I wanted to write an article about the Dutch cycling culture but it’s so obvious so I was waiting for something special what is enough interesting to attract even Dutch people’s attention…

   (a bit about bicycles upside down:)
At this moment I have a small collection about funny and interesting stories and observations.
First of all my “AHA” moment was when I knew that one bus season-ticket for 1 month for 3 zones (which is enough to go to work and home for me) is 88 euros. After this I shouldn’t ask any more why people use their bikes even in heavy rain. My reaction was that I bought an extra rain safe jacket and trousers preparing for autumn and winter :).

Beside this discovery I like to watch what Dutch people carry on their bicycles. The top list contains a big tree, a gravestone and a ladder… And I really find funny how the children are sitting in the “bakfiets”. It can be very comfortable for them but quite hard for their parents.

And I also recognised that here the bikes, like clotes or special objects told a lot bout their owners. 

But as I am here now for 4 months, of course I have my own bike story…
A nice, sunny Friday I had to leave somewhere my bike because I took a train and I came back only on Saturday. Because the special places for bikes are always full in front of the station I thought I put mine somewhere in the centre. In that time I didn’t know too much the city so I left it in one of the main square locked to a line pole. I was even very happy because on the top of the pole was a board with a camera picture so I thought it was the safest place in the neighborhood!
I forgot only one thing that the next day is Saturday so there is a big market in the centre of Utrecht exactly on this square… So the next morning I went to the square with a big smile on my face because of the nice memories from the previous evening but I became desperate very soon when I saw the tens of tents on the square where I left my bike.
Actually I was lucky because one of the merchant just laid down the bike and built their tent on it. So after 10 minutes with some help I could get back my bike without any penalty:)))
 Viva Holland!