WE FINALLY BOUGHT BIKES IN THE NETHERLANDS

In this episode, Michelle and Alex FINALLY buy their bikes after moving to the Netherlands nearly one year ago. Learn what makes Dutch bikes so unique (omafiets), how to buy a bike in the Netherlands, and follow Michelle and Alex as they go on their first journey on a bike to... a bakery, of course!

Episode 69 (nice.) · Filmed on June 24, 2023 · Dordrecht, the Netherlands

0:00 Introduction
0:47 Why did this take you so long?
1:22 Do we even know how to ride a bike?
1:44 What are we looking for in a bike?
2:48 How do you buy a bike in the Netherlands?
3:11 What was our experience like?
3:35 Bike reveal and riding around Dordrecht
4:04 OK, so what's so special about Dutch bikes?
5:14 What we got vs. what we were looking for
6:11 More riding around Dordrecht
6:29 First destination: Banketbakkerij Brokking
7:54 Insurance and bike locks
8:22 How much did our bikes cost?
9:09 What's it like biking in the Netherlands?
9:43 Wrap up

#expatlife #netherlands #bikinglife

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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?

We're Michelle and Alex, an American expat couple living abroad in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱

In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... well, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change by packing up our lives (and our cats 🐈) and moving from Austin, Texas, in the US, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[DeDoentje]

A 5 minute bike ride instead of a 20 minute walk is a perfect example of how to use a bike.

[basvanderwerff]

The covered part are actually so your wheels dont fling a bunch of water on your back/shoes when you end up driving trough the rain/puddles, you can get aditional cover for the side of the rearwheel that do protect against stuff getting in the spokes they call them jasbeschermers which translates to coat savers, the upright sitting is not only more comfortable but it also safer you have a better view of other traffic and it easier to check behind you when upright!

[bashumgood]

For the Sausigerol: next time ask the shop owner if he can warm it up for you and if he can not, take it hope and stick it in the oven for like a minute or 2, then they are excellent to eat ;)
From a friend in Utrecht ^^
Thanks for the entertainment

[MrPAlberst]

As a dutch viewer it is so much fun to watch these video's. What is totally normal for us groing up, can be weird for an outsider.

[hfvd]

I am impressed how fast your "inburgering" is going! You even found "Marktplaats". That's the true Dutch commercial spirit. Have fun with your brand new bikes!

[Michiel_de_Jong]

Regular bike: the right choice.
Destination options:
1. Dordrecht - Biesbosch (pontje kop van't land) - Lage Zwaluwe (pontje) - A16 - Dordrecht
2. Dordrecht - Baanhoek - Papendrecht centrum - Alblasserdam - A15 - Hendrik Ido Ambacht - Zwijndrecht - Dordrecht
3. Dordrecht - Kiltunnel - Strijen - Maasdam - Pontje(Puttershoek) - Zwijndrecht - Dordrecht.

[MabuyaQ]

Congrats at becoming half Dutch, once you both get your second bike you have become fully Dutch.

[dutchflyingpilot]

My recommendation would be to explore the Dordtse Biesbosch first (Kop van het Land area). Beautiful countryside relatively close to the city centre (approx 45min if you take it slow).
Now here's a pro tip: if you're planning to go on a bike trip, carry a mini bike pump and a tire repair kit with you. They usually come with a manual on how to fix that flat tire.

[roberts]

Take the Waterbus to Kinderdijk and make a nice bike ride along the iconic windmills.

[Fuzz]

Good choices. This really is the type of bicycle you would want in the Netherlands while living in a smaller town. Most people in Amsterdam go for a second hand refurbished beater. with little extra on it. And the uglier, the better!
I agree with always using two locks. I have always done it, and never had a bike stolen. Also try and always attach it to something when locking up. If both of you are going somewhere, locking the bikes together works great.
Oma and Opa fietsen are basically old style bicycles. I wouldn't call yours this. But simplicity is where it comes down to.

[TheAnoniemo]

Make sure you have a bike pump so you can keep the tired nice and inflated. The difference between soft and hard inflated tires is HUGE!

Also tightening loose screws and doing small fixes around the bike will make it last a lot longer.

[anouk]

You made the right choice! With handbrakes, some gears and not to heavy you can get around easily.

Although a lot of bikes get stolen in all my 40 years of owning a bike and living throughout the Randstad, mine never was *knocks on wood. So it’s not that inevitable, but maybe highly probable ;-)

Have fun riding and exploring!

[PatrickSlamp]

The Veluwe is a nice place to cycle, its a lot of nature and a bit hilly.

[InfiniteCyclus]

Just so you're aware: you're not allowed to take a normal bike into the train or metro during rush hour.

Only folding bikes are allowed during rush hour.

And you'll have to buy a separate ticket for your bike, for the train, and the metro.

You don't have to buy tickets for folding bikes.

[ricardoberkhout]

From Dordrecht you should goto the Rottemeren, which is a lovely place close to Rotterdam. Also I really really really recommend you to go to the Biesbosch, which is very close from your place...if you like nature, trees, water, climbing, picnicking, etc of course. Njoy your bikes! You rock!

[Sheilanagig]

If you guys want to plan a route, you should use the fietsknoop system. There's a numbered system on the bike paths that you can follow, and it's all over the country. In Dordrecht you can also get to the Merwekade and take the waterbus when you're ready to go a little further afield. We live along the waterbus route between Dordrecht and Rotterdam and we use it all of the time when we plan a longer ride because you can take your bike on it and it saves us having to cross bridges. Another thing that might be good to learn is how to take a bike on an escalator, because you'll need it here sometimes. If you can figure out the fietsknoop system you can keep from getting lost because you just have to look out for the signs along the bike path.

[robhofkes]

The bikes that you have is not a Omafiets. You have more like a city or tourbike. And they look good. Have a lot of fun riding the bikes

[chubbymoth]

Just get on your bike and explore the area. It is a really good way to explore a small city like Dordrecht. If you follow the dikes, you'll be able to follow the river. A pedestrian ferry can easily get you on the other side as well.

Once you're a bit more experienced and less anxious, you may go for a day trip, to for instance Kinderdijk which has a large cluster of windmills and is not overly touristic. Taking a ride through the Biesbosch should be nice. It's a nature reserve and you may even see some beavers building their dams there.

[BrazenNL]

Probably too late now, but if you have a wheel lock that has a mysterious 1 cm hole in it, that's for a chain, so you only need one key! Anyway, I'm so happy to see you guys go all-in on our culture. Good that you picked up on the eye contact, we like to look out for each other. You also look very relaxed, love it.

[Joost]

Taking the Waterbus to the Kinderdijk windmills is indeed a very nice option. But as a test ride there are also beautiful cycling routes on the island of Dordrecht. For example, you can cycle via de Dordtse Biesbosch and de Elzen naar de Zuid Haven and take a walk along the river. From de Zuid Haven you can cycle via Kop van 't Land to de Wantijdijk. When you cycle down this dike along the river Wantij, you automatically end up in the Wantijpark. Have fun!