Free Bike Hire in Amsterdam

Canals, houseboats and bicycles are all part of the furniture in Amsterdam. Anyone who has visited the city will tell you that, round here, the humble cyclist rules the road. Cycling lanes are as important as major motorways and official figures from the I am Amsterdam organization estimate about 600,000 bicycles circulate amongst the 750,000 inhabitants. Amsterdam is ideal for bike holidays because it is so flat! Venture further out of town in spring to catch a colourful glimpse of the tulip fields too.

Competition:

Free Bike Hire

in Amsterdam!

So, to join in with the other pedal pushers, we recommend staying at Bicycle Hotel. They’ll kit you out with accommodation and transportation all in one go. And best of all, you have up to the 30th April to be in with a chance of winning your bike rental for free! Just answer the following question:

How many bicycles are estimated to be in Amsterdam?

Become a friend of HostelBookers on Facebook then email the correct answer together with your booking reference number to competitions@hostelbookers.com. Your travel dates must fall between 10th May and 30th September 2010.

Rent Bikes in

Amsterdam

If you don’t win, there are plenty of other rental choices in Amsterdam. Orangebikes has 2 bike shops in the city centre which offer all kinds of guided bike tours at reasonable rates. You can venture further afield or join a small tour that takes in the most important sights.

Beerbike is the boozy option and more suitable for groups. The idea is…err…interesting and sounds a bit like a Homer Simpson dream: a beer bar on wheels is navigated by a (sober!) driver while the customers pedal and drink their way around one of Europe’s most amazing cities.

D.I.Y Cycling Tours

Sound a bit too weird for you? Why not put your own cycling tour together? You can find suggestions online or just get a map and start pedaling. We suggest you start at Dam Square: Continue down Raadhuisstraat until you reach Herrengracht. Along this stretch you will find some of the finest examples of canal house architecture. If you take a right onto Herrengracht and pedal until Brouwersgracht you reach the harbor district. Alternatively, if you take a left onto Herrengracht you end up at the Amstel River. Rembrandt Square is a good place to stop off.

Whatever you decide to do, on the back of a bike is definitely the best way to see Amsterdam and explore less well-trodden paths. Read more on cycling around Amsterdam and cheap things to do in Amsterdam.

Thanks to loop_oh, mandiberg, aloxe and Zemlinki! for the images off Flickr!