "Arts Route"
Head south from here. This is where the grand residences of the 17th-century elite, during the Golden Age, are nestled. Three museums lie within this arts district, perfect to visit once your bike is securely locked, as even in the city of tolerance, thefts are common! Everyone has their preferences. Dedicated to modern art, the Stedelijk loves to surprise. In a brick building with a contemporary extension added in 2012, it displays works by Chagall, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Warhol. Just a short distance away, beyond the lawns of Vondelpark where you can pause for a picnic, the Rijksmuseum reigns supreme. Behind its neo-Gothic walls, masterpieces from all eras await, starting with Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. The master of chiaroscuro doesn’t overshadow the other local "star": Van Gogh. In 2024, the 170th anniversary of the birth of the most French of Dutch painters will be celebrated.
Cultural or trendy stops
With its maze of narrow streets, Jordaan (to the west of the city) is made for cycling. Once a working-class neighborhood, it now attracts hipsters who have moved into its small houses with pocket gardens, its houseboats, and its warehouses converted into lofts. The ride includes a few essential stops. Nearby, the Anne Frank House bears witness to the dark years when the young girl hid here to escape Nazi persecution. Reservations are recommended due to the site's popularity. To regain your composure, head to the floating flower market along the Singel canal, where tulips are sold in abundance. Every Saturday, a bustling organic market also takes place. After all the effort, you’ve earned some comfort! Not far away, Heineken’s former brewery, dating back to 1867, has been transformed into an interactive museum showcasing the stages of the famous beer’s* production—followed, of course, by a tasting! You should also try the juniper liqueur*, preferably in the "brown cafés" with wooden interiors weathered by time, like Café ‘t Smalle. Here, Amsterdammers discuss the world, their minds hazy from the "wild herbs."
*Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation
Entering the 21st Century
Far from being stuck in the Golden Age, Amsterdam is shaping a new face, which you can discover on an architectural tour—by bike, of course. All around the former port docks and industrial wastelands, futuristic buildings have sprung up. For instance, The Eye, a vast white structure housing the film institute, or the Nemo Science Museum, a gigantic green building shaped like a ship designed by Renzo Piano. The star architect also designed the Amsterdam Center for Architecture (Arcam), shaped like an inverted water droplet. Other buildings will fascinate architecture lovers, like the very long (270 m!) and airy Kraanspoor, which towers over the water, or Silodam, which resembles a giant container ship. You can also make a detour to the Python Bridge. With its roller-coaster-like or snake-shaped deck (depending on your perspective), the bridge is highly photogenic. Finally, for those who still have energy left, head to the Westergasfabriek, a late 19th-century gasworks converted into a cultural and leisure space with bars, restaurants, shops, and galleries.
How to get there? With Dutch airline KLM, which offers up to one flight per day to Amsterdam, all year round.