During a walking tour of Breda, I discovered the local authority there have decided to reopen the harbour, what a good idea. But impossible of course, since it was filled in in the ’60s and an underground car park built across much of it. Yet wait, this is the Netherlands, engineering watercourses [Continue]

The Dutch let us down today. Junction with signs to Breda in three directions for cyclists – not too helpful… Oh well, that’s not bad, that’s the first gripe to date. We followed a 25km ish route today joined by Aunty Jane on a hired (child’s) bike. They have a [Continue]

Just posted on the family blog about how good cycle infrastructure is in the Netherlands (after a slightly petty gripe about signage at one junction) and that improving ours in the UK would almost certainly see a modal shift from car to bike. What I’m not sure about is how you change an anti-bike [Continue]

Spent today in De Efteling, The Netherlands’ top theme park. Great fun, brilliant rides and short queues! All has a slightly surreal feeling, typified by the Goose Herding parade thingy…. [Continue]

I am a Philistine and a country bumpkin. Went to Amsterdam today, too many people, too busy. Much nicer further south IMO (I am rather fond of Noord-Brabant). I lived for 16 years in London and never liked it greatly. Several years out of cities have only confirmed my views. Oh, and I’m a [Continue]

Cycled the 7.5km (5 miles or thereabouts for the terminally British) into Breda. Along the main road there was mostly a cycle lane on each side of the road, separate from the road and footpath. It was wide, well surfaced and had right of way over minor roads and entrances to premises. It’s illegal [Continue]

The following few posts were written down while on holiday, so posted on block. Post dates correspond to time of original pen ‘n’ ink writing. After hours in the pouring rain on Sunday affixing bikes to the car, we actually got to cycle in the sun today! We’re on holiday in Oosterhout, just outside [Continue]