NS Rail Journey Planner

If you plan on traveling by train, then the Reisplanner is an essential survival tool to have. This is a sophisticated and well designed mobile app which will help you understand and use the Dutch train system. You can minimize annoying transfers by finding the most direct trains to your destination. It will show you where the bicycle cars are located for each train before it reaches the station. While onboard, the built-in GPS functionality tracks your train's current location thereby helping you plan ahead for disembarking with your bike at the correct station. There is Free WiFi on most trains but it can be slow and spotty. Have your own data plan!

Dutch Railway Station

Premiere Touring Bike Shop

De Vakantiefietser is a bike shop located in the Jordaan, one of the most charming areas of Amsterdam's historic canal district. They cater to the unique demands of the bicycle tourist. It's worth a visit just to see their selection of beautiful high end Dutch-made touring bikes and accessories. Eric Schuijt is well known in the Amsterdam bicycle community as an author, advocate and promoter of bike touring and has a close advisory relationship with the product manufacturers that he carries. Many people who begin their European bicycling adventures start in Amsterdam, and that usually means a visit to De Vakantiefietser.

Eric Schuijt -  Shop owner

Private Canal Boat

Amsterdam is a beautiful city with a rich history centered around its canals.

You owe it to yourself to see the city by water! We will let you in on a little secret... you don't have to settle for the large canal tour boats which are limited by where they can take you. We would like to encourage you to seek out small private tour operators that can give you a more intimate canal boat experience. These smaller boats allow for more carefree opportunities and access to smaller canal locations. Our favorite is El Mar de Sloep (El Mar the boat) which is privately owned and operated by one of Amsterdam's native sons.

Roland Boelen

Basic Bike Box

Specifications:Length: 175 cm (68.9")Height: 99 cm (39")Depth: 21 cm (8.3")Weight: 5 kgCost: €23Schiphol Airport sells bike boxes in the long term baggage storage area located in the basement level of the Arrivals Terminal. The elevator and stairs are located between arrival 1 and arrival 2. During peak summer travel season, be sure to verify availability. It is highly recommended that you bring your own packing tape because it is impossible to find it in any shops at the airport. The baggage storage area is the perfect place to disassemble and pack your bike. They will even store it for you until your departing flight.

Basic Bike Box

Mobile Offline Maps

 Here is a clean and smart looking navigating system that respects your phone screen real estate and memory resources and doesn't add clutter with unnecessary information. OsmAnd's major strength is that it's based on Open Source Maps (free), which are light weight and detailed down to the street level. Simply download the full Netherlands / Belgium maps from within the app and then import your GPX file. Once you have imported your GPX file to OsmAnd, you need only your phone’s built-in GPS function to stay on course. Offline maps are the only true method to insure you can see your route regardless of whether or not you have cell service and an active data plan.

Mobile Map with GPS

Luxury Hotel

This is an Amsterdam classic that shouldn't be missed. The hotel is made up of a series of historical row houses, each with their original character, and consolidated into a single hotel experience. It is located in "The Nine Streets" neighborhood in the heart of the canal district. Make no mistake that this is a modern hotel but with a centuries old feel. If you can find it in your budget to experience the Hotel Pulitzer then you won't be sorry. They are happy to accommodate your bike by keeping it secured in a locked room and available as often as you need it. The restaurant and bar are first class and a fun place to meet new friends.

Located along the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam

The Pulitzer canal boat provides tours most days

Living below sea level

Your decision to bicycle the Netherlands must have something to do with visions of windmills, dijks and canals. This book will introduce you to the fabric of Dutch culture and how it is wrapped around the history of water and the struggles of living below sea level. Learn how Dutch cities and villages have managed the never-ending threat of flooding by implementing modern day technology as well as good old Dutch ingenuity. This hardcover book is full of large color photos and the author has an easy to follow style as he provides background on important aspects of Dutch history and development. Now in its 3rd printing.

Bike Routes around The Netherlands

This is the book that we started with many years ago and it's still a valuable reference book today. Many of the bike routes that we suggest on this site came from this book. If you've never tried using online mapping software before, this book is for you because it provides you every start, stop and turning point along the way, allowing you to create your own GPX files. Of course this is something you'll want to do before you leave home since carrying this book with you is outdated now that you can use your smart phone to show you the way. There is something warm and reassuring having this book in hand as opposed to just downloading free routes online. It is well written and has many wonderful trips for all twelve Dutch provinces.