Amsterdammer

In mijn gezellige huis

I’ve been here a month and it’s feeling like home. I still want to paint my bedroom and get some plants, but the essentials are done. Bed, desk, bike. I’ve needed a bit of a break from posting—a winter lull—while the days are grey and damp and the nights long. I still wake up wondering where I am.

Brown-and-grey-ish Amsterdam

But my daughter just bought her ticket for a spring visit, so my thoughts have turned to my next cycling adventure. We’ll likely spend about a week on the Dutch cycle paths, and I get to do the fun route planning.

I bought a Cube e-bike, from Upway again because buying last year’s models at a massive discount seems to be the best way to go. For less than I paid for my Kalkhoff, I have a speedy roadster with an identical Bosch motor and a 750Wh battery. But the real story is the security. Bikes get stolen in Amsterdam. Your bike WILL be stolen, they said. Don’t get too attached and buy insurance, they said.

Snowy evening overlooking the fietsenstalling by the station

There are about a million bikes in Amsterdam, slightly more than one per resident. And 80,000 of those are stolen each year. Everyone can tell a story of when and where their bikes disappeared, and how they locked it smarter with better locks each time.

So I’m learning from my housemates, and have FOUR locks, including a massive motorcycle lock that I’ll only use for overnight storage outside the house. Three locks will stay with me on the bike, plus two trackers. And insurance. It adds a lot of time and hassle to every trip, but I think I’ll get used to fiddling with my four keys and be like Houdini in a box.

All four locks in one photo

Riding through the city is so much fun, zipping along the brick-red paths and cobblestones. But the temps have been just below and above freezing, often in the rain or the mist, so my face and hands get pretty icy. As the weather warms I’ll take some longer rides.

I’m studying Dutch at a class two nights a week, with lots of homework. I think it’s starting to sink in, but oof, it’s hard. My two Dutch-speaking housemates and some others in the community have kindly offered to practice with me. I can do it!

Delicious kibbeling (fried white fish) from the food trailer in the nearby market

My company is registered, I have my VAT number, and I’ve made some great connections for doing some freelance work. Nothing yet but it’s been great to meet people and I’m optimistic.

Are you ready to join me on a cycling adventure? My next few posts will be about cycling touring in the region, and how to prepare and plan. If you want to join me for a trip, or get some guidance for a trip on your own, send me a DM and we’ll talk.