Centraal Station, Noord-Holland, NetherlandsFor my final day I had kept it clear to spend the day biking in Amsterdam. My hotel has bike rentals for 16 Euros/day and as it was not high season all the bikes were still available so I didn't have to book
The bikes used the same dual locks I had seen in Rotterdam and Brussels.
I had also researched my route on google maps so it was basically a straight direction all the way to central Amsterdam.
There were bike lanes with direction signs to lead me towards the town centre. I asked a passing cyclist who confirmed to just keep going straight.
The signage does not exactly match google maps and throws you off a bit but I had a general sense of direction
In central Amsterdam it becomes a bit more tricky as you are mixed in with road traffic and passing trams.
Motorbikes will also share the bike lanes same as in Rotterdam
I did not have a specific route and was just cycling randomly taking photos and seeing where was interesting
I ended up thru the Flower Market and needed food so went further out from tourists. I found a fish stall that had fried fish for 5.50 Euro to give me some more energy
I only remembered the Red Light district looking at tourist magnets and cards for sale. I tried to navigate my way back remembering from 2004 where exactly it was
It is not easy to find in the day as most of the lights are off. They are side streets in the Chinatown district. They are strict about taking photographs and filming
Coming back out by Centraal Station I headed further north trying to find the Anne Frank Museum.
I could not find the Anne Frank Museum (which requires pre-booking anyway) but I ended up by the Rijksmuseum. I had not been inside on my prior trips so found a place to park the bike
After an hour or so inside the museum I was tired and it was getting colder.
I biked out to the Amstel River and then past the Heinekin Museum trying to get to the bike lanes to take me home
Again the signage is unreliable and looped me around needlessly so best to use your instinct.
Amsterdam is more awkward design than Rotterdam as it is not a flat city in the centre, all the bridges and cobbled streets, mixed in with trams, tourists, motorbikes, and traffic. However it is a nice half day event that can be done.
See also Vlog (14 mins) - https://youtu.be/1-QBQxRS_0A
2025-05-22