Exploring in the Netherlands and Belgium during a very (very) warm week in June. Hope you enjoy these ‘continental clips’ on the channel and seeing some of the amazing cycling infrastructure and landscapes from these beautiful countries.
Happy cycling, folks!
[Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] well good morning good morning folks we made it welcome to Holland so easy getting off the ferry and we’ve just done a couple of miles on these lovely cycleways i’m still in uh kind of port terminal territory i think there’s lots of I don’t know shipyards and container yards but we’re just making our way slowly slowly out of this industrial area and uh really looking forward to the day ahead just to introduce this little tour so uh it’s only a week and with the ferry crossings that’s uh about five days cycling the plan really is to kick off and I think that’ll be this part of the videos uh this kind of first of maybe two videos uh is to head south down towards the uh the border with Belgium and tomorrow we’ll cross over and make our way down to Antworp accounts is a very lovely city so I’m looking forward to seeing that for the first time i don’t think I’ve been to Belgium before and then the last sort of bit of the tour will be back in Holland but I’ll uh obviously talk to you more about that in the second video I suppose just an amazing start to the day the sun couldn’t be more shiny the sky couldn’t be bluer the wind isn’t too bad for Holland a little bit of a headwind but yeah really looking forward to this one and you are very very welcome to come along for the ride and let’s see where we get to how nice is this [Music] two kids in the back of a car learning who we are on summer nights in suburbia we fall in love in the dark learning our lessons and high tops and nostalgia [Music] always something to believe in and I’m awake [Music] so we’re about uh 12 miles into the ride still really in this Freeport area but I’ve got to say the cycling infrastructure is just indescribably awesome i mean you really feel like you’re looked after as a cyclist you know away from the cars beautiful little cycle lanes like this yeah very impressed so far yeah it’s um it’s quite a shock to the system actually coming from the UK and I’m having to keep telling myself ride on the right ride on the right and don’t wave to people because as I’m finding my uh comrades in Holland on bicycles don’t tend to wave at other cyclists or not Interlopus from the UK with bright yellow panas no idea where we are just following the little breadcrumbs but absolutely loving this troules it’s okay i’ll see you in the morning when you’re rising I’ll be burning blue for you for you for you [Music] we run away to whatever we’re not learning how to yield to moments showing up for us is it enough of following the solitude we think we want
okay I think the horrible detail is coming to an end let’s put about 10 miles on the on the day and uh just want to find something approximating a cafe or a co-op okay folks so we just had lunch and uh just passing through sleepy little town of don’t know how you pronounce it zud Zud Bland perhaps uh I did the very English thing of going into a restaurant not understanding the menu whatsoever and the lovely couple that uh were running it took pity on me and just made me a chicken sandwich with a can of Sprite and uh yes it’s really hit the spot found a little supermarket so I stocked up on water and we’re just heading out of town here such a kind of sleepy siesta time vibe i don’t know if uh Dutch people in the summer take siestas but it’s uh it’s got that feeling to it uh just about to pick pick up the route again so we’ve done the diversion uh it’s added a good few miles onto the day so still got about 20 to do to get down to Rusental Rental again forgive the pronunciation but that’s the destination for today and uh I’ve got a uh hotel booked in the town right in the town center I think so yeah looking forward to just a leisurely afternoon and um who knows we might just take a pit stop in a cafe on the way and enjoy this beautiful June summer’s day [Music] oh yeah we got some wind turbines in Cadell but nothing on that scale [Music] absolute giants which I’m sure will look tiny on the GoPro blow my neck massive [Music] what an absolutely beautiful little place this [Music] I think it’s beer o’clock don’t you so just rolling out of uh Ud Castell and uh lovely little pit stop for half an hour town square and uh half a point of something or other which was a lot stronger than I wanted it to be so I’m feeling slightly hammered in the uh in the hot sun but uh yeah a couple more miles probably only 20 or 30 minutes I think now to Rental and uh