Cycling culture

The Netherlands is well-known for its cycling culture. Approximately 27% of all trips in the Netherlands is done by bike, according to the Dutch Central Statistical Office (CBS). This compares to 16% in Denmark, another flat country with good cycling infrastructure. An average Dutch person cycled 2.9 kilometers per day in 2023. Children aged 12 to 18 bike the most, averaging 6.2 kilometers per day. One of our colleagues, who moved to the Netherlands partly for the cycling culture, voiced concerns about it potentially deteriorating. Recently released data gives some comfort but does show a small decline in time spent cycling. In 2023, people in the Netherlands spent 96 hours cycling (per annum), a 6% drop compared to 2022 and a 3% decrease compared to 2018 and 2019. The decrease compared to pre-pandemic data is driven by less cycling to work or school, which might be a reflection of more people working or studying from home and not necessarily a loss in zeal for wheels.

Source: Dutch Central Statistical Office (CBS), July 2024.