Dutch Cycling Embassy

Are cargo bikes the future of urban transport?

As cities worldwide confront congestion, emissions, and the need for more liveable streets, cargo bikes are emerging as a practical and scalable solution, especially in dense urban areas.

Bike in front of sculpture

Last month, Donkey Republic expanded their fleet in The Hague from 280 to 730 bikes. This has already lead to some impressive results:

📍 107,300 kilometers cycled
📍 More than 40.000 rides
📍 6.860 unique riders
📍 68% of the rides by commuters or The Hague locals

#DCEnetwork

For 50 years, @fietsersbond.nl has been campaigning for better cycling conditions in the Netherlands.

To celebrate this milestone they have released a series of short videos, highlighting their achievements. This includes making sure that cyclists get their own space, protected from cars.

Father and son riding along cobbled street

"Build it and they will come"

Will they though? Cycling uptake is about much more than just infrastructure. @mobycon.bsky.social uses social practice theory to unpack what really drives cycling uptake.

Read more: buff.ly/fVBs1On

tram, cyclists, and pedestrians on busy Helsinki street

Helsinki has had zero road fatalities in the last year.

That's not a coincidence. The city has made major investments in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and more than half of its streets now have a 30 km/h speed limit.

Source: yle.fi/a/74-20174831
Image by Tapio Haaja on Unsplash

People standing in front of bike locker

bikes in front of bike locker

Bikes in bike locker

In early June 2025, Fietshangar installed a second bike storage unit for VluchtelingenWerk Nederland, a national organization dedicated to supporting refugees in building a new life in the Netherlands.

#DCEnetwork

woonerf street

Join urban planner and co-founder of Humankind, Lior Steinberg.The webinar will explore how principles from the Dutch woonerf are inspiring real change in cities around the globe.

Webinar: Designing Liveable Streets with the Woonerf Concept
Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2025
SIGN UP NOW: buff.ly/nd0Cj6a

Person wheeling bike through station bike parking

The bicycle and train are a powerful combination offering fast flexible and sustainable mobility across regions.

In the Netherlands this model is widely embraced. Commuters cycle to the station park, securely and continue their journey by rail.

Two people riding along a countryside bike lane

Can the bicycle help reduce inequality?
When cycling is made safer and more accessible, it opens up affordable, efficient mobility for all. This connects people to jobs, education, and essential services.

Read our interview with expert Hans Voerknecht: buff.ly/GG25O5o

Street full with bikes, pedestrians and a couple of busses

In Utrecht, the main street isn’t filled with cars.

Thanks to smart planning and a commitment to cycling, walking, and public transport, Utrecht remains one of the most visited abnd dynamic cities in the Netherlands while staying livable for everyone.

📸 @filmendefietser.bsky.social

Bike parking in front of university library in Groningen

In Groningen around 60% of the trips are made by bike!

Known for its extensive network of protected bike lanes, Groningen’s compact layout and car-restricted city centre make it an ideal case study in bike friendly cities.

Take a look at our self-guided tour of Gronginen: buff.ly/oFbgZxD

Carrier Issue 02 - International Cargo Bike Festival In Carrier Issue 02: Hamburg – cargo bike city? • Cargo bikepacking in Mongolia and Norway Community & Resilience in The Philippines, Austin, Valencia and London Biciminga: Reimagining the move •…

Order your copy of 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 ➡️ buff.ly/Cl76BzE
Find a stockist near you ➡️ buff.ly/X70wCy4

𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 is an independent, internationally-focused magazine, published by the team behind @cargobikefest.bsky.social (#DCEnetwork) and featuring human-centred stories of people who ride cargo bikes

"What we've demonstrated, in practice, is that cycling is a real alternative to many logistical problems in cities. And of course, we’ve shown that you can have a lot of fun in the process."
- Claudio Olivares Medina and Sebastián Saldaña Aguilera of Biciminga

People riding cargo bikes with furniture loaded on

People riding cargo bikes with furniture loaded on

People riding cargo bikes with furniture loaded on

People riding cargo bikes with furniture loaded on

Ever moved house by bike? One initiative in Santiago is helping people do just that, reviving a time-honoured Chilean tradition in the process.
Find out how in 𝘽𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖: 𝙍𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚, an extract from 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 Magazine ➡️ buff.ly/JnRsQfx

How do you accommodate cyclists on a curved main road?