hopefully find the hotel and check in thoughts turning to cold shower to be honest it’s been a hot day but a good one it’s been quite a few sections of uh the ride today where I’ve been near these kind of motorways or certainly these busy sort of a- roads by uh UK standards but it’s always been separated cycling and I’ve got to say the infrastructure is just I mean you hear about it but until you come over and experience it for yourself it’s it’s just out of this world and it completely puts my country England than the UK to absolute shame you know I’ve been cycling all day all the way from the free port and there’s not been one little hiccup in terms of the infrastructure it’s just been thoughtful linked any little bits of you know shared road the drivers have been ridiculously courteous i don’t think a car’s gone you know a car’s passed me within like 3 m today it’s just so so so very different from the UK and you know is it wrong to make this sort of generalization but I do seem to be seeing a lot of very healthy looking quite relaxed and friendly Dutch people and you know just wondering just the thought I’m just saying might have something to do with just how many people there are getting out on bikes you know just saying could be correlation it’s not causation is it but just saying you know That place is called Baby Dump i wonder what that is oh well look at this got to be the train station hasn’t it it’s got that vibe [Applause] okay just checked in a bit of a hot and sweaty mess um but yeah this is the hotel Tingo yeah so this is the first of the just little series of hotels that I’ve booked this is the cheapest one actually but it’s uh it’s really nice so a little tidy room um it’s a little bit noisy kind of main street outside so it might get a bit noisy later on we shall see and I’m assuming bathroom here sweaty cyclist in the mirror yeah all good so I don’t know whether I’ll uh bring you back tomorrow in this video um or I’ll save that for the second installment i don’t know we’ll just have to see what comes out in terms of all the little clips I’ve taken but yeah thank you so much for following along the first day i’m going to um I think I’m going to have a cold shower and I’m absolutely boiling and um yeah and then thoughts turning to bit of dinner later on and um have a look remind myself the route for tomorrow down to Anup catch you in a bit heat heat
27 Comments
1st❤
Thanks for sharing your ride Martin ..When you came off the port you kept saying “ We” so I assumed that there was a mate with you until the drone shot so the “we” must be you and the bike ? How is the saddle these days? It’s nice to see other parts of the world and your right about the cycle lanes it makes our feeble efforts look 3rd world example you go on a cycle lane for 30yards on a busy road and it just stops and leaves you at the mercy of a forty foot truck 😮Hope you had a good kip and looking forward to the next ration Best Mike.
Watching you took me back 40+ years and my first overseas cycling trip.Glad the weather was kind to you.The cycling infrastructure is fantastic in Holland.Seeing the young teenagers riding in groups and actually not causing trouble – just naturally using bikes as transport – and as you said looking fit and healthy.The bike looks perfect for your trip.
Enjoyed the video and looking forward to the second part.
Cheers Martin. Regards Heyden
Hi Martin,nice to see you in Holland,the cycle infrastructure looks great,enjoy the tour,all the best Colin P.👍
Cracking so far Martin, chalk and cheese when it comes to the cycle infrastructure. Oh I would love that over here 😂 atb Dave 🚲🍺👍
Great video, thinking of doing this ferry and a cycling week or two myself. Many thanks
Loving this video Martin. 👍
Can you tell us how much you pay for hotels and what nav app you use? (Breadcrumbs?) thanks
Thanks for the video and the introduction to cycling in Holland what a cycle friendly place – just a bit of headwind – no hills and cars passing at 3m – more like 0.3m round my way – enjoy the rest of your trip. Thanks again Brian.
beer and cycling are like hand and glove! looks great, wouldn't mind doing it myself
At 13:39, you cycle past a sign for the numbered-node cycle network (fietsknooppuntennetwerk), pointing to node 03. It’s a nice system we have in the Netherlands, Belgium, and now also parts of other countries I think. When you want to make a longer trip and don’t know the area well, you can plan a route on several site or apps. On the bike, all you need is a list of nodes, and you just follow the signs from one to the next. Most of the time the signs are clear and easy to follow. There's a good English Wikipedia article about it. Save travels!
