Getting Around: Cycling Culture in the Netherlands

By Sunshine Au Pair · Published April 2026 · 5 min read

If there's one thing every au pair learns quickly in the Netherlands, it's that the bike is king. With more bicycles than people and cycling infrastructure that puts the rest of the world to shame, the Netherlands is the most bike-friendly country on earth. For au pairs, learning to cycle Dutch-style isn't just practical — it's your ticket to independence.

Why the Dutch Cycle Everywhere

The Netherlands is flat, compact, and built for bikes. Dedicated cycling paths connect virtually every town and neighbourhood. Traffic lights have separate signals for cyclists. Roundabouts give bikes priority over cars. It's not a hobby here — it's the most efficient way to get around, and most Dutch people cycle in all weather, all year round.

For au pairs, this matters because your daily life will revolve around cycling: the school run, trips to the supermarket, getting to language classes, and exploring on your days off. Many host families provide their au pair with a bike, and learning to navigate the cycling paths confidently is one of the first skills you'll pick up.

If You've Never Cycled Before

Don't worry — you're not the first, and you won't be the last. Many au pairs from countries without cycling culture arrive having never ridden a bike. Host families are usually happy to teach you, and the flat terrain makes learning easier than you'd think. Within a week or two, most new cyclists are confidently riding to the shops and back.

Start in a quiet park or residential street, get comfortable with balance and braking, and then gradually work up to busier paths. The key thing to remember: always signal before turning (stick your arm out), stay in the cycling lane, and never, ever stop suddenly in the middle of a bike path. Dutch cyclists behind you will not be pleased.

Cycling with Children

As an au pair, you'll likely need to transport children by bike. The Dutch have ingenious solutions for this: bakfietsen (cargo bikes) with a box up front for kids, child seats on the back of regular bikes, and even tandem-style attachments for older children. Your host family will show you their setup and help you practise before you go solo.

Safety is paramount. Children should always wear helmets (even though Dutch adults typically don't), and you should practise the route to school a few times before doing it on a busy Monday morning. Most au pairs find that cycling with the kids becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of their daily routine — rain or shine.

Exploring the Netherlands by Bike

One of the great joys of living in the Netherlands is how much you can see by bike. On your days off, cycle along the coast, explore tulip fields in spring, ride through forests in the Veluwe, or follow canal paths into neighbouring towns. The cycling network connects the entire country, and there are numbered junction points (knooppunten) that make route-planning effortless.

Many Sunshine Au Pair events include cycling activities, and joining a group ride is a wonderful way to meet other au pairs while discovering beautiful parts of the country you might not find on your own.

Embrace It

Cycling in the Netherlands will probably feel strange at first — especially if you're doing it in the rain, in the dark, with a child on the back. But give it a few weeks and it becomes second nature. You'll find yourself cycling to the corner shop for milk without thinking twice about it. And when you eventually return home, you'll miss the freedom of hopping on a bike and being anywhere in minutes. It's one of those small, daily pleasures that makes life in the Netherlands uniquely wonderful.