February 12, 2015

We Love this Endearing Dutch Cycling Activity

When riding a bike for your everyday needs is readily accessible, practical, and enjoyable, you start to see some unique habits develop.

Written by: Duncan Hurd

A musical couple rides hand in hand in Amsterdam. Photo by David Niddrie

When riding a bike for your everyday needs is readily accessible, practical, and enjoyable, you start to see some unique habits develop. Perhaps the most endearing activity you will see on the many Dutch cycle tracks and quiet park paths is couples riding side by side and hand in hand.

Couples and family members can often be found riding this way, whether it’s a full hand within hand grip or a palm and fingers gently placed on a forearm or shoulder. The gesture is intimate, endearing, and quite honestly, romantic.

Riding hand in hand in Delft. Photo by David Niddrie

Riding around Vondelpark in Amsterdam holding hands is an activity for both young and old. Photo by David Niddrie

6 Comments

Mozie Bicycles
March 31, 2015
Vehicles of pure joy. The way cycling should be. We LOVE this!
Alicia guerra
February 26, 2015
Sweetiest thing ever when they are elderly. We saw many couples holding hands with baskets full of groceries. Live the bike riding culture in Amsterdam.
Edwin
February 26, 2015
These days the biggest cycling issue over here is whether it is raining or whether you can hear people on electric bikes swishing past you or whether someone is whatsapping or facebooking on the bike. My personal challenge is whether I can get to work without putting my hands on the handlebars too often. Cycling life is good in The Netherlands!
Michael
February 12, 2015
When you foot is the break this becomes easy. Nice article in time for Valentines.
Megan Ramey
February 12, 2015
So awesome! We just published a blog post on this yesterday: “Holding Hands on Two Wheels in 10 Romantic Destinations”
See the photo of the innkeepers holding hands on the Sparta-Elroy trail…gush.
Sieneke
February 12, 2015
Got to love them Dutchies. They know how cycling is done! At any given time, in any given state of being.