Hello Martin, the adventures over the Channel begin and very impressive are those bike lanes and they allow you to relax and enjoy the ride, the pit stops look very good but becareful of those beer strengths, enjoy and thanks for sharing Martin 👍👏👋
I would love to spend a day cycling on roads that flat!
I have been watching you for a while and have greatly enjoyed your videos. Have just subscribed what a lovely place Holland is. Great cycling place. Take care All the best. B K.
There is a 99% chance you cycled past my house, but alas, there was a jump in the video. But I recognized some of the polderviews.
Amazing video! It also makes me a little sad that we can't have this attitude and environment for cycling in the UK.
Super video Martin, some lovely relaxed cycling there, and some wonderful scenery too.
Look forward to ‘Part 2’. RIDE SAFE 👍😎👍
Great record of your first day, Martin.
That sort of trip is definitely on my bucket list.
Just bought. GoPro myself for my Castles and Coast tour in 10 days time. It'll be my first ever proper attempt to record a cycling tour for YT. 🤞🤞
Great video Martin. Nice chatting to you on the boat/trains back, glad you made it home safely. After watching your video we want to go back NOW!!! Paul and Rita (on the Bromptons)
You're local to me and I started watching your videos last year, I especially enjoyed watching them whilst being holed up for 9 weeks in a hotel in India whilst away with work. Having done a bit of cycling around Holland myself I fully agree with what you're saying about how the infrastructure over there, it puts the UK to shame, but I will say; due to the sheer beauty of the undulating UK countryside, the great variation of landscapes coupled with the work sustrains have done piecing it all together via the ncn, I can honestly say nothing compares to slogging it over the peak district to derby via ncn6 or following the coast before hitting the hills on the bay cycleway from Morecambe to Barrow. Stay safe and enjoy your trip. Also fully agree what you're saying about the physique of the Dutch, they are definitely built to cycle. Enjoy your trip looks like you've got the weather.
Ps. Where's your helmet 😂 could save your life one day
Thanks for taking us with you, Martin. Love the music you selected btw. A little more forward facing panning camera and drone shots would be appreciated. The scenery is delightful and the chance of me getting to see it in person is about the same as you coming down to Aotearoa, NZ. Bring on the next episode. Simon
What an adventure! It was interesting to hear about the low number of 'acknowledgements'.
It might be utility/transport cycling vs sports/leisure cycling – I noticed a divide along those lines when I lived in France and worked in Belgium – see if it changes as you go further inland and cross the border.
Good integration of drone footage too.
It looks a lovely trip, hope the new bike is working well.
I agree on the infrastructure, it looks so good, and really shames the UK's patchy efforts. No broken glass, parked cars, or being cut up by an impatient driver either 🙂
The weather looks kind too, hope you had a good trip.
You are in my town Roosendaal. Used to be a very nice little town.
Always great to see our friendly oversea neighbours coming here for a cycle vacation😊👍Greetings from The Netherlands 🌷
The UK is a beautifull country, with a system of bikeroads u can actualy see some of it, if not all
Dutch pronunciation tips:
"oo" sounds like "oa" –> stroopwafel = stoapwahfel and Roozendaal sounds like Roald Dahl
"oe" sounds like "oo" or "ou" –> like in boot and could
"ij" is one letter, treat it like a y. IJs (ice) and Boerderij (boer like the S.A Boer) ij like… somewhere in between I and 'why'. Same sound as the 'ei' in Leiden.
Generally all letters are pronounced, so the town Zwolle is not pronounced as Zwoll, but Zwo-luh.
But, both 'eu' and 'ui' have a single sound (like the 'ij') so these are not pronounced as "eeeyou" or "eeeaai". Unfortunately there is no real equivalent sound in English.
"J" like in Yacht.