Amsterdam has more bicycles than residents, and on two wheels you will see more of the city in a day than by any other means.
Why the bike
For Amsterdammers cycling is neither a sport nor a hobby, but simply the quickest way to get anywhere.
The city was built for it: the seventeenth-century centre with its narrow streets and canals was never designed for cars. For pedestrians and cyclists it works beautifully.
Faster than the alternative: inside the ring road you will nearly always beat the tram or a taxi on a bike, certainly in the rush hour.
Cheaper than public transport: a day's bike hire costs roughly the same as a day pass for public transport, but you change nowhere and stop wherever you like.
Flat and straightforward: Amsterdam has not a single hill worth the name, and separate red cycle paths run almost everywhere.
Out of the city too: the free ferry behind Amsterdam Central Station puts you in Amsterdam Noord in minutes, and from there you are soon out in the polder landscape.
Hiring a bike
Rental shops are scattered across the city, most densely around the tourist hubs.
What it costs: expect around 15 to 20 euros for a full day. Many firms also offer a rate from three hours, and hiring for several days brings the daily price down considerably.
Deposit and ID: almost everywhere you will need to leave a deposit or a form of identification. Ask in advance about the terms for damage or theft, and consider the insurance on offer.
More than a city bike: besides standard Dutch roadsters there are touring bikes, tandems, children's bikes, cargo bikes, e-bikes and scooters. For the canals themselves, a pedalo is the alternative.
Choose something plain: the brightly coloured hire bikes with big logos are instantly recognisable as tourist bikes. A neutral bike attracts less attention, from other road users and from thieves alike.
Check before you set off: test the brakes, the bell and above all the lights. The fine for riding without lights falls on you, not the rental firm.
For bike hire in Amsterdam we recommend the following companies:
MacBike Bike Rental
Rent a bike to make the most of your visit to Amsterdam. Cycle easily from one landmark to another, along the beautiful canals, through the artsy Jordaan neighborhood, the famous Red Light District, or through the breathtaking Vondelpark. You can also cycle out of the city for a trip through the beautiful landscape around Amsterdam, such as the rural Waterland or the ...
Experience Amsterdam like a true local with Yellow Bike, the go-to place for bike rental in the heart of the city. With a bike from Yellow Bike, you'll discover all corners of Amsterdam in the most authentic and flexible way. Why Cycle in Amsterdam? - Explore at Your Own Pace: Rent a bike for 4 or 24 hours and navigate through the city at your own pace. Cycle ...
Amsterdammers cycle fast and assume you know the rules. Those rules are far from obvious if you have never cycled here.
Red asphalt is a carriageway: cycle paths are not widened pavements. Never stand on one to take a photograph, as that causes more near-misses than anything else in the city.
Priority to the right: at junctions without signs or traffic lights you give way to everything coming from the right, other cyclists included.
Put your hand out: signal with your arm before you turn. Everyone does, and everyone relies on it.
Lights are compulsory: after dark you must show a light front and rear. The police check for this actively, especially in winter, and the fine is 75 euros.
Phone in your pocket: holding your phone while cycling is prohibited, navigation included. That costs 170 euros, the highest figure on this list.
Running a red light: costs 120 euros. Amsterdammers sometimes do it, which does not make it legal.
Beware the tram rails: always cross them at an angle, never head-on. Catch your front wheel in a rail and you will go down.
Group bikes are banned: beer bikes and similar group cycles are not allowed in the centre, with a fine of 230 euros.
No helmet needed: the Dutch almost never wear one and there is no helmet law. If you would like one anyway, ask your rental firm.
Parking and securing your bike
Bike theft is a serious problem in Amsterdam, and hire bikes are a favourite target.
Always two locks: use both the ring lock and the chain, and secure the bike with that second lock to a post, railing or rack. A bike attached to nothing is simply lifted away.
Where to leave it: beneath Central Station lies an enormous underground bicycle garage, free for the first 24 hours. There are also supervised facilities at the Museumplein, at Leidseplein and near the markets.
Not just anywhere: in parts of the centre it is forbidden to leave a bike outside the racks. Wrongly parked bikes are cut loose and taken to the bike depot, costing you time and money.
Never buy a bike in the street: if you are offered a cheap second-hand bike on the street, it is almost certainly stolen. Buying one is a criminal offence.
Leave nothing behind: always take your bags and belongings with you, including anything in the front basket.
For quieter riding: the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht carry little car traffic and are the most pleasant to ride. The Vondelpark and the quaysides in Amsterdam Noord are quieter still.
Guided bike tours
Would rather not navigate yourself? Almost every rental firm also runs guided rides.
What you get: an experienced guide talks you through the city along the way and takes you to places you would be unlikely to find on your own. Most tours last two to three hours.
Themed tours: there are historical city tours, a Jordaan tour, architecture rides, food tours and even picnic trips into the countryside.
Reassuring for beginners: if you have never cycled in a busy city, a tour is a safe way to get used to the traffic before heading out alone.
Book in advance: in high season the most popular tours fill up quickly.
Cycling beyond the city
Past the city limits begins the flat polder landscape the Netherlands is known for.
The node network: the Netherlands has thousands of kilometres of signposted cycle routes, where you simply ride from one numbered node to the next, assembling your own route as you go.
Popular destinations: from Amsterdam you can cycle in a day to Volendam, along the Amstel towards Ouderkerk, or over the dyke to Muiden.
The bulb fields: between mid-March and mid-May the fields between Haarlem and Leiden come into bloom, the finest season for a ride out of town.
Combine with the train: outside the rush hour you may take a bike on the train with a bicycle ticket. That way you cycle one way and take the train back.
Mind the wind: the Netherlands is flat, but the wind can be fierce. Try to have it behind you on the way home.
Maps and route planners
For anyone plotting their own route there are good tools available, online and on paper.
On your phone: a route planner lets you map out your ride in advance. Put the phone in a holder, though, as holding it is against the law.
On paper: many rental firms and the tourist information centre sell cycling maps and route guides, as does the online travel bookshop.
Bike rental online
