You are outdoors and on the move all day long, a cycling holiday is sustainable and healthy. Except for the occasional storm, our small and flat Netherlands is more accessible than ever, thanks in part to electric bikes and great routes and cycle paths. Cycling holidays are hip and far from just for ANWB couples in matching practical mackintoshes. Whether you go for the convenience of an e-bike or an old skool bike, what should you all consider when planning a more sustainable cycling holiday across the Netherlands? We've got it all figured out for you, including a sustainable packing list! We're going on a sustainable cycling holiday, who's coming along?
Cycling holidays in the Netherlands with an even greener edge
Picture it for a moment: you jump on your bike and ride towards the horizon. You enjoy the gentle sea breeze through your hair or that well-earned beer on the terrace after a long day of touring. Whichever route you choose, a cycling holiday through the Netherlands is a fun way to get to know our beautiful country better. You don't get any closer to nature, and at the same time you go fast enough to check out all kinds of beautiful sights. A day on the bike is never the same! And you know what's great about it? You can never cycle too much. It's good for your body and you leave the planet untouched.
Netherlands cycling country!
Except for a punishing breeze and the chance of a downpour - but you can prepare for that - the Netherlands is the perfect cycling country. We became world-famous for a reason! Distances from A to B are relatively short, allowing you to see a lot in a day. From forests to cities and from the coast to World heritage sites: The cycle path network in the Netherlands is really great. So no one is stopping you! The Netherlands is also nice and flat, which makes cycling easy. And last but not least: The Netherlands is all set up for electric bikes. From home in the shed to that nice little restaurant: you can charge your battery almost anywhere. In short, a cycling holiday is not only fun, sustainable and healthy. It's also very easy to do.
A cycling holiday is sustainable anyway, right?
True! By definition, a cycling holiday is already a fantastic sustainable choice. If you look at the environmental impact of a holiday, the biggest culprit is our transport. So a bike, even an electric bike, is a top choice anyway. Only a walking holiday is even more sustainable. Are you more of a walking type? By the way, we have already written about that, check out these handy tips especially.
To give you a better idea of how sustainable and good a cycling holiday is, I like to draw a comparison with a car holiday. Using Milieu Centraal I made a calculation. For the sake of convenience, I assume that two people cycle the Maas route from Maastricht to Hoek van Holland (450 kilometres) and sleep in B&Bs. While cycling, you emit no CO2. With a petrol car, you would emit 91 kilos of CO2 for the same trip, which could take a shower for six months, five days a week (showering for five minutes). Six months? Wow! If you then choose to ditch the B&B and go camping in a tent, you would save almost another 90 kilos of CO2. With that, you've already saved almost a year of showering. Have I now convinced you that a cycling holiday is a super sustainable way to travel?
What you need to know about the e-bike
At thegreenlist.nl we encourage any form of cycling, including e-bikes. But an electric bike is a slightly less sustainable choice than a regular bike. While we totally understand that you don't want to miss out on that extra push, an e-bike is definitely more taxing if you buy a new e-bike especially for that cycling holiday and then leave it in the shed for most of the year. It's not practical and that's because of the battery. A battery contains rare raw materials that require intensive mining. And if anything is harmful, it is mining. Mining also involves a lot of child labour. Want to know more about this? Earlier, we spoke to an expert about cobalt, a rare metal found in every battery.
Do you want to go on holiday sustainably on an e-bike and don't have one yet? Then you can also rent, borrow or lease one. And try to charge it as much as possible with green electricity from solar panels. If you go for a rental or loan bike, make sure you cycle quite a bit beforehand and check the bike thoroughly. Having a bike mechanic look at it is not a bad idea if you are going to be out and about for a long time. Nothing is more annoying than having a breakdown or saddle sore on the first day of your holiday. With a professional hire company, you can be sure that the bike has been fully checked.
Packing list for your sustainable cycling holiday
And then the packing list! What do you need for your greener cycling holiday in the Netherlands? As little as possible, of course! Those heavy panniers are not nice for anything or anyone. Still, you can't escape taking a few things with you.