In the Dutch town of Bergen, the answer is: a cycling roundabout. This innovative design gives cyclists priority, encourages safer speeds, and improves visibility for all road users.

📸 Gemeente Bergen NH on LinkedIn

Cyclist riding past bike counter in Düsseldorf

Vacature: Projectcoördinator Duitsland Strategie

In deze rol geef je een impuls aan duurzame mobiliteit door waardevolle samenwerkingen op te zetten tussen de Nederlandse fietssector en Duitse partners.

SOLLICITEER NU: buff.ly/ZE5ZkQv

People riding along green cycle path

People riding along green cycle path

People riding along green cycle path

The new 21 km-long F28 cycle route from Utrecht to Amersfoort has officially opened!

As part of a network of nine doorfietsroutes being developed by the Province of Utrecht, the F28 offers a safe, comfortable, and uninterrupted ride through five municipalities,

Kids riding around a circuit wearing matching blue t-shirts

Kids standing on a podium wearing matching blue t-shirts

Kids riding around a circuit wearing matching blue t-shirts

Kids on a start line wearing matching blue t-shirts

A dikkebandenrace (fat tire race) is a fun and accessible cycling event where children under 12 race on wide-tired bikes, such as city bikes or mountain bikes, around a closed circuit.

The photos below are from a recent dikkebandenrace in Rijswijk, organised in collaboration with our partner 3PM.

People working around a table covered in plans and paper

When planners in Charlotte, USA, sought bicycle solutions that would ease rush hour congestion, they turned to the Dutch Cycling Embassy. Through a ThinkBike Workshop, it became clear that a well-designed cycling network can play a crucial role in reducing overall traffic.

buff.ly/IA4gtI5

How can cycling help address transport poverty?

Investing in cycling infrastructure and affordable bikes doesn’t just improve mobility. It reduces inequality.

Read our recent interview with expert Hans Voerknecht (Een Nieuwe Kijk): buff.ly/cj4gOkP

Gemeente Utrecht are installing innovative cycle racks where the bike is supported on the wheel axle without frame contact.

The racks, provided by STREET-STUFF!, provide a stable and safe parking solution that ensures your bike is not only parked neatly but also protected from damage.

two bridges, one very tall one for pedestrians and a flat one for cyclists

Built across the North Holland Canal in 2012, Purmerend’s €6-million Melkwegbrug is as much a destination as a connection. Pedestrians can choose between the 14-meter high archway and the lower mixed-use span, the latter of which opens in order to let ships pass.

buff.ly/nn2rBTE

Group riding bikes in industrial estate

On 11 July, the ROM Region Utrecht, Utrecht Bike Community, and Dutch Cycling Embassy co-organised a working visit for André van Schie, Deputy for Mobility and Economy for the Province of Utrecht, and Ellie Eggengoor, Nieuwegein’s Alderwoman for Mobility and Economy.

bike path through historic rijksmuseum passage

When the Rijksmuseum was being designed, the municipality of Amsterdam had one big demand: the museum should have a passage to access the southern side of the building.

This has resulted in one of the most unique bike paths in the world, where you can cycle through the building.

buff.ly/nn2rBTE

This roundabout takes separation to a new level.

The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.

Mother riding her bike with children, one sitting on the frame, one riding behind.

Investing in access to bikes pays off—19 times over.

Through City Deal - Bikes for Everyone projects in The Hague, Rotterdam, and Zwolle, €780,000 in funding has delivered an estimated €14.6 million in societal benefits over five years.

Read more: buff.ly/DskqywC

Members of the DCE network standing in front of banner

On 7–8 July, members of our team and network joined the SUMP Türkiye International Urban Mobility Conference in Ankara, the closing event of a three-year EU-Türkiye collaboration supporting sustainable mobility transitions in Turkish cities.

@goudappel.bsky.social

Two kids riding bikes

Are Dutch kids the happiest in the world?

Typical American and Dutch childhoods look very different, with Dutch kids getting a lot of freedom from a young age. The layout of Dutch cities and towns and early adoption of bikes is one of the main reasons for the difference.

buff.ly/vxNujLj

Cyclist exiting left side of high quality underground bike parking

Cities need better cycling infrastructure. Are you ready to lead the change?

After a succesful session in June, the Dutch Bicycle Infrastructure Training has announced new dates for the later in the year (30 sept – 3 oct 2025).

Register today: 👉 buff.ly/I42Sg6I