Amsterdam by Bike: The Best Way to Explore the City!

Hop on your bike for an unforgettable 2-hour ride through Amsterdam, guided by an experienced guide. Discover the multiple facets and famous landmarks of Amsterdam’s historic city center in a unique and captivating way.

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Amsterdam Bike Tour: Explore the City

Ride along the famous Magere Brug, through the green and lush Vondelpark, and beneath the majestic arches of the Rijksmuseum! Discover the city in a typically Dutch way, cycling through its picturesque streets and passing historic sites. Our experienced guides will share fascinating stories and anecdotes that bring Amsterdam’s history and culture to life.

The History of Yellow Bike

“For over 34 years, we’ve been doing what we do best: with our quality bikes and friendly staff, we offer our customers a pleasant day!” says Guido van Diepen, the director of Yellow Bike. This company was the first in the world in 1990 to offer guided bike tours in a city. Today, 35 years later, the company is led by a new generation who, with the same passion, wishes to share the beauty of Amsterdam. While we give our tours a fresh twist, friendliness, quality, and fun remain essential to us.

Our Expert Guides

Our guides are true experts on Amsterdam. Rooted in the city, they live or study here, and are excited to share Amsterdam’s hidden gems with you. During the bike tour, they will tell vibrant stories about the city’s history and keep you up to date with the latest trends, cool spots, great restaurants, and charming shops.

Excellent Ratings for Our Amsterdam Bike Tour

We are proud of our excellent average rating of 4.5 out of 5, based on over 1786 reviews on various platforms such as Facebook, Google, TripAdvisor, and Get Your Guide. These reviews confirm that our bike tours offer an extraordinary experience for our participants.

How to Rent a Bike in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam Bike Tour

We maintain our own light bikes to offer the most comfortable experience possible. Gears are not necessary in our flat country for these distances. But for those heading out on a tour and looking for a little extra help, we, of course, have electric bikes available. Tandems are also available, by prior reservation.

  • Child seats and kids’ bikes are available for rent or use during tours. We have various sizes and models ready to go in our garage.

Rent a bike or learn more about our bikes >

Where to Cycle in Amsterdam?

The question should obviously be: where not to cycle? But we love answering this one. During our bike tour of Amsterdam, you’ll learn more about the city in a fun and accessible way. Our tours of the center will let you discover, among other things, the following sites and/or stories.

A few stories from the small Amsterdam bike tour:

  • Canal Ring: Amsterdam’s famous canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its unique architecture and historical significance, is a true gem of the city. (Source: UNESCO – Amsterdam Canal Ring)
  • Trade and Prosperity: During the “Golden Age” – a term now widely questioned – Amsterdam was a thriving hub of trade, art, and science, leading to unprecedented prosperity and expansion. However, this period also has a darker side, notably due to Amsterdam’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, which casts a shadow on what was otherwise a glorious era. (Source: I amsterdam – Amsterdam’s Golden Age)
  • Westerkerk Church: The majestic Westerkerk church, located on the edge of the Jordaan district, is not only an iconic symbol of Amsterdam but also inspired the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn.
  • Vondelpark: The residence of hippies and Hare Krishnas in the 70s.

Of course, during the tour, you’ll get a great overview of cool places to cycle. You can also get a free map of the city center when you rent a bike, and we’ll be happy to point out interesting spots for you to visit during your ride.

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Tips for Bike Routes in Amsterdam

  1. Google Maps offers a good overview of bike-friendly routes when you use the app for navigation and select the bike icon. However, note that due to the high number of electric bikes, the travel times on a traditional bike are often a bit longer than Google indicates.
  2. For those not wanting a guided tour, we’ve developed a relaxing bike route through Amsterdam Noord, where you’ll also learn interesting facts about the city while discovering this fascinating part of town. The bike rental, phone holder, and digital tour are included in one price, and it’s of course possible to rent bikes without the guided tour. For more information, check out the Amsterdam Noord Bike Tour with Smartphone
Video: In the 70s, hippies were sleeping in mass in Vondelpark

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Fun Facts about Bikes in Amsterdam

How many bikes are there in Amsterdam?

  • It is estimated that there are about 881,000 bikes in Amsterdam, according to a 2012 estimate. Around 400,000 people use their bike daily, making an average of 665,000 bike trips. – Source: https://www.fietsberaad.nl/Kennisbank/Amsterdam-telt-881-000-fietsen and https://onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/artikel/amsterdam-als-fietsstad

How many bikes are removed by the municipality?

The bike depot removes many bikes that are parked incorrectly or are considered abandoned. This helps keep the city clean and organized. But yes, it’s frustrating when you can’t find your bike when you’re in a rush or missed a sign!

  • In 2017, the bike depot removed over 81,000 bikes. (Source: Het Parool) You can have your bike delivered to your home for a fee or pick it up directly from the depot. It’s a real headache, and Het Parool published a detailed article on this in 2023.

How many bikes are stolen in Amsterdam each year?

In recent years, about 11,000 bikes a year have been reported stolen in Amsterdam. It’s worth noting that many people don’t report bike thefts, so the number might actually be double! Believe it or not, even our Yellow Bikes get stolen regularly. That’s why we always recommend theft insurance for rentals of 24 hours or more. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises.