Bikes on trains in Holland

"Chris Armstrong" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

Last time I went it was a ~£2.50 flat fare and you needed to get a sticky
label to attach to the bike, we did it just before the train was due. Trains
are so frequent anyway it's not a problem. You may need to split the bikes
up a bit to fit them on. Although NL is very bike friendly almost nobody
takes bikes by train IMX, they all leave one at each end.

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Chris Armstrong" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

from www.ns.nl (even has an English site):

Please make sure your (folding) bicycle does not obstruct other passengers.
Folding bicycles may be carried free of charge, if they are completely
folded. Other bicycles may only be carried during non-peak hours and at an
extra charge. They should be parked at the indicated places.

Enjoy ;-)

MartinM said:

"Chris Armstrong" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

Last time I went it was a ~£2.50 flat fare and you needed to get a sticky
label to attach to the bike, we did it just before the train was due. Trains
are so frequent anyway it's not a problem. You may need to split the bikes
up a bit to fit them on. Although NL is very bike friendly almost nobody
takes bikes by train IMX, they all leave one at each end.

www.ns.nl

is the Dutch Railways website. There's an English language section - click
on "English" at the top centre of the home page. Then click on "In the
Netherlands", then "Station Facilities". A drop down menu appears, with
only one choice "General Station Facilities". Click on that, then scroll
down the page that appears, and you'll find a bit about bikes on trains.

--
Best Regards
Richard

Chris Armstrong said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

--
Chris Armstrong

Trains
Outside of rushhour it is theoretically possible to take your bike with
you on the train. Getting tickets (buy before boarding) can be quite a
challenge though, as more and more humans are being replaced by ticket
vendor machines. But shouting at the machine is quite alright, where
humans might feel threatened. These machines probably accept your ATM
card with a four digit PIN, but don't let this nice helpfull man in line
behind you run of with it! You'll need a special ticket for the bike,
and be prepared that the designated place for the bicycle is at the
other end of the train. If you get there before the train has left this
place will either be occupied, or to small to fit your bike. And you are
supposed to remove your bags from the bike, but if you are a poor
bewildered tourist the conductor might turn a blind eye.
If the trains actually run on time, please don't mention it. Complaining
about NS-rail is sociably much more acceptable.

more on touring in NL: www.m-gineering.nl\touringg.htm
--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Thanks for that. I thought'd it be relatively easy. thanks for the website address. I live in Yorkshire and have just been looking at prices for Hull/Rotterdam. It's a while since I went on that route but I was shocked to see it would be close to #350 for 2 adults and a child. that sounds really steep. I need a drink after seeing that.

Chris Armstrong said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

I remember doing a biking trip through NL in the 70's. As I remember it,
Amsterdam to Rotterdam was not very far to ride; about 2 or 3 hours or so,
and quite pleasant!
Maybe age is playing strange things with my memory --

--
If you are careful enough in life, nothing bad -- or
good -- will ever happen to you.

Chris Armstrong said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

If it's not too much difference, I'd use the Harwich-Hoek crossing.
There used to be an overnight (8 hr) crossing as well as the quick one.
Station's right next to the port, and cyclists get to leave first.

As others have posted, bikes are rare on NL trains, but there's always a
large enough guards van to get it into ( tip - look for the guard (: )

Personally, I wouldn't touch Amsterdam with a bargepole. I think I'd
leave my bike near Rotterdam, and go south or east after a night's trip
to Amsterdam.

I'd also plan it for the Schoiol holidays - they hunt in packs!

Cheers,

Steve

Peter Keller said:

Chris Armstrong said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

I remember doing a biking trip through NL in the 70's. As I remember it,
Amsterdam to Rotterdam was not very far to ride; about 2 or 3 hours or so,
and quite pleasant!
Maybe age is playing strange things with my memory --

You can go most of the way up the coast, which should be nice with a
southwesterly, but I reckon it'll be the whole day.

It's further now - blame global warming (:

Steve said:

Personally, I wouldn't touch Amsterdam with a bargepole. I think I'd
leave my bike near Rotterdam, and go south or east after a night's trip
to Amsterdam.

And if you do bring your bike into Amsterdam: bring Serious Locks! Or use
the manned indoor parking at the station.

Roos

MartinM said:

"Chris Armstrong" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

Last time I went it was a ~£2.50 flat fare and you needed to get a sticky
label to attach to the bike, we did it just before the train was due.
Trains are so frequent anyway it's not a problem. You may need to split
the bikes up a bit to fit them on. Although NL is very bike friendly
almost nobody takes bikes by train IMX, they all leave one at each end.

be careful. i got thrown off a train for taking my bike on the train.
bikes yes, trains yes , but bikes on trains - no.

Roos Eisma said:

Steve said:

Personally, I wouldn't touch Amsterdam with a bargepole. I think I'd
leave my bike near Rotterdam, and go south or east after a night's trip
to Amsterdam.

And if you do bring your bike into Amsterdam: bring Serious Locks! Or use
the manned indoor parking at the station.

i put the strongest lock i could find - kryptonite - and it got chopped
through. you know that strange feeling when you come out of the pub
half-drunk looking for your bike and all that's left is your halved-in-two
lock draped round the bottom of the lampost etc
it always takes a minute or so for it to sink in that its been nicked.
but what the hell you say as it was 'hot' when i bought it.
the bike economy in holland plays a useful social function of transferable
wealth enbaling some money to trickle down to the poorest strata of society
and as such i really dont mind it.
if your bike gets nicked buy another two.

Quoted message said:

be careful. i got thrown off a train for taking my bike on the train.
bikes yes, trains yes , but bikes on trains - no.

the website makes a big thing of renting a bike at the station rather
than taking it with you. Never had any probs with thefts of/from bikes
myself, but then I don't ride a jalopy with curved upright bars and
back pedal brakes
;-)

Chris Armstrong said:

Hi
I am going on a cycling holiday in Holland but want to start off in
Amsterdam. I am thinking of getting a ferry Hull-Rotterdam. Anyone know
if I should then book a train to Amsterdam or would we just be able to
walk on with our bikes without any problems. There are two adults with
bikes and a kiddies bike by way of a gator bar. I know Holland is cycle
friendly but I don't know the sit. re. trains.
Any help appreciated.

You can't book a bike on a train, only walk on and hope for the best.
Just avoid peak hours, and polish up your ignorant tourist act :-)
The nearest station (Maassluis) is about 13 km from the ferry
terminal.
Personally, I need to cycle for at least half a day to recover from
even a short visit to Amsterdam, but if you go there use GOOD locks
(hardened chains) and remove EVERYTHING from the bike. Or use one of
the guarded parkings. Utrecht is another popular haunt of cycle
thieves (esp. near the station).
Are you planning to go camping? If so these links may be useful
http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/
http://www.vekabo.nl/nederland-kaart/kaarten/kaart-mini.html
Only in Dutch, I'm afraid.

Mark van Gorkom.

I have never taken a bike on the boat to NL, flown to Schiphol a couple
of times, I found it to be cheaper and easier. And IMO the
Ranstadt towns are excellent for cycling, as well as out to Vollendam,
Keukenhof and Zanse Chance (sp?). Utrecht is also a very nice long day
trip.