Nederland: fietsland. The Netherlands: country of bicycles. オランダ：自転車の国

Have you ever seen bicycles with a child-carrier? It's the box attached to either the front or back of the bicycle. I remember I once looked at them with a raised eyebrow but now I'm used to it. Still, I was surprised when the owner of a traditional paper shop in Japan mentioned the Netherlands and the child-carrier together. Dutch culture: bicycles with child-carriers?

I'm really fond of my bicycle. It's the best way to go from one place to another, provided it's within cycling-distance (fietsafstand). To me 8 km is the maximum distance, however, due to various reasons I sometimes take the bus. Have you heard about weather in the Netherlands? Though I must say that after all these years the memory of the eastern wind has become quite warm.

This Monday the bicycle tour called 'Fietselfstedentocht' will take place for the 104th time. All kinds of bicyclists will cycle 235 km along eleven Frisian cities and villages to earn a medal. Reaching the finish line within one day is a huge challenge! Luckily the weather looks promising. Most bicycles are racing bicycles but once I saw a tandem -decorated with flowers and whatnot. If you happen to be in the Netherlands, please be welcome and experience Friesland and the Dutch love for bicycles! You'll have the chance to hear the Frisian language as well! I at least expect to see a bicycle with a child-carrier passing by. Without the child of course.

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You can join many bicycle tours in the Netherlands that are especially designed for tourists. If you want to know more about this, you can request this topic in my lesson Basic Dutch Phrases or Basic English Phrases. We can also freely talk about bicycles in my lesson Free Dutch Conversation.