Amsterdam - tourist advice for a bikes/cycling fan?

[matticus]

I'm about to pop over on a "city break" - including tulip tour. It's a family trip (but adults only), and not everyone shares my ... enthusiasm for cycling/bikes. But it's a long enough trip that I'm sure I can sneak off on my own one morning/afternoon.

Any bikey things to see? (I've cycled around a fair bit of NED before, so don't say "Cyclepaths!!!")

 

[Profpointy]

One random, and non-cycling, snippet, is that the public library has a very nice cafe/restaurant doing well-priced and delicious Indonesian stir frys and such. The library itself is a rather fine space too. Worth a peep in if you are having a wander in that part of the city and / or it's lunchtime and you're a bit peckish

One thing I regret is not managing to fit in a concert at the Concertebouw, which supposedlyhas the finest acoustics in the world. Our hotel was next door. We did do a back stage tour which was interesting if you like that sort of thing

Re:cycling. Don't think cycling would be worth the bother within the city as everything's so easily walkable. It is perhaps telling when you see £50 pub bikes secured with £100 high security locks, so locking any bike up within the city is clearly vital.

I'll leave others to comment on out of town rides

 

[mjr]

Out of town, Zaandam would be my destination. I've not quite made it to that architectural curiosity yet.

In the city, I'd suggest renting a bike, riding under the Rijksmuseum and doing a lap of the Vondelpark, plus I'd take a look at that underwater station bike parking if I had time, but there's lots of good stuff to see.

 

[All uphill]

If the weather's good a spin out to Haarlem is worthwhile.

I enjoy the ferry across from the back of Centraal Station to Noord Amsterdam.

 

[Sharky]

I believe there is a district, somewhere in the city, that is a good place for red rear lights.