- Panniers: Even if you travel minimalist, you need a pannier to carry your stuff in. Depending on how much stuff you are taking with you, you can choose to hang panniers behind your luggage carrier, on the front wheel, on the handlebars or on the big bike bar in the middle of your bike. The most commonly used panniers are those on the rack. First ask your neighbours if they can lend you panniers. That way, you won't have to buy new panniers straight away. If you prefer to buy your own panniers, choose second-hand ones or sustainable brands. I myself am very enthusiastic about Vaude. This is a brand with mainly cycling gear. In terms of durability, they are ahead of other bicycle brands. Extra handy are the panniers that you click onto your carrier very easily. When you arrive at your accommodation, you can remove them from the carrier with a single action.
- Cycling shorts: During a cycling holiday, you will spend hours on your saddle. To avoid saddle sores, it is best to wear cycling shorts. Cycling shorts have a reinforced crotch, making you more comfortable on your bike. Again, look for second-hand first. Do you prefer to buy new? Then choose cycling shorts from Agu or Vaude.
- A bicycle helmet: It is not compulsory in the Netherlands, but you might like the idea of wearing one.
- Bike light: Also don't forget to bring bike lights with a set of extra batteries and a tyre repair kit. You never know what might happen along the way.
- Cycling map: handy when following a route on the map. You also have handy holders for this to attach to your handlebars. It is also handy to download a map in Google Maps, so if you don't have internet for once, you can still follow the route. Need more inspiration for great cycling routes? In this article, we list the best cycling routes in the Netherlands.
Sustainable overnight tip
Do you know Friends on bikes already? For a nice amount of money, you sleep at one of over five thousand lodging addresses in the Netherlands. You sleep in people's homes in the guest room. In the morning, you'll get a hearty breakfast so you'll be fit for the next stage. All this for 25 quid a night. You do have to become a member via their website.
- Sunburn: don't forget! While cycling, you will get a lot of sun on your skin. An eco-friendly sunscreen is therefore, of course, also a sustainable tip. See more on choosing the right long-lasting sunscreen.
- Bring rainwear! Especially during a sustainable cycling holiday in the Netherlands, showers can happen. Don't forget to bring your rain gear. A special cycling rain trousers is also handy. These have a reinforced seat, so you won't get a wet bottom. You also have special rain ponchos for cycling.
- A water bottle and possibly a water filter: take a refillable water bottle with you. Along the way, you will come across many places where you can fill your water bottle. Is that not the case? Then a water filter can come in handy. By using a water filter, you can purify almost all the water you encounter on the road and drink it safely.
- Reusable trays or bags: so you can enjoy a delicious homemade lunch along the way. You can Bee's Wrap or using Mepal's lunch box for it.
- The standard stuff: Of course, you also need all your daily items, a toothbrush, clean pants and comfortable clothes. You probably have all these in your closet at home.
For a cycling holiday, you don't need to take much with you, but you should be well prepared because you need to bring some essentials. Fortunately, you can often buy these second-hand or more durable, or borrow them from someone. After all, no one goes on a cycling holiday every day!
Missing items for your sustainable cycling holiday score second-hand
My sustainable tip: try missing items don't have to buy new right away. You can often borrow things from friends or family. Otherwise, Marktplaats also offers a solution for practical utensils of this kind.
Will you go on a sustainable cycling holiday next time too?
Have I managed to get you excited about a cycling holiday? Will you next discover the Netherlands by bike? A cycling holiday through the Netherlands is not only fun but also super healthy!
More sustainable holiday tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Fancy a walking holiday? Check out our tips for a sustainable walking holiday in the Netherlands and its surroundings.
- Sustainable accommodation? Here's how to pick out those truly sustainable locations.
- Or are you looking for a sustainable campsite? Then take a quick look at these tips.
- Even more sustainable travel inspiration: Take a look at Nature Travel Lab.
Photo credits: main image: Sebastian Arie Voortman (Pexels), e-bike: Himiway Bikes (Unsplash), wheel mountain bike: Jan Kopřiva (Pexels), map reading: Josh Hild (Pexels), water bottle: Gabriel Peter (Pexels).
