We have booked our holiday to Zeeland in August (really looking forward to it!) and I have been trying to find out information about hiring cycles over there (with little success). I know you can hire adult bikes, but what about child bikes?
The eldest child is 10 (but nearly adult sized already!), however the younger one is 5 and doesn't yet ride a bike herself - we use a 'tag-along' bike for her here (the type with only one wheel that connects to an adult bike). I don't know what options there might be for her when on holiday?
Any help would be much appreciated!
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Take your own because the most uncomfortable bike I have ever riden was in holland we were on a rally and hired bikes never again. I dont think the dutch are built like us some of the rallers even put cusions on the seat and they were still uncomfortable.
Having said that most place hire bikes including the camp sites. I will always take my bike with me but it is a great place to bike very flat and bikes always have the right of way.
We visited Zeeland in August 2008 and enjoyed it so much that we're going back again at Easter. One of the highlights for us was being able to cycle safely as a family, everywhere. Although we took our own bikes I was easily able to hire a tag along as you describe for my (then) 4 year old and the place we hired from had loads of bikes to suit all ages from toddlers up and in all configurations including 4 seaters. There were lots of bike hire facilities in the area so I'm sure you'll be able to find something without any problem.
Bike hire in Zeeland here some have websites all have phone numbers/emails, email in English or phone them, plenty of Dutch speak good English.
I found the info by googling 'fietsen huur zeeland' on google.nl, if you are looking for info on a specific country, it helps to go on google for that country & google in their language.
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Thanks for the help, I am glad to know that we can hire 'young' child bikes. I know the campsite we are on hire bikes - but I think they only hire adult bikes.
We did consider taking our own bikes but the cost put us off - we carry ours on the roof and I checked out the ferry cost (which we have already booked) and it would be over £100 more to take the bikes on the same ferries!
Quote: Originally posted by sennen26 on 24/2/2010
Take your own because the most uncomfortable bike I have ever riden was in holland we were on a rally and hired bikes never again. I dont think the dutch are built like us some of the rallers even put cusions on the seat and they were still uncomfortable.
That's the first time I've ever heard anyone say Dutch bikes are uncomfortable.
For a while we had English bikes, now they are what I would call uncomfortable. You can't sit straight up on them, because the handlebars are that low down, you are constantly bending over to cycle, surely not the most comfortable way to cycle, in my mind anyway! Gives you backache every time you cycle.
We now have Dutch bikes and they are fantastic. Mind you, being Dutch myself I grew up on a bike of course The difference is that in Holland you are actually measured for a bike, as they have different size frames, to suit leg length, and that makes all the difference. Sitting up straight to cycle is so much more comfortable, and as for the saddles, they are very good, can't imagine why you found them all so bad.
Friends of ours who have tried them are very impressed with them too, certainly nobody has commented that they are uncomfortable.
In answer to OP, yes, there are a lot of cycle-shops which, besides selling bikes, hire them out, in all shapes and sizes, including trailers for adult bikes so kids can sit in them, also children's bikes of various sizes. You shouldn't have a problem at all.
Zeeland is a wonderful area of Holland, great for cycling, you'll enjoy it!
Thanks Ina - we are really looking forward to going (especially as the trip was put off from last year due to redundancy threats). It seemed to me that the Netherlands is a place where it would be silly for us not to use bikes - since it is a country that is so well set up for them (unlike this country!)
My youngest daughter is worried about people speaking Dutch to her and her not being able to understand them, so the elder one and her have been studying a few phrases that are in a travel book and writing them down so that they will remember them! I can speak some German and French, however I know that although some words may look familiar the way they are pronounced will not be!
Roll on August!!!
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Theres no 'language problem' as such for UK visitors to Holland, many Dutch are fluent in English & at points of contact ie campsite receptions etc, English is generally spoken. If you are unfortunate enough to come into contact with police or medical services you will find English is pretty universally spoken as well.
You'll have no problems. I've never found a site in the Netherlands that didn't hire bikes. Lots of shops that do too. They are soooo well set up for cycling. Buy a local route guide at the campsite shop with all of the routes on. It is virtually impossible to get lost & they are nearly all well away from roads.
The bikes come in many shapes & sizes, but a lot of them are sit-up-and-beg postman type. These are great for the type of cycle tracks over there. Few gear changes are needed as the paths are mostly flat funnily enough. The gears you will often see are Sturmey Archer hub gears like the old Raleigh Choppers & Grifters had when I was a kid. I hadn't seen them in years, but they are ideal. Just stop pedalling to change gear if you come across them.
As said, there is no language barrier. english is studied from an early age - (who else speaks Dutch after all?) The people are very friendly. You'll love it.
Thanks for that. I have to say it isn't me that is worried about the language barrier - it is my 5 year old! :)
My husband and I traveled around Finland for 2 weeks many years ago with only the Finnish for 'please' and 'thank you' accompanied by many hand signals! However I think if you are going to another country it is polite to at least make the effort to speak those 2 important words in the local language.
I was amazed many years ago when in Austria on a 'package deal' type activity at how many British people who said they had been there every year for X number of years and yet professed not to be able to speak a word of German (not even ja or nein!).
My son was 3 when we first went to the Netherlands. He (or she) will find it a bit odd as the little ones probably won't know much English. They do get Dora the Explorer over there in Dutch with English instead of the Spanish bits. It didn't stop my son playing & taking part in some of the kids club activities (the staff all spoke English). I remember one sunny afternoon him playing with a group of tanned half naked Dutch girls in a play area with a stream & a pirate ship. Language wasn't a barrier or else he'd have got their names & addresses for future reference!
Steve.
------------- Steve.
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Quote: Originally posted by georgiegirl104 on 26/2/2010
Thanks Ina - we are really looking forward to going (especially as the trip was put off from last year due to redundancy threats). It seemed to me that the Netherlands is a place where it would be silly for us not to use bikes - since it is a country that is so well set up for them (unlike this country!)
My youngest daughter is worried about people speaking Dutch to her and her not being able to understand them, so the elder one and her have been studying a few phrases that are in a travel book and writing them down so that they will remember them! I can speak some German and French, however I know that although some words may look familiar the way they are pronounced will not be!
Roll on August!!!
You're right, the way to travel in Holland is by bike, no doubt about it!! Cycle-paths all have waymarked signposts, with directions and distances on them. There are also waymarked cycle-routes, so you can cycle from A to B to C, then back to A if you wish, or carry on to D, then back etc.
I think it's lovely your daughters are learning some Dutch words, it will certainly be appreciated, especially as they are so young.
Yes, everyone in Holland speaks English, it is a compulsory subject at school, as well as Dutch of course. It was when I went to secondary school, and that was many moons ago!!!
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Topic: cycling in the Netherlands
The difference is that in Holland you are actually measured for a bike, as they have different size frames, to suit leg length, and that makes all the difference. Sitting up straight to cycle is so much more comfortable, and as for the saddles, they are very good, can't imagine why you found them all so bad. 
