Why Does Everyone in the Netherlands Use Bicycles So Much?

The Netherlands is one of the rare countries that has more bicycles than people. Especially in cities like Amsterdam, bicycles have become an important part of transportation and 70 percent of journeys are made by bicycle.

Before World War II, all journeys in the Netherlands were made by bicycle. However, by the 1950s, the number of automobiles in the country increased rapidly. It was during this period that owning a car became popular in the Netherlands and there was a great change in society.

By 1971, 3,000 people died in a car accident in just one year. 450 of them were children! A protest called "Stop de Kindermoord" was held, demanding that children be provided with a safe option for cycling.

The oil crisis of 1973 severely shook the Dutch's confidence in energy resources. During this period, the Dutch government ignited a second transformation and started to invest heavily in infrastructure development for bicycles. This process led to the country moving away from automobile-centered planning and a resurgence of cycling culture.

The Dutch Government has built many cycle paths to promote the use of bicycles. While cities were designed around these roads, motor vehicles were kept in the background.

On many roads in the Netherlands you can see traffic signs that are intended for the use of bicycles.

Another reason for the popularity of bicycles in the Netherlands is the tradition of teaching children how to ride a bicycle from an early age. Bicycles with children's seats called "Bakfiets" are also quite common.

Thus, children from an early age learn to love bicycles and continue to use bicycles when they grow up.

Another important factor in the popularity of bicycles in the Netherlands is that bicycle training is one of the compulsory subjects in the curriculum of Dutch schools. This means that the vast majority of students commute to and from school by bicycle.

It is possible to see bicycle parking spots in many places. However, interestingly, the bikes are not stolen even when they are not locked.