The turquoise says it all: I Pimped My Bike!
Half of the fun of walking around the cities of the Netherlands is checking out how individuals deck out their bikes. While there are some common themes – the addition of color or flowers, different styles of baskets and seats, modifications for children – the Dutch have some very interesting ways of decking out their bicycles. And, if you’ve been following this blog, bicycles are an essential aspect of Dutch society. Bikes are not just an ecologically sound form of transport (a very considerable concern here), they are a statement of independence and a (pardon the pun) free-wheeling joie de vie.
So this blog is less about yakking, and more about showing you
some of the more interesting decked-out bikes I’ve seen in my travels around Utrecht, Amsterdam and den Haag. I do want to point out that the vast majority of bikes are not well-decorated, probably because the nicer the bike, the more likely it is to get stolen. In the words of my Dutch friend, Corinne, “You don’t want a really nice bike – it will get stolen.” So here’s to the brave souls who risk theft just to have a unique bicycle that reflects the owner’s personality.
Flower Power Bikes
Probably the most common form of bike decoration is the twining of artificial flowers among handlebars, seats, and other bike parts.
Flowery handlebars. Check out the purple bike in the background.
Flowers front and rear
All decked out in pink
Probably the most common form of functional modification is the different types of additions made to bikes to accommodate children. I have seen bicycles with 2 and 3 kids strapped into various types of seats, front and aft. Then there are what I call the “baby barrows” – front end attachments that look like wheelbarrows that can hold up to 4 kids in them. Or merchandise, plants or dogs.
Family Outing with “Baby Barrow” in Amsterdam
Training wheels with assistance
Gynecologist’s baby bike
Check out the wind screen on this babymobile.
Decked out babby barrow
Two-toddler bike
Adding panniers or baskets also expresses some individuality:
Functional but flowery
Universal student all-purpose crate
Colorful Panniers
Porcelain tulips!
And just the smaller touches, adding color, new seating,
bells or even….wheel widgets and polka dots!
Wheel Widgets!
Teenie, weenie, polka-dotted….bike
Definitely a little girl”s bike
In Amsterdam, we saw a number of bicycle taxis. Probably the coolest looking one was this:
Smokin’ Bicycle Taxi
And there is the creative bicycle parking, from en masse chainings to rails and lamp posts to double decker bike stands….
…to multi-plex bicycle garages:
Dead or just parked?
Not for everyone is the pedal-pushing bicycle. There are a few scooters and even — gasp! — motorcycles to be seen, although both are a minute minority compared to the sheer number of bicycles. 
And, wrapping this up, the bicycle bumper sticker, as with bumper stickers everywhere, states a political message. In this case, to voice support for a national student’s organization, JSVU. (Still haven’t figured out what the letters stand for. And even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to pronounce it: go see “Dutch is a Pirate Language”.)
Carol Barbier Rolnick grew up in Japan and Southeast Asia, traveling extensively as a child through Asia, the Mideast and Europe on family vacations. Travel has continued as a priority through raising kids and continuing into retirement, extending adventures through the Americas, southern Africa, Asia, and repeat trips throughout Europe. Carol and her husband, Michael spent four summers based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, which has become like a second home. They are (still) aiming towards Australia-New Zealand and Antarctica to round off their continental travels.
